Boston Bruins: The 5 most likely NHL awards a Bruin could win in 2020-21
By Matt Hawkins
What NHL awards are the Boston Bruins most likely to take home for the 2020-21 season?
There’s no doubt that the Boston Bruins have a bunch of talented hockey players on their team going into the 2020-21 season. So much talent, that we could see several NHL awards going home with different Bruins.
But what awards are the Bruins most likely to take home and which Bruins are most likely to take these awards home?
In 2019-20, the goalie duo of Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak took home the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the least number of goals in the NHL. Are they destined to repeat in 2020-21?
Center Patrice Bergeron is currently tied for the most wins of the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward, in NHL history with four. Can he break the record in 2020-21 and win a fifth?
Head coach Bruce Cassidy received the Jack Adams Award in 2019-20 for being the league’s best coach. Can he repeat in 2020-21?
Will right wing David Pastrnak repeat as the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner by scoring the most goals in 2020-21?
5. Jack Adams Award – Bruce Cassidy
Head coach Bruce Cassidy was undoubtedly a deserving candidate for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best head coach after Boston’s 2019-20 campaign.
The team finished first in their division with a regular-season record of 44-14-12 and allowed the fewest goals in the league, while also being top-10 in offense.
However, with the departure of defenseman Torey Krug in free agency, the uncertainty of captain Zdeno Chara returning, and star wingers Pastrnak and Brad Marchand expected to miss at least the first month of the season, will Boston be able to replicate the same success?
This all depends on how Coach Cassidy handles things. If Boston truly has an elite defensive structure, they’ll be able to be successful without the like of Krug and Chara.
If we’ve learned anything these past two seasons, it’s not always the players, it’s also the system and structure that the coaching staff implements. Just look at the New York Islanders.
If the B’s can make the playoffs without Krug and Chara, and Pastrnak and Marchand both missing extended periods of time, Coach Cassidy should be a lock for the Jack Adams again in 2020-21.