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This season may be the Boston Bruins version of ‘The Last Dance’

By Jack Long

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: Jaroslav Halak #41 and Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins take the ice prior to Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: Jaroslav Halak #41 and Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins take the ice prior to Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The core is getting old, contracts are up and the fanbase is getting tired of coming up short. These Boston Bruins may be preparing for their ‘Last Dance’.

Changes are coming. It is almost inevitable that this Boston Bruins core is heading into their last season together. The core that has been around since the 2011 Cup win is getting older and aren’t going to be around much longer.

Zdeno Chara hasn’t even decided if he’s going to return for this season. A few key players have contracts expiring after this season, with the whole core being up in the next couple of years. The Bruins just haven’t gotten it done the past several years and ownership and management could be a year away from making drastic changes.

This season itself is going to be a challenging one. With so many questions still unanswered it is tough to say how this season could playout for the Boston Bruins. If the potential division realignment is an indication of anything though, this year could be a battle for the Bruins.

The Boston Bruins need a deep playoff run for this season to be seen as a semi-successful one. Anything less than a Stanley Cup might not be enough at this point. For some players, this may be their last chance.

‘The Last Dance’  – A season with the Boston Bruins

Age

The Boston Bruins top-two centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci are 35 and 34 years old respectively. As good as they’ve been in recent seasons they are certainly nearing the age where drastic drop-offs begin. The Bruins defensive core is fairly young and skilled (exempting a Chara return), but their two goalies Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak are 33 and 35 respectively. A scary proposition with no upcoming goaltending prospects that looks ready to take a full-time NHL role in the near future.

Contracts

Some franchise outlook changing decisions will be made by Don Sweeney and the front office in the next couple years as a result of how they set up their contract situations. In 2021, fourth-line center Sean Kuraly joins Krejci and both Boston Bruins goalies as unrestricted free agents. Young defensive stalwart Brandon Carlo is also a restricted free agent.

In 2022 and 2023 things get even more interesting. Mr. Bruin Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak become unrestricted free agents in ’22 and ’23 respectively. While young pieces Jake DeBrusk and Charlie McAvoy hit restricted free agent status in 2022.

Potentially frightening stuff for Boston Bruins fans. Lots of decisions to be made by a front office that hasn’t always made the best decisions when it comes to moving pieces and drafting young talent.

Next. Bruins: WJC rosters, schedules, and TV information. dark

If this really is ‘The Last Dance’ for this Hall of Famers filled Boston Bruins core, let’s enjoy the competitiveness and grit this squad has brought us for years. Let’s go get a Cup boys.

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