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Three things that should be on the Bruins Christmas List

By Scott Roche |
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 26: Head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins reacts during the first period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 26, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 26: Head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins reacts during the first period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 26, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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Three things that should be on the Boston Bruins Christmas list for the 2020-21 season.

As we close the door on 2020, we got the best Christmas gift on Sunday afternoon when the NHL announced that they reached an agreement with the NHLPA for the 2020-21 season. Things will look different with limited travel for each team and new divisions. Gone from the Boston Bruins schedule are the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Central Division and the Montreal Canadiens to the all-Canadian Division.

With changes happening around the league, the season is set to begin on Jan. 13 for 10 teams and then on Jan. 14 for the Bruins when they drop the puck at the New Jersey Devils. As we count down the days to Opening Night, let’s take a look at what could on the Bruins Christmas List.

3. Chara comes back for one more run with the young Bruins defense.

It was widely thought that captain Zdeno Chara was waiting for word on what the season was going to look like to decide if he was going to return for a 15th season with the Bruins.

Chara’s agent has said that as many as 20 teams have reached out to Big Z to see if he would be willing to sign elsewhere. I find it hard to believe that he would, but in 2020, anything is possible.

The Bruins know that realistically Chara is not a top-two defenseman anymore. Heck, he might be dropped to a third pairing should he return, but looking at the state of the defense heading into the season, that is not as bad as the alternative.

Related Story. Boston Bruins: Zdeno Chara's decision should come soon. light

With Torey Krug leaving for the St. Louis Blues in free agency in October and general manager Don Sweeney passing on free agent defensemen as well as not trading for a veteran, it looks like the Bruins are going to begin the season with their youngsters.

Charlie Coyle, Matt Grzelcyk, and Brandon Carlo will look to lead the unit, with Jeremy Lauzon, Connor Clifton, John Moore, and Kevan Miller looking to fill out the remaining three spots. Prospects Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril will fight for a spot on the roster in training camp at Warrior Arena in early January, but having Chara playing in a third pairing is still a move that coach Bruce Cassidy would take, even a 43 years old.

The Bruins defense will go through some growing pains during the season, but a shortened 56-game schedule is the perfect amount of games for Chara to come back and give it one more run with the window closing on the Bruins core players.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 30: Craig Smith #15 of the Nashville Predators skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 30, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Predators defeated the Devils 6-5 in the shoot-out. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 30: Craig Smith #15 of the Nashville Predators skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 30, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Predators defeated the Devils 6-5 in the shoot-out. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Secondary scoring

One of the more well-known struggles for the Bruins last season was secondary scoring behind their top line. First-line right wing David Pastrnak tied Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals for the Maurice Rockey Richard Award as the leading goal-scorer in the league with 48. Add in Pasta’s 47 assists and he led the team with 95 points in 70 games.

First-line left wing Brad Marchand was second on the team in scoring with 28 goals and 59 assists for 87 points. Center Patrice Bergeron had 31 goals and 25 assists in 61 games. When the Perfection Line was rolling, there was not a better line in the NHL.

Unfortantuley for the Bruins, they did get much behind the top line in terms of production. A trade deadline deal for Ondrej Kase from Anaheim Ducks did not supply the production that Sweeney had hoped.

In free agency, Sweeny passed on Tyler Toffoli, who ended up signing with Montreal Canadiens. Taylor Hall was another free agent that would have helped to put a dent in the secondary scoring woes, but he ended up signing with the Buffalo Sabres for one-year at $8 million. That was too steep for the Bruins to match.

Instead, Sweeney signed former Nashville Predator right wing Craig Smith. In five of his nine seasons with the Predators, Smith has been a 20-goal scorer and he is more than capable of being a consistent 20-30 goal scorer, which would go a long way in helping the Bruins beyond their top line.

Related Story. Craig Smith could be a bargain free agent signing for the Bruins. light

Jake DeBrusk was re-signed to a two-year bridge deal to return to the second line with David Krejci. Kase or Smith will most likely join them on the right side and hopefully, either one can help fill an opening void with secondary scoring.

WINNIPEG, MB - JANUARY 31:
WINNIPEG, MB - JANUARY 31: /

1. Healthy season

This one is not starting out the way the Bruins would like, but hopefully, they get the injuries and surgery recoveries out of the way early in the season.

Marchand is questionable to begin the season on Jan. 14 at New Jersey as he is still recovering from sports hernia surgery he underwent in September. He currently has a mid-January return date, but don’t be surprised to see the Bruins take their time with him getting back into the lineup as they will need him as healthy as possible for the season sprint of 56 games in just 115 days.

The outlook for Pastrnak is a longer return timeframe. In September, he had surgery on his hip, which requires a five-month recovery period and that would take him to mid-February, a month after the puck drops on the season.

Losing one, never mind both at the same time, could be tough for the Bruins to deal with. Sure, they have in-house candidates that can hold down the fort until one or both of them return, but losing your top two point producers from a year ago in a shortened season could spell a slow start out of the gate.

As mentioned above, the Bruins will be younger on defense and have struggled with secondary scoring. Either of those could be exposed more should the Bruins get a rash on injuries throughout their roster. Aside from goaltending, they are not blessed with the deepest depth charts.

Next. Bruins: What to expect from Brad Marchand in 2021. dark

Health will go a long way in determining how the short season plays out and whether or not the Bruins are set up for a deep playoff run. If there was ever a season where Boston is able to avoid many injuries, 2021 is the year.

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