The Boston Bruins left wing depth chart is one where they need their top wingers to stay as healthy as possible in 2021.
In the next eight days the Boston Bruins open their season against the New Jersey Devils, coach Bruce Cassidy will have to find depth with his left wings. It is safe to say that along with their defense, the second most questions surrounding a grouping is on the left wing. Let’s take a look at where the Bruins stand heading into a 56-game 2020-21 campaign.
Brad Marchand
Marchand begins camp at the end of a rehab from sports hernia surgery he underwent in September. Fellow linemate David Pastrnak will not be available for the first month of the season as he recovers from hip surgery, so having Marchy available to begin the season will go a long way in terms of production.
Last season, he was second behind Pasta with 28 goals and 59 assists, in all 70 games. He is a key member of the top power play unit and had five goals and 22 assists with the man advantage last season. Forming arguably the best first line in hockey with Patrice Bergeron and Pastrnak, it will help ease the burden of not having Pastrnak for the first month if Marchand can begin the season next to Bergeron.
Jake DeBrusk
If Marchand can’t begin the season, DeBrusk would be the obvious choice to move up to the first line. The Bruins brought him back on a two-year bridge deal and after not being able to sign a free agent, it was important for Sweeney to reunite with DeBrusk. There is no question that the talent is there to be a consistent 20 to 30-goal scorer, but he has shown too much inconsistency in his first three years. If can be a more consistent player in terms of scoring, it would go a long way in helping the Bruins solve their secondary scoring woes.
Anders Bjork
Bjork had a breakout 2019-20 season with nine goals and 10 assists in 58 games. If DeBrusk left in free agency, he would have been the option to move up with David Krejci to the second line. He has an opportunity to be paired with Charlie Coyle on the third line and gain some chemistry with either Ondrej Kase and Craig Smith on the right wing. The Bruins hope to see Bjork continue his upward trend in production this season.
Nick Ritchie
Sweeney sent Danton Heinen to the Anaheim Ducks in February for Ritchie, but the returns were not what everyone had hoped. Ritchie did provide the Bruins with a physical presence, but he went overboard and hurt them in the playoffs with ill-advised penalties. If five seasons with the Ducks, the 25-year-old averaged nine goals and 13 assists a season and the Bruins would gladly take that.
Sean Kuraly
He did a nice job as the fourth-line center last season, but when Cassidy moved him to left wing, it opened up his game more. In 68 games last season, he had six goals and 17 assists, but his all-around game was better and he had more freedom when he was on the wing than at center. He will be a bottom-six, most likely a fourth-liner at either center or left wing, depending on how things go in camp.
Trent Frederic
Frederic is a natural center, but the Bruins are deep at that position. However, the 29th selection in the first round of the 2016 draft could impress enough to crack the roster as a wing. He brings a combination of toughness and scoring ability that the Bruins have not seen in the bottom-six forwards since the Gregory Campbell days. He has 22 goals and 35 assists the last two seasons with Providence and could be the guy who shakes things up on the third or fourth line.
If the Bruins are going to be a Stanley Cup contender, there is no question they will need more production out of their left wings than they have got in years past.