Boston Bruins: 3 Early Season Surprises in 2021
When the Boston Bruins lost Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara on defense to free agency in the offseason, it was apparent that the Bruins were going younger on defense for the 2021 season.
The Bruins knew what they had in Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Matt Grzelcyk, but after that, there were a lot of questions. How would the final three spots on defense be filled out? Would the young guys have a tough opening to the season and go through growing pains?
Through 11 games, the results have been better than what the Bruins had hoped for. They are 8-1-2 and tied for first place in the East Division with the Philadelphia Flyers. While McAvoy has played at a high-level and Carlo has been a steady presence, Grzelcyk has missed six games with a trio of injuries.
There have been pleasant surprises on the blue line that have been better than coach Bruce Cassidy had hoped in the shortened season.
Jakub Zboril
Don Sweeney’s very first draft pick as general manager in the first round in 2015, 23-year-old has Jakub Zboril has had an impressive start in his first full season in the NHL.
Paired with Kevan Miller, Zboril has been aggressive in joining the offensive rush, he has moved the puck well coming out of the defensive zone, and has not been afraid to take the body.
He has found himself in all aspects of the game for Cassidy. Aside from his solid pay 5-no-5, Zboril, who has two assists, has filled in with the second power play unit, as well as spending with killing penalties with Miller. Six years after being selected No. 13 overall, Zboril has worked his way to shifts on a nightly basis in the NHL.
Kevan Miller
Speaking of Miller, he was Sweeney’s first free-agent signing in October, a signing that was questioned by many. Miller had not played in an NHL game since the playoffs in April of 2019 when he injured his knee and Sweeney signed him to a one-year, $1.25 million deal.
Miller has gone through an extensive rehab process since the injury that has included multiple surgeries. It would have been easy for the veteran defensemen to call it a career, but he felt that he has more hockey left in him and so far, he has been right.
Battling Connor Clifton in training camp for one of the final roster spots in the top-six, Miller had an impressive camp and Cassidy gave him an opening night roster spot. The 6-foot-2 and 210-pound 33-year-old wasted no time in coming to the defense of his teammates.
After New Jersey Devils forward Miles Wood twice crashed the net on Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask in the first game of the year, Miller needed just 19 seconds two days later to send a message to Wood by dropping the gloves with the Devils forward. That is the Kevan Miller the Bruins were hoping they were getting.
Miller has been a key piece to the blue line and on the penalty kill. With Chara leaving in December to join the Washington Capitals, Miller earned the open roster spot and has been what the Bruins have hoped for in 2021 so far.
Jeremy Lauzon
Over the last two seasons, Jeremy Lauzon has played in 35 games as an injury replacement for the Bruins on the blue line, but this season, he has worked his way up with McAvoy on the top pairing.
Averaging 19:54 a night, Lauzon has been the more stay at home defensemen while McAvoy has become more involved in the offense. Another 2015 draft pick, 52nd overall in the second round, Lauzon has seen his time increase in the last two games last week when he cracked the 20-minute mark in both victories against the Flyers.
Lauzon’s skill is improving this season and he is gaining confidence each night, which has allowed Cassidy to play him in certain situations, like on the penalty kill. He is not going to find himself on the scoresheet too often, but he is filling Chara’s role with McAvoy better than the Bruins had hoped before the season.
There are other surprises that could have been on this list. Connor Clifton has been good in the six games he played for Grzelcyk, while Trent Frederic had an impressive start to the season and has worked his way to the third line because of injuries.
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Losing the power play quarterback in Krug and a future Hall of Famer in Chara are big shoes to fill, but so far, the Bruins young guys have filled and done a pretty good job early in the 2021 season.