Boston Bruins: 3 Disappointments so far in 2021
Are the Boston Bruins as good as their 10-1-2 start to the season? Probably not, but are they as bad as their recent 3-5-2 stretch? No. There have been some surprises this season, as well as some disappointments in the terms of performances from some of their players.
Aside from the top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak, who have combined for 32 of the Black and Gold’s 64 goals, there has been not a lot of production from many players. Stop me if you have heard this before, but the Bruins are struggling with secondary scoring. They are struggling with a right wing on the second line. They need to make a deal for a top-four defenseman. Same struggles, different year.
If the Bruins are going to turn things around, finish in the top four in the East Division, they will need some of their bottom-nine forwards to step up. At this point, Boston will take anything from anyone. Here are three players that have been a disappointment through the first 23 games of the season.
3. Anders Bjork
Last season, the 24-year-old Bjork had a breakthrough in 58 games with nine goals and 10 assists. There was hope that he was beginning to find his offensive game and could produce for the Bruins as a bottom-six forward. In 2016-17, he had 21 goals and 31 assists at the University of Notre Dame. There seems to be something there that the Bruins were hoping they might get in his fourth season as a pro.
Unfortunately, the results have not been what the B’s had hoped for. In 22 games, Bjork has one goal and two assists. Bouncing around as third and fourth-liner, he has not found any consistency. If things don’t turn around, Bjork could be a trade piece in the next month for general manager Don Sweeney.
2. David Krejci
Krejci does have 11 assists in 19 games, but the second-line center has struggled to put the puck in the net. His goal production has wavered up and down the last couple of seasons, but this season he seems to be snake-bitten.
He has 29 shots on the net and his frustration hit a high on Tuesday night in a 2-1 overtime loss to the New York Islanders. With the Bruins on the power play in the second period, Krejci had a rebound at the side of the Isles net with a wide-open net facing him.
His backhander, which was destined for the gaping net, was stopped by Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov when his stick swung back towards the open net and knocked the puck away. Krejci took a look up at the ceiling following the save in disgust.
To be honest, Krejci, in the final year of his contract that carries a $7.25 million cap hit, has every right to be frustrated in different ways. He has not had a goal-scoring right wing the past couple of seasons and hasn’t said a word. Almost nightly, he has to adjust to a different winger.
Regardless, Krejci breaking out of his goalless slump would be big for the Bruins. For what he has given them over the years and being in the final year of his contract, it would be a shame to see Krejci go out with a season like in a B’s uniform if he doesn’t return.
1. Jake DeBrusk
Without a doubt, DeBrusk has been the biggest disappointment. I know, I’m not breaking any news here. After signing a two-year, $7.35 million bridge deal in November, things just haven’t worked out.
Coach Bruce Cassidy has tried just about everything. He’s had one-on-one conversations with him, his assistant coaches have done the same. He was been moved around from left wing, to right wing and up and down the top three lines. Now, Cassidy has got to the point where he’s calling out the 24-year-old about his effort on the ice.
DeBrusk was a healthy scratch Tuesday night against the Islanders on Long Island. He will be back in the lineup tonight against the New York Rangers and it will be interesting to see how he responds.
Two years after scoring a career-high 27 goals and one year after scoring 19, DeBrusk has just one in 2021, a power play lamplighter against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 18.
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If DeBrusk can’t turn it around in the next couple of weeks, does Sweeney look to deal the former first-round pick? It’s too early to give up on a first-round pick, but a change of scenery might do DeBrusk good and the return could benefit the Bruins.