Boston Bruins: 3 Surprises so far in 2021
Coming into the season, there were a lot of questions marks surrounding the Boston Bruins. The defense was getting younger, there was going to be more playing time given to some of the prospects, and how would the power play survive without the services of David Pastrnsk for the first seven games?
The Bruins started out as the hottest team in the NHL and it was in large part due to some of the play of their younger players and one player that had a lot of questions surrounding him. Here is a look at three surprises early this season for the Black and Gold.
3. Jakub Zboril
It was clear when Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara left in free agency that the Bruins were going to go into the season with some of their younger blueliners. Zboril won an opening night roster spot out of training camp and was on the third pair with veteran Kevan Miller.
Zboril has played very well early in the season and the Bruins have needed everything they have got from him as the defense has been hit hard with injuries. With Brandon Carlo, Miller, and Jeremy Lauzon nursing injuries, Zboril, who missed two games this season, has been a consistent presence of defense.
Coach Bruce Cassidy has moved the rookie defensemen around with different partners during the injuries and he even earned a spot on the first paring with Charlie McAvoy. Zboril has also seen some time on the second power play unit, as well as some key penalty-killing moments. There are still some growing pains that he most likely goes through, but so far, he’s been a big part of the Bruins defense this season.
2. Trent Frederic
Like Zboril, Frederic is another rookie making an impact, but as a bottom-six forward. He started the season on the fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner, before being moved to the third line.
Right from the start of the season, he has shown that he is not afraid of anyone and won’t back down from anyone. He got under the skin of the New Jersey Devils P.K. Subban in the second game of the season, then dropped the gloves twice with Washington Capitals tough guy Tom Wilson. Right from his opening shift, he has been a physical presence for Boston.
Frederic has played in all 23 games and the 23-year-old has three goals. It is a good omen for the Bruins when Frederic scores. He scored his first NHL goal against the Philadelphia Flyers at Lake Tahoe, Nevada on Feb. 21 in a 7-3 victory. His second goal was Feb. 28 against the New York Rangers in a 4-1 win and his third goal was March 5 in a 5-1 romp over the Washington Capitals.
He is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Boston and if his game continues to improve and he can become a more consistent goal-scorer, then he will make Don Sweeney look good for spending a first-round pick on him in 2016 at 29th overall.
1. Nick Ritchie
Acquired at the trade deadline in February of 2020 from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Danton Heinen, Ritchie struggled in the 2020 regular season and in the Toronto playoff bubble. It got to the point this offseason as to whether or not Sweeney might look to move him in trade.
Sweeney and the front office decided to hold onto him and the results have been far better than what people might have thought at the beginning of the season. He has eight goals and seven assists as the left wing on the second line with David Krejci.
With Pastrnak recovering from offseason hip surgery in January, Ritchie stepped in and filled his void on the Bruins first power play unit. He has been a solid net-front presence on the man advantage and it has paid off with five goals and four assists on the special teams unit. Even when Pastrnak returned, Ritchie has been a big part of the power play.
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So far in 2021, the Bruins are getting the Nick Ritchie they hoped they were getting when they swung the trade last February. Without him and his production, there is no telling where they might be in the standings today.