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2 Bruins Who Should Not be on 2021-22 Roster

By Scott Roche |
Boston Bruins, Sean Kuraly #52, Charlie Coyle #13 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins, Sean Kuraly #52, Charlie Coyle #13 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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It has been five days since the Boston Bruins were eliminated from the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs in six games by the New York Islanders. While the series certainly started out very well for the Bruins, it ended in frustration against one of the more structured teams in the NHL.

On paper, the Bruins arguably had the better roster, but as we have learned many times in sports, paper doesn’t win games or championships. It has to be done on the ice and after the dust settled, the Black and Gold just didn’t get it done on the ice.

With the 56-game 2020-21 regular-season and postseason in the books for the Bruins, it’s no secret that Bruins’ general manager Don Sweeney and the front office have a big summer ahead of them. They have a handful of free agents, some that make up the core of the Bruins roster.

Two of the three players Boston acquired at the trade deadline are also free agents and both have expressed interest in returning to Causeway St. next season for another run with the Bruins.

With many decisions to make over the summer for the 2021-22 season, here are two players that could not be on the Bruins roster when training camp opens at Warrior Ice Arena in September.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 21: Jake Derusk #74 of the Boston Bruins reacts during the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden on January 21, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 21: Jake Derusk #74 of the Boston Bruins reacts during the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden on January 21, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

1. Jake DeBrusk

Last November, left wing Jake DeBrusk tested the free-agent market and after nearly a month on the open market, he returned to the Bruins on a two-year bridge deal worth $3.75 million a season.

It’s not a bad deal for both sides, but DeBrusk had a season to forget in the shortened regular season. Saying it was a struggle for Jake would be a serious understatement. He dealt with a COVID-19 shutdown, was scratched during the regular season, and then was a scratch for Game 5 of the second-round series against the Islanders with the series tied 2-2.

In 41 games in the regular-season games, he had five goals and nine assists. That was a severe letdown considering he scored 27 goals in the 2018-19 season and 19 in 65 games in 2019-20. More was expected from DeBrusk this season. In 10 playoff games this spring, he had two goals and an assist.

Expect Sweeney to get calls this summer on the availability of DeBrusk in a deal. Instead of waiting another season to see if DeBrusk can find his goal-scoring touch again, it’s time for the Bruins to cut their losses and get what they can in a trade and move on.

Apr 18, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Sean Kuraly (52) during the third period against the Washington Capitals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Sean Kuraly (52) during the third period against the Washington Capitals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Sean Kuraly

Aside from his linemate Chris Wagner, Sean Kuraly was under fire all season from fans, and rightfully so. In 47 games in 2021, Kuraly had four goals and five assists, but the fourth-line center, for the most part, had a plus/minus of minus-10. In the playoffs, he failed to register a point in 11 games and finished with a minus-3.

Acquired on June 30, 2015, in a deal from the San Jose Sharks that involved goaltender Martin Jones, Kuraly has been a good penalty-killer for the Bruins, but the unrestricted free agent simply struggled in the shortened season and postseason.

On April 11, Sweeney acquired Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Anders Bjork and a draft pick. That deal could have sealed Kuraly’s fate in Boston beyond this season.

light. Related Story. Bruins should target Casey Cizikas in free agency

Lazar has one more year remaining on his contract with a very nice price tag of $800,000. Lazar impressed in his time with the Bruins enough to be ready to take over the center position on the fourth line and allow the Bruins to move on from Kuraly. In his tenure in Boston, Kuraly did a lot of the dirty work for the Bruins, but it’s clear that his time at the TD Garden should be up.

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