The Boston Bruins are known for the offensive ability from their top line. It is arguably the best line in hockey and year after year, they prove the case.
However, who doesn’t like a little friendly competition between teammates? All three of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are going to put up points, but who will lead the team in that category when the regular season finishes up?
Last season, it was Marchand leading the way and it was not close. The pesky winger had 69 points, with Bergeron and Pastrnak following behind him with 48 each.
It was the fourth time in the last five seasons that Marchand led the Bruins in total points. In 2020-21, it was Pastrnak who tallied up the most. The last time it was neither Pastrnak or Marchand was Bergeron in 2014-15.
While it could be any of those three this season, you also can factor in Taylor Hall, who will be playing with that group and Charlie McAvoy on the top power play unit and has quite the scoring ability himself. He’s just four years removed from a 90-point season.
It will come down to Marchand or Pastrnak as the Bruins point leader
As we’ve seen over the last five seasons, while Bergeron is pretty much always in the top three in points, he never is the leader. And I don’t see this year being any different, given his responsibilities in the defensive end.
I don’t think it will be Hall either. He has a long shot playing on the second line with Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith. Ultimately, they are just not the playmakers like those on the first line. Although, if Hall finds himself on the top line, things could get pretty intriguing.
Ultimately, it comes down between Pastrnak and Marchand. Pastrnak is definitely the better goal-scorer, which is no knock on Marchand, but Pastrnak is just a born scorer. He doesn’t look for the pass option as much as Marchand does, which means he won’t have as many assists.
However, Marchand can do it all. Shoot, pass, deke. He has all the tools to put up points. He gets to the net and will score the dirty goals, he has exceptional hands to walk through defenders and goalies. Oh, and he is also one of the best short-handed players in the game and is always good for a few goals scored on the penalty kill.
Given Marchand’s strength over Pastrnak in the passing game, I think we see more points come from Marchand again, making it the fifth season out of the last six that he leads the Bruins in that category.
Pastrnak will lead the team in goals this season, that’s my prediction. But the assists and goal production from Marchand will end up with him in first on the team in points.