If there is anything that can be true about the Boston Bruins, it's that their fanbase has a keen eye on what is happening around the NHL and, more importantly, with their club. That actually is the case with a lot of NHL fans across the league.
The Athletic recently did a fan poll for fans across the NHL, and the results were, well, interesting to say the least. In the overall big picture, the Bruins were neither in a super bad spot nor a really good one. As has been the case under general manager Don Sweeney, the Bruins appear to be stuck in the murky middle.
The Athletic fan poll delivers news that should not surprise Bruins fans
So what should Bruins fans take away from the poll? Here are some of the notable results. One question was which NHL team improved the most this offseason? The Florida Panthers were No. 1, followed by the San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres to round out the Top 5. The Bruins got less than 2% of the votes. Not great.
How about which non-playoff teams will make it in 2027? The Panthers were runaway favorites again, with the Capitals, clearly improved, getting the second most in the Eastern Conference, followed closely by the Maple Leafs. When it came to questions about winning the Stanley Cup, well, it was mixed results for the Black and Gold.
Which team will win the Cup in 2027? The Colorado Avalanche and Panthers were the runaway top choices, followed by the Carolina Hurricanes, the defending champs. Again, the Bruins got less than 2% of the vote. How about when it came to a team that fans are most confident won't win a championship in the next decade? The Vancouver Canucks and Maple Leafs were runaway favorites. Boston again got less than 2% of the vote, which was encouraging.
So what does all this mean for the Boston Bruins? It means that the road back to the playoffs in both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference is going to be very difficult, but at least fans are hopeful that the Black and Gold can raise the Cup in the next decade, no? Some food for thought as the offseason continues on.
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