Thursday, Jan 7, 2021. 7:00 AM
(Update : Thursday, Jan 7, 2021. 9:44 AM)
* In collaboration with Hockey 360, RDS continues its overview of 30 NHL teams in 30 days (except CH) with the Boston Bruins.
While the start of the next season in less than a week serves some NHL clubs well, the Boston Bruins can’t be counted among them.
It’s because the team has lost many of its key elements since the end of last season, starting with power play quarterback Torey Krug. Last October, the defenseman signed a seven-season contract worth $ 45.5 million with the St. Louis Blues.
The Bruins may well bet on one of the best lines in the NHL, it will not be able to double down on the start of the campaign. The Quebecer Patrice Bergeron will indeed have to manage without David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand in the first weeks of the calendar.
Operated on September 14 to treat a sports hernia, Marchand should not return to action before mid-January. For his part, Pastrnak is not expected to join his teammates until mid-February after undergoing hip surgery on September 16.
The Bruins may have added Craig Smith and Greg McKeeg to their roster, but let’s just say they’re not being counted on to deliver the same sort of performance as Pastrnak and Marchand.
Boston can nevertheless take comfort in the idea of finding Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak in front of the net. Thanks to them, the team posted the NHL’s best goals against average per game last year at 2.39.
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