It’s possible the Bruins’ roster may still change before the start of the season. While they have very little cap space remaining to sign any more free agents, there’s always the possibility of a trade to address either the second-line center position or the left side of their defense.
Second-line center became a major question mark when David Krejci decided it was time to leave the Bruins and return home to play in the Czech Republic -- a decision that, by all indications, the Bruins knew about before free agency began.
There’s no other clear, true No. 2 center on the roster, but if this does end up being the final roster for the season, coach Bruce Cassidy knows who will get the first crack at filling that critical role.
“I think the obvious choice is Charlie Coyle,” Cassidy said Thursday.
Coyle is coming off a tough season, recording six goals and 10 assists in 51 regular-season games and three points in 11 playoff games. It was the lowest rate of production in terms of points per game in his nine-year NHL career.
But the 29-year-old was also dealing with a knee injury for at least part of the season, which could partially explain the dip in play. He underwent surgery after the season and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp in September.
The Bruins’ other second-line center options would be new signings Nick Foligno or Erik Haula, or 22-year-old Jack Studnicka. Foligno, 33, has played more wing in recent years and is also more of a third-liner now than the top-six forward he was in his prime. Haula has generally been a third-liner as well. Studnicka has yet to stick in the NHL and could need a little more development time before he’s truly ready to play that high in the lineup. New signing Tomas Nosek is a natural center, but he’ll be lower in the lineup, likely starting on the fourth line.
“He’s the most familiar with our guys. I’m the most familiar with him,” Cassidy said of Coyle. “A lot of the other guys fall into place. I know that Haula and Nosek prefer to play in the middle. Nick Foligno’s a little more of a guy that will move around, so that’s probably how it’ll play out for him. So Charlie and Taylor Hall, and [Craig] Smith was on that line last year. If Coyle can bring some of what Krech did, that’ll be a real good line.
“So that’s the way we’re leaning, and see how the other pieces shake out. Jake [DeBrusk], obviously, on the left side, third line, behind [Brad Marchand] and Taylor, will be a good fit for him to start, and see where it goes with the other guys. We added some good pieces we can move around. Like I said, I know Haula and Nosek prefer to play in the middle. We had [Trent Frederic] in there at times last year, and on the wing.
“And then there’s Jack Studnicka -- how does he fit in? Some of that will depend on his growth. Didn’t get to play a lot of hockey last year, unfortunately, like a lot of young players, missing time with the COVID restrictions. He’s also in the mix. He looks bigger. He’s going to be really pushing for a spot, so we have to include him in that mix as well.”
In addition to Coyle being healthier, Cassidy said he also thinks the opportunity to move up in the lineup and play with Hall and Smith should invigorate him.
“I think Charlie Coyle, or whoever goes in there, these guys are excited to move up in the lineup and have this opportunity,” Cassidy said. “I would think a guy like Charlie Coyle, when we meet and sit down, he’ll be excited for that opportunity. Why wouldn’t you be? You get some extra minutes, you’re moving up in the lineup, a little more of an ask on the offensive side of things.
“Taylor Hall comes in, is excited to play. Got an elite-level left winger out there, so that’s something we maybe didn’t have before that’s now in the fold for the next four years. So you’ve got some offense from Taylor that maybe you weren’t getting from that position in the past, just because of how good Taylor is. … We lose David, but I think we made enough additions that we should be a solid offensive team.”
One thing Cassidy doesn’t plan to do is split up his top line, at least not right away. There has been a thought among some fans that moving David Pastrnak to the second line and combining him with Hall would lift up whoever the new No. 2 center is. And then Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Craig Smith would still be a very good first line.
“No, I think we’re going to start with it together,” Cassidy said of his usual top line. “We know what we have there. They’re a handful to play against. And let’s see how the other guys shake out, probably more than moving David around. Then as the year goes on, see how the chemistry develops with other lines. We know the top line has it. If we need to drop David down and move some pieces around, we’ll look at that if it makes us a better team.”