Just over a month into the 2021 NHL season, the Bruins are already a quarter of the way done.
With a record of 10-2-2 (22 points) through their first 14 games, the Bruins are first in the East Division and tied with the Florida Panthers for the best record in the NHL (.786 points percentage).
Despite concerns about secondary scoring and developing defensemen, the Bruins' success this year shouldn't be too surprising.
In each of their last three seasons, the Bruins have accumulated at least 100 points and finished top-five in the league-wide standings.
However, as recent history has proven, regular season success doesn't necessarily equate to postseason success.
So, with the first quarter of the season in the rear view, here are five key observations as the rest of the Bruins season unfolds.
5. Young defense developing on the fly
This year, for the first time since October of 2005, the Bruins entered a season without Zdeno Chara's name headlining their roster.
The Bruins' former captain elected to sign with the Washington Capitals during the offseason — and in addition to Chara, the Bruins also lost the services of free agent defenseman Torey Krug to the St. Louis Blues.
Neither departure came as a total surprise to GM Don Sweeney — in fact, it's evident that the Bruins were seeking to create the roster openings in an effort to develop some of their younger defenseman at the NHL level.
Ordinarily when a team decides to rebuild their blue line, Stanley Cup aspirations are slim and therefore there's a willingness to exchange losses for the development of younger players.
The Bruins, however, are still in their championship window and there were concerns heading into the year that they were jeopardizing the window of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci and Tuukka Rask by dressing inexperienced defensemen.
Fortunately for the Bruins, these young defensemen haven't just been developing, they've been excelling.
So far this season, the Bruins lead the NHL in goals against per game (2.14), are tied for fourth in goal differential (+12), and have the second-best penalty kill in the league (88%). The penalty kill percentage is especially impressive considering the loss of Zdeno Chara as their former leader in shorthanded time on ice.
Charlie McAvoy leads the blue line as a bona fide No. 1 defenseman and Kevan Miller has assumed the role as the grizzled veteran leader.
Brandon Carlo continues his improvement as a shutdown defender, learning how to use size and reach to his advantage.
When healthy, Matt Grzelcyk's smooth-skating and puck-moving abilities help to jump start the transition game, and Jeremy Lauzon and Jakub Zboril for the most part play with poise and confidence while earning regular minutes.
Yes, the season is young, but such strong play from this young group of defensemen is highly encouraging for the present and future.
4. Trent Frederic relishing his role as an agitator
The emergence of Trent Frederic as an agitator has been one of the more enjoyable storylines to follow this season — mainly because it was unexpected.
Frederic earned a reputation in the minors as one willing to stand up for teammates, but it wasn't really anticipated how much he enjoys stirring the pot at the NHL level.
From antagonizing and goading P.K. Subban, to initiating heavyweight fights with Tom Wilson and Brendan Lemieux, Frederic is becoming a young enforcer in front of our eyes.
This is by no means a perfect comparison, but the Bruins haven't drafted a young, skilled, forward willing to drop the gloves with the league's toughest since Milan Lucic.
With multiple games remaining against the Capitals, Rangers and other divisional opponents, there's sure to be more memorable moments involving Frederic.
3. Nick Ritchie revenge tour
It took all of six regular season games and two playoff series last year for Bruins fans to deem Nick Ritchie useless and decide he shouldn't play for the team again.
Interesting to realize how many hockey experts and GMs there are on Twitter …
Sure, in the postseason Ritchie got carried away and took a few stupid penalties. However, to play devil's advocate, he was trying to shift momentum during some rather lifeless playoff efforts.
Apparently it was easier for spectators to blame Ritchie than it was for them to blame the fact that Tampa simply outworked, out-hustled and out-forechecked the Bruins the entire series.
The fact of the matter is that Ritchie has size and skill; he was drafted 10th overall in 2014 for a reason and was an effective player during his time in Anaheim.
So far this year, Ritchie is fourth on the Bruins in scoring (10 points), is tied for third in shots on goal (35), and is second among forwards in hits (22), one behind Sean Kuraly (23).
These metrics show that when Ritchie isn't scoring, he's at least attempting to affect the game in other ways, unlike the player he was traded for in Danton Heinen who was a pass first forward, offering zero physicality.
A productive fixture on the power play, and an imposing forechecker five-on-five, Ritchie has done well to prove critics wrong after quick judgments last season.
2. Identity crisis for Krejci, second line
Since centering Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton from 2010-2013, then Lucic and Jarome Iginla in 2013-14, David Krejci has yet to play with the same two wingers for an entire season.
Think about that: It's 2021 and the Bruins still haven't found consistent, suitable linemates for Krejci.
That's simply unacceptable.
Yes, Jake DeBrusk has been on Krejci's left wing for the better part of three seasons, but in all honesty it's been anything but smooth sailing for that duo.
Krejci and DeBrusk are among the streakiest top-six forwards in the league.
Entering this season Krejci, DeBrusk and Ondrej Kase were penciled in as the Bruins 2nd line.
Guess how many goals have been scored between the three of them so far this season?
Zero.
Now, to be fair to Kase, he only played in one full game this year before getting injured during the second game of the season.
Still, Kase has only one assist in eight regular season games with the Bruins dating back to last season.
One has to wonder if the Kase trade will end up being a bust for the Bruins.
As for DeBrusk, his point totals have decreased each season since his rookie year and he only has two assists and no goals through nine games this season.
Needless to say, he hasn't been nearly good enough, especially considering he just signed a two-year bridge contract worth $7.35 million.
Until DeBrusk reclaims his scoring touch and proves he can do so consistently, he may find himself on the trading block as early as this year's deadline.
While Krejci has also yet scored a goal he at least has 10 assists on the year, tied for fifth on the team in scoring.
Heading into Thursday night's matchup with the Devils, the Bruins are electing to play David Pastrnak with Krejci and Ritchie and DeBrusk with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
The short-term reasoning is to spread out the offense while simultaneously jumpstarting Krejci and DeBrusk.
Long-term, Cassidy is going to keep Bergeron, Pastrnak and Marchand together.
This means that the Bruins's second line needs to be a scoring threat in the playoffs if and when the Bergeron line gets neutralized.
There's not much optimism that Krejci, DeBrusk and an arbitrary right wing will be that scoring threat, so the Bruins will be wise to target a legit top-six right wing at the trade deadline if they want to compete for a Stanley Cup.
1. Charlie McAvoy playing Norris-caliber defense
Over the last three seasons, Charlie McAvoy's average time on ice has increased from 22:20 in 2018-19, to 23:10 in 2019-20, to 24:19 this season. McAvoy led the team in time on ice each of these seasons.
Make no mistake about it, this has been McAvoy's blue line for a few years now even with Zdeno Chara on the roster.
Now with Chara and Krug both gone, the time is now for McAvoy to become recognized league-wide as one the the best defensemen in the world.
After finishing 10th in last season's Norris Trophy vote for best defenseman in the NHL, McAvoy is sure to garner serious consideration this season as a Norris finalist.
Through the first 14 games, McAvoy is third on the Bruins in scoring with 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) and third on the team in plus/minus (+5).
McAvoy is also making a concerted effort to shoot the puck more this season and is sixth on the Bruins in shots on goal (26).
Skating, puck-handling, vision, situational awareness and hockey IQ -- McAvoy has all the tools to be a Norris candidate this season and for the next decade to come.
The sky's the limit for McAvoy and he's only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.
