Even if Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci do eventually sign -- and for the purposes of this exercise, we’re going to assume they are -- there will be an opportunity for a number of Bruins to step up early in the season.
Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk are all set to miss time early on -- likely the first month or two -- leaving some big shoes to fill in the lineup. On the latest episode of The Skate Podcast, we came up with a list of Bruins we are most interested to see step into bigger roles. Listen to the full podcast below; this discussion begins at the 31:10 mark.
Taylor Hall
With Marchand out, Hall becomes the de facto No. 1 left wing. Whether he’s playing with Bergeron or Krejci, and whether he has David Pastrnak on the opposite wing or not, the Bruins will need Hall to help drive the offense. After a slow start last season, he did that in the second half once he and Pastrnak were united. Hall finished third on the team in even-strength points (46) and first in even-strength assists (33). The Bruins would love to see him add in a little more goal-scoring after finishing with 20 (13 at even strength) last year.
Jake DeBrusk
DeBrusk also took off in the second half after getting moved up to first-line right wing. He’s clearly a happier player now, as evidenced by him rescinding his trade request, and he’s locked into a top-six role at least to start the season. Whether that’s on the right again or on his natural left side lining up behind Hall is up to new coach Jim Montgomery. Either way, DeBrusk will have a big role to play early on, and every opportunity to show he deserves to stay that high in the lineup after Marchand returns.
Craig Smith
Two years ago, Smith was a stellar complement to Krejci and Hall on the second line. Last year, he struggled on the third line and went especially quiet down the stretch and into the playoffs (zero points in seven games vs. Carolina). The Bruins might not need Smith to be a second-liner again -- even early on, depending on how Montgomery lines things up -- but they will definitely need him to be a good third-liner. A strong start to the season from Smith would help the Bruins feel a lot better about their offensive depth.
Mike Reilly
Reilly found himself as a healthy scratch down the stretch last season. When there was speculation this offseason that the Bruins might trade away a defenseman, he was the name that came up the most. Instead, it looks like the Bruins are going to hang on to all their D, especially early on while they wait for McAvoy and Grzelcyk to return. For Reilly, that means he could get a chance to step into a top-four role out of the gate. And with that will come an opportunity to prove to new coach Jim Montgomery that he deserves a regular spot in the lineup even after the B’s get healthy on the blue line.
Jakub Zboril
Zboril appeared to finally be on the verge of establishing himself as an NHL regular last season, but then he suffered a season-ending torn ACL. He is expected to be fully recovered in time for the new season, and with others out, he’ll get another shot to show he belongs. With everyone healthy, Zboril would maybe be penciled in as the seventh or eighth D. But he’s going to get a solid month or two to prove he deserves to be higher on the depth chart than that.
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