The Boston Bruins have now completed half of their season. With 44 games played and game 45 against the Montreal Canadiens approaching, the squad has undoubtedly exceeded many people’s expectations heading into the 2023–24 season. They are now leading the Atlantic Division with 63 points, five points ahead of the second-place Florida Panthers, following a strong first half of the season. They are now ahead of every team in the Eastern Conference and only behind the Vancouver Canucks in the league standings in terms of total points.
They have put together this great record despite not playing quite as dominantly as they did in the 2022-23 season, and facing much more challenges early on from the various injuries that have popped up throughout the roster and their struggles in recent weeks to win in extra time. Knowing how last season ended, I think many would agree it’s better to face some adversity now.
With the start of the back half of the Bruins’ schedule and the All-Star Break getting closer and closer on the horizon, it’s a good time to make a couple of predictions for how the next few months of the Bruins’ season will go.
Trent Frederic Surpasses 20-Goal Mark
Trent Frederic had a breakout year in 2023. He finished the 2022–23 season with 17 goals and 31 points in 79 games after having a fantastic second half to the season. This considerably surpassed his previous career totals of 12 goals and 23 points. As a result, he was given a new two-year deal and faced greater expectations heading into the 2023–24 campaign.
So far, Frederic has completely lived up to expectations for this season, and is even surpassing them. He already has 13 goals and 23 points in 44 games and is on pace to finish the season with a new career high in points and goals. Things finally seem to be clicking on the ice for the 2016 first-round draft pick.
He’s currently on pace to hit 24 goals, giving him some wiggle room to reach that 20-goal mark for the first time. I think it’s a pretty reasonable prediction to have for him at this point. It’ll also be interesting to see if he’s able to surpass the 40-point mark this season as well.
This season, Frederic has truly been one of the guys to step up when Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci weren’t around. When his current contract expires after the 2024–2025 season, if he keeps playing at this level, he should have little trouble finding another one.
David Pastrnak is a Finalist for Hart Trophy (Again).
David Pastrnak is a top-tier NHL player and a crucial component of the Bruins’ attack. He should be a finalist for the Hart Trophy this season, as he was last year. It is impossible to overstate how important he is to this team—he is still among the top five players in the NHL in terms of goals and points.
Even though Connor McDavid earned the victory last season, he might have a better chance of winning it this time around. Nobody is absolutely running away with this award this season like McDavid did in 2022–2023—but it’s too early to tell. Pastrnak currently has the best chance of any player in the league, which will add even more drama and excitement to the upcoming few months.
Bruins Trade a Current Roster Player at Deadline
Don Sweeney, general manager of the Boston Bruins, enjoys being involved during the trade deadline and typically strikes solid deals. He was able to add Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitry Orlov, and Garnet Hathaway last season; each had a distinct impact on the team during their brief stays in Boston. He acquired Taylor Hall in 2021 and Hampus Lindholm in 2022. His trade deadline moves typically involve a blend of roster players who could use a change of scenery and draft prospects who aren’t always playing at their best.
With the Bruins as contenders once again, it isn’t that outrageous to think that Sweeney will be looking for a similar type of deal again. I think Matt Grzelcyk is a name that could be thrown out there as an option considering he’s in the final year of his contract, though with the team’s struggles on defense, it may not be wise to trade one of their better blueliners. Ian Mitchell and Jesper Boqvist won’t have a ton of value and would probably have to be paired with a first-round pick, but they’re both still young players who seem to be struggling to find a spot in the depth chart.
Depending on how his negotiations for an extension proceed, Jake DeBrusk is another name that might be relevant at the trade deadline. It has not been an easy season for him, and at the end of the season, he might want to test the free agency market, even if I would personally want to see him stay in the black and gold and receive an extension. It could be wiser for the Bruins to move him before the deadline if they have any evidence that this is the case.
Stanley Cup or Bust
It is reasonable to argue that the Bruins are Stanley Cup contenders halfway through the season and that they ought to aim high for a deep postseason run this spring and summer. Hopefully, this club can play with a little bit of a chip on their shoulders after the disappointing season before. They are in dire need of redemption, and it is entirely possible.
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