Bruins training camp begins Wednesday with off-ice testing, followed by the first official practice of the new season on Thursday.
For a look at the Bruins’ full training camp roster, click here.
Here are five storylines we’ll be following:
1. The big second-line center question
Naturally. Second-line center became the biggest question mark on this roster when David Krejci left for the Czech Republic and no direct replacement was brought in. Charlie Coyle is the most likely candidate to claim this job, but he may be limited for the first week or so of camp as he works his way back from offseason knee surgery.
Whatever shifts Coyle does get with Taylor Hall and Craig Smith will obviously be worth watching. Coyle played over 200 minutes with Smith at five-on-five last season, so there’s some familiarity there. But he played just 10 minutes with Hall, so that’s where the chemistry-building process is going to be crucial, especially if Coyle’s repetitions are limited to start.
With Coyle likely to sit out some drills early on, there could also be an opportunity for a couple other players to get a shot between Hall and Smith. Jack Studnicka (who put on 15 pounds this summer, in case you haven’t heard) would be one option, as the 22-year-old looks to make a push for a roster spot and regular playing time. Free-agent signings Nick Foligno and Erik Haula could get looks too, although both ultimately seem destined for third-line roles. Speaking of which…
2. How does the third line look?
The Bruins’ third line was a weak point for most of last season and became a particularly glaring problem in the playoffs. Instead of running it back or hoping young players would step up, the Bruins went out and got a pair of veterans in the aforementioned Foligno and Haula that they expect to bring more experience, more consistency and -- most importantly -- more offense to the line.
The expectation is that Bruce Cassidy’s first choice here will be Haula at center, Foligno on the right, and Jake DeBrusk on the left. Oh yeah... remember DeBrusk? The guy everyone thought was going to be traded this offseason after taking a big step back last year? Well, he’s still here, and he’ll be one of the most interesting Bruins to watch this preseason.
Even if DeBrusk doesn’t get back to being the player who scored 27 goals in 2018-19, the Bruins need him to at least be much better than the one who scored five goals in 41 games last season. Just landing somewhere in between would help the third line turn things around.
Studnicka could also end up factoring in here. While making the jump all the way up to the second line might be asking too much of him, forcing his way onto a third line that could use his offensive skill isn’t out of the question.
3. Do any other young forwards make a serious push for a roster spot?
We’ve already covered Studnicka, who is probably better suited to a middle-six role than a fourth-line role. Trent Frederic should be on track to at least make the team, as the 23-year-old who played 42 games last year could slot in at either center or left wing on the fourth line. He could get a chance to move up if he shows offensive improvement, but figures to start out there.
The rest of the fourth line seems likely to be filled out by players with some experience, with Tomas Nosek (signed this offseason), Curtis Lazar (acquired in the Hall trade), Chris Wagner and Karson Kuhlman all in the mix. Like Frederic, Nosek and Lazar can both player center or wing as well (the left for Nosek, the right for Lazar).
But that doesn’t mean there’s no opportunity for anyone else to break through. If someone really forces the Bruins’ hand, they’ll find a way to get him on the ice. 2016 sixth-round pick Oskar Steen and 2018 third-round pick Jakub Lauko may be the closest to breaking through, while 23-year-old Samuel Asselin, 24-year-old Cameron Hughes and 26-year-old Jesper Froden (signed out of Sweden this summer) could have a case to make as well.
It’s a crowded group and an uphill battle for those guys, but don’t rule out someone from outside the expected group of NHL forwards kicking down the door.
4. Who’s providing depth on defense?
The Bruins’ six regulars on the blue line should be set as long as everyone is healthy. Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Connor Clifton will hold down the right side (in that order), while Matt Grzelcyk, Mike Reilly and free-agent signing Derek Forbort will be on the left (in an undetermined and likely fluid order).
But as we all know, the chances of going through a whole season with no injuries on defense are slim to none. The Bruins will need someone else to play at some point, so the question is, who?
Jakub Zboril got an extended look last season, playing 42 games. He looked fine at times but struggled at others, and ultimately fell out of the top six once everyone was healthy and Reilly came in at the trade deadline. He should have an inside track to being the seventh or eighth defenseman, but the Bruins would love to see the 24-year-old take a step forward and push for more than that.
Urho Vaakanainen, the Bruins’ 2017 first-round pick, is another player who would ideally already be an NHL regular at this point, but hasn’t been able to break through. Optimism among fans seems to be waning, but let’s see if Vaakanainen can do anything this preseason that might rekindle some of it.
Jack Ahcan is getting rave reviews so far this summer, but may need more seasoning in Providence and also faces the issue of just how many undersized defensemen the Bruins would keep on their NHL roster. Brady Lyle could be pushing his way up the organization's right-side depth chart, but the Bruins will be happy to let him get more experience in Providence this year.
The one veteran in the blue-line depth mix is John Moore, who is A) still around, and B) actually healthy after battling numerous injuries over the last couple years. The Bruins like what Moore brings in the dressing room -- he is, by all accounts, a great teammate. The question will be whether he can get back to being a player who helps them on the ice as well.
5. A new era in net… sort of
There remains the very real possibility that Tuukka Rask returns to the Bruins sometime around January once he’s recovered from offseason hip surgery, so we’re not declaring the page completely turned just yet. Until then, though, the Bruins’ net belongs to Linus Ullmark, whom the Bruins signed to a four-year, $20 million deal this offseason, and Jeremy Swayman, who was excellent in 10 starts as a rookie last season.
We wouldn’t really call this a “position battle,” as the reality is that Ullmark and Swayman will probably split playing time pretty evenly this season as long as both are healthy and playing well. That said, it’s just going to be fun to watch these two play. Both are very talented, and this definitely has the potential to be one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL.
That’s something the Bruins are used to having, with Rask and Jaroslav Halak (and Anton Khudobin before him) giving the B’s that ultimate security blanket for the last several years. The names are now different and the players are younger, but goaltending should still be a strength for Boston if Ullmark and Swayman play up to their potential.