The Boston Bruins don’t have much time to finalize their roster for next week’s season opener.
One thing to remember over the next few days is that most of the young players battling for a roster spot — including Matt Fraser, Jordan Caron, Craig Cunningham, Bobby Robins and David Warsofsky — would need to clear waivers before joining the Providence Bruins if they’re released from training camp. The salary cap also will play a role in how the roster is constructed because Boston has under $500,000 of space (factoring in Marc Savard’s contract on LTIR), per CapGeek.
Here are the projected lines and pairings for the Bruins’ Oct. 8 season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden.
Forwards
First Line: Milan Lucic (LW) — David Krejci (C) — Loui Eriksson (RW)
This line saw its first action together in Tuesday’s 5-3 preseason loss to the New York Islanders, and while there were a few bright spots in the third period, it was clear this trio needs more game reps to develop the ideal level of chemistry.
“Hopefully we can get something together quickly,” Eriksson said after the game. “It’s kind of a tough game, too, with penalties — especially in the second there, it was tough to get a good feeling out of it. Definitely we need some more games here maybe and get the connection going. Just work hard. We have a little bit of time to improve and get better, and definitely we can work on some more stuff the next game.”
Lucic and Krejci have played together for many years, and they haven’t had much trouble integrating new right wingers, whether a power forward such as Jarome Iginla or Nathan Horton, or a faster, more skilled player like Tyler Seguin.
Eriksson is a better playmaker than Iginla and Horton, and his presence on the top line should create more opportunities for Krejci, who said last month he wants to score more goals.
“(Lucic and I) played a couple of games with Loui last year, and I like playing with him,” Krejci said Sept. 8. “He’s a great player, he can pass the puck, and I feel if I play with him, I’ll have even more goals because he’s a great passer.”
Expect Julien to be patient with this line and give it plenty of regular-season action to gel.
Second Line: Brad Marchand (LW) — Patrice Bergeron (C) — Reilly Smith (RW)
No surprises here. Bergeron and Marchand have played together since 2010-11, and last year, they seamlessly added Smith to the line during his first season with the Bruins. They combined for 75 goals and 91 assists last season, in addition to their stellar defense and dominant puck-possession numbers.
Third Line: Matt Fraser (LW) — Carl Soderberg (C) — Simon Gagne (RW)
Of all the young forwards competing for a job in camp and the preseason, Fraser has been the most impressive. His excellent shot, physical style of play and willingness to go to the dirty areas (corners, in front of the net, etc) makes him a great fit in Julien’s system. Fraser has the most NHL-ready two-way skill set of the forward prospects in camp.
Soderberg took over the center spot on this line last season when Chris Kelly battled injuries, and the 28-year-old Swede excelled, finishing with 16 goals and 32 assists in 73 games.
Gagne is in camp as a tryout, and even if he accepted the $550,000 veteran’s minimum when signed, Boston would need to free up some salary-cap space. Gagne is a versatile winger capable of playing on the power play and moving into a top-six role if injuries made it necessary. His playoff experience and success also make him a valuable player.
Pastrnak would be a nice fit at right wing here, but he hasn’t played in a preseason game yet and is just 18 years old. Sending him back to Sweden is the best option at this point.
Fourth Line: Daniel Paille (LW) — Chris Kelly (C) — Craig Cunningham (RW)
Gregory Campbell (core injury) is doubtful for the season opener, so that makes Kelly the best fit for fourth-line center. Cunningham has impressed in camp and gives Julien valuable versatility with his ability to play down the middle or on the wing. Paille has played fourth-line left wing full-time since 2010-11 and should slot back into that spot this season.
When Campbell returns, this is what the bottom-two lines could look like:
Kelly–Soderberg–Fraser
Paille–Campbell–Caron
Extra Forward: Gagne
13th Forward: Jordan Caron
Defense
First Pairing: Zdeno Chara, Dougie Hamilton
This duo played together a lot in the 2013-14 regular season and playoffs. Both have an excellent two-way game and often play together on the power play, with Hamilton at the point and Chara in front of the net.
Hamilton is poised for a breakout season. Read why here.
Second Pairing: Johnny Boychuk, Dennis Seidenberg
This duo gives Julien two-way skill, plenty of physicality and a wealth of experience. These D-men also will be a focal point of the team’s penalty kill and play against the opponent’s top lines on most shifts.
Third Pairing: Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid
Krug is one of the league’s best young blueliners, and he led all rookie defensemen with 40 points last season. He also tied for the team lead with 19 power-play points.
Krug’s offensive skill set is sensational, but he’s not the best defender, so the Bruins likely will pair him with a stay-at-home, defensive defenseman — and McQuaid is the best fit. The veteran D-man missed most of last season with quad and ankle injuries, but he has played well in the preseason and gives the blue line much-needed toughness and experience. He’s also willing to drop the gloves when needed and is the first guy to stick up for his teammates.
The Bruins might be forced to keep an extra defensemen or two because they have so much depth at the position with Kevan Miller, David Warsofsky, Matt Bartkowski and McQuaid competing for a third-pairing spot. Miller is the best choice for an extra defenseman role because he plays a strong physical game, and his $800k cap hit is at least $400k smaller than the three other players listed above.
Goaltenders
Starter: Tuukka Rask
The reigning Vezina Trophy winner is one of the three best netminders in the league.
Backup: Niklas Svedberg
Svedberg’s ready for an NHL role after two seasons as the P-Bruins’ starter.
