Where Bruins Must Improve To Compete With Elite Teams

When the Bruins entered the 2023-24 campaign they did so missing two franchise centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, who retired after Boston’s historical 2022-23 season that ended with a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Florida Panthers. Boston finished near the top of the Eastern Conference last season, but once again fell short in the playoffs courtesy of Florida.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney once again reset the roster by adding Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Mark Kastelic and Max Jones to bolster the lineup.

Sweeney addressed how he feels Boston can play better in the upcoming season during a press conference to open training camp at Warrior Ice Arena on Wednesday.

“I believe that we can forecheck a little bit better,” Sweeney told reporters, as seen on NESN. “We’re a strong defensive team. Systematically I think we’re pretty tight, but the more we can forecheck up the ice and certainly check further away from out net, whether that’s the neutral zone as well and not when you defend.

“You defend all the time, which we didn’t, but Florida does a good job — the team that won. Teams that are good and elite, they have a way of countering some of the things that you do. And you have to be able to play a different game at times. Edmonton changed their game in
order to be successful in the playoffs. You have to be adaptable as a hockey club.”

Sweeney added: “You also have to have production. Our power play in the second part of the year was a bit of an Achilles (heel) for us. We need to get back online. We believe that Elias coming in and playing the bumper will help in that regard.

“… Now the playoffs, as the playoffs go along, if you’re fortunate enough to continue to advance, penalty killing becomes paramount and the power play becomes less of a factor on most nights. We’ve had good penalty killing. Joe (Sacco) does a great job there. … Special teams are a big factor. We’ve been typically a very good team.”

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery is excited to see where Elias Lindholm will fit in Boston’s power play.

“First off face offs, we’re going to have more end zone time I think right away winning faceoffs,” Montgomery told reporters, as seen on NESN. “Watching him this summer, the way he beat high-end centers like (Leon) Draisaitl and (Ryan) O’Reilly on big draws in the playoffs … that got us excited about where we start with the power play.

“And then, I just think he gives us more options on the power play entries and in zone. Makes us a lot harder. If you leave him alone, he’s going to score. So (opponents) are going to have to be aware of where he is now. Now, you’ve got a lot more killer instinct in the power play and options that the penalty kill has to worry about.”