The Boston Bruins got off to a rocky start to begin the 2024-25 campaign.
The Black and Gold stumbled out of the gates with an 8-9-3 record, which led to general manager Don Sweeney firing Jim Montgomery and naming Joe Sacco as the interim head coach on Nov. 19. Since the change behind the bench, the Bruins have begun to play to their identity and are 12-6-1 under Sacco.
Let’s run through three random (and perhaps bold?) predictions for the Bruins in the new year, which will inspire optimism throughout the rest of the season.
Elias Lindholm continues to find his game
The 30-year-old former first-round pick will not reach his career milestone of 82 points in 82 games when he centered Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk in Calgary during the 2021-22 season. But since moving down a line to center Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle, Lindholm has started to find chemistry with his linemates, as well as a little bit of his scoring touch. He has two goals and an assist in his last five games.
Lindholm will do it all for the Bruins in the new year. Along with Marchand, he will continue to drive the five-on-five offense. He will also take important faceoffs and be a key component on the power play and penalty kill.
With a modest 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) so far, we’re predicting Lindholm closes out his first season in Boston with 20 tallies and 50 assists.
Justin Brazeau solidifies middle-six scoring
The undrafted forward came out of nowhere and showed real promise in the small sample size with the Bruins last season. Brazeau impressed the Boston brass with his willingness to be physical and his presence on the forecheck, traits the Bruins continue to build their identity on.
At 6-foot-6, 227 pounds, Brazeau’s big body is made for net-front greasy goals. He has 17 points in 37 games for Boston this season, including three goals in his last four games.
Charlie Coyle pots 30 goals
The veteran center has been up and down the lineup through 37 games but has seemed to find the perfect spot skating on the second line with Marchand and Lindholm.
Coyle registered career highs in goals (25) and points (60) last season. Despite getting off to a slow start, he has scored three goals in his last five games. Although he has only 10 goals this season, Coyle has really found his groove, showing off his versatility and stepping up his game alongside Marchand and Lindholm.
His physicality, hockey IQ, and ability to win puck battles along the boards have perfectly matched Marchand and Lindholm’s two-way game, making the trio dangerous at both ends of the ice. We’re predicting Coyle pots a career-best 30 goals this season.
Coyle’s move to the second line has also helped Boston solidify its top line of David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie, which also appears to be finding its offensive touch in the last handful of games.
