NHL Notebook: Sizing up the Bruins’ 7th Player Award candidates

It’s a regular tradition at the end of every Bruins regular-season campaign, in which the B's faithful vote on and dole out the 7th Player Award — given to the player who exceeded fans' expectations during the course of the season.

It’s often a grueling process when it comes to picking out just one player that went above and beyond over an 82-game season, helping the B’s franchise stars pull on the rope and put the club over the top.

In years past, the award has often been marred by top-six talents like David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and others taking home the honor. But as of late, it has gone to more unheralded candidates such as Chris Wagner (2018-19), Charlie Coyle (2019-20) and Nick Ritchie (2020-21). 

So who takes it home this season?  Let’s take a look at my ranking of the most deserving candidates for the 2021-22 7th Player Award — in what looks to be a crowded field within the B’s locker room.

(NOTE: In keeping with the hope that the B’s 7th Player Award will go to a player further down on the depth chart, we’re going to omit top-line players from consideration. So even a guy like Jake DeBrusk will be on the outside looking in.)

7. Curtis Lazar

A checking unit is often a treasure trove of potential when it comes to viable candidates for the 7th Player Award, with Lazar serving as the next man up this year. Despite being a bit of a throw-in in the Taylor Hall deal, the 27-year-old forward has been a versatile cog in Boston’s bottom-six depth chart. 

Lazar has already surpassed his career-high in goals scored with eight tallies through 63 games, and sits just four points away from his career-high of 20 (recorded back in 2015-16). And frankly, he could have already hit that mark had he cashed in on the number of quality chances that he has generated this season. Add in his PK contributions, and Lazar is a useful weapon in Boston's fourth-line corps. 

Frankly, multiple fourth-line stalwarts are deserving of some consideration — including Tomas Nosek and Anton Blidh. 

6. Craig Smith

For months, the Frederic-Coyle-Smith line was putting together encouraging shifts marked with fruitful O-zone possessions. But what turned a puck-possession trio into a 5v5 matchup nightmare was Smith starting to finish these quality chances in the offensive zone with regularity. 

Over the last 28 games, Smith has buried 10 goals and posted 19 points, with the shot-first winger often serving as the primary triggerman next to Coyle. The only reason why Smith is a bit further down on this list is his slow start, with the 32-year-old forward limited to two goals and four points over his first 14 games. 

But even with some scoring lulls, Smith has usually been as steady as they come when it comes to his baseline production — with the forward surpassing the 15-goal mark for the seventh time in his 11-year career in the NHL ranks. 

5. Trent Frederic 

Through the first few months of the 2021-22 season, you could have made the argument that Frederic was mired in no-man's land when it comes to his development and where exactly he fit in the B's lineup. Was he a pugnacious scrapper only pressed into service against bruising opponents? Perhaps a fourth-line stalwart? The Bruins would have opted for the latter, but a dearth of O-zone production and some D-zone miscues continued to make him a square peg in a round hole when it came to Bruce Cassidy's demands for his fourth-line footsoldiers.

But give credit where it's due. Since getting asked to simplify his game as a third-line winger, Frederic has been a useful weapon in Boston's bottom-six corps — winning puck battles, throwing his weight around on the forecheck and seeing a much-needed uptick in his offensive totals (13 points since the start of January). He's certainly not re-inventing the wheel, but Frederic is finally letting the game come to him, rather than seeking out scraps and putting his team at a disadvantage.

Granted, it hasn't always been a seamless transition, as evidenced by Tuesday's costly infraction against St. Louis and his subsequent benching. Still, Frederic has done an awful lot to elevate his stock over the last few months — giving Boston a blend of physicality and straight-line play that should come in handy come the postseason.

4. Jeremy Swayman

Honestly, if you were a betting individual — Swayman would be my pick as to who will actually take home the 7th Player Award in the next couple of weeks. 

The netminder certainly checks off plenty of boxes. 

Even with a recent lull (.881 save percentage over 11 games), Swayman’s baseline totals have been very encouraging, especially for a rookie (21-12-3 record, .917 save percentage). And frankly, the netminder is already a fan favorite thanks to his gregarious personality and now long-standing label as the heir apparent as Boston’s franchise goalie.

Still, even Cassidy was quick to note earlier this week that Swayman was more meeting — rather than exceeding — expectations, given the high standards he set for himself when he stormed onto the scene in 2021 (.945 save percentage over 10 games).

Swayman has a ridiculously high ceiling and could elevate himself into an elite tier of netminders in short order. But when it comes to stepping up in big moments and helping the Bruins shift momentum back in their favor, another netminder stands in front of the rookie. 

3. Linus Ullmark

For all of the flak that Ullmark received at the start of the season due to his slow start (.903 save percentage in first six games) and his contract, the veteran netminder has bailed out this team time and time again in 2021-22.

During those gloomy days back in December and January when the Bruins faced COVID (and questions about Tuukka Rask’s status), Ullmark was a steadying presence, winning 13 of his 17 starts with a .916 save percentage.

And after a rough five-game stretch in February and March where he went 1-3-1 with a .883 save percentage, Ullmark has been a force as of late — posting a .944 save percentage over his last six games.

Honestly, just give the 7th Player Award to both Swayman and Ullmark — and have them hug it out at center ice. Problem solved. 

2. Charlie Coyle

It’s not too often that you see players win MULTIPLE 7th Player Awards. But Coyle, who took home the honors in 2019-20, makes a pretty compelling case for himself this year.

After a brutal 2020-2021 season in which a nagging knee injury sapped Coyle of his puck-possession prowess (and subsequent offensive production - 6 goals, 16 points in 51 games), the Weymouth native has managed to completely right the ship this season.

His knee now healed following offseason surgery, Coyle has passed the eye test when it comes to replicating the cycle-heavy style of play that played a key role in Boston’s run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

Coyle is currently the driver on a third line (27 points since Jan. 1) that has outscored opponents, 15-6, in over 260 minutes of 5v5 ice time together. But even when Coyle was a bit of a mismatched asset as a 2C with Taylor Hall, he was still producing - nearly eclipsing his past season’s scoring total with 14 points through the B’s first 26 games.

The awakening of Boston's secondary-scoring output has played a major role in the club's mid-season turnaround, and Coyle's bounceback campaign has been a foundational piece of that development.

1. Erik Haula

Don’t forget - the key principle when it comes to judging a player’s 7th Player Award candidacy is how much they exceeded the expectations of fans during the year.

And when it comes to expectations, no one on this roster has shattered them quite like Erik Haula.

Brought in during free agency as a responsible, two-way forward who could help round out Boston’s secondary scoring, few expected the journeyman to earn top-six reps, especially at 2C.

And after a brutal start to his tenure in Boston (1 goal, 3 points in 18 games), some wondered if Haula was even an everyday player on the B’s depth chart.

But after being handed the keys to the second line in January, Haula has been nothing short of a revelation - posting 36 points over 54 games.

Granted, having two elite wingers next to you in Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak likely helps out quite a bit, but Haula’s ability to play with pace and serve as a safety blanket defensively has made him a natural fit on this high-flying top-six grouping.

For all of the concerns regarding Boston’s vacancy at 2C, Haula has offered some short-term security - posting 14 points in 13 games since the trade deadline.

Without Haula running with the opportunity given to him, this Bruins team could have been in rough, rough shape this winter.

———

A recruiting pitch from Jerry York

When you’ve been behind the bench in the collegiate ranks for 50 years, you tend to make a lot of connections.

So when news first broke on Wednesday that legendary hockey coach Jerry York was calling it a career, it came as no surprise that just about every corner of the hockey world had an anecdote to share about the longtime BC bench boss. 

For Marc McLaughlin, who served as captain of the Eagles in what ended up being York’s final season at the helm of the program, his coach’s impact went far beyond his ability to conduct a team from the bench. 

“Just so happy for him,” McLaughlin said. “His career speaks for itself, the trophies, the success he's had. But just his passion for the game is off the charts and unmatched across college hockey — whether it's a practice in September, playing in the Beanpot against BU, it's the same energy he brings, the same positivity he brings to our team every day. It's pretty awesome to see. So many life lessons that I've learned from him over the years and I can't thank him enough.”

As part of the hockey coaching fraternity in the Boston area (and a lover of golf), Bruce Cassidy has built up quite the rapport with York over the years. But their connection stretches all the way back to the ‘80s — when York, then the coach at Bowling Green, tried to a recruit a talented, puck-moving defenseman out of Ottawa. 

“Jerry recruited me when I was a 16-year-old, at Bowling Green. He called me. He couldn’t take me the next year because he was taking Dave Ellett and Garry Galley, but he offered me a scholarship for the next year if I was willing to wait,” Cassidy said. “I ended up getting drafted in junior by the [Ottawa] 67’s, so I went that route. But I crossed paths with Jerry a long time ago. It was good to catch up with him here in the hallways when I first got hired and kind of reminisce about those things. I didn’t even think he’d remember, to be honest with you. I did, and he certainly did.”

Cassidy added: “I wish him all the best, him and ([his wife) Bobbie and his family. Hopefully he gets to do whatever he wants and still pokes his head in at BC and gives them some advice, because I’m sure they’ll be happy to have it. He’s a real knowledgeable hockey guy and a great guy, great guy. Wish him all the best.”

York ends his coaching career with a stout resume — including a 1,123-682-128 record, five NCAA titles, 13 Frozen Four appearances, 16 conference regular-season titles, nine Beanpots and a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

Penguins coming to Fenway 

In a move that hardly came as a surprise, the NHL announced on Wednesday that the Bruins will be hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Winter Classic — which will be held at Fenway Park on Jan. 2, 2023. 

The NHL announced way back in early February that the Bruins would play host to the Winter Classic once again, but it took over two months for the league to finally reveal their opponent. And even though a Bruins-Rangers matchup would make plenty of sense in the Sox ballpark, the writing was on the wall for the Pens to make the trek up to Jersey Street.

After all, the Penguins are now owned by John Henry’s Fenway Sports Group (FSG) — which bought the NHL franchise back in November. FSG now owns three sports franchises in the Red Sox, Liverpool F.C. and now the Pens.