Grading the 2023 Bruins (Part 3) - Moving on to the bottom-six forwards

Graduation season rolls on across New England.

With mid-May comes soon-to-be graduates at local high schools, colleges and universities eagerly awaiting their final marks and calculating their GPAs. Usually, there are Bruins and Celtics playoff runs to latch onto as the summer awaits, the Red Sox get into the thick of Major League Baseball's slog of a schedule and the Patriots continue offseason programs. 

The Celtics crammed the night before but passed their midterm exam against the Philadelphia 76ers, but it seems that strategy isn't working out against the Miami Heat. The Bruins, however, did not graduate to the conference finals or the second round, flunking a seven-game pop quiz in the first round after passing the regular season with flying colors. 

After assessing Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman in Part 1 and examining the defensemen in Part 2, let's see how the Bruins graded out this season, continuing with the bottom-six forward group:

Charlie Coyle – Regular Season: B+ / Playoffs: B-

Coyle had his best season since arriving in Boston in 2019, putting up 16 goals and 45 points (the second-highest total of his career) in 82 games to go along with a career-best plus-29 rating. He did nearly all of his damage at even-strength, and shouldered a larger defensive role, especially on the penalty kill, where he logged 210:25 of ice time, the second-most on the kill of any Bruins skater, shattering his previous career high of 134:16 from last season. It was his best year at the face-off dot, going 52.6 percent at the dot. He anchored a third line that created mismatches on a near-nightly basis. 

The local kid was dominant in Game 3 against Florida but struggled to make an impact elsewhere in the series. He finished the playoffs with just a goal and an assist. The Cats outscored Boston, 9-4, with Coyle on in all situations (4-4 during 5-on-5) while his line fought to sustain traction as the series wore on. He is in line for another increase in his responsibility. 

Taylor Hall – Regular Season: B / Playoffs: A-

It says a lot about the depth of the Bruins this season (on paper) that we're talking about Taylor Hall among the bottom-six forwards. Hall started the season well on pace to reach the 20-goal threshold with 13 goals by Dec. 17. After, the 31-year-old went ice-cold with a 16-game goalless drought. He seemed to get back on track with three goals in seven games before going quiet again and suffering a lower-body injury that would keep him out until the very end of the regular season. Still, Hall was effective all over the ice. The Bruins carried the play with Hall on at 5-on-5, outscoring opponents, 59-32 (24-15, high-danger).

In the playoffs, Hall caught fire. A seemingly meaningless goal in garbage time of Game 2 proved all he needed was to see one go in after a strong start to the series. He finished with eight points and tied for the team lead in goals with five, including a four-goal, seven-point heater in Games 3 through 5. Hall was nowhere to be found in Games 6 and 7, though, failing to register a shot on goal. It was the second straight Game 7 that he could not make an impact on. His future in Boston may be in the balance, given the salary cap crunch.

Trent Frederic – Regular Season: A- / Playoffs: D

Frederic had a breakout season, finally showing some signs of being an impactful offensive contributor after being selected in the 2016 first round. His 17 goals and 31 points were far and away career bests as he made up one-third of one of the league's best third lines. The 25-year-old began to prove he could be more than a fighter, flashing improved confidence in the offensive zone and along the boards, learning alongside Coyle. Boston was plus-24 with Frederic on at 5-on-5.

Against the Panthers, Frederic was getting chances early on in the series, but just couldn't convert. He had eight individual scoring chances (five high-danger). There will always be the 'What if' game on those chances. He did not bring his typical physicality and bite along for the ride in the first round. He landed just eight hits in his five games of action and failed to notch a single point. He will be expected to take another step next season, maybe as a third-line pivot.

Nick Foligno – Regular Season: B+ / Playoffs: C

Foligno had a strong bounceback for the Bruins, earning a nod for the Masterton Trophy. His 10 goals and 26 points were a significant improvement from the two-goal, 13-point dud in 2021-22. He went from a minus-13 rating to a plus-18. Before a lower-body injury at the end of February knocked him out until the playoffs, Foligno's health was in the best place it had been in a few seasons, and his intangibles were impactful off the ice. Boston had a 33-14 (16-7, high-danger) goal differential with the veteran on at 5-on-5.

In the postseason, Foligno clearly had to work back up to speed after making his return to action in Game 1, but he managed to add a goal and two assists. He was often a step behind, and he found himself out of the lineup for Game 7. Maybe his leadership, à la his Winter Classic speech, would have made a difference when Boston looked frantic after falling behind. He may have to find work elsewhere unless he returns on the cheap.

Tomas Nosek – Regular Season: B / Playoffs: C

Nosek was reliable in the regular season. He put up 18 points (after 17 the year prior) with seven goals, a three-goal improvement from his first season in Boston. He was dominant at the face-off dot, winning 59.3 percent of his draws on the year and serving as a key left-handed option in defensive situations. The 30-year-old was second among Boston forwards with 168:09 of shorthanded ice time in 66 games, playing a key role on the league's best man-down unit. Despite heavy defensive minutes, beginning just 13 percent of his shifts in the attacking zone (the lowest on the Bruins), Boston outscored opponents 20-14 (12-10, high-danger) with Nosek on at 5-on-5.

He remained reliable in the playoffs, but the B's penalty kill saw a drop-off. Goals were 4-1 for Florida with Nosek on the ice in shorthanded situations. He was very limited at 5-on-5 as the bottom-six shuffled, but he was still dominant on draws, winning 60.4 percent of his face-offs. He had a minimal offensive impact, even with a pair of assists. Boston will unlikely be able to compensate Nosek fairly with a new deal.

Garnet Hathaway – Regular Season: B+ / Playoffs: D

Hathaway was as advertised after coming over from the Capitals as part of the Dmitry Orlov deal. After making his debut in the Spoked-B on Feb. 25, Hathaway chipped in four goals and registered 70 hits in 25 games to close the regular season, leading the B's in the latter category. The next-highest total was 49, held by Orlov and Connor Clifton. He was relied on defensively, as he was in Washington, beginning just 18.39 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, the second-lowest among Bruins regulars. 

In the postseason, Hathaway did not have the same physical impact. He delivered 27 hits, second on the B's, but the effects that a player such as Hathaway should have over the course of a seven-game series were not felt. Even if it's unreasonable to expect a fourth-liner to be a consistent X-factor, he was not good in Game 7. He had a lazy turnover attempting to clear the puck before Sam Reinhart's second-period goal. Like Foligno, he's only back in Boston if it's on the cheap.

Jakub Lauko – Regular Season: B+ / Playoffs: D

Lauko was impactful in an extremely limited sample size (23 games) in the regular season, finishing with four goals and three assists in a largely fourth-line capacity. He drew 11 penalties in all in the regular season, leading the NHL in penalties drawn per 60 minutes (3.24), among players with at least 20 games played. The 23-year-old molded himself into an energetic bottom-sixer to earn a lineup spot. 

In the playoffs, Lauko's contributions were not as meaningful in just three games. He did not draw a penalty against the Panthers in 6:51 of ice time per game after averaging 8:51 in the regular season. He generated just two shot attempts and had a pair of penalties in Game 5. Even if it was debatable, his second penalty allowed Florida to score a go-ahead goal before the B's eventual forced overtime. He should get an opportunity to prove himself again in the bottom-six next year.

A.J. Greer – Regular Season: C+ / Playoffs: N/A

Greer did his job as a fourth-line sparkplug in the regular season. It was the first time he had established himself as a full-time NHLer since being drafted 39th overall in 2015. Put up five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 61 games, flashing some of the skill that made him a second-round pick, while providing physical snarl with 101 hits on the year (sixth on Boston) and seven fighting majors. Got himself into trouble at times, like when he cross-checked Mike Hoffman in the mouth, earning a suspension. His energy and impact had a tendency to drift off at points in the regular season, but you wonder if he might have made an impact in that department against Florida.