Grading the 2023 Bruins (Part 4) - Top-six forward group didn't make the grade in postseason

Graduation season is nearing its end across New England.

With May and June 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, and they're rushing to finish their test against the Miami Heat before class finishes. 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, examining the defensemen in Part 2 and breaking down the bottom-six forward group in Part 3, let's see how the Bruins graded out this season, continuing with the top-six forward group as we finish up with the players:

Patrice Bergeron – Regular Season: A / Playoffs: C

Another regular season, another Selke Trophy nomination for Bergeron, who is perhaps the favorite for his record-extending sixth Selke. Although not the only factors in his case, Bergeron led the league in face-off wins (1,043) and win percentage (61.1 – minimum 1,000 face-offs). Boston had a plus-28 scoring differential with him on the ice at 5-on-5. They were plus-37 at even strength. In the production department, it was a typical year for Bergeron with 27 goals and 58 points in 78 games.

No. 37 sat out the first four games of the Florida series with what was later revealed to be a herniated disc he sustained in the regular season finale. Bergeron did not have the same impact and was clearly not right during the series with his lone point coming via a power play deflection to tie Game 5. The line juggling certainly didn't do the compromised captain any favors, and goals were 4-0, in favor of the Panthers, with Bergeron on the ice at 5-on-5. His future remains up in the air as he mulls retirement or returning to captain the centennial season. 

Brad Marchand – Regular Season: B+ / Playoffs: A

Marchand wasn't himself in the regular season, understandably, as he made his way back from double-hip surgery. He struggled with consistency at 5-on-5 with some slumps in January and toward the end of the regular season, expressing his frustration with where he was at with his game. Still, he managed to finish with strong production, putting up 21 goals and 46 assists for 67 points in 73 games. It was his first season as a full-time NHLer without a shorthanded goal, and it was the first time six seasons that he was not a point-per-game player.

In the first round against Florida, Marchand exceeded expectations, leading the way on the ice with 10 points (4g, 6a) in seven games. He led the way off the ice as well when Bergeron and David Krejci were sidelined. Marchand kept his play between the whistles, refusing to let the Panthers gode him into retaliation as he took one penalty in the series. He was a strong play-driver at 5-on-5, no matter who his linemates were, as Boston held at least 55 percent of shots and attempts as well as 51 percent of scoring chances with No. 63 on the ice. Even then, Florida outscored the B's, 6-3 (4-1, high-danger), at 5-on-5 with him on. 

David Pastrnak – Regular Season: A+ / Playoffs: B

It was a matter of when, not if Pastrnak would reach the 50-goal mark in his NHL career. Not only did he hit 50, but he finished the regular season with 61 tucks, finishing second in the league and becoming just the second Bruin to ever reach the mark (Phil Esposito did it four times). His 113 points were third. In any other season, he'd likely win his second Rocket Richard Trophy and be a favorite for the Hart, but after the season Connor McDavid had, Pastrnak is in the thick of the race for second. He is in some elite company. Sure, the league-leading 109 giveaways are a definite concern, but the company at the top of that list includes many all-world players, too. As much as there is to improve in that area, it's still part of the deal with a player like Pastrnak. 

Pastrnak wasn't the same in the playoffs with five goals (three on the power play) and no assists in seven games. He was quiet, relatively, with two goals through the first five games and didn't have the same type of game-breaking impact, eventually revealing he injured his shoulder on his first shift of Game 1. He ramped up with two in Game 6 (including a between-the-legs beauty) and another in Game 7. Turnovers were an issue across the board for Boston, and Pastrnak's eight in the series didn't help. His go-ahead goal in Game 7 was all for naught. He will remain the key driver of the Bruins offense for the next eight seasons. 

Jake DeBrusk – Regular Season: A / Playoffs: B

Montgomery kept DeBrusk with Bergeron and Marchand during the regular season, and it paid off. The winger should have had a career season, but a fractured fibula and a hand injury in the Winter Classic sidelined him for 17 games. Still, the 26-year-old tied a career-high in goals (27) and set one for points (50). He would have shattered those bests, on pace for 36 goals and 29 assists over 82 games. Boston had 47-22 (29-15, high-danger) with DeBrusk on at 5-on-5, in addition to holding over 60 percent of scoring chances and high-danger looks. He made strides in his all-around game, taking on a large role in the league-best penalty kill, too. Quite the turnaround after a tumultuous past few seasons.

In the playoffs, DeBrusk continued to produce with four goals and two assists in the seven games, in addition to solid underlying numbers. He nearly put the series away with a go-ahead shorthanded goal in Game 6 before Florida tied it. The production was there even as Montgomery bounced him around the lineup. The Panthers outscored the Bruins, 6-5, with DeBrusk on at even strength. There's a chance, no matter how great or slim, that he could be a salary cap casualty this offseason.

David Krejci – Regular Season: A- / Playoffs: C+

Krejci didn't appear to miss a beat after spending all of last season in the Czech League. He finished with 16 goals and 56 points in 70 games. Over a full 82 games, he was on pace for 19 goals and 47 assists for 66 points, which would have been the fourth-highest total of his career. The Czech line with Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha had evident chemistry as the B's outscored opponents 34-14 (17-9, high-danger) with the trio on at 5-on-5 in the regular season, even if it continually traded chances, holding less than a 50 percent share of attempts, shots, scoring chances and high-danger chances. 

There were concerns about durability and pace for Krejci, never one to be accused of being fast, which bled into the playoffs after he missed the final six games of the regular season. He returned for Games 1 and 2 against Florida, but continually looked a step behind. In four games, he had just three shot attempts and three individual scoring chances at 5-on-5. He was strong on the power play and came up in the clutch in Game 7 with a goal and two assists, seemingly turning back the clock. It might have been his swan song. 

Tyler Bertuzzi – Regular Season: A / Playoffs: A-

Bertuzzi instantly turned heads after arriving from Detroit. He was strong alongside Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic before eventually slotting alongside Pastrnak and Zacha down the stretch, a line that had evident chemistry, especially with Bertuzzi and Pastrnak both at even-strength and the power play. It took a few games for his production to equate to his performance, but it clicked as he finished the regular season with 4-11-15 in 17 games after one helper in his first four. 

It took 10 years since being drafted, but Bertuzzi continued his form as a playoff performer from his junior and AHL careers. He finished the series with 10 points (5g, 5a) across the seven games, tied for the lead among Boston. The 28-year-old kept up his chemistry with Pastrnak and continually made big plays around the net with his playmaking and scoring ability in addition to his pest-like nature, just ask Nick Cousins. Even with the strong offensive returns, Bertuzzi was a liability defensively with thoughltess turnovers, one in particular led directly to Anthony Duclair's goal in Game 5. He was fourth in the B's with seven (official) giveaways, and Boston was outscored 7-4 (4-1, high-danger) with Bertuzzi on aat 5-on-5. Shots (48 percent), scoring chances (46.43) and high-danger looks (35.29 percent) were not in the Bruins' favor, too. Still, his production was a large reason Boston took a 3-1 series lead and eventually had a chance in Game 7. Set himself up nicely for a payday in free agency.

Pavel Zacha – Regular Season: A / Playoffs: B

Zacha had a breakout season in his first run with Boston, posting career-highs in goals (21), assists (36) and points (57). He shattered his previous bests of 17 goals (2020-21), 21 assists and 36 points (2021-22). Had a strong connection with his fellow Czechs, serving as somewhat of a two-way conscience on the Czech line that traded chances throughout the year. The Bruins held at least a 50 percent majority of shot attempts, shots and scoring chances with Zacha on at 5-on-5 on top of a plus-26 (65-39) goal differential. The 26-year-old quickly validated the four-year, $4.75 million contract extension he inked mid-season, showing he may be a viable center option going forward. He will, however, need to improve his 45.27 percent mark on face-offs.

In the playoffs, Zacha's goalscoring dried up, but he managed to finish with six assists in the seven games. He had 18 individual shot attempts at 5-on-5, 12 individual scoring chances (four high-danger). He very much looked the part of a top-six center when Bergeron and/or Krejci were out of the lineup, and the B's had a 6-2 scoring edge at 5-on-5 with Zacha on the ice in addition to significant advantages in shot attempts (61.58), shots (67.92), scoring chances (61.36) and high-danger chances (63.64). He had an assist but no shots on goal in both Games 6 and 7. Still struggled at the dot with a 48 percent success rate in the series.