The end of this playoff run was obviously disappointing to the Boston Bruins, as they always are when it comes to a sudden, unsatisfying conclusion.
That part flat out sucks for everybody in the organization.
“There’s no consolation for losing…it sucks. You put that first and foremost that it sucks,” said Charlie Coyle. “You have to look ahead and see what you have and what we can continue to grow on. I'm really excited about that. It gives you a little spark for the summer to go out and get better, get better for your team. I love our core and what we have is special. The culture in here is special and we always talk about that. I think it says a lot about why guys come in, and even younger coming in, they relish in their roles and come in and do well. It’s the culture that allows them to do that.”
But the temporarily bitter end also speaks to their realistic expectations for this season that were brought to light when the team leaders were ready to speak about this summer, and the unique situation facing a franchise that’s going to have upwards of $20 million in salary cap space this summer to make wholesale improvements.
That number balloons to $25 million plus if they can trade Linus Ullmark this summer, which sounds like it’s going to be a challenge when it comes to executing the deal. That could put a lot of players like Charlie McAvoy into a team group sales role where they’ll be recruiting other top players across the NHL to come in and join the Black and Gold.
“I couldn’t see myself playing any place else but Boston. I think this is the best city in the world. I think these are the best fans in the world and I am so grateful to be there. If I had the opportunity to sell [the Bruins] to people I would absolutely jump in,” said McAvoy. “I know this is a unique offseason for us to have some money to spend and if it comes to that point and I can help any [free agents] in terms of coming here, I’ve got nothing but good things to say about this place. It’s really special.”
We’re not talking about last season’s bargain basement approach where the Bruins needed to make small money, small-term offers to proven veterans looking for work like James van Riemsdyk, Milan Lucic and Kevin Shattenkirk among others.
Instead, they will be endowed with the salary cap space to land a No. 1 center, a goal-scoring winger and perhaps a physical, rugged defenseman capable of mixing in with McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Brandon Carlo, Mason Lohrei and Andrew Peeke who could make Parker Wotherspoon an ideal seventh defensemen on the roster. The D-man player could be a trade as there aren’t a ton of names on the UFA list that jump out at you immediately while fitting that specific profile, but there are some intriguing forwards poised to hit free agency.
Certainly, that will be the biggest area of scrutiny after the Bruins averaged a paltry 2.38 goals per game in the Stanley Cup playoffs, which ranked them 12th out of the 16 Stanley Cup playoff teams that qualified for the postseason.
"The lack of our ability to score in the playoffs," said Jim Montgomery after the Game 6 loss pointing to the fatal playoff flaw for the B's. "You can't win every game 2-1, you know?”
Sam Reinhart will be a free agent after a 57-goal season with the Panthers and could be the ultimate double-whammy acquisition of improving the B’s scoring punch while weakening their Panthers adversaries.
After showing interest in him at the NHL trade deadline and clearly having a demonstrable need for a bona fide No. 1 center given how the playoffs went with Pavel Zacha and Coyle, it feels like Elias Lindholm will again be on Boston’s radar as a two-way center option.
Jake Guentzel finished with 30 goals and 77 points in 67 games for the Penguins and Hurricanes, and it speaks to his value as a player and a teammate that Sidney Crosby was steaming mad when he was traded from Pittsburgh to Carolina. Even Steve Stamkos would be an interesting option if things get acrimonious enough in Tampa Bay with a Lightning team that’s going to have cap challenges this year and beyond.
And Tyler Bertuzzi might be a free agency option after learning the grass wasn’t any greener in Toronto coming off a one-year deal that he left Boston for to the consternation of B’s fans.
The bottom line, though, is that the Bruins are going to need more scoring punch and that goes doubly so if Jake DeBrusk ends up walking in free agency after leading the Bruins in postseason points (11) after a so-so regular season.
Interestingly enough, DeBrusk said winning a Cup was his No. 1 priority when it comes to his free agency decision.
“To win. I think that's something that I want. I think, I’ve been now, this is my seventh time in the playoffs. I've got a lot of experience playing [playoff] games obviously, was close in 2019,” said DeBrusk during Bruins breakup day on Sunday. “That's the biggest thing. I think that's all I want to do now is to win a Stanley Cup. So that's number one priority. Just going to go and it's probably what I’ll look for.”
This season was always looked by B’s management as a difficult transitional campaign for the Black and Gold. They had to deal away Taylor Hall due to salary cap constraints and go bargain shopping in free agency, and they needed to deal with massively important franchise players like Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci leaving Boston for retirement.
And that all happened while introducing a lot of youth to the lineup that will pay dividends moving forward.
"We got much younger, we had some experienced guys who came in who have won cups and did an unbelievable job that any player could learn from. Guys that grabbed the opportunity, they came in and did a good job so I’m very proud," said David Pastrnak. "A lot of people were saying that we weren’t going to make the playoffs or that we’d be in the wild card spot, and I think we put ourselves in a good spot going into playoffs. It’s definitely a much younger team, and it’s a good experience for some guys to get that first playoff series win and good motivation going into the summer for next season.”
Now the possibilities are endless for improvement and Don Sweeney and Co. get to take some really big swings with ample salary cap space, a situation they are absolutely not accustomed to in recent B’s history. It’s a real question as to whether or not they will make the right choices with that money and avoid the free agency mistakes, like David Backes, of the past, but it’s an exciting time now for the Bruins being legitimate power players this summer with loads of cap space, tradeable players and the impetus to make a few big moves to push them over the top.