The center position has been a concern for the Boston Bruins since the retirements of longtime forwards Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle have performed admirably as replacements; however, the team is still searching for their top-six center of the future. As free agency looms on July 1, you can bet Don Sweeney is working all angles to try and fill that void.
Another position that will need to be addressed is left wing. Aside from captain Brad Marchand, Boston has had to replace the likes of Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi in recent months. The Bruins have had Jake DeBrusk, a natural left-side forward, playing on the right side for much of the last two seasons. Other forwards who have manned the left side of the ice are Danton Heinen, James Van Riemsdyk, Patrick Maroon, Jakub Lauko, and others. Now, as the offseason unfolds, all forwards are free agents, with only Heinen involved in talks to return to the club for the 2024-25 season.
A major reason for losing their second-round series to the Florida Panthers was a lack of consistent scoring and high-danger chances. Some of that stemmed from subpar center play, but another reason is a lack of forwards who can drive lines like David Pastrnak and Marchand. The Bruins need another forward who can score 30-plus goals and take some pressure off Pastrnak. The losses of Hall and Bertuzzi were more difficult to handle than probably expected. It is up to General Manager Don Sweeney to try and find a good offensive winger to bring more stability and balanced scoring to the offense.
The crop of free agents who can play left wing is a little thin, led by Jake Guentzel, Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, and Jonathan Marchessault. Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos is a free agent but is likely to re-sign with his current club. So where does Sweeney find adequate scoring on the wing? It could come in trade, with Heinen being a bottom-six option.
Center is the biggest need for Boston for sure. A winger, however, is just as sorely desired, and the Bruins have some cap space to do it if, in fact, DeBrusk finds a new home.
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