;
Bruins Daily staff predictions for 2017-18
Share
In a little over 24 hours, the Boston Bruins will take the ice for the first time in the 2017-18 season when they welcome the defending Western Conference champion Nashville Predators. A good measuring stick right off the bat for Bruce Cassidy and company, who are looking to build off of their first playoff appearance in three years.
With that in mind, your’s truly, along with Bob Snow and Anthony Travalgia, have a few interesting thoughts on the upcoming year. In our season predictions, we’ll take a look at the realistic best and worst case scenarios, make some bold prognostications, tell you where the Bruins will finish and to top it all off with our picks to win the Stanley Cup.
Anthony Travalgia
In Bruce Cassidy’s first full season behind the bench, the Bruins look to build off of last year’s playoff appearance. (Photo by Angela Spagna, Bruins Daily)
Realistic best case scenario
After Bruce Cassidy became the interim coach last season, we saw a more entertaining and fast Bruins squad. However, scoring goals remained an issue. Their playoff loss to the Senators was a prime example of that as they lost four one-goal games. The Bruins will look to youngsters like Anders Bjork and Jake DeBrusk to change their goal scoring ways. If Bjork and DeBrusk live up to the hype, the Bruins can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, but still won’t have enough firepower to get past the eventual Stanley Cup champions. More on that in a bit.
Realistic worst case scenario
It’s quite the opposite of the above. Bjork and DeBrusk struggle in their first professional season and the Bruins continue to have issues with scoring goals. However, this time there is no mid-season spark from a coaching change and the Bruins are left watching the playoffs from afar.
One bold Bruins prediction
The Marchand, Bergeron and Bjork line finish the season as the league’s top scoring trio.
Predicted Bruins finish
Fourth in the Atlantic, and advance to the playoffs as the top wild card team.
Eastern Conference Final prediction
Pittsburgh Penguins over Tampa Bay Lightning
Western Conference Final prediction
Edmonton Oilers over Chicago Blackhawks
Stanley Cup prediction
Penguins over Oilers
Bob Snow
Charlie McAvoy is one of the preseason favorites for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL’s top rookie. (Photo by Joe Makarski, Bruins Daily)
Realistic best-case scenario
Given the past three seasons of the Black and Gold pulling the Hub of Hockey into April before relieving playoff anxieties, the best-case scenario for the 2017-18 season is a playoff spot locked up with a March date attached.
Realistic worst-case scenario
Did we say four straight seasons of nail-biting April games with three of the past four seasons bringing yet another dark TD Garden come the NHL playoffs?
One bold Bruins prediction
Either Charlie McAvoy or Anders Bjork is named the Calder Trophy winner as Rookie of the Year.
Predicted Bruins finish
Second in Atlantic; seventh in the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference Final prediction
Pittsburgh Penguins over Columbus Blue Jackets
Western Conference Final prediction
Edmonton Oilers over Minnesota Wild
Stanley Cup prediction
Oilers over Penguins
Tim Rosenthal
With a new contract in hand, David Pastrnak looks to take another step forward as one of the prolific scorers in the NHL. (Photo by Joe Makarski, Bruins Daily)
Realistic best case scenario
Charlie McAvoy comes as advertised, while Anders Bjork and Jake DeBrusk are a consistent presence in the top-six. That, along with the production of the core players like Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, David Krejci, Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask, could get the Bruins atop the Atlantic Division and into the second round of the playoffs if all goes according to plan.
Realistic worst case scenario
Bjork, DeBrusk and McAvoy are unable to recover after hitting the proverbial rookie wall, while Brandon Carlo takes a step back from his solid season. Couple that with another year of Tuukka Rask making at least 65 appearances along with father time catching up to Zdeno Chara and a lack of production from the third and fourth lines, and the Bruins miss the playoffs for the third time in four years.
One bold Bruins prediction
David Pastrnak scores 40 for the first time in his career and finishes in the top five in goals.
Predicted Bruins finish
Third in the Atlantic; sixth in the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference Final prediction
Pittsburgh Penguins over Toronto Maple Leafs
Western Conference Final prediction
Anaheim Ducks over Nashville Predators
Stanley Cup Prediction
Penguins over Ducks
