Expectations; a four syllable word that prognosticators love to share.

The opposite is true for players, coaches and upper management personnel in any given NHL organizations. Often times they try to shrug off questions about outsiders’ predictions for any given season.

The Bruins are no different, yet Monday was an exception to the norm during the team’s annual media day.

Coming off a 112-point 2017-18 season and their first second-round appearance since the 2013-14 campaign, the Bruins know they’ll have a bigger target on their chests in 2018-19. Few NHL media members pegged the Black and Gold to have that type of success last year, let alone appear in the second round. Some even predicted them to miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.

Yet, here they are five months after their Round 2 elimination at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are once again one of the pre-season Stanley Cup favorites.

The Bruins’ talented rookie class a year ago — highlighted by Charlie McAvoy, Jake DeBrusk, Matt Grzelcyk and Danton Heinen — are one year older and wiser. A new crop of highly-touted rookies, including Ryan Donato and Urho Vaakanainen, hope to follow in their footsteps. Core players like Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Tuukka Rask and Zdeno Chara keep a solid locker room nucleus intact. And off-season additions John Moore, Jaroslav Halak and Chris Wagner all hope to make a good impression in their new home.

Sure, some roster holes remain. But the Bruins have fewer questions surrounding their depth entering this season compared to last, at least on paper. And with most of that core returning, the Bruins know that other teams see them as a formidable contender.

The expectations from the outside world have changed. Nothing is different inside the Bruins’ locker room, however, at least according to Tuukka Rask.

“We always have high expectations for ourselves, so [there’s] nothing new there,” Boston’s No. 1 netminder said. “We just have to remember that every opponent that we play will expect the best of us. We’re not going to surprise any opponents this year, so that’s something we’re going to have to keep in mind and prepare for, but that’s about it.”

More often than not, the other 30 teams will bring their A-game on a nightly basis.

“You want to try to fine-tune your game and play to your potential. When teams know that you’re a good team, they’re excited to play you every single night,” said defenseman Torey Krug, who will miss the first three weeks of the regular season with another ankle injury.

“It pushes us and it forces us to play at a level that we know we can and to be our best. So, it’s fun to be a team like that and to have to show up every single night.”

The Bruins know they’ll get the best from the Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, their two fellow Atlantic Division juggernauts. Like last year, they may have to face both teams in April and May on the road to the Stanley Cup.

That task was hard enough last season against the likes of Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. John Tavares’ arrival in Toronto makes a potential Cup run even more difficult.

That, along with an improved Sabres squad, and a Panthers team looking to make a big leap forward makes for one tough Atlantic Division in 2018-19.

“It is what it is. Regardless of who we’re playing every night, it’s going to be tough. There are some really good teams this year,” forward Brad Marchand said. “Every year it seems like teams are getting better; there’s not really any bad teams. So, regardless of who you play, it’s going to be a tough battle every night.”

Unlike the last few years, hockey pundits aren’t putting the Bruins in the fringe playoff category. They aren’t quite ready to declare them preseason Cup favorites, either, despite their 51 wins a year ago.

Again, on paper, the Bruins are back in the upper-echelon of the 31-team National Hockey League, but challenges await.

Responding to the short (replacing Krug’s productivity during the first few weeks) and long-term challenges (finding a top-six forward for DeBrusk and David Krejci) will undoubtedly play a big role toward dictating Boston’s direction this season.

Exceeding expectations last year was one thing. Responding to bigger expectations is a challenge, but something that DeBrusk and company are looking forward to.

“I think it’s a good thing. I think people expect a lot out of us, and so do we as individuals,” DeBrusk said. “Individually, in my own game, I expect a lot [out of myself] as well and obviously, with how we placed last year there’s going to be [big] expectations for the team. We’re taking it in stride and taking it as a challenge.”

The first challenge comes Wednesday against the defending champion Washington Capitals.