Unlike his first two seasons, Jim Montgomery is watching his team navigate through some growing pains to start the 2024-25 campaign.
The Boston Bruins earned points in four of their first seven games. They’ve yet to put forth a complete 60-minute effort during their 3-3-1 start to the new year.
For some of the positive developments from Jeremy Swayman’s return, the offensive output from their blue liners and the fourth line’s hot start, the Bruins also encountered their share of setbacks stemming from turnover, scoring and penalty problems. Amid rotating personnel within their middle six, Boston’s second and third lines accounted for two of Boston’s 21 goals, with only one 5v5 tally to their credit.
Sure, it’s early. But for the Bruins to take a step toward Cup-contending status, they’ll need significantly more production from their second and third lines. Between Coyle, Frederic, Brad Marchand, Justin Brazeau, Max Jones, Morgan Geekie, Matthew Poitras and the other options, Montgomery and the coaching staff have yet to find a sparkplug within their middle-six.
Montgomery’s latest attempt to find an offensive boost came after making wholesale changes to his top three lines Tuesday in Nashville. If the 4-0 loss to the previously winless Predators provided any indication, the Bruins may have to look beyond their current 23-man roster for some much-needed scoring production.
Here’s a look at other routes the Bruins could choose to help get their forward groupings on track.
Sign Tyler Johnson
The veteran forward had a productive camp after arriving as a PTO. But cap complications following Swayman’s new $66 million deal temporarily halted any plans to sign Johnson to a short money, one-year deal.
The Bruins encountered a similar dilemma with Danton Heinen last year before adding him to the roster. The versatile forward began his second stint in Boston on the fourth line before eventually settling into a third-line role.
While Johnson isn’t necessarily in the prime of his career, the 34-year-old could play a de facto swiss-army knife role as a reliable secondary scorer and viable faceoff option. Given that he performed well in similar instances during his career as a two-time champion in Tampa and for a rebuilding Blackhawks squad, the Bruins could use Johnson’s experience and skillset at wing or center.
Ideally, Johnson would slot on the third or fourth line. But he could also warrant a look next to Coyle and Marchand if other options don’t pan out.
Either way, Don Sweeney would have to make a corresponding move to fit Johnson under the cap. Between Jones and Tufte committing several ill-timed penalties during the middle-six stints and Brazeau’s ineffectiveness, the Bruins could look at placing at least one of the struggling forwards on waivers.
Regardless, Johnson isn’t the only option the Bruins should consider.
Call up Fabian Lysell from Providence.
With an opportunity to solidify a middle-six role during the preseason, the 2021 first-round selection showcased his offensive upside at times but struggled to maintain consistency at others against NHL-caliber competition.
Still, one can’t help but wonder if Lysell would’ve fared better than Jones, Tufte or Brazeau up in Boston.
Despite the disappointment out of camp, playing in the top six and the top power-play unit in Providence isn’t necessarily the worst path for Lysell.
Indeed, Lysell’s checking and defensive traits still need some polishing. And while he’s prone to committing his share of turnovers, his speed, quickness and offensive creativity could give this struggling Bruins offense a needed lift.
Burying Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, or any top prospect in Providence becomes a disservice to potential NHLers and the organization. At some point, the Bruins need to know if Lysell’s talent can translate into the game’s highest level.
Promote Poitras or Cole Koepke up the depth chart.
For now, Montgomery isn’t keen on changing up his fourth line of Johnny Beecher, Marc Kastelic and Koepke. If anything, he’s trying to get them more ice time following their hot start to the year.
Montgomery may have no choice but to alter his fourth line if the scoring disparity among the rest of the forward groups continues. In that scenario, Koepke becomes the most likely candidate to move to a third or even second-line role.
Koepke is making the most of his opportunity in Boston after having limited chances to crack the Bolts lineup during his two years in Tampa Bay. But, he showcased his shot release and scoring touch at the AHL level after posting two 20-goal campaigns with Syracuse in 2021-22 and 2023-24.
Whether he can produce a similar offensive output in a middle-six role is anyone’s guess. But at the very least, Koepke made an early case at solidifying a full-time spot on Boston’s bottom-six.
Assuming Montgomery keeps his fourth line intact, the Bruins could consider moving Poitras to wing for second-line minutes. While Poitras encountered a rough stretch following a solid season debut on Oct. 12, the speed, skillset and offensive I.Q. from the 20-year-old forward would provide a much-needed dynamic to a stagnant top-six.
;
