Professional sports are often unpredictable. Teams expected to succeed in the playoffs sometimes struggle to find consistency. Injuries to key players can drastically change a team`s direction. Quickly, organizations might need to consider retooling or rebuilding for future success.
The Boston Bruins may not have started the season as Stanley Cup favorites, but their decline is surprising after seasons with 135 and 109 points. If they win their last game against the New Jersey Devils, they will finish with 77 points, their lowest in an 82-game season since 2006-07.
The numbers are clear: the Bruins are in transition for the first time in years. The question is whether they are heading for a rebuild or if they can retool this offseason to be competitive in 2025-26.
A full rebuild doesn`t seem likely. The Bruins have a deep enough roster to bounce back and significant salary cap space this offseason. A lucky draft lottery could also give them a top pick, a potential game-changer.
However, with the Bruins likely missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, it`s important to examine what happened, how they got here, and what the future holds for Boston.
How Boston Got Here
The Bruins` outlook was reasonably positive last offseason after their acquisitions in free agency and trades:
• Veteran free agents Elias Lindholm, a second-line forward, and Nikita Zadorov, a physical defenseman, signed long-term contracts.
• Depth forward Mark Kastelic and backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo joined the Bruins in the trade that sent Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators.
• The Ullmark trade also gave Boston a first-round pick (25th overall) in the last draft.
A significant early issue was the difficult contract extension talks with Jeremy Swayman. This crucial offseason negotiation took considerable time to resolve.
Swayman, a restricted free agent, was identified as the Bruins` future starting goalie after the Ullmark trade. Coming off a season with a 2.53 GAA and .916 save percentage in 44 games, and strong playoff performance (2.15 GAA, .933 SV%), both sides negotiated intensely, with the process becoming public before an eight-year, $8.25 million cap hit deal was reached, keeping Swayman with the Bruins until 2032.
The extension`s late signing, at the end of training camp, was not ideal for Swayman or any NHL goalie. He struggled to find his form this season, potentially due to the negotiation process. While the team in front of him may not have been as strong as in the past, his stats have significantly declined to a 3.08 GAA and .894 save percentage in a career-high 57 games.
The Coaching Change
After a slow 8-9-3 start, the Bruins replaced Jim Montgomery with interim head coach Joe Sacco on November 19.
Montgomery quickly found a new position, becoming head coach of the St. Louis Blues on November 25. The former Jack Adams Award winner has performed well in St. Louis, putting them in playoff contention.
Under Sacco, the Bruins are 25-30-6, including a poor 11-15-4 stretch in their last 30 games. It`s worth noting that Boston traded away several veterans at the March deadline, which reduced Sacco`s resources for the final part of the season.
The Trade Deadline
General Manager Don Sweeney became an aggressive seller at the trade deadline. He traded long-time Bruin and captain Brad Marchand (to the Florida Panthers), as well as centers Charlie Coyle (to the Colorado Avalanche) and Trent Frederic (to the Edmonton Oilers). Defenseman Brandon Carlo was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and winger Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild.
These trades clearly indicated that the Bruins were resetting their roster.
