Next up in our 2023 Fantasy Hockey Team Preview series is the Boston Bruins. After a historic 65-win regular season, the Bruins were shockingly bounced out of the first round by the Florida Panthers. They also had a rough offseason, losing several key players, highlighted by Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitry Orlov, and Taylor Hall. Although this is true, the Bruins still have players who offer value in fantasy hockey. Let’s break down the Bruins and which of their players you should draft in fantasy hockey now.
Boston Bruins Fantasy Hockey Preview
Bruins Forwards
As noted above, the Bruins lost multiple players this summer. This is most true when it comes to their forward group. However, they still have some good forwards who are obvious picks in fantasy drafts. David Pastrnak is the biggest name out of the bunch. Pastnrak dominated this past season, posting 61 goals, 52 assists, and 113 points. Even with Boston’s offseason departures, he should still have a big season and put up spectacular totals with his elite skill.
Brad Marchand will surely miss Bergeron as his center, but the 35-year-old winger will still be a big difference-maker. He had another strong season for the Bruins last season, scoring 21 goals and posting 67 points in 73 games. He is a player who will always produce at nearly or at a point-per-game pace, so he is a must-have in fantasy.
Jake DeBrusk is heading into a contract year after a career-best season in 2022-23. In 64 games played, he had 27 goals, 50 points, and a plus-26 rating. He will play top-six minutes and on their power play, so this should be another big season from the skilled winger.
Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie are also two sleepers worth taking a shot at in your later rounds. Perhaps even James van Riemsdyk will bounce back.
Bruins Defensemen
The Bruins’ defensive group is strong heading into the new season and is pivotal for their success. Charlie McAvoy is an elite two-way defenseman who is a clear pick in your fantasy draft. He is a Norris Trophy-caliber player who should take another step forward this season. In 67 games in 2022-23, he had seven goals, 52 points, and a plus-29 rating.
Hampus Lindholm is another excellent defenseman on the Bruins’ roster. Although some may argue that he is not a star, he is still a top-pairing defenseman who is excellent on both sides of the puck. In 80 games last season, he had 10 goals, 53 points, and a plus-49 rating. After a season like this, he is surely worth selecting in your fantasy drafts.
Other defensemen like Matt Grzelcyk, Brandon Carlo, and Kevin Shattenkirk also are worth considering in your later rounds. With that, keep an eye on top prospect Mason Lohrei.
Bruins Goalies
The Bruins’ goaltending was nothing short of magnificent in 2022-23. Linus Ullmark secured the Vezina Trophy by posting a ridiculous 40-6-1 record, a 1.89 GAA, and a .938 SV%. Jeremy Swayman was also excellent, sporting a 24-6-4 record, a 2.27 GAA, and a .920 SV%. Their combined spectacular play led them to win the William M. Jennings Trophy as well.
Although both Bruins goalies were wonderful in 2022-23, there’s a good chance that we see at least Ullmark come back to Earth a bit this season. Even so, both goalies are clear picks for your fantasy team because of their play. They are the top 1A/1B tandem in the league, after all.
Alas, even after a brutal offseason, the Bruins provide us with strong options in fantasy hockey and should be in the hunt for a wild card spot in 2023-24. Let’s see how these players and the club perform this season from here.
Make sure to check out all of our Fantasy Hockey Team Previews as they roll out over the coming weeks!