How will the Bruins score goals in 2025-26?

New York Times

02-07-2025

BRIGHTON, Mass. — In 2024-25, 350 NHL forwards logged at least 600 five-on-five minutes, per Natural Stat Trick. Viktor Arvidsson, Mikey Eyssimont, Sean Kuraly and Tanner Jeannot, the Boston Bruins' four primary acquisitions on Tuesday, belonged to this cohort.
In terms of points per 60 minutes of play, here is how they performed, with their rank in that 350-forward cluster:
For context, Mark Kastelic and Johnny Beecher, fourth-line fixtures for the Bruins, recorded points-per-60 rates, respectively, of 1.25 and 0.64. This placed them at No. 280 and No. 345.
At the other end, David Pastrnak (3.13) was No. 1 in the league. Morgan Geekie (2.36) was No. 30. They are ride-or-die linemates given how they optimized each other's performance. When Pastrnak goes for coffee, Geekie will be right alongside to stir in cream and sugar.
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The Bruins, in other words, are in good shape when it comes to the fourth line. They can take further solace in the knowledge that Patrick Brown (15 NHL appearances last year) and Jeffrey Viel (five), who project to be in AHL Providence, will be happy to commute up 95 North if their services are needed.
The proliferation of head-crackers aligns with general manager Don Sweeney's preference for an increased degree of hostility. Softness is no longer in their plans.
'That we've tried to support them in infusing the energy, hopefully physicality and the ready-to-go mentality,' Sweeney said when asked how David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy should interpret the incoming wave. 'To be a harder out. To be in the fight. To drag people in. I think they know now that we've tried to support them when they're trying to lead the charge.'
It remains to be seen whether an injection of wider shoulders and buzzier legs will lift all offensive boats. Much of that will depend on coach Marco Sturm's system and how he instructs his players to react off of puck pursuit. The AHL Ontario Reign, Sturm's previous team, were aggressive on the forecheck. Carrying out Sturm's plan will be nonnegotiable.
'That's the area where we're going to have to make sure we're executing in the style Marco wants to play,' Sweeney said. 'If there's a deficiency of any club at the start of the year, you point to that and say, 'Hey, this group's going to have to work hard to score goals and put it together.' They're all capable. Arvy's capable of scoring 20 goals. Geeks is now capable of scoring 30. That doesn't mean I'm anointing them at the high sides of their careers. But I do believe if you put the whole group together and (they do) what they're capable of doing, we'll score enough. If we play the right way.'
It is a big bet. Some of that will be whether greater shooting volume for Geekie (129 five-on-five shots) negates the expected regression from his career-best 20.16 shooting percentage. It is also assuming good health for the 29-year-old Pastrnak.
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But the inflection point of Sweeney's calculation will depend on how the tier under Pastrnak and Geekie perform. The trouble with this group is its narrowness.
At this point, Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt are the surest things among the Bruins' middle six. Zacha slipped to a 1.67 points per 60 rate this past season, well off the 2.52 and 2.32 production from his two previous seasons as a Bruin. It also remains to be seen whether Sturm prefers Zacha at center or wing. Zacha touches the game more in the middle.
As for Mittelstadt (1.32), he was far from optimized in 2024-25 when he centered Cole Koepke and Vinni Lettieri. Getting running time with Zacha, for example, could bring more out of him. But the ex-Colorado Avalanche player will need to stiffen his puck strength and defensive coverage to earn second-line shifts for Sturm. As for a No. 2 right wing behind Pastrnak, Sturm's options include, among others, Arvidsson, Marat Khusnutdinov and Fabian Lysell. None of them is ideal.
If the Bruins remain challenged at five-on-five, Sweeney is counting on a power-play uptick (15.2 percent, No. 29). This will be Job 1 for new assistant coach Steve Spott, who managed the power play with the Dallas Stars.
Spott, in all likelihood, will use the right-shot Arvidsson down low. This could put Arvidsson on the left side of the formation to take advantage of his forehand on jam plays.
Spott will also have to consider where he prefers Pastrnak. No. 88 has spent most of his time on the left elbow for one-timers. But opponents sat on Pastrnak this past season because of the lack of threats elsewhere. So Pastrnak shifted to his strong side. This worked well, partly because Pastrnak reinvented himself, mostly as a passer to Geekie at the left elbow. If Pastrnak returns to his off side, Spott will have to determine if Geekie is a dual threat on the opposite flank.
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Spott also has to identify whether McAvoy or Mason Lohrei will be the point man. Whoever it is, he'll have to be more shot-ready.
'If they're taking away Pasta, you know you have to execute on the other side,' Sweeney said. 'Well, if that puck comes out up top, it's supposed to go to the net. Because that's what they're giving you. It's getting connected.'
(Photo of David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)