9/18/22 By Benjamin Aliber
The summer of 2022 was a wild one for the Boston Bruins. From a change at head coach, to an overhaul of player personnel, the 2022-2023 season will be one to keep an eye on.
After being eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bruins GM Don Sweeney fired head coach, Bruce Cassidy. The 2019-2020 Jack Adams award winner boasted a 292-155-53 record over his six seasons behind Boston’s bench. His replacement and the 29th head coach of the original six franchises, Jim Montgomery.
On the player side, Erik Haula was traded to the New Jersey Devils for the 2015 sixth overall pick, Pavel Zacha. In 386 NHL games, Zacha has 69 goals, 110 assists, and a +/- of -66.
The 2022 Bruins offseason also brought the return of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. David Krejci returned to Boston after playing in the Czech Republic for one season. Krejci signed a one year, one million dollar contract, while Patrice Bergeron will return on a one year, $2.5 million deal.
With the start of the 2022-2023 season quickly approaching, Jim Montgomery will be tested early as he will be without his star left winger Brad Marchand, young prodigy defenseman Charlie McAvoy, and middle defenseman Matt Grzelyck due to off-season procedures. Marchand underwent a successful hip arthroscopy and labral repair on both hips, while McAvoy underwent a left shoulder arthroscopic stabilization procedure. Grzelcyk, on the other hand, had a right shoulder open stabilization procedure.
The recovery timeline for the three leaves a big hole in this ailing Bruins corps, with Grzelcyk not expected to return until November, while Marchand and McAvoy are out of commission until December at the earliest.
Boston has to simultaneously manage the David Pastrnak situation as the 26 year old right-winger is due for a massive raise with his contract expiring at the end of this season. With cap space in the negatives as we speak, a new head coach, and a roster riddled with injuries, this season will be an interesting one for all involved.