The Bruins have had a machine-like pace all season. Faced with injury problems to core players early this year, the team never faltered, and actually gained momentum after an unexpectedly torrid start. At this point in the year, no one expects less from the Bruins than total domination.
One of the most interesting caveats to the surprising dominance of the Bruins with an older core was the player-initiated coaching change. Thought to be a coaching guru from the outside, Bruins players approached management to oust Bruce Cassidy this past offseason in favour of Jim Montgomery, who led the team to their historic pace and has likely locked up the Jack Adams award.
On the ice, their team is led by their core veteran group of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak, but also augmented by typically skilled, experienced, and tough players characteristic of the Bruins identity, like David Kreijci, and Charlie McAvoy. Their deadline acquisitions of Tyler Bertuzzi, Garnet Hathaway, and Dmitry Orlov has put them over the edge, to the point where anything less than a Stanley Cup will be disappointing for Bruins fans.
POLL | ||
AVRIL 11 | 97 ANSWERS Boston Bruins set massive NHL record, cementing their team as one of the best Do you think the Bruins are the best team ever? | ||
Yes | 33 | 34 % |
No | 34 | 35.1 % |
Maybe the best regular season team | 30 | 30.9 % |
List of polls |