NHL Preview 2019-20: Boston Bruins

(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney).

GM: Don Sweeney (since 2015). 8.5/10
Coach: Bruce Cassidy (since 2017). 8/10

2018-19 record: 49-24-9 107 points (2nd in Atlantic Division, 2nd in Eastern Conference).
Playoffs: Lost Stanley Cup Final in seven games to Blues.

Departures: Marcus Johansson (RW), Noel Acciari (F), Lee Stempniak (RW), Jordan Szwarz (C), Gemel Smith (LW), Zane MacIntyre (G).

Arrivals: Brett Ritchie (RW), Par Lindholm (LW), Brendan Gaunce (LW), Maxime Lagacé (G).

Top forwards: David Pastrnak (75-85 points, might crack the 40-goal mark), Brad Marchand (70-85 points, 35 goals), Patrice Bergeron (55-70 points, amazing face-off numbers), David Krejci (60-65 points), Charlie Coyle (30-40 points), Jake DeBrusk (35-40 points), Danton Heinen (20-30 points), David Backes (20-35 points).

Must-improve forward: David Backes. He's 35 years old, with two more years left on his deal paying him $6M per. His points totals since 2013-14: 57, 58, 45, 38, 33, 20. Notice a trend? He's a prime candidate for a buyout next summer.

Top defensemen: Torey Krug (45-60 points), Charlie McAvoy (45-50 points), Brandon Carlo (20-35 points), Matt Grzelcyk (20-35 points), Zdeno Chara (15-20 points), John Moore (15-20 points).

Goalies: Tuuka Rask (92/100), Jaroslav Halak (92/100).

Top prospects: Connor Clifton (24, D), Urho Vaakanainen (20, 18th overall pick in 2017, D), Axel Andersson (19, D), Zachary Senyshyn (22, 15th overall pick in 2015, RW), Jakob Sboril (22, 13th overall pick in 2015, D), Jakub Lauko (19, C/LW).

Analysis:
Head coach Cassidy keeps getting improved results with a roster full of should-be-aging veterans, and instead just reinvigorates it with the right amount of youth at the right moment in the ideal spot.

Rask and Halak are the best goaltending tandem in the league. The former was a Conn Smythe favourite and the latter was the better of the two in 2018-19. Considering the amount of teams that do not even have a true #1 goalie, this is an embarrassment of riches.

I have the Bruins falling from second-place to fourth in their division, only because of the rise of the Florida Panthers and the "win-now" Toronto Maple Leafs, who will not be able to afford a defense next year what with nearly half their cap space eaten up by just three forwards. Those teams might have a better regular season than the Bs, as Boston would do well to rest some of their veterans for up to 10 games up-front (Bergeron, Krejci) and maybe 15-20 games in Chara's case.

With the goaltending they have, they should not expect to lose all of the games they sit their aging stars out of, but they will lose a few.

Prediction: 4th in the Atlantic Division, 11th overall.