Hey there hockey, welcome back! I missed you.
It feels like the Bruins just played Game 7 a few days ago and are now set to hit the road for a four-game road trip before returning home on October 12th.
Tonight begins the 2019-20 season, the Bruins beginning things Thursday in Dallas.
Here are a few Bruins and NHL related predictions that surely will not come true.
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will finish with 100 points each
Only six players in the NHL last season registered 100 points or more. Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, Patrick Kane, Leon Draisaitl, Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand made up the six. For what it’s worth, Nathan MacKinnon, and Johnny Gaudreau came close with 99 points each, while Steven Stamkos missed the 100-point mark by two points.
I expect Marchand to reach 100 points again this season, but I also have teammate and linemate David Pastrnak doing the same.
Despite missing 16 games last season, Pastrnak finished the 2018-19 season with 81 points, averaging 1.2 points per game. A 1.2 point per game pace over a full 82 games would have put Pastrnak at 101 points.
As good as Pastrnak was last season, I think he could be even better this season. And if he can stay healthy and keep his games missed to a minimum, there’s no reason he can’t break 100 points for the first time in his NHL career.
Anders Bjork plays over 70 games
After a very impressive showing in the preseason, Anders Bjork is going to start the season in Providence. But that’s something I don’t think will last long. Bjork will be called up by the end of the month and will remain with the team for the rest of the season, playing over 70 games.
Bjork still has a ton to prove, especially after his last two seasons were cut short thanks to shoulder injuries that required two separate surgeries.
Bjork spent some time in the preseason on a line with Charlie Coyle and Danton Heinen and the trio was dominant in their time together. That’s a line I would love to see Bruce Cassidy give another look at once Bjork finds his way back to the NHL level.
Jake DeBrusk scores 40 goals
I had big expectations for DeBrusk last season. He had a very impressive 43-point rookie season in 2017-18 and then really turned things up in the playoffs with 8 points in 12 games.
I thought DeBrusk was OK a season ago, finishing with 42 points in 68 games. However, he did manage to score 27 goals. Spread that out over a full 82-game season and that’s 33 goals.
Staying on the ice has been an issue for DeBrusk during his first two seasons in Boston, missing 26 games in total. Should DeBrusk be able to stay healthy and take that next step forward in his development, 40 goals should not be too difficult to achieve.
With another full season under their belts, the chemistry between DeBrusk and David Krejci should continue to grow. I think you will also see Krejci and DeBrusk spending more time together with Pastrnak, which should only help DeBrusk reach 40 goals.
A 50-point season for Danton Heinen
For those of you that read my blogs on a consistent basis, you know I am a big fan of what Danton Heinen brings to the table. His offensive numbers are not going to jump off the page, but his all-around game is perfect for the role he’s asked to play.
With that being said, I think Heinen takes a massive step forward with his game and has himself a 50-point season.
It looks like—assuming Krejci is ready to go to start the season—Heinen will begin the season on the third line, reuniting with Charlie Coyle. The two—along with the departed Marcus Johansson—were excellent together for the Bruins in the playoffs last season, and I expect Coyle and Heinen to build off that chemistry.
Bruins trade a defenseman
Brandon Carlo, Zdeno Chara, Matt Grzelcyk, Steven Kampfer, Torey Krug, Charlie McAvoy, Connor Clifton, John Moore, Kevan Miller, Urho Vaakanainen, Jeremy Lauzon and Alex Petrovic. All of the aforementioned defensemen are—when healthy—NHL ready ones that can contribute to the team on a nightly basis.
We already know that Miller and Moore will not be available to start the season, buying the Bruins some time to figure out what exactly to do with their crowded blue line once all are healthy.
At some point after Miller and Moore return—providing the rest are healthy—the Bruins will have to clear some room on their blueline. I would not be surprised if the Bruins moved a defenseman before the NHL’s trade deadline.
Moore and Miller seem like the most logical options, but don’t count out the Bruins moving a more attractive option like Grzelcyk, especially if the Bruins feel they’re close to, or even do sign Krug to an extension.
Tuukka Rask starts the season hot
The month of October hasn’t been the best of months for Tuukka Rask historically, but that will be different this October.
Rask career stats by month:
October: 24-23-4|.913 SV %|2.56 GAA|
November: 44-23-9|.926 SV %|2.12 GAA|
December: 44-20-9|.928 SV %|2.08 GAA|
January: 41-25-11|.919 SV %|2.38 GAA|
February: 44-17-9|.919 SV %|2.40 GAA|
March: 51-28-10|.920 SV %|2.23 GAA|
April: 17-14-6|.923 SV %|2.27 GAA|
Rask will take his elevated play from the postseason and carry that into the start of the 2019-20 season. With Jaroslav Halak back for another season, giving Rask some more rest, the two once again team up for one of the league’s top goalie tandems.
Atlantic:
Tampa
Boston
Toronto
Metro:
Washington
Carolina
New York Rangers
East WC:
Pittsburgh
Florida
Central:
Nashville
Dallas
St. Louis
Pacific:
Calgary
Vegas
San Jose
West WC:
Colorado
Winnipeg
ECF: Tampa Bay over New York
WCF: Vegas over Dallas
SCF: Vegas over Tampa Bay
Hart: Nathan MacKinnon
Calder: Kaapo Kakko
Art Ross: Connor McDavid
Richard: Nathan MacKinnon
Vezina: Ben Bishop
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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