So far in the 2018-2019 season, our Boston Bruins have been very inconsistent. In October, our boys were holding a playoff spot, were top 5 in power-play, and even managed to record several shutouts. But lately, it has been injury after injury causing the Bruins to slip into a major slump.
The team has been without captain Zdeno Chara and their alternate captain Patrice Bergeron for a few weeks now. They have also dealt with the injuries of Urho Vaakanainen, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Torey Krug, and Kevan Miller – Carlo, Krug, and McAvoy are thankfully back on the ice.
The injuries alone cannot be blamed for the rough patch the franchise is experiencing. Our youth has not stepped up as we had all hoped. Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork have hardly produced at all since playing with the big boys. In the 20 games Bjork has played this season, he has only recorded 3 points. Heinen hasn’t done so hot either only recording 5 points in 25 games.
Most notably, we have the majority of an AHL team trying to come up big and win games against highly skilled NHL veterans. Understandably, we do not have much of a choice considering all of the injuries, but trades need to happen. Ryan Donato along with Jakob Forsbacka Karlson and Jeremy Lauzon are not NHL ready and need to play in Providence a little longer. The three of them are very talented and hold the potential for greatness but they need to gain more confidence and experience first.
Players such as Heinen, Bjork, Steven Kampfer, and David Backes should be up for trade as well as a few draft picks. These players are great in the locker room and have wonderful chemistry with the rest of the guys but Cam Neely and Don Sweeney need to make some moves immediately if they hope to bring home another Stanley Cup in June.
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