The Time Is Now for the Boston Bruins' Defensive Youth
Lost in what was the most turbulent Boston Bruins offseason in a half-decade is the fact that they remain one of the top teams in the NHL.
Stalwarts like Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug, who are largely accountable for Boston’s noteworthy defensive successes are gone, sure. But successfully addressing their secondary scoring woes should outshine the loss of their 43-year-old captain and top powerplay quarterback.
General Manager Don Sweeney’s offseason goal was released to the general public in a Christopher Nolan-esque cryptic manner years in the making: silently invest large chunks of draft capital to address the impending departure of key left-shot defensemen, a gamble that is yet to truly pay off.
Before anyone gets up in arms, we should acknowledge that the writing was on the wall. Sweeney's desire was to go young. This was eerily similar to the days leading up to the 2015 NHL draft when the same management group parted ways with fan favorite Milan Lucic as well as, then heir apparent to Chara's throne, Dougie Hamilton, for draft picks. Many of these moves are directly responsible for the subsequent turnaround and playoff success enjoyed in years past. Let's just pray they don't trade for Zac Rinaldo this time.
Handing the keys to the next generation while the old guard is still present is typically seen as the most efficient move to stay competitive while simultaneously preparing for the future. However, it does spit in the face of conventional wisdom which suggests anything short of a Stanley Cup is a failure for an original six franchise.
Understandably, questions loom.
Despite the early Ben Hutton rumors or that of a potential PTO commencing prior to training camp, today's scrimmage showcased Sweeney's youth movement.
A pair of 23-year-old left-shot defensemen - Jeremy Lauzon and Jakub Zboril - seem to be battling, with early frontrunner Urho Vaakanainen, for the final spot on Boston's left side of the depth chart for opening night.
Teammates at one point for the Providence Bruins, Lauzon has played 35 NHL games over the last two seasons compared to Zborils' two. Zboril has required more nurturing, but in his AHL career he has suited up for 182 games recording 57 points and a +35 plus/minus. The 13th overall pick in 2015 is undeniably a late bloomer but the Bruins rewarded him this past October with a "prove it" two-year, $1.45 million contract. The time to prove it is now.
Lauzon showed signs of mental fatigue down the stretch of the 2019-20 season which bled into the playoffs. Against the Carolina Hurricanes Lauzon was targeted and exposed on offensive zone entries in games one and two. Head coach Bruce Cassidy made Lauzon a healthy scratch and replaced him with the heavy-hitting Connor Clifton in advance of game three and never looked back. This was not an uncommon occurrence for a young defenseman still transitioning from the minors to a full-time NHL player.
Despite the setback, Lauzon's advantage over the field is his familiarity with the head coach. Cassidy has first-hand knowledge of his playing style, including two separate stints in the NHL, playing in both penalty kill and power play situations. But that doesn't guarantee a spot, especially with Cassidy's history of tinkering with his lines.
It's a simple equation. Boston's season opener is a week away and a shortened training camp doesn't allow for very many mistakes. It will be interesting to watch as Vaakanainen, Lauzon and Zboril continue to battle not only for their coaches' attention but for the future of their careers. For the few guys still attempting to make their lasting impression this is truly do or die.