Welcome to the THW Boston Bruins Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Bruins writers.
In today’s edition, we take a look at why the Bruins’ free-agent signings are paying off, which players are exceeding expectations, and more.
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Bruins’ Once-Controversial Free Agent Signings Paying Off
November 13, 2023 by Drew Johnson
Some fans and media members were skeptical at first about the Boston Bruins’ decision to sign a slew of veterans on $1 million, one-year deals. Milan Lucic, Kevin Shattenkirk, and James van Riemsdyk were picked up by Boston in July, along with 25-year-old Morgan Geekie at $2 million and 31-year-old Patrick Brown for $800,000, both on two-year deals.
Hindsight is 20/20 but it seems Boston ultimately made the right call.
5 Bruins Exceeding Expectations in 2023-24
November 13, 2023 by Scott Roche
Through the first 14 games of the 2023-24 season, the Boston Bruins are 11-1-2 and have one of the best records in the NHL. After an offseason that saw a roster overhaul and the addition of young players into the lineup, it’s safe to say that the Black and Gold are exceeding expectations in the first month.
For a team like Boston to exceed expectations, they need some players to exceed expectations and that is the case for second-year head coach Jim Montgomery. Here are three players that are exceeding expectations early in the season.
Quieted Bruins-Canadiens Rivalry Could Be Reignited This Season
November 12, 2023 by Drew Johnson
Nearly four years ago, I wrote an article for The Hockey Writers on the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens rivalry not being what it used to be. That came after a 3-2 overtime win by the Habs on Jan. 14, 2019, in their 746th regular-season matchup.
I find myself in a similar situation today: the Canadiens bested the Bruins on Saturday (Nov. 11) with a 3-2 overtime victory in their 758th regular season meeting. It was the first time Boston lost to Montreal since November 2019. There was some extra emotion and extracurricular activities one comes to expect between Montreal and Boston – most notably when the Habs’ Brendan Gallagher ripped the mask off B’s netminder Jeremy Swayman. A scrum ensued, snarky smiles were shared, and the boys played on.
Bruins & Oilers Will Not Make Linus Ullmark Trade
November 12, 2023 by Michael DeRosa
Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark has been the subject of trade chatter since the offseason, and that has carried over to the 2023-24 regular season. One team in particular, which many have speculated could look to add the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, is the Edmonton Oilers. It is entirely understandable, as the Oilers have had a nightmare start to the 2023-24 campaign, and goaltending has been their biggest issue. Jack Campbell was recently sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL) for his poor play, while Stuart Skinner has not been much better.
Although the Oilers looking to add Ullmark would make sense, from a Bruins standpoint, Edmonton would not be an ideal trading partner for them. Let’s dive now into a few reasons why a potential move between the Bruins and Oilers is very unlikely.