Playoff Line Projections: What will the Bruins look like?

With the playoffs upon us, and players returning from injury, hard choices need to be made by Bruce Cassidy, and the lineups could look like almost anything with the way the Bruins ended their regular season. So we polled our authors to see what they think the lineup looks like!

Sky:

Forwards:

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Rick Nash/Ryan Donato

Danton Heinen - Riley Nash - David Backes/Ryan Donato

Tim Schaller - Sean Kuraly/Backes - Acciari/Reserve player

Reserves: Gionta/Wingels/Donato

I have the 4th RW spot essentially being a revolving door purely because Kuraly is among the most recent players to be placed on injured reserve. I like what Gionta and Wingels have brought in relief so far, but the reality is that Boston desperately needs its full-time players to produce if they are apparently closer to coming back than not. They were picked up as depth signings and that’s what they need to be. Depth. Reserves in case the worst happens.

Otherwise, everyone else finally slots in where they’re supposed to be and put themselves in a position to win.

Defense Pairings:

Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug - Kevan Miller

Matt Grzelcyk - Adam McQuaid

Not having Brandon Carlo in the lineup hurts a lot, but at the absolute least the “balance” of the defense pairings by having a puck mover and a stay-at-home defender. They’ve found the best possible balance for these lineups without Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk will be just fine with Adam McQuaid, and Kevan Miller has really found himself in the top 4(ish) as a solid stay at home player and penalty killer when asked.

Goaltending:

Rask

Khudobin

Dobby can get the call if Rask just has a disastrous first game or so or if he gets hurt. Otherwise...he can enjoy the show from the best seat in the house.

Chris Abraham:

Forwards:

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Rick Nash

Danton Heinen - David Backes - Ryan Donato

Tim Schaller - Noel Acciari/Sean Kuraly - Riley Nash

RESERVES: Tommy Wingels - Acciari/Kuraly - Brian Gionta

Hear me out: This bottom six gives the most ability to deal with an injury in game, as well as being able to withstand a younger player’s lack of production. Riley Nash can play center or wing, and move up and down the lineup as needed. You could even swap out Acciari for Kuraly, as they are fairly similar players, but I would keep Acciari in due to his better penalty differential. One downside to this lineup is that you break up the third line that has been solid for the majority of the season, but the versatility and number of top 9 options gives Cassidy the option to put that line back together if things arent working.

Defense Pairings:

Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug - Kevan Miller

Matt Grzelcyk - Adam McQuaid

Kevan Miller has been more than servicable in a top 4 role this year, having been used in that role 75% of his games this year. Carlo’s injury means he’ll have to step up into the top PK role with Adam McQuaid to fill Carlo’s 2:46 per game of penalty killing.

Goaltending:

Tuukka Rask

Anton Khudobin

Sorry Anton, it’s still Tuukkas net.

Adam:

Forwards:

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Ryan Donato

Danton Heinen - David Backes - Brian Gionta

Tim Schaller - Noel Acciari - Tommy Wingels

Yes, I know, we’re not quite sure who’s suiting up for Thursday’s opening game of the playoffs. That’s what made this SO HARD to assemble for me, knowing what the Bruins are missing in the Super Nash Brothers and Kuraly as of right now. Fortunately, the choice is made easier knowing that there are only so many players that you want to put at center without The Original(TM) Riley Nash and Kuraly.

If these three players become available, Riley Nash would center Heinen and Backes, a line that played very well together before Bergeron got hurt and would have returned to form had Riley not fallen shortly thereafter. The Return of Rick should push Donato to the fourth line with Schaller and Sean Kuraly; his youthful energy would feed well off of Kuraly’s, his shot would add a bona fide scoring threat to the line, and Schaller’s experience is stabilizing if he’s caught out of position. If Donato falters, you can staple him to the bench without affecting the top three lines and swap him for Acciari if the B’s need a full-’grit’ fourth line. Honestly, the hardest part would be scratching Acciari, but he moves like a dump truck compared to Schaller, Kuraly and Donato. (In a bad way.)

Defense Pairings:

Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug - Kevan Miller

Matt Grzelcyk - Adam McQuaid

Nick Holden has not impressed me, but will be a serviceable 7th.
I also CAN’T WAIT to see what Krug and Killer can do as a pairing.

Goaltending:

Tuukka Rask

Anton Khudobin

...I’m sorry, but if this needs explaining, go home.
If you’re at home, put yourself in Twitter timeout for at least an hour.

Colin:

Forwards:

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Ryan Donato

Danton Heinen - Riley Nash - Rick Nash

Tim Schaller - Sean Kuraly - David Backes

Extras: Tommy Wingels - Acciari - Brian Gionta

Donato, Rick Roll and Backes are all interchangeable on the 2-4th lines at RW. Ride the hot hand, etc. I personally don’t want to see Wingels or Gionta in the playoffs if everyone is healthy. Good depth pieces but they should be on the 9th floor on this roster.

Defense Pairings:

Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug - Adam McQuaid

Matt Grzelcyk - Kevan Miller

The “2nd” and “3rd” pairs are really just two 2nd pairs on this team and the bottom four can be interchanged based on special teams usage and needs.

Goalies:

Rask

Free Elf

Yeah, this one should be pretty self explanatory. Dobby has been great, but Rask is the starter.

Jake:

Forwards:

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Ryan Donato

Danton Heinen - David Backes - Rick Nash

Tim Schaller - Noel Acciari/Sean Kuraly - Riley Nash

RESERVES: Tommy Wingels - Noel Acciari/Sean Kuraly - Brian Gionta

My lines are very similar to Chris’ with one exception: flipping Ryan Donato and Rick Nash. At the very least for Game 1, I wouldn’t want to rush Rick Nash getting a ton of minutes back. Even for being the last forward in, Donato has absolutely earned those second line minutes. Later in the series, I wouldn’t doubt seeing Donato and Nash flip back so Rick is with Krejci again, but to start, I’m not rushing Rick at all.

Defense Pairings:

Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug - Kevan Miller

Matt Grzelcyk - Adam McQuaid

My favorite surprise of the 2017-18 season so far has been Matt Grzelcyk. It was tough to watch him sit during last year’s playoffs in favor of Tommy Cross, but to be frank, the player Gryz was then and the one he is now are totally different. Grzelcyk has adjusted really well to the NHL game, he looks more confident, knows how to hold the blue line a lot better, and seems less intimidated by the size of the league around him. He’s played his way onto this roster and stayed, so it’d be no surprise to see him take the third line slot over Holden.

Goaltending:

Tuukka Rask

Anton Khudobin

Come on, where are all the Tuukka Rask haters? I’m not one of them, as this is his net to lose. Is it nice to know Dobby is playing well behind him? Absolutely. Still, it’s clearly Two U’s, Two K’s, Too Good to not put in net.

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What do you think the lineups will be? Sound off in the comments!