The Return of the Big, Bad Bruins in the 2023-24 NHL Season
Since the Boston Bruins' defeat in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues, fans have been clamoring for a return to the era of the Big, Bad Bruins.
While the team hasn't exactly been small since then, the upcoming 2023-24 season promises to see a significantly larger and more formidable Bruins lineup.
The management has been working diligently to bolster their forward position with size and physicality. They've brought back the 6-foot-3, 240-pound winger Milan Lucic, signed 6-foot-3, 200-pound center Morgan Geekie, and 6-foot-3, 208-pound winger James van Riemsdyk.
These additions, combined with other towering forwards like 6-foot-3, 223-pound center Charlie Coyle, 6-foot-3, 208-pound winger A.J. Greer, 6-foot-3, 214-pound forward Trent Frederic (if he signs), and 6-foot-4, 200-pound forward Pavel Zacha, create a formidable force of seven players standing at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds or more.
As the free agency kicked off on July 1, Boston Bruins' general manager, Don Sweeney, acknowledged the focus on adding size to the forward lineup.
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However, he also raised concerns about the team's overall speed and how it would mesh with head coach Jim Montgomery's fast-paced system.
In response to these signings, Sweeney acknowledged that the coaching staff would have to work through the transition to this larger roster and determine how it will affect their style of play.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining the team's speed and possession-based gameplay despite the increased size.
Head coach Jim Montgomery welcomed the size additions, noting the physical presence of players like Zacha, Coyle, Freddy, Brown, and Beecher, who are all standing tall at 6-foot-2 or more.
With the team shaping up to be big and powerful again, the key question remains how they will handle the transition games with the introduction of new players to the lineup.
As the 2023-24 season approaches, all eyes will be on the Boston Bruins to see how this new blend of size and speed will impact their performance on the ice.
Fans eagerly await the return of the Big, Bad Bruins, hoping to witness their formidable presence and dominance once more.
