Bruins former coach thinks team needs to rebuild and has no chance of making the Finals
Let's get this out of the way...the Bruins are making the playoffs this year. The Bruins are 4th in the Atlantic and 7th in the East based on points percentage. The Red Wings are currently 9th, but they're 9 points back and the Bruins have 4 games in hand.
The Bruins have also been one of the best teams in the NHL since the beginning of 2022, with a record of 12-4-1. It's because of this that the Bruins will be buyers at the trade deadline, especially when you consider team Captain Patrice Bergeron is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. It's hard to ignore that the core of the team (Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrňák) aren't getting any younger. It's fair to say this year might be the Bruins final run with this group.
But not everyone agrees that the Bruins are taking the right approach to this year. Former Bruins' coach Mike Milbury appeared this week on The Greg Hill Show and he shared his thoughts. Unfortunately Milbury doesn't feel very hopeful when it comes to this Bruins group.
"I would say that by now, you should have a pretty realistic view of your team," shared Milbury "It's well into the season, even if in the pandemic era, it's kind of difficult, disjointed. But they should know pretty much what they want to hang onto. Should they get rid of some of their key assets? Is it time to rebuild?"
"I think that conversation has to still be going on in the Bruins' office, but I do think they believe they can summon up enough energy and enough resources, maybe with an additional defenseman or two, to make it past the first round of the playoffs. But if they're thinking they're gonna go to a Stanley Cup Final, then they're smoking dope."
During a previous appearance on the show Milbury also suggested the Bruins look to trade both Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron so they could kick start their rebuild. I can't imagine the Bruins ever moving either player against their wishes, but truthfully both seem like the type of player who retire wearing the Bruins colours.
Quotes: Audacy
