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Brooons’ April 2022 NHL Update

April 1, 2022

Shane Ierardi

Sierardi

Hey, hi, and how are ya? Welcome back to another Broons’ update and we are super excited about this one. The team has been fierce since the All-Star break and after acquiring Hampus Lindholm from Anaheim, this team is SET! Quickly locked into a nice extension, which will look very friendly with the expanding salary cap coming up. He will help solidify the defense as Urho and John Moore catch the exit train to Anaheim. Moore’s time had been coming as his game fades quickly and Urho will get more playing time in a more developing system. Love this trade. Bergeron is back from being a little banged up and Jake DeBrusk has stayed with the team after initially wanting to be traded. If he can keep this hot streak going with the top two lines then this will be a steal. Locked into a nice extension shortly after the trade deadline, which seems to have both sides happy after a weird holding pattern.

The first line has flourished with a rejuvenated Jake DeBrusk on the outside with Bergeron and Marchand. This is tremendous, as they solve the top 2 line woes by an in-house solution. Which leads us to the second line of Hall-Haula-Pastrnak, who have been clicking really well! This line has gelled and can produce against the best in the league. Trent Frederic being healthy is huge for this team, as the young stud brings toughness and character to a team that desperately needs an identity on the bottom 6. Nosek has been a great addition to solidify the 4th line and Lazar speed and penalty kill prowess have been great additions.

Boston Bruins’ Current Line Pairings (Forwards)

1F: Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Jake DeBrusk
2F: Taylor Hall – Erik Haula – David Pastrnak
3F: Trent Frederic – Charlie Coyle – Craig Smith
4F: Anton Blidh – Thomas Nosek – Curtis Lazar

As I said earlier, Lindholm’s impact will be huge as his game kind of mimics McAvoy. Grzelcyk, with Charlie, will continue to dominate the top pairing but don’t be surprised to have a rotating door at the top 4 as you can plug and play that whole group. Josh Brown was a low-key addition that might pay dividends as he reconnects with Mike Reilly, who had lost his game during the long stretch. With Clifton in the hole as 7th D-man, I really like where this team is at defensively. Forbert also could prove a valued depth addition when toughness needs to be more established, but otherwise I wouldn’t touch anything with this defense until something goes south.

Boston Bruins’ Current Line Pairings (Defenders)

1D: Matt Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy
2D: Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo
3D: Mike Reilly – Josh Brown

We continue to get the exciting combo of Swayman and Ullmark just hugging themselves to the playoffs. Hopefully the newest additions up front prove to plug some holes that help these two elevate their game just a bit more. I am pleased with their collective games even though they don’t have knockout numbers or Vezina candidates. In a fierce Atlantic Division they have shown that they can hang with the best and still show that maybe there’s another level to reach.