For the first time in nine seasons, the Boston Bruins are not in the NHL playoffs, and as the team looks to the future, there are some lingering questions with the franchise. The team dealt with some major injuries this season, including defender Charlie McAvoy, who hasn’t played since February, and at the trade deadline, the Bruins said goodbye to their captain Brad Marchand.The Bruins also had a coaching change when Joe Sacco was promoted to interim head coach in November when Jim Montgomery was fired.The team ended the season in last place in the Eastern Conference, something that hasn’t happened in 28 years.”Not a great year, really by any stretch. You know, there were certainly some pockets of some good memories, I guess, but overall, really a year to forget,” McAvoy said.”I know every guy in this room is going to take their summer very seriously and come with a new attitude of winning hockey,” Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman said.Sacco said he has not had any clarity on his position with the team. “I think that will be something that will be addressed as we move forward here. Right now, we’re obviously doing our exit meetings today, and players are taking care of their physicals. So stuff that will be addressed, hopefully, in the near future,” Sacco said.The silver lining of the terrible season is that the Bruins will hopefully have a high first-round pick. Right now, they have the fourth-best odds at getting the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL lottery, but those odds could change depending on the outcome of the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabers game.
BOSTON —
For the first time in nine seasons, the Boston Bruins are not in the NHL playoffs, and as the team looks to the future, there are some lingering questions with the franchise.
The team dealt with some major injuries this season, including defender Charlie McAvoy, who hasn’t played since February, and at the trade deadline, the Bruins said goodbye to their captain Brad Marchand.
The Bruins also had a coaching change when Joe Sacco was promoted to interim head coach in November when Jim Montgomery was fired.
The team ended the season in last place in the Eastern Conference, something that hasn’t happened in 28 years.
“Not a great year, really by any stretch. You know, there were certainly some pockets of some good memories, I guess, but overall, really a year to forget,” McAvoy said.
“I know every guy in this room is going to take their summer very seriously and come with a new attitude of winning hockey,” Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman said.
Sacco said he has not had any clarity on his position with the team.
“I think that will be something that will be addressed as we move forward here. Right now, we’re obviously doing our exit meetings today, and players are taking care of their physicals. So stuff that will be addressed, hopefully, in the near future,” Sacco said.
The silver lining of the terrible season is that the Bruins will hopefully have a high first-round pick.
Right now, they have the fourth-best odds at getting the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL lottery, but those odds could change depending on the outcome of the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabers game.