Bruins Need More Than Just Speed and Skill This Summer
The Boston Bruins’ front office said they need speed and skill. They need more than that. There is a glaring […] The post Bruins Need More Than Just Speed and Skill This Summer appeared first on Boston Hockey Now.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The Boston Bruins ’ front office said they need speed and skill. They need more than that. There is a glaring hole on the right side of defense, and while that is not a problem specific to just the Bruins, it is one they will have to prioritize this summer.
The Bruins have Charlie McAvoy , who has been a pillar of the Bruins’ defensive corps for years. That responsibility is not changing anytime soon, as he is coming off a career-high season in assists (50), points (61), and power play points (23). Behind McAvoy is where it becomes an issue.
Henri Jokiharju is the only other NHL right-handed defenseman under contract next season. Jokiharju, who only played 41 games this season, found himself as the odd man out when he returned from an injury in January. Nonetheless, he represented his country at both the Olympics and the World Championships, and said he achieved the goals he set at the beginning of the season.
At the end-of-season press conference, Don Sweeney credited Marco Sturm for putting “the best lineup” together on a nightly basis, and said that Sturm “doesn’t dislike” Jokiharju. “To me, it’s allowing a coach to make his own assessments of how players are playing and systematically, and on Henri to respond to that,” Sweeney said. “From a capable standpoint, a lot of it’s still on the player to be able to provide what the coach is looking for and adjust.