After the retirement of Canadian star Patrice Bergeron, hockey Boston is looking for a new captain and a new first center. In both cases, the Czechs are in the game.
Boston Bruins fans were almost split in two in a poll a few weeks ago. One expected Bergeron to extend his career, the other predicted the captain’s end.
As it turned out this week, the pessimists were right. There was sadness in Boston.
Although Bergeron is already 38 years old, he still belonged to the absolute top last season. He won almost 62 percent of the faceoffs and collected 58 points (27+31) in 78 games. In addition, he played excellently towards the back. So great that he won the Selke Trophy for the NHL’s best defensive forward for the sixth time.
The Bruins now have to manage without him. And probably even without another central striker, David Krejčí, who recently stated that 99 percent of the time he won’t start the season anywhere. The management of the Massachusetts club prefers not to count on him anymore.
Thus, new centers number one and two are being sought.
There are many theoretical possibilities. After the opening of the market, the Bruins attracted Morgan Geekie, Jesper Boqvist, Patrick Brown and Jayson Megna. To do this, they should extend their cooperation with Trent Frederic, and they are looking for Georgij Merkulov, John Beecher or Marc McLaughlin on the farm. Everyone named can play at center.
However, the main favorites to lead the first and second attacks are currently Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle. The first-named played most of last year on the left wing of the second formation, Coyle led the third.
“The center of the elite line will most likely be Zacha, with David Pastrňák on the right wing,” the website wrote The Athletic.
Brad Marchand could then stand on the left, which would create the team’s strongest formation on paper. Station NBC however, considering past collaborations, he sees Marchand alongside Coyle and Jake DeBrusk.
In such a case, the 34-year-old winger James van Riemsdyk, who has lost his reputation as a 30-goal scorer in recent years and signed a one-year contract with Boston for “only” one million dollars, would probably start with the Czech duo.
“As for the first two centers, going from Bergeron and Krejci to Coyle and Zacha is a significant downgrade. It doesn’t mean that Coyle or Zacha aren’t productive players, but they aren’t the caliber to fight for the Stanley Cup,” NBC’s Nick Goss summarized the situation .
After the end of Bergeron, the Bruins are also deciding who will get the captain’s tag.
“I think they have a lot to choose from,” said their former coach Bruce Cassidy. “The new skeleton of the team is calling for a word. You have Pastrňák, you have McAvoy, just more guys. And then of course there is Marchand, who with Bergeron formed the previous team skeleton. For me, he is a guy who has grown tremendously in the game and in terms of leadership abilities.”
The overseas media generally agree that Marchand should be Boston’s next captain. But he is already 35 years old and his contract will expire in less than two years. In the future, the young defender Charlie McAvoy could look forward to it. Or parsnip.
“Marchand and McAvoy deserve the label more, but it would certainly not be a mistake to give it to Pastrňák” he added journalist Goss.
2023-07-28 04:17:12
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