<p>Pillar of consistency. That’s a good way to describe the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/boston-bruins/line-combinations">Boston Bruins</a> over the past 20 years. With three trips to the Stanley Cup Final (winning in 2011) and making the playoffs in the lion’s share of the seasons since the 2005 lockout, the Bruins have been one of the model organizations of the NHL.&nbsp;</p>



<p>All good things must come to an end, as they say, and the 2024-25 season has been playing out as just that for the Bruins through the first 50 games. Currently occupying the third seed in the Atlantic division with 54 points, the Bruins have been treading water in the Eastern Conference’s playoff race all season. The Bruins are just one point up on the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/tampa-bay-lightning/line-combinations">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>, who have four games in hand. Furthermore, the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/ottawa-senators/line-combinations">Ottawa Senators</a> are two points back of the Bruins with two games in hand.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="145"></div>



<p>So what has gone into the Bruins’ downfall from a top dog in the Atlantic division to a bubble team?</p>



<p>The departure of Jake DeBrusk over the offseason was significantly underrated, as the Bruins’ lack of depth on their wings has been evident all season long. If we are to go on the assumption that Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha are centers – the latter is the only one of the two currently playing down the middle – it would be safe to say that captain Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are the only two authentic top-six wingers on the Bruins’ roster. This has led to mixing and matching by the coaching staff, pushing Coyle to right wing in order to give some depth on the wing to better insulate Pastrnak on the right side.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="135"></div>



<p>To compensate for DeBrusk’s departure, general manager Don Sweeney signed wingers Max Jones and Riley Tufte in free agency to compensate; neither worked out and both are currently playing in the AHL.</p>



<p>Signing Elias Lindholm to a seven year, $50 million-plus contract was supposed to help make up ground down the middle of the ice since the retirement of Patrice Bergeron. Lindholm’s arrival has been overall disappointing, specifically in the way of offensive production; he has just eight goals and 24 points through 50 games this season and currently finds himself on the third line.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The defense has been above average – though the Nikita Zadorov free agent signing can be justifiably critiqued, the Hampus Lindholm injury has made the former’s addition somewhat important – while the goaltending has not been anywhere it was last season; Jeremy Swayman struggled to hit the ground running after holding out all of camp for a new contract. But when you evaluate the Bruins, it’s up front where the problems are.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="167"></div>



<p>Shallowness down the middle and a lack of skill on the wings: that’s the crux of Boston’s problems right now. How do you fix it? Easier said than done, but president Cam Neely was not shy to toss around the term “retool” a few weeks back when discussing the Bruins’ woes. But what exactly would that look like?</p>



<p>Before we get carried away, I don’t see any world where the Bruins start taking an axe to the major pieces on their roster that are extended long term.</p>



<p>Pastrnak and defenseman Charlie McAvoy won’t be going anywhere, along with Swayman. I don’t see any team lining up to take on the contract of either Lindholm, so we can take those two off the list. Coyle and Zacha don’t have egregious terms left on either of their deals, but given the Bruins’ dreadful depth down the middle and on the wing, moving out either of those guys would (presumably) need to see other top-six wingers coming back the other way.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="168"></div>



<p>Could captain Brad Marchand be moved? I haven’t heard that as a possibility, but you’d have to imagine there would be a significant list of potential suitors lined up for him. As one league executive suggested to me, a first round pick-plus would be the starting point for a return; it would only climb if the Bruins retained salary.</p>



<p>But one could ask: are the Bruins open to a regression? I can’t say one way or another how much of a step backward Bruins management is willing to embrace, but based on conversations I’ve had the past few days, the Bruins are looking to make additions to their roster – not just gut it.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Speaking with more than one source, I do get the sense the Bruins have kept tabs on the situation with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/nashville-predators/line-combinations">Nashville Predators</a>. As I <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/nashville-predators-ready-trade-veterans-michael-mccarron-colton-sissons-luke-schenn/">wrote about last week</a>, the Predators are preparing to sell off some pieces – both in the way of rentals and those with a year left on their deals – between now and the trade deadline. While I can’t speak to any specific player the Bruins may have had interest in, one source did say the Bruins are “looking at center and some skill on the wing.”</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="206"></div>



<p>The Predators have some nice depth players in the way of Mark Jankowski, Michael McCarron and Colton Sissons, but the Bruins need to aim higher, especially if they’re bringing in a player with term. Gustav Nyquist is a rental and, while he would be a good middle-six upgrade on what the Bruins have at wing currently, wouldn’t make much sense of an addition given where they are at.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I have not heard this name tied to the Bruins one way or another, so I want that made clear before we get carried away, but I wonder about Jonathan Marchessault given what the Bruins are in the market for.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Marchessault, 34, signed a five year, $27.5 million contract this past summer with the Predators after moving on from the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/vegas-golden-knights/line-combinations">Vegas Golden Knights</a>. Things have not gone well in Nashville this season, but Marchessault’s 15 goals and 38 points through 47 games have certainly not been the major issue. He’s pace for totals in the neighborhood of 30 goals and 70 points, so his $5.5 million AAV is more than palatable.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="179"></div>



<p>Signed until 39 years old, it would be fair to question if the Bruins (or any team) would want to bring on a contract like Marchessault’s due to potential long-term implications. It’s also completely unclear (at least based on what I’ve heard) if the Predators would be willing to move off Marchessault this early into his contract. I have no idea what a potential return from the Bruins could look like, but I wonder if a player like Zadorov could go the other way to make the money work, though not one for one.</p>



<p>As Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli has recently reported, the Bruins are believed to be one of the teams lurking in the weeds in the J.T. Miller sweepstakes. Stylistically, Miller is exactly what the Bruins need, but can they pay the piper in order to bring him in? They don’t have much in the way of prospects, so could they look to dangle a guy like Zacha as part of a package in more of a “hockey” trade?</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="171"></div>



<p>It’s unclear what exactly the future holds for the Bruins and if they do actually embark on a retool, but I don’t get the sense that it will be strictly gutting their own roster. Bruins management is clearly keeping tabs on available players around the league and seem prepared to pounce at the opportunity to “improve their team,” as one person said to me. A “retool” is subjective, and in the Bruins’ case, it may just be a bit of a roster overhaul while trying to remain competitive.&nbsp;</p>



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