NHL Preview 2024-25 19 SportsForecaster.com

Forwards

John Beecher [C/LW]

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 220
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 52 7 3 10 -6 24 0.19
Career 145 11 12 23 -21 52 0.16
Forecast 67 10 8 18 - - 0.27

The 2019 first-round pick finally made it to the NHL in '23-24, and he showed that he can be useful even without providing much offense. Beecher won 54.6 percent of his face-offs and managed to play in 12 of Boston's 13 playoff games last spring. Also, his intensity and ability to win puck battles improved after a midseason demotion.

Justin Brazeau [RW]

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-6
  • Wt: 227
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 19 5 2 7 4 2 0.37
Career 108 22 19 41 -3 20 0.38
Forecast 68 9 6 15 - - 0.22

It took the 26-year-old (parts of) five years of minor-league bus rides to get to the NHL. He made a sizeable impact once he got there in '23-24, carving out a role as a bottom-six forward and earning time on the second power-play unit. He is adding confidence, and his size (6'5'', 220 pounds) makes him a valuable net-front presence.

Charlie Coyle [C]

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 221
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 82 25 35 60 -2 38 0.73
Career 979 193 311 504 46 359 0.51
Forecast 82 20 30 50 - - 0.61

He will try to build upon what was his best NHL season in 2023-24. Coyle took advantage of the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to step into a top-six center role and finished with career highs in goals and points. The difference came on the power play: he went from zero points in 2022-23 to seven goals and 11 points.

Trent Frederic [W/C]

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 221
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 82 18 22 40 9 69 0.49
Career 367 57 55 112 12 332 0.31
Forecast 82 16 19 35 - - 0.43

The 2016 first-rounder looked lost in the NHL until 2022-23, then showed last season that he was not a flash in the pan. He placed fourth on the Bruins in even-strength goals (16) and points (38). Frederic has always been physical (team-high 204 hits in '23-24), but not until the past two seasons did he add offense to his repertoire.

Morgan Geekie [RW/LW]

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 202
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 76 17 22 39 6 28 0.51
Career 363 94 97 191 9 114 0.53
Forecast 78 15 20 35 - - 0.45

The older of the NHL's two Geekie brothers will try to build on the top offensive season of his NHL career, one that proved he can play up or down the lineup (and either wing or center). Averaging a career-high 15:25 of ice time (including 1:50 PP TOI/GP) truly helped. Geekie also showed his physical side with 137 hits last campaign.

Max Jones [RW/LW]

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 216
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Ana 52 5 10 15 -6 33 0.29
Career 284 32 32 64 -57 229 0.23
Forecast 72 10 12 22 - - 0.31

The Michigan native has never come close to playing up to his draft status (No. 24 overall in 2016). He has yet to reach 10 goals or 20 points in an NHL season, partly due to a litany of injuries that includes last season's shoulder sprain. His average ice time plunged to just over 12 minutes per game in 2023-24; can he stay healthy?

Mark Kastelic [RW/C]

  • Age: 25
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 210
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Ott 63 5 5 10 -5 63 0.16
Career 235 23 25 48 -10 335 0.20
Forecast 69 6 6 12 - - 0.17

Both his father (Ed Kastelic) and grandfather (Pat Stapleton) played in the NHL, so the pedigree is clearly there. The tough forward dished out 126 hits while averaging 7:43 of ice time in 63 games in '23-24. His NHL gig as a physical grinder differs from what it was in junior hockey; he totaled 85 goals in his final two WHL seasons.

Elias Lindholm [C]

  • Age: 29
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 195
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy/Van 75 15 29 44 -14 25 0.59
Career 920 239 382 621 12 227 0.68
Forecast 80 25 37 62 - - 0.78

Lindholm's numbers have dropped dramatically since 2021-22, when he sported 42 goals, 82 points and a plus-61 rating with Calgary. He was nothing special offensively before or after a trade to Vancouver last season, though he was great on face-offs. At his best, he is a reliable two-way center who can contribute in a variety of ways.

Brad Marchand [RW/LW]

  • Age: 36
  • Ht: 5-9
  • Wt: 180
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 82 29 38 67 2 78 0.82
Career 1127 440 571 1011 277 1137 0.90
Forecast 81 28 40 68 - - 0.84

Boston's captain is one of the great pests in NHL history–but he is among the few who has also been an elite forward. Marchand has scored at least 21 goals for 11 straight seasons, produced at least 61 points in nine straight and has been a plus player in every full season he has played. The veteran is entering his 16th pro campaign.

David Pastrnak [RW]

  • Age: 28
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 194
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 82 47 63 110 21 47 1.34
Career 781 402 460 862 133 358 1.10
Forecast 82 49 58 107 - - 1.30

"Pasta" remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the NHL, a player who is a threat any time the puck is on his stick. The 28-year-old has also improved as a playmaker: he notched a career-high 63 assists last season. He is prolific on the power play, where he gets more ice time than any other Bruin, and has a lethal wrist shot.

Matthew Poitras [RW/C]

  • Age: 20
  • Ht: 5-11
  • Wt: 177
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 33 5 10 15 4 6 0.45
Career 66 6 20 26 -1 14 0.39
Forecast 78 15 25 40 - - 0.51

Even the second-round pick in 2022 was surprised to make the Bruins out of training camp last season, rather than be sent back to the OHL. However, a trip to the 2024 WJC and shoulder surgery ended the then-19-year-old's season in late January. He is expected to be ready for the start of 2024-25 and is a good bet to crack the roster.

Pavel Zacha [C/LW]

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 210
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 78 21 38 59 12 18 0.76
Career 657 132 231 363 -40 183 0.55
Forecast 82 21 37 58 - - 0.71

The versatile Czech played a lot more center in his second season in Beantown and posted his best NHL totals in 2023-24. He potted 21 goals for the second straight year and ended with career highs in assists, points and average ice time. His chemistry with countryman David Pastrnak is undeniable, whether on the wing or up the middle.

Defensemen

Goaltenders

Brandon Carlo

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-5
  • Wt: 220
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 76 4 10 14 23 42 0.18
Career 655 29 85 114 135 350 0.17
Forecast 74 3 11 14 - - 0.19

At 27, Carlo has already been a pillar on Boston's backline for eight seasons now–despite not posting 20 points in any campaign. While he does not score much, neither does the opposition–the Bruins outscored opponents 64-46 at five on five with Carlo on the ice in 2023-24. He was also ninth in the NHL in average shorthanded ice time.

Hampus Lindholm

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 208
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 73 3 23 26 18 63 0.36
Career 783 74 249 323 139 465 0.41
Forecast 80 5 28 33 - - 0.41

The 30-year-old Lindholm went from a career year in '22-23 to a decent one in '23-24. His counting stats dropped across the board, and he fell from plus-49 to plus-18–a February lower-body injury did not help. He was solid in his own zone and on the penalty kill, but his offensive stats regressed to previous levels. More of the same?

Mason Lohrei

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 6-5
  • Wt: 220
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 41 4 9 13 -2 18 0.32
Career 143 11 47 58 -42 38 0.41
Forecast 71 8 18 26 - - 0.37

The first Louisiana-born player to toil in an NHL game is a late bloomer who continues to sand down the rough spots in his game as he progresses. He has the size (6'5'', 211 pounds) to play a physical style but also skates well and is comfortable with the puck on his stick. He is getting more consistent and does not look overwhelmed.

Charlie McAvoy

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 208
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Bos 74 12 35 47 4 86 0.64
Career 523 60 254 314 142 455 0.60
Forecast 75 10 40 50 - - 0.67

The 26-year-old is one of the NHL's best two-way defensemen, capable of putting up points, sacrificing his body and devouring minutes. He set a career high in goals in '23-24, was third on the Bruins with 159 hits, placed seventh in the NHL with 24:51 of average ice time and has averaged more than 50 points in the last three seasons.

Andrew Peeke

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 197
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
CBJ/Bos 38 1 9 10 -1 14 0.26
Career 339 12 54 66 -75 125 0.19
Forecast 68 2 8 10 - - 0.15

He did not do a lot in 15 games after coming over to the Bruins at the NHL trade deadline in '23-24. Peeke dressed for just six of Boston's 13 playoff games due to a finger injury. He provides a physical presence on the blueline but has never produced more than six goals or 15 points. Peeke averaged 17:36 of ice time with the Bruins.

Nikita Zadorov

  • Age: 29
  • Ht: 6-6
  • Wt: 248
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy/Van 75 6 14 20 0 125 0.27
Career 753 52 125 177 42 910 0.24
Forecast 79 7 14 21 - - 0.27

The 6'6'', 248-pound Russian gets almost all of his ice time at even strength or on the penalty kill. He is an above-average skater for someone his size and a punishing hitter, especially when he steps up to fill a gap. His output has picked up a bit over the last three seasons, although he is never going to be a huge point producer.

Joonas Korpisalo

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 192
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Ott 55 21 26 4 0 3.27 0.89
Career 315 131 123 32 7 3.06 0.9
Forecast 31 15 - - 1 2.99 0.9

In his only season in Ottawa, Korpisalo appeared in 55 games (the most in his career) but finished with his second-worst save percentage (.890). He did not give the Senators enough stops last season, but the players in front of him did not do enough to prevent an excess of high-danger chances. Korpisalo will try to rebound in Boston.

Jeremy Swayman

  • Age: 25
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 187
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Bos 44 25 10 8 3 2.53 0.916
Career 209 113 69 22 16 2.59 0.911
Forecast 51 33 - - 5 2.45 0.918

The Alaskan grabbed the starting role in the playoffs last spring and ran with it. Although the 25-year-old split 12 postseason decisions, he sported a 2.15 goals-against average. Swayman started more than half of Boston's regular-season games for the first time in 2023-24 and posted a career-high 25 wins. He is just getting started.