Boston Bruins: Ranking the 10 hottest players heading into playoffs
By Connor Floyd
Who are the top five players on the Boston Bruins right now?
Putting Taylor Hall at No.5 seems low, but that’s more of a compliment to those ahead of him than an insult to Hall. Don Sweeney made a high-risk, high-reward move when he acquired Hall from the abysmal Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline. So far, it’s been all reward.
Hall has been just what the doctor ordered for the second line, racking up 12 points and a personal rating of +14 in only 15 games. To put it in perspective, Hall has the same amount of points as Jake DeBrusk this season and only four less than Coyle.
Hall has looked every bit of the Hart trophy winner from three seasons ago, with the highest Corsi on the Bruins. Obviously, the sample size is small, but the point remains: Sweeney and the Bruins have resurrected Hall.
Patrice Bergeron is another name that feels low, but fair is fair. For someone who is better known for their passing and defense, the captain has been on a goal-scoring tear lately, scoring seven goals in his last 14 games. He’s also won 59 percent of his face-offs in that period.
All systems go for Bergeron with the Stanley Cup Playoffs right around the corner.
At No. 3 is Hall’s linemate, Krejci. Life is good for Krejci, as he finally, at long last, has two wings to match his intensity and creativity. Krejci has nearly doubled his point output on the season in just 15 games since the trade deadline.
Krejci has been on fire, with six goals and 12 assists since Hall became his left winger. If the Bruins second line isn’t fool’s gold, the B’s will be poised for a deep postseason run.
Coming in second is the pest himself, left-winger Brad Marchand. Marchy has continued to be one of the most underrated and overlooked players in the league this season, and the last 15 games show that.
Marchand has lit the lantern nine times in that stretch, with one shorty and two game winning goals. Marchand is the finisher on the Perfection Line. He’s the quickest, the most elusive, and has a nose for the net unlike any player on the Bruins since Ray Bourque.
Taking the top spot is rookie phenom Jeremy Swayman. If you ask any Bruins fan who the hottest player on the team is right now, the answer would unanimously be the goalie from Maine.
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Swayman has lit the league on fire since his debut. No way around it. He’s gone 5-1 since the trade deadline – with the one loss coming in a game where he held the Penguins to one goal on 29 shots – with a .957 save percentage and two shutouts.
Swayman has arrived and he is here to stay.