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4 Bruins Primed to Disappoint in 2023-24 Season

By Devon Platana

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 06: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at TD Garden on April 06, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 06: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at TD Garden on April 06, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The 2023-24 NHL season is just a few weeks away and all eyes are on the Boston Bruins to see how they respond to April’s postseason collapse. The Bruins were expected to make a deep playoff run after the best regular season in NHL history, but couldn’t make it beyond their first-round series with the Florida Panthers.

While some fans have high hopes again, a bounce-back performance is far from guaranteed.

This season’s roster is one year older and we lost key pieces in the offseason, including Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Taylor Hall. With less talent on the roster this time around, chances are some Boston players won’t reach the same heights that they did last year.

Keeping that in mind, here are four Bruins primed to disappoint during the 2023-24 campaign.

4 Bruins Primed to Disappoint in 2023-24

1. Linus Ullmark

The Bruins wouldn’t have had a record-breaking year if it wasn’t for a lot of players stepping up, including Linus Ullmark’s play between the pipes.

The veteran goaltender performed the ages in Boston’s crease. Suiting up in 49 games, Ullmark went 40-6-1 with a 1.89 goals-against average, a .938 save percentage, and two shutouts. His play was stellar enough to earn him his first-ever Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender.

But as great as his play was, we need to be realistic about the situation.

Ullmark never even came close to those numbers before last season. Before that, his career-highs in the following categories were as follows:

  • Wins: 26 (2021-22)
  • Goals-against average: 2.45 (2021-22)
  • Save percentage: .917 (2020-21, 2021-22)

Ullmark’s postseason performance also raises cause for concern. Although the collapse wasn’t totally his fault, it didn’t help that he finished the seven-game series with a 3.33 GAA with an .896 SV%.

The Bruins will still be a solid team that likely challenges for a playoff spot, but the talent difference compared to last year points to Ullmark likely being brought back down to Earth.

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