4 Bruins on Thin ice Heading Into the NHL Draft

4. Patrick Brown, C

After joining the Bruins on a two-year, $1.6 million contract last summer, Patrick Brown split the 2023-24 campaign between the NHL and American Hockey League.

The veteran center played well with Providence, registering 32 points in 42 AHL games. Unfortunately, he couldn't maintain that production at the next level, finishing with just one assist and a minus-3 plus/minus rating in 11 appearances with Boston.

Even though he's still under contract next season, it's hard to envision Brown seeing a bigger role. While he wasn't expected to be a point-producing machine, there's little else that he does well. Advance statistics indicate that the opposing team controls the puck more often than not when he plays and the fact that the Bruins had a .882 SV% when he was on the ice is completely appalling.

Considering how he's unlikely to improve given his age (32), Brown is likely on thin ice this offseason. He just isn't good enough to lock into next year's lineup and the Bruins are better off replacing him with someone else who's a better fourth-line contributor or frequent AHL call-up.

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