BOSTON — Jim Montgomery said the Bruins haven’t made any final roster decisions. Players would get a chance to prove themselves one more time in Saturday’s 5 p.m. exhibition game before final cuts are made.
While their defense is pretty much set, Montgomery, Don Sweeney and the front office staff have some pondering to do with their forwards.
The NHL roster limit is 23. Assuming there are 12 players on four lines, six defensemen and two goalies, that leaves the option for three extra players. At least one forward, one defenseman and one wild card. Not everybody carries 23 players for salary cap reasons.
Players on IR don’t count toward the total and unsigned restricted free agent Jeremy Swayman obviously doesn’t count.
Here’s a look at where the roster is.
Forwards
Locks: John Beecher, Justin Brazeau, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic, Morgan Geekie, Mark Kastelic, Elias Lindholm, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha
Let’s start with a few basic caveats. Montgomery can and will change lines regularly. So this chart — based on units the Bruins have used in preseason games and practice — is as much to give this some structure as anything else. Several of these guys can play either wing or wing and center so there’s a lot of room for movement
- LINE 1: Zacha-E.Lindholm-Pastrnak
- LINE 2: Marchand-Coyle-Geekie
- LINE 3: Frederic-OPEN-Brazeau
- LINE 4: Beecher-Kastelic-OPEN
- Extra forward: OPEN
Competing
Matt Poitras — His health complicates his situation as he’s missed the last week of games and practices.
Putting him between Frederic and Brazeau is appealing if he’s healthy. It gives Poitras, who is undersized, two powerfully built linemates, who can both score well enough to take advantage of his offensive creativity. If he’s healthy, he’ll likely make the roster, but if he’s too healthy for IR, but not 100 percent, there could be a temptation to send him to Providence because he doesn’t need waivers to give somebody else a roster spot.
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
Max Jones — Montgomery talked about Jones like he was pretty likely to make the team on Friday. He’d have to get through waivers to go to Providence. He seems ticketed for a bottom-six role and could be the extra forward. But since he missed most of camp, he’s not a lock yet.
Tyler Johnson — He’s currently on a professional tryout agreement so the Bruins will have to sign him to a real contract if they want to put him in the lineup for real games. That would be easier if Swayman’s deal was already finalized. Poitras’ health matters here too. Johnson could be the third-line center if Poitras isn’t ready to go. He could be a fourth-line wing either way.
He can kill penalties and even contribute on the power play. This feels like a guy the Bruins would want to keep.
Fabian Lysell — He’s unlikely to open the season with Boston, but there’s a pretty clear path for him to get there eventually. If either he starts the season on an offensive hot streak in Providence, or the Bruins lack goal production, he could get a chance.
Patrick Brown — The 32-year-old has a high floor, but a comparably low ceiling. He’s likely to get a few games in the NHL at some point this year, but his biggest strengths can be found in other Bruins players, including several of the new ones.
Cole Koepke — The NHL journeyman has a long look in camp and while he’s probably Providence-bound, he could be an extra forward depending on injuries.
Defensemen
LOCKS: Brandon Carlo, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Charlie McAvoy, Andrew Peeke, Nikita Zadorov, Parker Wotherspoon
Given how well he played last year, it’s impossible to picture the Bruins being willing to try to pass Wotherspoon through waivers because he’d likely get claimed. So he’s a lock even as the seventh defenseman.
Billy Sweezey and Ian Mitchell could be reliable depth options in Providence if they make it through waivers. If there’s any question about McAvoy’s health, either could stay on as an extra body.
Goalies
Locks: Brandon Bussi, Joonas Korpisalo
Montgomery already called Korpisalo his Game 1 starter. Bussi will be his backup. But the team did claim Jiri Patera off of waivers from Vancouver.
Patera won’t play in Saturday’s exhibition finalé so it would be stunning if he dressed on the opening night roster.
But the Bruins could carry a third goalie to give Patera a longer look in practice for a week or two. More likely they’ll waive him in hopes that he gets through leaving them with better depth in case either Korpisalo or Bussi gets hurt.
