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2024-25 Boston Bruins Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals

by Ryan Cobbett - 9/11/2024

Boston Bruins predictions David Pastrnak

After putting together a historic 2022-23 campaign (during the regular season), the Boston Bruins once again found themselves as one of the best teams in the NHL in 2023-24. They finished with 109 points with a +43-goal differential as they finished second in the Atlantic behind the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. Boston played host to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, where they took care of business in seven games, including a thrilling Game 7 overtime winner. However, they met their match in the next round as they fell to the Panthers in six games. The Bruins played really well on the road all season, and it showed in the playoffs. They picked up their only two wins against Florida on the road, while going 2-1 on the road in their series against Toronto, and they picked up 54 of their 109 points while away from home (23-9-9).

It’s not a hard guess to figure out who leads this team offensively, as once again David Pastrnak put together an incredible season, finishing with a team leading 110 points on 47 goals and 63 assists. His 110 points was good enough to put him in the Top Five of the NHL, while he also finished seventh in goals and tenth in assists. Pastrnak was the only Bruins player to record more than 70 points, as Brad Marchand finished second on the team with 67 points on 29 goals and 38 assists. Centers Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle also had nice seasons, as the two finished with 59 and 60 points, respectively. Chippy blueliner Charlie McAvoy led the team with 86 penalty minutes while also recording 47 points and averaging nearly 25 minutes on ice per game.

Boston also benefited from having the best goalie tandem… maybe ever. Jeremy Swayman went 25-10-8 in the regular season posting a .916 SV% and held opponents to just 2.53 GA/G. His counterpart Linus Ullmark posted very similar numbers going 22-10-7 while posting a .915 SV% and allowing just 2.58 GA/G. Both netminders ranked in the Top 10 in GA/G and SV%.

Seasons come and go, so now it’s time to take a look at what we can expect from the Boston Bruins in 2024/25:

Boston Bruins Key Additions/Losses

The biggest loss to note is Ullmark, who now wears the Ottawa Senators colors. Ullmark was traded over the summer to Ottawa, as the Bruins knew they could not afford him and Swayman. They also saw Jake DeBrusk (40 points) leave for Vancouver while key role pieces in Kevin Shattenkirk (24 points) and James van Riemsdyk (38 points) remain free agents.

Losing Ullmark hurts, but the return was incredible. The Bruins essentially swapped Ullmark for netminder Joonas Korpisalo (3.27 GA/G in 55 games) while also adding a first-round draft pick and depth piece Mark Kastelic (10 points). Finally, Boston capped off their offseason by adding two former Vancouver Canucks in Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Lindholm will join new running mates in Pastrnak and Marchand on the top line, while Zadorov will provide some much-needed depth at the blueline.

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Boston Bruins X-Factors

Depth Top Line: Pastrnak, Lindholm, Marchand, 2nd Line: Zacha, Coyle, Trent Frederic, 3rd and 4th lines: Questionable. The Bruins have some question marks regarding their depth up front. They have two incredible lines, but beyond that their 3rd and 4th lines totaled just 81 points which accounted for just 11% of the Bruins offensive production last season. Injuries to top line guys could derail the Bruins season.

Goalie Tandem: Ullmark is gone and now Swayman and Korpisalo will be forming the new Bruins goalie tandem. Korpisalo struggled in his first season as the everyday guy in Ottawa allowing 3.27 GA/G and a lowly .890 SV%. The netminding saved the Bruins a lot last season, and now the group is a bit weaker.

Boston Bruins Goalie Outlook

As mentioned, Korpisalo struggled in the starting netminder role and is now slotted to be Swayman’s backup. It is interesting to note that both Korpisalo (55 games) and Swayman (44 games) set a career high in games played last season. Swayman’s career high is just 44 games, which is an interesting thing to note as the Bruins would not only like to get more out of their goalie, but they are about to have to pay him a lot of money if they want to keep him around. Boston will need Swayman to maintain his performance all season as they will likely expect 55 starts or more as Korpisalo is no Ullmark.

Grade: A

Boston Bruins Key Schedule Stretch

December 31st - January 25th: This stretch features 13 games, with the first eight coming against playoff teams from a year ago. The Sharks are sandwiched into this stretch and are the only break as the other three opponents are Colorado (another playoff team from last year) and Ottawa and New Jersey, who both should be much better this season. In all, this stretch includes road games at Washington, New York Rangers, Toronto, Tampa Bay, Florida, Ottawa, and New Jersey. The home games don’t get much easier, as they have to face New York Islanders, Edmonton, Tampa Bay, San Jose, Ottawa, and Colorado.

Boston Bruins Notable Odds

Stanley Cup Champions - +1800

Conference Winner - +950

Division Winner - +550

Hart Trophy – David Pastrnak: +2000

Vezina Trophy – Jeremy Swayman: +600

Boston Bruins Predictions

Despite their success, most notably over the last two seasons, I think the Bruins will take a step back this season. Toronto got a lot better, and Florida will still be better. The Bruins will still be in the playoff mix. However, with Swayman not playing in more than 50 games yet in a season makes me worry about the Bruins potentially fizzling out down the stretch, especially with Korpisalo being the backup option. They also face some potential issues if one of their top line guys goes down with an injury, and most of those guys have previous injury issues. I like Boston to fight Tampa Bay for that last guaranteed spot in the Atlantic, but I do not think they will eclipse 97 points this season.

Under 96.5 Team Total Points

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