2019 Boston Bruins Odds to win Stanley Cup with Expert Predictions

The Bruins had a very good season last year that came as close as a team can come to a truly great one. They finished second in the East and tied for second overall in the league with Calgary, with 107 points. That set them up for yet another playoff matchup with the Maple Leafs, and yet again they won - this time in seven games. Next came Columbus, and they won that series in six games. Those two series were a lot of abuse to their bodies, so a sweep of Carolina in the Conference final was a welcome relief. That earned them a Stanley Cup Finals date with St. Louis. The Blues won the first and third game, and lost the second in overtime, so they seemed to be in great shape. But they won just once more and lost in seven games.

Now the Bruins need to bounce back, shake off the disappointment, and the heavy toll of 24 playoff games, and prove themselves again this year.

Boston Bruins Offseason Moves

The Bruins didn't have a busy offseason by any measure. They got the one thing done that they absolutely had to do, though - even if it did take them until Sept. 15 to do so. Charlie McAvoy is one of the better young defensemen in the league, and he was one of the many young restricted free agents locked in a standoff with his team this summer. He had stated he was looking for a long-term deal, but he wound up signing a bridge deal instead - three years of $4.9 million. It happened right at the start of training camp, so he'll be there throughout, and that's a huge boost for the team. They have another young defenseman, Brandon Carlo, to deal with on the contract front, but the McAvoy deal should create some momentum there.

Beyond that, there was very little of note. Danton Heinen was re-signed to a two-year deal. Brett Ritchie and Par Lindholm were added from Dallas and Winnipeg, respectively, to low-dollar, short-term deals to boost the bottom six.

Their first-round pick was center John Beecher, who was taken 30th overall. He is going to Michigan this fall and won't be helping the team for a while yet.

Boston Bruins NHL Outlook

The Bruins liked what they had going on last year, so they have basically stood pat this year. It's hard to argue too much with that because there weren't a lot of holes on this roster. But there is always a risk with that as the teams around them are working to improve and get better at dealing with the Bruins. But it doesn't feel like this team was trying to improve and was unable to do so. They had this as their plan. And that's a real positive.

One storyline we can't ignore with this team is age. They have a lot of core players who aren't exactly young. Zdeno Chara leads the way at 42, but he's not the only one with some length in their teeth - David Backes is 35, Patrice Bergeron is 34, David Krejci is 33, Tuukka Rask is 32 - though age is less of a concern in net, and Brad Marchand is 31. The league is getting younger and faster, and each year we see competent or better players drop off a cliff. If Boston has that issue this year - and there is no way to predict that - then they could have a problem. Depth is their biggest asset, and this could be a blow to it.

Boston Bruins Schedule

The Bruins have a fascinating stretch of games starting on Oct. 17. They host the best team in the East - the Lightning. Then they go home and home with the Maple Leafs, their bitter rival. As if that isn't enough already, they finish off the crazy week with a Stanley Cup rematch against St. Louis as they seek revenge.

Boston Bruins NHL Futures Odds

The Bruins are tied with the Avalanche as the fourth choice to win the Stanley Cup at +1400, trailing only Tampa Bay, Toronto and Vegas. They are tied with Toronto as the second choice to win the Eastern Conference at +700 and are the third choice to win the brutally tough Atlantic Division at +300. Their season point total is set at 100.5, and neither side has unbalanced action at this point. They are -300 to make the playoffs, compared to +250 to miss them.

2019-20 Boston Bruins Predictions

I like the roster, and I'm not too concerned about the lack of change heading into the season - especially now that McAvoy has been dealt with. But the age, and especially the wear and tear of last year, is a concern. The East is so dangerous and deep up top, and running through the gauntlet twice in a row is a lot to ask. I expect a solid regular season, and a playoff berth again, but not a run to the Cup finals again.

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