In this latest edition of The Hockey News Boston Bruins' mailbag, we will answer questions about Jeremy Swayman, David Pastrnak, Joonas Korpisalo, and more.
As always, we appreciate your questions and are very happy to answer them. Furthermore, if you have questions for our next mailbag, feel free to share them in the comments.
Do you think Jeremy Swayman will get his game back on track next year?
When looking at Swayman's past success, I absolutely think he can turn things back around. The Bruins certainly need him to if they expect to get back into the playoffs next season.
Before his nightmare 2024-25 season, Swayman had a 2.53 goals-against average or lower and a .914 save percentage or better in each of his first four seasons. He is also a former NHL All-Star Game participant and William M. Jennings Trophy winner, so he has shown that he can be a game-changing goaltender.
Yet, if Swayman has another bad season in 2025-26, that would be disastrous for the Bruins and only create more questions about whether or not he can be the Bruins' true No. 1 goalie.
With the B's signing the young goalie (Michael DiPietro), where does last year's No. 2 goalie (Joonas Korpisalo) end up, and what do you think we can get for him?
It is understandable that questions about Korpisalo's future in Boston have come up with the Bruins re-signing DiPietro. While this is the case, I think there is a real chance that Korpisalo could still be a Bruin once training camp is here. Several of the teams that were on the hunt for new goaltenders have now brought them in. Furthermore, Korpisalo having a $3 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season does not make a potential trade any easier to make.
If the Bruins were to trade Korpisalo, they could potentially get a mid-to-late round pick or a prospect. However, it would not surprise me if they hold on to him and have him compete for the backup job with DiPietro.
Will David Pastrnak hit 100 points again next year?
Yes. If Pastrnak stays healthy, I would be surprised if he does not reach 100 points again next season. The superstar forward has recorded at least 106 points in each of the last three seasons. This includes last season, even with the Bruins being one of the worst teams in the league.
Pastrnak is one of the game's most dominant offensive players, so I can't bet against him reaching 100 points again. This is especially so when noting that he is right in his prime at 29 years old.
Do you think Lohrei takes a step forward next season?
Yes, I have confidence that Lohrei will hit a new level next season. While he had some struggles defensively this past season, he undoubtedly took a step forward offensively. In 77 games in 2024-25, he posted five goals, 28 assists, and 33 points. These are promising numbers, and it would not surprise me if he improved his offense even more next season.
Furthermore, with Lohrei entering his third season with the Bruins and being more adjusted to the NHL level, I think he will be more dependable when it comes to his defensive play in 2025-26. The 24-year-old is viewed as one of the Bruins' most promising youngsters for a reason, and I am excited to see what he can do next year.
Who do you believe will be named the Bruins' captain?
There is an argument to be made for both Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy when it comes to the Bruins' captaincy. Pastrnak is the Bruins' top superstar and has emerged as a big leader in their room, especially with the club trading away several former core players. Yet, the same can be said about McAvoy, as he is the heart of the Bruins' defense and has been a great leader in their room for quite some time.
However, if I had to pick between the two, I think Pastrnak will end up rocking the 'C' for the Bruins. He is now entering his 12th season with the Black and Gold and is the player they are building around as they continue their retool.
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