Bruins want a shakeup offensively; Might Lysell be an answer?

Bruins forwards have scored simply 14 objectives this season, and seven of them have come from the fourth line. Cole Koepke, who signed with the Bruins in July after tallying three profession factors during the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, leads Boston with six factors (three objectives, three assists). Johnny Beecher and Mark Katelic every have 5 factors (two objectives, three assists). Without this production from the fourth line, Boston’s scoring numbers would go from unhealthy to downright terrible.

David Pastrnak has put collectively back-to-back 100-point seasons, and he ought to get there once more this yr. He leads the group with 4 objectives, however he has just one level within the final 4 video games. Main offseason addition Elias Lindholm had a fantastic begin with 5 factors in his first three video games, however the top-six heart has been held off the scoresheet in every of the final 4 matchups.

The remainder of the top-nine forwards have performed even worse.

Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic and Pavel Zacha all have one purpose apiece. Frederic and Coyle do not have a single help. Zacha has one helper. Bruins captain Brad Marchand has failed to attain a purpose via seven video games. Matthew Poitras and Justin Brazeau have not discovered the again of the online in 5 video games. Morgan Geekie began the season because the second-line proper wing however nonetheless hasn’t scored in six video games.

Riley Tufte and Max Jones have been a adverse for the Bruins. Neither of those two bottom-six forwards have tallied some extent this season, and each have taken some unhealthy penalties. Tufte took two penalties in final Wednesday’s recreation and the Colorado Avalanche scored a purpose on the following energy play every time. Jones took two penalties in opposition to the Predators, and Nashville opened the scoring with a power-play tally after the primary one within the opening interval.

So, what is the answer for the Bruins? Head coach Jim Montgomery has already shaken up his strains fairly a bit during the last 5 video games or so. We have seen many alternative line combos. Nothing has labored up to now, excluding the Beecher-Kastelic-Koepke fourth line.

It is time to name up Fabian Lysell from Windfall and/or signal Tyler Johnson to a contract.

Let’s begin with Lysell. He ought to have made the group on Opening Evening. He’s a dynamic offensive participant with an excellent shot, spectacular playmaking potential and large velocity. His offensive instincts are actually sturdy. Positive, he nonetheless has so much to be taught defensively, however the Bruins badly want a participant along with his kind of offensive ability set. That was true earlier than the season and stays the case seven video games in.

Expectations for Lysell when/if he makes his NHL debut should not be loopy. Sure, he is a former first-round decide with plenty of expertise, however he is additionally 21 years previous with zero expertise on the prime degree. However he does have the ability set to generate scoring probabilities at 5-on-5, assist the transition recreation along with his velocity, and even increase the ability play.

And with three dwelling video games arising in opposition to opponents who’ve loads of offensive firepower, now could be a great time to see what Lysell can do.

Johnson signed with the Bruins earlier than camp on a professional tryout agreement (PTO) and performed rather well within the preseason, however he doesn’t have a contract for the common season proper now. He tallied 31 and 32 factors in every of the final two seasons, respectively, for the Chicago Blackhawks, and whereas a great chunk of final yr’s manufacturing got here on the ability play, Johnson would nonetheless be an improve over the likes of Tufte, Jones and Brazeau proper now. Johnson may play heart or on the wing, and he might be efficient in a top-six function or bottom-six place, which provides some priceless versatility. He is a savvy veteran who might be trusted.

Until the Bruins suppose they will make a commerce — and it is in all probability too early within the season to go that route, anyway — the enhancements to this group’s struggling offense probably might want to come from inside the group.

Placing Lysell (or one other prospect comparable to Georgii Merkulov) and/or Johnson into the lineup makes essentially the most sense from a lineup change perspective. Both a kind of two gamers could be higher than sticking with Jones or Tufte.

The Bruins have solely performed seven video games. It is nonetheless tremendous early within the season and there are quite a lot of new gamers within the lineup who’re making an attempt to see the place they slot in and construct chemistry with teammates. There isn’t any want for a full-blown panic.

However the Bruins need to determine this out as a result of not like earlier seasons, they do not have two elite goaltenders. They might want to rating objectives extra constantly. There is not a Vezina-caliber netminder beginning each recreation who’s able to bailing out the group’s lackluster offensive output.