Ty Anderson: Bruins are closer to Panthers after big free agent signings

The Bruins made a splash on day one of NHL free agency by bringing in defenseman Nakita Zadorov and center Elias Lindholm to fill major holes in the lineup. Our own Ty Anderson tells Zolak & Bertrand why the might not be the best team in the division, but are in a better position than they were at the end of the previous season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pqs4UyefYE&ab_channel=98.5TheSportsHub I don't think that Lindholm bridges the gap between you and the Panthers, but at the same time, I don't think you were bridging the gap between yourselves and the Panthers no matter what you did. When you build a team through free agency in any sport, it's hard to be like, 'OK, we were, let's say the fifth best team, now we're the first.' Especially in the NFL, baseball and hockey. It's just the rosters are too deep, players who draft and develop their superstars, like the Panthers, have for the most part when those guys are locked in, it's like, you've got to hope that you can just chip away at it year after year after year. And so I think the power rankings, I think they're the second-best team in their division. I would say overall, they're probably around where they were a year ago, the fourth-best team in the Eastern Conference. So much of that comes back to their goaltending, their D-zone. When you have (Charlie) McAvoy, (Brandon) Carlo, Lindholm, who they think can be better next year, Mason Lohrei, like you've got a big defense that is kind of in the model with the NHL and where it's trending. Then you look at sort of the playoffs, right guys? They gave Florida the best fight. I would say up until the final four games of Florida's playoff run, you were looking at the Bruins going, 'That team gave them the best run for their money out of everybody they faced.' So I think they're there. They're not quite at the same level, but I still think they are their biggest threat to beat them in a playoff series. I think we look at Tampa, I like the moves that Tampa made, but you're losing Steven Stamkos, you're bringing in Jake Guentzel, and you're losing Mikhail Sergachev. There's a lot of established power going out the door there at key positions. Like top-six center and your team captain and your top pairing D, Florida lost a couple of defensemen, didn't replace them. Brandon Montour's gone there. (Oliver) Ekman-Larsson is gone. Toronto is still Toronto, goaltending is the biggest question. So I think the Bruins are still the second-best team in their division, but it's closer. It's closer than it was this past year, I would say. LISTEN: Have the Bruins closed the gap with the Florida Panthers? https://omny.fm/shows/zolak-bertrand-1/zolak-bertrand-ty-anderson-breaks-down-bruins-free/embed