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The Boston Bruins’ off-season is complete. And while it may be a bit early to do so, it’s a good time to project their opening night roster.
That was the main topic of the newest Sports Hub Underground podcast, which you can listen to above. Feel free to throw it on as a companion piece to this article, and click the subscribe link if you like what you hear.
Ty and I did our best to go through the Boston Bruins’ current roster – and to be fair, it’s their likely roster come opening night – and figure out the line combinations and defensive pairings. Because little, if none, of the lineup is really set in stone, and might not be ven at the start of training camp.
Here’s a quick look at each of our lineups…
Ty’s Projected Forward Lines

Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha (18) talks to right wing David Pastrnak (88) during the second period against the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. (Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)
Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Trent Frederic
Jake DeBrusk – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk – Morgan Geekie – Jakub Lauko
Milan Lucic – Marc McLaughlin – A.J. Greer
The notable thing here is that Ty put Frederic on the top line with Marchand and Coyle. This could be a theme for the Bruins this season: guys that aren’t “true” top-six forwards populating the top-6. They don’t have enough realistic top-six forwards to field a great top-6, so weak spots are inevitable.
Ty’s Projected Defense

Matt Grzelcyk #48 of the Boston Bruins reacts with Charlie McAvoy #73 after scoring in the third period in Game 4 of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals at TD Garden on May 21, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Matt Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort – Kevin Shattenkirk
Ty likes what ain’t broke – that being the Grzelcyk-McAvoy, and Lindholm-Carlo pairings. So he ain’t “fixing” that. He doesn’t believe top defensive prospect Mason Lohrei is ready for the NHL nor will the team feel that way, so he’s expecting Lohrei to at least start the season in Providence.