Bruins offseason depth chart 3.0: Could this be the 2023-24 roster?

The Boston Bruins settled what could be their final two pieces of offseason business on Tuesday. First, they came to terms on a two-year, $4.6 million extension for Trent Frederic prior to their arbitration hearing. 

Second, they received the $3.475 million arbitration award for Jeremy Swayman. The hearing had taken place on Sunday. The Bruins selected a one-year contract.

As of now, it leaves them with little room to do anything else.

It remains to be seen who makes the initial 2023-24 roster out of training camp. Prospects such as John Beecher, Marc McLaughlin and Georgii Merkulov could shove aside some of the newly signed veterans. Jesper Boqvist, Patrick Brown and Jayson Megna, for example, could be waived and assigned to Providence without the Bruins being responsible for carrying any portion of their salaries toward the $83.5 million ceiling.

The following 22-player iteration, then, could be the roster that debuts in the season opener against the Blackhawks on Oct. 11 at TD Garden. It would be cap compliant at $83,083,334, including the $4.5 million overage penalty incurred by Patrice Bergeron’s and David Krejci’s performance bonuses and Mike Reilly’s $333,334 buyout hit.

For this exercise, we’ll assume the veterans beat out the prospects. However, if McLaughlin, for example, beats out Brown at No. 4 right wing, the Bruins would remain compliant. 

One possibility is moving Frederic back to his natural position behind Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle. However, this could put James van Riemsdyk higher in the lineup than optimal. 

Coach Jim Montgomery may prefer Frederic on the wing. Frederic had some good shifts at No. 3 right wing last season next to Taylor Hall and Coyle. If so, perhaps Frederic could move up to No. 1 left wing — again, higher than preferred — and drop van Riemsdyk to a bottom-six role.

Morgan Geekie would then move up to No. 3 center. Brown and Jesper Boqvist can both play center.

Ideally, the Bruins would be stronger up the middle, either via acquisition or a Krejci return. But this would require money going the other way. It would also mean giving up futures, a commodity that is not abundant for the organization.

The only change from last year is Kevin Shattenkirk replacing Connor Clifton. Shattenkirk is less physical. But he is more experienced and has better offensive touch. Shattenkirk should be in the mix for point duty on the No. 2 power-play unit.

Jakub Zboril finds himself on the outside looking in once more. But he’ll be first up in case of injury. 

Zboril could also find more ice time if the Bruins identify Matt Grzelcyk as more of a trade option than season-long keeper. Grzelcyk will be unrestricted at year’s end, just like Shattenkirk, Zboril and Derek Forbort.

The Bruins will have $8.475 million budgeted for their goalies in 2023-24, or 10.1 percent of the cap. In comparison, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins’ closest division rival last year, are expected to have Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll as their tandem. Samsonov and Woll are under contract for a collective $4,316,667 average annual value (5.2 percent).

Accordingly, the Bruins’ goalies will be expected to carry the day. Even if Linus Ullmark experiences a decline, Swayman should be in position to take another step in his development. 

Conclusion

The Bruins need help up front. Until they get it, their goalies and defensemen will have to lead the way.

(Photo of Trent Frederic: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)