Mailbag: Ranking new uniforms, strategic signings, and BOS can contend for playoffs if ...

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Good question, Wiz.

There's actually a great article from Conor Ryan of Boston.com, The Boston Globe, Boston Sports Journal, and MassLive News, where he had a sit down with new Bruins head coach, Marco Sturm, and discussed many items surrounding the state of the Bruins, and Sturm's involvement therein.

Among talking points, was a similar ask of yours.

Here is a link to that insightful publication - it's well worth the read.

In that sit down with Conor, Sturm mentioned that he wasn't the one who initially brought up the names of previous Los Angeles Kings, now Boston Bruins, to the table sighting "they did .. " - they meaning management, and presumably Don Sweeney.

So to your question, yes, I do believe that the Bruins front office targeted certain players this past offseason who have past ties to the Bruins' new head coach.

Why?

Well, it provides familiarity for new comers both on the ice in the cases of Tanner Jeannot, and Viktor Arvidsson and on the bench in the case of Sturm - it benefits all involved if familiarity can draw the best out of each other.

The Bruins organizational goal next season is to re-establish structure, identity, and culture - and management clearly feels that Jeannot, and Arvidsson are hard working, true professionals that will lead by example for all teammates, but especially for their younger ones.

Appreciate the questions, Jack!

Wow couple of doozie's here, how much time does everyone have?

I'll do my best to keep it brief...

Let's start with the uniforms - which I wrote about in depth earlier this week which you can read here.

Yes, I am a massive fan of the Bruins new uniforms set to make their on ice debut this fall.

There are a few details, some minor, and one rather major that prevent their latest uniforms from being my all time favorite in team history, but they are still among the best in my opinion.

Those reasons are as follows:

• The existence of the Rapid 7 advertisement patch on the upper right chest (which I don't blame the designer for because it's an organizational partnership). Although, in the same breath I will also add that the Rapid 7 patch is as subtle as a jersey advertisement can be.

• Absence, and lack of return of the "meth bear" shoulder patch

• The absence of any gold on the home sweater collar

• The use of black socks, rather than gold socks featured in the home, dark, uniforms.

Had these four items not been the case, there would be a strong case for these new uniforms to be the best in team history, in my opinion.

Instead, I have them as the 3rd best home, and away set in team history - which is still an outstanding ranking for a team that's been around for just over a century.

Here are my top 3 all time, Boston Bruins home, and away uniform set rankings with all photo credit going to NHL Uniforms . com

3. Boston Bruins 2025 - Present

For what it's worth, these are the best white socks i've ever seen go along with a white jersey in team history, even more so than No. 1, and No. 2 on this list - but as mentioned above there are a few small reasons that keep these near perfect uniforms from being No. 1 in team history. Still, it's a jaw dropping set - especially in today's NHL where it's tough to successfully blend the past, and present.

2. Boston Bruins 1969-194

I mean, these are just hall of fame uniforms.

Anyone who sees these instantly thinks of Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, and the Big Bad Bruins of the early 1970's.

Generally speaking, I think a jersey looks best with clean shoulders, BUT, this rendition of Boston Bruin uniforms represents all that can be done right with shoulder striping.

The classic striping, the gold socks for the home jerseys, the jersey ties, the simple numbering design (with no nameplates), and the white stripe on the pants all blend together for an all time uniform.

1. Boston Bruins 1981-1995

To me these uniforms are absolute perfection, never to be topped again as close as the current uniforms appear to be.

It's all that's amazing about the primary logo(s), socks, and striping of the early 1970's but with the simplicity of no shoulder striping (despite that being well done in the early 70's), and the addition of the fan coined "meth bear" which can be seen below.

Along with the meth bear shoulder patch, the gold collar featured on the dark (then away) jerseys is also a detail upgrade in my opinion over the 2025 dark (home) jersey that featured a pure black collar.

One final, minor, detail I love about the dark uniforms from 1981-1995, is the use of a white chin strap on a black helmet instead of a black chin strap.

Now yes, that is nitpicking, and complete personal preference - but to me it provides better contrast.

Okay, so ... what was your other question, Jack?

Ah yes, the Bruins will make the playoffs if ... ?

This is a loaded question because they pretty much have to improve everywhere, and vastly.

That said, for now I'll simply site two main areas of improvement that should be well within reach of the currently constructed roster.

Special teams, and goaltending.

Yes, they need to re-establish, and improve upon their structure in all three zones, and even strength play.

Yes, they need to have better, and more consistent secondary scoring (a problem that won't be fully solved until more high end pieces are added to the roster).

But getting better goaltending, and having improved special teams (both of which go hand-in-hand in the case of the penalty kill) can go a long way in winning close games throughout the season.

Let's start with goaltending.

Last year, the Bruins were ranked 26th in the league in GA/G (3.31), and 27th in SV% (.892).

Jeremy Swayman, who carries an $8.25M cap-hit, had a .892 SV%, a 3.11 GAA and a record of 22-29-7 in 58 GS.

Joonas Korpisalo, as the backup, had a .893 SV%, a 2.90 GAA and a record of 11-10-3 in 24 GS.

Hopefully implementing, and surrounding a better team structure around Swayman, and Korpisalo next season will help mitigate their volume of high danger scoring chances against and contribute to improving their performance.

And hopefully, Swayman in particular, will enter training camp refocused and as a man on a mission to right the wrongs from the year prior.

There's no doubt that both Swayman, and the team were distracted entering last season due to his publicly ugly contract negotiations that he, along with Bruins management and various third parties all had a part in escalating.

He needs to be a better player, and leader next year plain and simple.

And if he isn't?

Then not only can the Bruins kiss any playoff chances goodbye, they'll be stuck with the uncomfortable reality of having an underperforming goaltender locked up for the next six-plus years with full trade protection.

Its best case scenario for all involved for Swayman to simply be the goalie he was paid to be.

Now as far as special teams goes ...

Last year the Bruins had the 29th ranked power play in the league (15.2%), and the 24th ranked penalty kill in the league (76.3%).

The penalty kill shouldn't be that hard to clean up especially with better structure, and goaltending.

Between combinations of their size, skating, reach, and or physicality a healthy Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Andrew Peeke are more than capable of being effective defensemen at protecting the net front, and disrupting scoring chances on the penalty kill.

Up front, Elias Lindholm, and Pavel Zacha should be able to use their hockey IQ to be efficient on the PK along with bigger bodied forwards like Sean Kuraly, Michael Eyssimont, Mark Kastelic, Tanner Jeannot, and Fraser Minten who can challenge players on the man advantage with their size, speed, and intensity.

And of course, better goaltending.

The power play, however, is going to be more challenging.

The Bruins may not have enough personnel to have a top five power play in the league, but they should have enough to be middle of the pack give or take - especially with better coaching.

Last years power play break out, and zone entries were agonizing to watch and I have an article in the queue for closer to training camp about what the power play needs to do better in all three zones.

Hopefully the hiring of Steve Spott, who has recently directed highly ranked power plays in both Dallas, and Vegas, can strategically provide dividends for the power play this year.

All that said, once set up in the offensive zone, David Pastrnak accompanied by Elias Lindholm, Casey Mittelstadt, Morgan Geekie, and Charlie McAvoy (i'm guessing to start) if executing properly should be a middle of the pack - plus power play unit.

And if all else fails?

Don't worry, James Hagens will come to the rescue next spring ...

So to end off, a lot has to go right for the Bruins next season to contend for a playoff spot (likely a wildcard spot) but improved goaltending, and special teams are chief among them.

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That does it for this week, thank you all for reading and have a great weekend!