As midterm exams go, the Bruins had an easy one.
Game 28 in their 56-game schedule was their first matchup with the tire fire that is the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Needless to say, the Bruins passed.
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Ep 30: Nazem Kadri; Lightning Advance; Rust Re-Signsby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 1:10 am
Jim and Chris discuss Nazem Kadri's big night, the Lightning advancing […]
Here’s a look at how each Bruins player has graded out through the first half of the truncated season: (as always players are graded vs. their expectations and role, not just production)
Forwards

Neither age (35) nor the weight of the captain’s C seems to have slowed this future Hall of Famer down.
Anders Bjork: F
He was supposed to work his way up from the fourth line to the top six, not play his way out of the lineup. Might be time for the Notre Dame project to get a change of scenery.
Charlie Coyle: C
If he’s the heir apparent to Krejci as the No. 2 center, he better get more aggressive offensively. Even if he refuses to shoot more, we’ve missed those shifts where he seemingly protects the puck down low for minutes on end.
Jake DeBrusk: D
Is he the J.D. Martinez of the Bruins, unable to adapt to playing COVID times? If he’s going to turn things around he’s got to get to the dirty areas and make himself more of a menace.
Trent Frederic: A-minus
Sometimes his antics are a little goofy and you hope he doesn’t cost the Bruins with a bad penalty down the line. But otherwise he’s done the pest act and provided some offense — can’t ask for much more.
David Krejci: B-minus
His time on the first power play went well while it lasted — in terms of him distributing the puck. Still, a team desperate for secondary scoring needs more than one goal from its second-line center.
Sean Kuraly: F
Does he have the contract year blues? Or is there something bothering him? Whatever has happened, he’s even played his way into Cassidy’s bad side, somewhere we never expected to see the long-time coach favorite.
With 34 points in 28 games, it’s time for PHWA members to steer their Bruins-related Hart Trophy attention toward No. 63.
David Pastrnak: A-minus
If you shot like Pastrnak, would you be as addicted as he is to the drop pass? But he’s still scoring at an amazing pace.
Nick Ritchie: A
No one expected anything from the power forward, and for most of the first half he’s been all of Boston’s secondary scoring while screening goalies and skating pretty well on Cassidy’s ever-shuffling lines.
Craig Smith: C-plus
He shoots a lot, that’s great. But there’s not much else he does, so it’s up to him to do the work necessary to improve on his 7.7 shooting percentage and make those shots count more.
Jack Studnicka: B
The vision and hands are there, just lacks finish so far.
Chris Wagner: F
Unlike Kuraly, he has contract security. Similar to Kuraly, he seems to have lost the game that helped make Boston’s fourth line Cassidy’s second-most trusted group.
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Defensemen
Brandon Carlo: B-minus
The offense is never coming, so stop waiting for it. But it would be more helpful if he was able to drive a pair with a younger guy better than having to be paired with a vet like Grzelcyk. Maybe he’s been most affected by Chara’s departure.
Connor Clifton: B
Fans love Cliffy Hockey, but one has to wonder how long the Bruins can survive his high-risk game in their top four while they’re plagued by injuries.
Jeremy Lauzon: B
Was probably hitting his stride when he got injured. Still needs mileage to become a consistent NHL defender and puck mover.
Charlie McAvoy: A-minus
The Norris Trophy talk might have calmed the past couple weeks, but he’s clearly taken major steps toward filling Chara’s weighty shoes.
Kevan Miller: B
Got off to a relatively respectable start, but it’s apparent the Bruins can’t count on having him for the stretch run and that might add to general manager Don Sweeney’s shopping list.
Matt Grzelcyk: B
Steady when healthy, he is certainly not Torey Krug (not that the Bruins thought that) but a solid puck-mover that needs to keep up his recent aggression with his shot.
Urho Vaakanainen: C
Still a work-in-progress, he showed some of the lackadaisical tendencies that failed to endear him to Cassidy when he first came to North America.
Jakub Zboril: B
He’s come as advertised — lots of skill and confidence, not much awareness or hockey sense. Seemingly makes a boneheaded play for every sweet one, which the Bruins hope he’ll play his way out of as he gains experience.
Goalies
Jaroslav Halak: A
There’s always going to be a portion of the population that wants him to play more than Rask, and as long as Halak’s making his case the Bruins will be in business.
Tuukka Rask: A-minus
Numbers are still strong despite the youthful defense corps and the lack of offense both he and Halak have had to endure.
Daniel Vladar: Woah
Usually, this would be an incomplete, but did you see that stick save on Colton Sceviour on Tuesday? Holy moly.
Incomplete: Par Lindholm, Jarred Tinordi, Steven Kampfer, Anton Blidh, Karson Kulman, Ondrej Kase, Greg McKegg, Jack Ahcan, Oskar Steen, Zach Senyshyn, John Moore
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Ep 30: Nazem Kadri; Lightning Advance; Rust Re-Signsby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 1:10 am
Jim and Chris discuss Nazem Kadri's big night, the Lightning advancing […]
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Ep 29: Stanley Cup Playoffs; Maple Leafs Collapse; End Of An Era For Penguinsby Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2022 at 4:31 am
Mike, Jim, and Chris discuss the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, […]
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Ep 28: NHL Draft Lottery; Stanley Cup; Islanders Coaching Situationby Full Press Coverage on May 11, 2022 at 1:13 am
Jim Biringer and Chris Wassel discuss the results of the NHL Draft […]
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Ep 27: Golden Knights Fall Flat; Canucks Stay Aliveby Full Press Coverage on April 20, 2022 at 3:05 am
The Vegas Golden Knights had a chance to close the gap, but fell flat […]
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Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2 Previewby Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Jim is back once again discussing the 2nd round of the 2022 Stanley Cup […]
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Ep 28: Toronto Maple Leafs, Stanley Cup Playoffs Talkby Full Press Coverage on May 8, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Jim is joined by Lex Tan of Sauga 960 to discuss the Toronto Maple […]
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Ep 73: Bruins Face Elimination; Bruce Cassidy On Hot Seat; Patrice Bergeron Final Standby Full Press Coverage on May 12, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Ian and Chris discuss game six between the Bruins and Hurricanes and the […]
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Ep 72: Bruins Acquire Hampus Lindholm; More Moves To Come?by Full Press Coverage on March 20, 2022 at 3:34 pm
Ian and Chris discuss the trade of Hampus Lindholm to the Bruins and what […]
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S3Ep29 - Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Round 2 Stanley Cup Playoffs Talkby Jim Biringer on May 22, 2022 at 8:00 pm
Jim is joined by Marc Weiss and Coach Jay as they discuss Round 2 of the […]
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S3Ep28 - Stanley Cup Playoff Game 7 Talk, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangersby Jim Biringer on May 15, 2022 at 1:08 pm
Jim is joined by Marc Weiss and Coach Jay in discussing the five Game7s in […]
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Episode #381 - The 2022 NHL Spicy Second Roundby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 2:50 pm
The 2nd round of the NHL playoffs is well under way and things are getting […]
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Episode #380 - The 2022 NHL Playoffs - Second Roundby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 2:30 am
After FIVE!!! game 7's in the first round of the playoffs, the 2nd round […]
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Episode #379 - The 2022 NHL Playoffs - First Roundby Full Press Coverage on May 10, 2022 at 2:02 am
The NHL playoffs are well underway and the series are definitely not going […]
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Episode #102: French or Silenceby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 5:46 am
The AHL Divisional Semifinals have concluded, and now, only eight teams […]
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Episode #101: Playoff Post Mortemby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 6:11 am
The 2022 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs are in full swing, with (almost) two […]
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Episode #102: French or Silenceby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 5:46 am
The AHL Divisional Semifinals have concluded, and now, only eight teams […]
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Episode #101: Playoff Post Mortemby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 6:11 am
The 2022 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs are in full swing, with (almost) two […]
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Ep 60: #KrejciForever and Raised Expectationsby Full Press Coverage on May 4, 2021 at 9:23 pm
Ian and Chris talk about the Bruins post trade deadline turnaround and […]
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Ep 59: Bruins Swing Big At Trade Deadlineby Full Press Coverage on April 12, 2021 at 9:48 pm
Ian and Chris welcome in Mike Cratty to discuss the trade acquisitions of […]
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5/25 - Texas Tragedy; Celtics/Heat Game Fiveby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Ian and John react to the tragic school shooting in Texas. In addition, […]
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Which Athlete Do You Want To See Roasted?by Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Ian and John discuss the upcoming Tom Brady roast and which athlete they […]
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Warriors Take Commanding Lead; How Can The Celtics Rebound? (5/23)by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Ian and John discuss the Warriors commanding 3-0 series lead over the […]
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5/23 - Red Sox; NBA Playoffs; Tom Brady Roastby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Ian and John discuss the Red Sox recent surge, the Warriors lead over the […]