NHL Network's Nate Thompson and Mike Kelly are asking this afternoon whether the Bruins are contenders or pretenders, and Boston has the record to make it a real debate.
The Bruins sit at 13-4-1 and have won four straight, the latest a 4-1 victory over the Panthers on Sunday. Marco Sturm's team is first in the Atlantic and 4th in the NHL.
Conor Ryan pointed out that the fact we're even having the "Are the Bruins Cup contenders?" debate shows how much has changed in a short time.
He's right about the shift. Not long ago, nobody was asking this question about this group in November.
The league-wide picture helps the case. Carolina leads the NHL with 30 points, and Boston's 27 have them in the thick of the top tier.
The goal differential is where the argument gets serious. The Bruins are +27 with 68 goals for and 41 against, a margin that doesn't come from luck alone.
Are the Bruins deep enough to be real contenders?
Start with the home ice. Boston is 8-1-0 at the TD Garden, and the road record of 5-3-1 shows this isn't just a building-driven run.
The scoring isn't sitting on one player either. David Pastrnak leads the team with 24 points, but Elias Lindholm has 15, and Morgan Geekie, John-Jason Peterka and Pavel Zacha each have 14.
Peterka's +12 is the number I keep coming back to. A 24-year-old forward posting that rating tells you the second and third waves are doing real work, and that's what separates a hot start from a team built to last.
The Bruins are 7-2-1 in their last 10, and I'd call them contenders until someone proves otherwise. The record is too deep and the depth too real to wave away as a fluke.
Management looks like it agrees that the roster isn't finished. Pagnotta says Boston wants one or two long-term pieces, and Seravalli says the Bruins want in on the Larkin mix.
Dylan Larkin has 6 points in 10 games for Detroit this season. Whether Don Sweeney pushes for him or a different piece, the front office clearly sees a window opening.
Next up is Montreal on Thursday, a chance to stretch the streak to five and give the debate another data point.
Quick hits
NEW JERSEY DEVILSAmanda Stein reports Jake Allen gets the start for the Devils in Winnipeg tonight, with Nico Daws in the Jets' net. A fun matchup with a twist.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSChris Tanev made it clear this morning he doesn't like the Leafs' load management plan for him ahead of the Avalanche game. That one could get awkward.
NASHVILLE PREDATORSSheldon Keefe says Connor Hellebuyck wanted to start in Winnipeg tonight, but Devils GM Sunny Mehta made the call.
CALGARY FLAMESRyan Pike posted that Brennan Othmann is full go to return against the Rangers on Wednesday night, and he'll face his old team.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETSCam Talbot gets the start tonight against the Panthers, and Jacob Markstrom is confirmed in net for Florida.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
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