Oddsmakers get honest about Bruins playoff chances in 2023-24
In the realm of Stanley Cup Playoffs, the glittering achievements of the regular season are but ephemeral sparks, a lesson that the Boston Bruins discovered in a heart-wrenching manner this spring.
For the Bruins, whose record-shattering exploits during the storied 2022-23 regular season etched their name into history as the most triumphant team with a remarkable 65 wins, the elusive pursuit of the Stanley Cup remained unfulfilled. Their quest to amass the requisite 16 victories needed for that coveted trophy halted at a mere fraction.
In a classic case of David versus Goliath, the Florida Panthers, oft-dismissed by fans and experts alike as improbable contenders against the Bruins, rewrote the underdog narrative.
An enthralling seven-game clash unfolded, a drama that saw them triumph against all odds, turning around a three-to-one deficit to claim victory in a Game 7 overtime showdown. The iconic moment, Carter Verhaeghe's skillful shot eluding goaltender Jeremy Swayman at 8:35 of extra time, signaled a calamitous finale that commentator Jack Edwards aptly likened to the "Hindenburg-like" crash of high expectations.
From that juncture, winds of transformation swept across the Bruins landscape. The poignant retirement of Patrice Bergeron, the imminent exit of David Krejci, the trade exits of Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno, and the departures of mid-season additions Tyler Bertuzzi and Dmitri Orlov – each a brushstroke altering the composition of a once-familiar ensemble.
As autumn approaches, the ice shall welcome a vastly different Bruins contingent from the one that bid farewell to TD Garden in April, marked by the heart-rending Florida upset.
But do they possess the mettle to reclaim the playoff spotlight in 2024? According to a prominent online sports betting authority, the odds appear promising. BetOnline.org bestows upon the Bruins an auspicious 80% probability of securing a coveted berth in the annual dance, the odds standing at -400.
In the lineup shuffle, notable names step into the limelight. James van Riemsdyk and the return of fan darling Milan Lucic headline the arrivals, inking one-year, $1 million deals. Furthermore, the ranks are bolstered by fresh faces like Morgan Geekie, Jesper Boqvist, and Kevin Shattenkirk – newcomers set to leave their mark on the Bruins' upcoming chapter.
