In a stunning early-season move, the Boston Bruins have parted ways with head coach Jim Montgomery amid the team’s sluggish 8-9-3 start. While Montgomery certainly shoulders some blame, the club’s top stars failing to meet lofty expectations played a major role in sealing his fate. As interim coach Joe Sacco steps in, the fantasy implications for Boston’s slumping standouts are immense.
Accountability Accepted, Now What?
To their credit, cornerstones like David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Charlie McAvoy have openly admitted their subpar performances let the team and Montgomery down. Pastrnak, perennially a point-per-game producer, has just 13 points through 20 contests. Marchand’s measly 11 points rank among the biggest early-season fantasy disappointments, while McAvoy’s 0.35 points per game fall well short of expectations.
While the Bruins’ leaders get high marks for accountability, the question now becomes how they’ll respond under Sacco’s guidance. Early indications suggest he’ll give his slumping stars every opportunity to rediscover their elite form.
Top-Six Opportunity Knocks
In Sacco’s first game behind the bench, Boston’s top two lines and first power-play unit remained largely intact. For centers Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm, that means continued golden opportunities alongside Pastrnak and Marchand at even strength and with the man advantage. Despite the star wingers’ slow starts, both pivots should be rostered in virtually all fantasy formats.
Statistically, several Bruins are due for better luck. Zacha’s 7.5% shooting percentage sits well below his 11.8% career average, while Lindholm’s 6.9% mark falls short of his typical 12.1% conversion rate.
– According to Victoria Matiash, ESPN Fantasy Hockey analyst
If Boston’s top guns start finding the mark more frequently, Zacha and Lindholm will be among the main beneficiaries in the assists column. Sticking with them through this transition phase could pay big dividends.
Crease Clarity Key for Swayman
Jeremy Swayman’s .893 save percentage and 3.28 goals-against average rank among the NHL’s worst for goalies with 10-plus starts. The 24-year-old has immense potential but needs the Bruins to solidify defensively before he can be trusted as a reliable fantasy netminder. Monitoring Boston’s direction under Sacco will be crucial in assessing Swayman’s rest-of-season outlook.
Window to Buy Low Closing?
For fantasy managers with one of Boston’s struggling stars on their roster, now is the time to exercise patience. Making a hasty trade when their values are depressed could prove very costly if the coaching change sparks a resurgence, which history suggests is a strong possibility.
- In 2021-22, the Flyers averaged 2.56 goals per game under Alain Vigneault but spiked to 3.50 in their first 10 contests after his firing.
- The Blues went from 2.89 goals per game under Mike Yeo in 2018-19 to 3.44 under interim coach Craig Berube.
If anything, the next week or two might be your final chance to buy low on Pastrnak, Marchand, and other underperforming Bruins. Once they start flashing their game-breaking ability more consistently, the window to acquire them below market value will slam shut.
Bruins’ New Bench Boss
Elevating Sacco provides Boston a known commodity to guide them through this early turbulence. The 53-year-old previously served as the Colorado Avalanche head coach from 2009-10 to 2010-11 and has been an assistant on the Bruins’ staff since 2014.
Joe’s a very knowledgeable hockey mind. A very knowledgeable coach. He’s been around a long time. I think it’s a great opportunity for him.
– Bruins GM Don Sweeney on Sacco
While Sacco’s NHL head coaching record is just 130-134-40, his familiarity with the Bruins’ personnel should help facilitate a seamless transition. If he can quickly get the stars and supporting cast firing on all cylinders, Boston could vault back into the playoff picture sooner than later. For the team’s integral fantasy assets, that would be a most welcome development.
Final Verdict
Coaching changes often provide the spark underachieving teams need to fulfill their potential. With several of Boston’s stars mired in uncharacteristic funks to open the 2024-25 campaign, Montgomery became the fall guy. Now it’s on the players to reward management’s faith and regain their standing among fantasy hockey’s elite.
As the Bruins embark on the Joe Sacco era, resist the temptation to sell low on Pastrnak, Marchand, McAvoy, and other slow starters. Monitor the team’s upcoming performances closely, as a resurgence could be on the horizon – one that would significantly alter the fantasy landscape as a new coach looks to establish a winning culture in Boston.
