Kalman's Grades: Several Bruins Forwards Have Underperformed
BOSTON (CBS) - You knew the Bruins were due for a drop-off in production when Jarome Iginla left for Colorado as a free agent last summer.
You just couldn't have predicted that they would fall so far. The Bruins were third in offense in 2013-14 in the NHL, but this season they've been in the bottom third of the League almost all season. And there aren't many reasons to believe that they'll improve that much in the second half.
Several forwards have underperformed and the Bruins have struggled to settle on a consistent lineup. Center David Krejci's injury also hindered some of the Bruins' production, but the organization always sells itself on depth. The Bruins should've had enough depth to overcome Krejci's absence better.
The second half starts with the Bruins still looking for Iginla's replacement. Here are the midseason grades for Bruins forwards:
Gregory Campbell
Grade: D
Other than a punching bag for opposing tough guys when the Bruins are in need of a wakeup call, Campbell's usefulness on this team has dried up. The Bruins said they wanted to revamp their fourth line when they let Shawn Thornton go, but they still rely on Campbell way too much, especially considering his ugly possession numbers. He never had the greatest hands, but now his ability to even get chances has deteriorated. Somehow he's scored four goals. And his faceoff percentage has been great, if that's worth anything. The Bruins will have to think hard about replacing Campbell with someone younger and with a bit more skill in the second half.
Simon Gagne
Grade: C
Before he had to leave the team for personal reasons, Gagne was looking a little more spry. You have to grade the veteran forward on a curve because he took a year off. And you have to wonder if he'll have anything left in the tank when (or if?) he returns to the Bruins. Nonetheless, he accepted a fourth-line role without complaining. And he really just supposed to be a placeholder for one of the Bruins' "wonderful" prospects anyway.
Milan Lucic
Grade: F
The 2013 lockout-shortened season was supposed to be rock bottom for Lucic. He scored seven goals in 46 games. In the 2013 postseason, he scored seven more goals. And his 24-goal season last year was supposed to be proof he was going to emerge as an elite forward. This season he's actually scored at a worse pace than he did in 2013. Krejci's absence hurt, but $6 million forwards should be able to produce with almost anyone at center. And even though he was still recovering from offseason wrist surgery when this season started, Lucic should have been able to find a groove and adjust to the taped wrist by now. Instead he'll be left to salvage some semblance of credibility as a legit power forward in the second half.
Reilly Smith
Grade: B
With his 21 points in 41 games, Smith has produced similarly to last season when he scored 20 goals. It makes you wonder how much better he'd have been with a full training camp, but a contract dispute kept him out a little while. Smith continues to be a threat around the opposition goal and should get a chance to play more with Krejci and Lucic in the second half.
Daniel Paille
Grade: F
Although some of his problems stem from being chained to Campbell, Paille has one goal in 41 games and that's a darn embarrassment. The Bruins once prided themselves on having four lines that were a threat to score, and Paille has become a bit of a joke. He definitely leads the team in posts hit. Although he's still a decent penalty killer, Paille's other attributes make him someone not worth having in the lineup every single night. Yet he's played every game.
Loui Eriksson
Grade: C
For the first 27 games this season, Eriksson was a ghost. He scored three goals. Then he got hot and for eight games scored six goals and the Bruins were possessed by the spirit of "Dallas Loui." Now he's gone six games without a goal again and his line has dropped off in terms of production. Eriksson was one of the three biggest keys to the Bruins overcoming Iginla's absence. And he's barely been respectable.
Chris Kelly
Grade: C
We knew he'd never be the 20-goal scorer he was in 2012 again. But there was an expectation he would produce more than he has the past three seasons. Nonetheless, Kelly can't be blamed for the Bruins paying him more than he's worth or playing him higher on the depth chart than they should. He's still the one of the only Bruins players that gives an all-out effort every night and his two-way play has allowed for Carl Soderberg's growth in the NHL.
Carl Soderberg
Grade: B
You almost want to give this guy two grades. When he's been the third-line center, he's been outstanding. When he was cast as a top-two center, he wilted. Soderberg led the team in scoring for a while and is still second with 27 points. The Bruins are going to have a difficult decision next summer when Soderberg is an unrestricted free agency. First though, he needs to prove he can play against stiffer competition and avoid getting pushed around in more physical matchups.
Patrice Bergeron
Grade: A-minus
Bergeron spent a long part of the early season in the minus column. He's since surged to plus-7 and his 30 points on pace to come close to his 62 points of a season ago. Bergeron is still a beast on faceoffs and would probably be more in the Selke Trophy talk if the Bruins as a team were better. There have been nights that he's almost willed the Bruins to victory. You still feel like he could find another higher gear.
David Krejci
Grade: B
There's no telling how banged-up Krejci has been since he became a full-time fixture in the lineup after missing 20 games scattered across the season's first half. Still his scoring pace is the same for this season compared to most of his past seasons. As always, he could stand to shoot more. Health will be the only concern with him in the second half.
Seth Griffith
Grade: B-minus
It's difficult to fault this kid, who was rushed to the NHL because of injuries and the failure of higher-regarded prospects. Griffith has six goals in 30 games and has been a decent player when slotted onto the first line. However, his size and experience haven't made him Julien's preference for that role in big games. Griffith could stand to add a little edge to his game that would make him a candidate to play more in the bottom six when there are no openings higher on the depth chart.
Craig Cunningham
Grade: B-minus
At times Cunningham has looked a little overwhelmed by the pace of the NHL. Still he's brought the same work ethic to the Bruins that he showed with Providence of the American Hockey League. He has yet to earn Julien's trust, so his minutes haven't been down in some of the bigger games. With a little faith from the coach and confidence in himself, Cunningham could be the answer to the Bruins' fourth-line woes.
Brad Marchand
Grade: B-minus
The production from Marchand is a bit inconsistent, but he still led the Bruins in goals with 11 in the first half. The biggest issue with him in the first half (as always) was his ridiculously stupid penalties. He has 46 penalty minutes in 38 games. Some of that is reputation. Some it is just no concept of when it's worth getting his nose dirty. Marchand doesn't will the Bruins to victories like his longtime linemate Bergeron, but he's always instrumental in the Bruins' victories and defeats. He'll have to increase his production a bit in the second half to help Boston into the playoffs.
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