The Boston Bruins didn’t have a whole lot of room to make a ton of strikes eventually season’s commerce deadline in March. With little cap house however nonetheless needing to bolster up the blue line, they traded for Andrew Peeke from the Columbus Blue Jackets in trade for Jakub Zboril and a 2027 third-round draft choose. Not like most commerce deadline acquisitions, Peeke got here with one other season on his present contract slightly than hitting the free company market this summer season, that means that he has a full season forward of him in Boston.
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Peeke was not good in Columbus final season. He was thought-about a defensive legal responsibility and solely appeared in 23 video games, averaging beneath 16 minutes of ice time an evening. However, he fared higher in Boston within the last stretch of the common season. He appeared in 15 video games, averaged a full two minutes extra of ice time, and registered a plus-one ranking.
Issues had been additionally trying good for him heading into the playoffs till an damage throughout spherical one in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs halted his momentum. He returned in opposition to the Florida Panthers within the second spherical, nevertheless it wasn’t fairly the identical and the staff as a complete had quite a lot of points in that sequence. However now, he’s wholesome and presumed to fit in on the third pairing on the proper aspect of the protection. After a not-so-great begin to his profession in Columbus, he has an actual shot this season to reap the benefits of the change in surroundings and set up himself as a legit NHL defenseman.
Constructing on Small Pattern from 2023-24
Typically, for no matter motive, gamers simply want a change of surroundings as a way to actually unlock the total potential of their sport. That was clearly what normal supervisor Don Sweeney and the Bruins entrance workplace had been banking on once they traded for Peeke.
In a small pattern measurement, the 26-year-old was first rate for the Bruins and a step up from what he had finished in his first 23 video games of the season. No, he’s not going to be on the highest pairing or play main minutes, however he was strong, held his personal, and didn’t make detrimental errors. The imaginative and prescient was there. He has a whole lot of issues that the staff likes, and joins the giants on the Bruins’ blue line, clocking in at 6-foot-3.
Peeke was at his greatest within the first spherical of the playoffs in opposition to the Maple Leafs. The playoffs usually weren’t the best displaying from among the prime guys on the Bruins’ blue line, and an argument may very well be made that he was one of many prime defensemen for the staff throughout the first two video games of that sequence earlier than getting injured. He logged main minutes on the penalty kill, displaying his functionality to be a robust particular groups participant. He additionally had two hits and two blocked photographs in these two video games.
Clearly, nobody ever likes to see anybody get injured, nevertheless it was particularly disappointing when Peeke acquired injured as a result of it actually appeared like he was constructing momentum and getting his sport found out after some disappointing play earlier within the season. The largest hope for him in 2024-25 is to get again that momentum from the playoffs and switch that right into a strong, full 82-game season.
What Ought to Peeke’s Expectations Be?
The Bruins have a extremely robust blue line this season that might probably be the most effective within the league in the event that they’re capable of put all of it collectively and guys play to their fullest potential. They’re large (Charlie McAvoy is now the shortest member within the presumed lineup at 6-foot-1), and they’re proficient. With the addition of Nikita Zadorov, they’ve stronger depth, and there might be good competitors at coaching camp for these last spots. Peeke ought to make the lineup, however there might be some wholesome, inner competitors to maintain him and the remainder of the blue line trustworthy.
A part of being an excellent coach is placing gamers in one of the best place for them to succeed. Up to now in his tenure in Boston, Jim Montgomery has finished a reasonably good job of that. Clearly, there are at all times exceptions, however by and huge, the Bruins’ roster has benefitted from taking part in beneath him. Peeke was starting to see the fruition of that earlier than his damage restricted him within the playoffs. He discovered success taking part in on the third pair and primarily being matched up in opposition to the opposing staff’s backside six gamers. Count on to see that proceed in 2024-25.
Whereas Peeke will not be going to magically turn into one of many prime defensemen on the staff, I believe it’s truthful to count on him to at the very least match his play from the tip of the final season when he arrived in Boston. He’ll most likely common round 17 minutes of ice time an evening and primarily face off in opposition to the bottom-six guys, and that might be excellent for him. Somebody must be in that spot and if it’ll give him one of the best shot to succeed, he ought to have that chance.
Peeke’s greatest season points-wise got here in 2021-22 when he had 15 factors in 82 video games. Probably the most targets he’s ever had in a season was six in 2022-23. Final season, he had 10 factors, placing him proper round Matt Grzelcyk (11) and Parker Wotherspoon (8) from the Bruins’ 2023-24 roster. I believe it’s protected to have expectations for him to get extra factors this season than final, and he can hopefully match his earlier profession excessive or surpass it.
Peeke Might Be a Nice Shock
The Bruins have quite a lot of superstars who will draw the overwhelming majority of the eye in 2024-25, however Peeke actually has the potential to be a pleasing shock. Expectations had been low upon his arrival, however he performed a lot better in Boston than he did in Columbus. He was a little bit of a raffle to see if he’d be capable to present some legit depth going into the playoffs, and if it weren’t for his damage, I believe it will have proven to have paid off.
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Now with yet one more yr on his contract, he has an actual shot to assist spherical out what may very well be the most effective blue traces within the NHL this season. When he arrived in Boston, Peeke had nowhere actually to go however up, and hopefully that upward trajectory can actually come to fruition in 2024-25. I believe he may very well be a man who might flip into an unsung hero for the Bruins and a good function participant.
