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Bruins Miss Playoffs for First Time Since 2015-16

The Boston Bruins failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, ending a run of eight straight appearances.

They were officially eliminated when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Saturday.

A Rare Disappointment

Over the past 17 seasons, Boston had only missed the playoffs twice (2014-15, 2015-16).

During that span, they made three trips to the Stanley Cup Final — winning it all in 2011 and falling short in 2013 and 2019.

What Went Wrong in 2024-25

First: A Slow Start

Right from the beginning, things unraveled.

• Goalie Jeremy Swayman missed all of training camp due to a contract dispute.
• Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak were recovering from offseason surgeries.
• The Bruins lost seven of their first 11 games (4-6-1).
• Coach Jim Montgomery was fired after a brutal 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 19.

They never managed to recover.

Then: Crushing Defensive Injuries

The Bruins’ blue line took massive hits.

• Hampus Lindholm suffered a season-ending fractured patella.
• Charlie McAvoy injured his AC joint at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Young replacements just weren’t able to fill the void.

Finally: A Lack of Scoring

Offensively, it was a struggle all year.

• Boston finished 29th in goals scored per game (2.62) and power-play percentage (15.1%).
• Outside of David Pastrnak’s 94 points (40 goals, 54 assists), offense was rare.
• Only Morgan Geekie (50 points) and Brad Marchand (47 points before being traded) made notable contributions.

The Skinny

• Potential unrestricted free agents: Cole Koepke (F), Vinni Lettieri (F), Patrick Brown (F), Henri Jokiharju (D), Parker Wotherspoon (D), Michael Callahan (D)
• Potential restricted free agents: Morgan Geekie (F), John Beecher (F), Marat Khusnutdinov (F), Jakub Lauko (F), Mason Lohrei (D), Ian Mitchell (D)
• Potential 2025 Draft Picks: 8

Reasons for Optimism

To Begin: Jeremy Swayman’s Comeback Potential

Despite a disappointing season after signing a $66 million contract, Jeremy Swayman is poised to bounce back.

A full training camp could help him return to elite form.

Moreover: A Strong Trade Deadline Haul

General Manager Don Sweeney got aggressive.

By trading veterans, he stocked up on prospects like Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Max Wanner.

The Bruins’ prospect pipeline is now much stronger.

Above All: David Pastrnak’s Brilliance

Through it all, David Pastrnak shined.

His 94 points are a testament to his enduring talent. At 28 years old, he’s still firmly in his prime and ready to lead the next chapter in Boston.

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