Bruins midseason report cards: Back to average, for the most part

Jim Montgomery and the Boston Bruins 8-9-3 start are history.

Interim coach Joe Sacco has led the Bruins back into a playoff spot by emphasizing defense.

Underperformers are trending back toward their expected thresholds.

But the Bruins are not out of the woods.

At their current pace, they may never be.

They are in third place in the Atlantic Division and three points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning , who have five games in hand.

The Bruins dropped every game of their recent three-stop trip.

Advertisement Most of the roster is playing average hockey.

That will not be good enough.

Following are halfway marks for every player with 10 or more appearances: Hampus Lindholm : A- Two-way defenseman was the Bruins best player when he took a puck off the left leg on Nov.

12.

Getting close to resuming skating.

Will need time to acclimate.

Mark Kastelic : B+ Rambunctious center/right wing wholl hit and fight anybody.

Signed a three-year, $4.7 million extension on Friday.

He shows up every night, Sacco said.

Hes a great pro.

Hes a culture builder for our organization.

He does everything thats asked of him.

He sticks up for his mates when he needs to.

Its a great signing.

Im really happy for him.

Its certainly well-deserved.

Justin Brazeau : B Hard to believe 31 teams passed on giving the right wing a contract.

Made an NHL team out of camp for the first time.

Has some of the teams softest hands in tight.

Brandon Carlo : B Playing his usual predictable defense-first game.

Fine as a first-shift penalty killer.

Should improve once Lindholm is back on his left side.

Charlie Coyle : B Switching lately between center and right wing and doing so with his usual whatever-it-takes willingness.

Finishing better and on pace to score 20 goals for the second straight season.

Best serves the Bruins as the No.

3 center.

Cole Koepke : B Reliable straight-line depth forward who can play both wings.

Showing hes a dangerous shooter off the rush.

Pending unrestricted free agent is playing himself into a multi-year extension.

Brad Marchand : B Captain staggered at the start following an offseason abbreviated by three procedures.

Has looked more at ease in battles and offensive situations.

More likely to sign an extension than to be traded.

Jordan Oesterle : B Filled his role after being recalled following Lindholms injury.

Depth defenseman whos used his feet and head well to clear pucks.

Lack of physicality requires the Bruins to be mindful of matchups.

Advertisement David Pastrnak : B No.

1 right wing is looking more like himself: a two-goal third period against the New York Islanders on Sunday, which followed a pair of strikes against the Toronto Maple Leafs .

Still at a 9.8 shooting percentage, a career low.

Has to be an elite finisher for the Bruins to contend.

Johnny Beecher: B- Adjusting to No.

4 left wing after playing center for most of his rookie season.

Effortless skater with the potential of more offense because of his speed.

Still inconsistent with his pace.

Morgan Geekie : B- Recovering after a wretched start that led to five healthy scratches under Montgomery.

Right-shot forward has served his net-front purpose as No.

1 left wing when needed.

Value of pending restricted free agents next contract is still under construction.

Joonas Korpisalo : B- First-year Bruin has been an average No.

2 goalie after arriving from the Ottawa Senators .

Still adjusting to a new system.

Has a history of allowing one so-so goal per start.

Mason Lohrei : B- On pace to complete his first full NHL season.

Offensive defenseman has work to do defensively, but has the confidence to continue making plays after something goes sideways.

Has more offensive gears to reach.

Charlie McAvoy : B- No.

1 defenseman is playing all situations and being dependable, but McAvoy is expected to be in the Norris Trophy running every year.

Has yet to solve the Bruins power-play issues as point man on the first unit.

Has 83 shots, which is a number that has to grow for him to be a more dangerous offensive option.

Marc McLaughlin : B- Displaced Tyler Johnson as the extra forward.

No trouble finishing checks on the forecheck.

Next step is to be more consistent and uncover offense to earn regular ice time.

Andrew Peeke : B- Knows who he is as a third-pair defensive defenseman.

Kills plays with his physicality and skating.

Has to be mindful about playing within himself and sticking to structure.

Advertisement Parker Wotherspoon : B- Depth defensive defenseman who plays bigger than he is.

Gets swarmed at times under heavy forechecking pressure.

Contending with Oesterle for the No.

7 spot once Lindholm is ready to play.

Pavel Zacha : B- Didnt last long as the No.

1 left wing.

Brings more offensive pressure as the No.

1 center next to Pastrnak, but does not produce at top-line pace.

More comfortable in the middle, but that hes being asked to be first-line center at times says more about the organizations needs.

Nikita Zadorov : B- Recovering after a bumpy and undisciplined start.

Unique as an oversized defenseman who likes to get up the ice.

Playing with more chemistry recently next to McAvoy than during training camp.

Elias Lindholm : C More noticeable of late than he was at the start, but thats not saying much considering how invisible he was under Montgomery.

Being paid top-line money when hes an optimal No.

3 center.

Not doing enough in the bumper on the power play.

Matt Poitras: C Second-year pro looked sharp in camp after getting the green light following shoulder surgery.

Franchise erred by asking the natural center to play right wing at times.

Was assigned to Providence to rebuild his all-around game.

Trent Frederic : C- Busted an 11-game scoreless streak on Saturday against the Leafs, but otherwise having a regrettable contract year.

Could be on the move if an interested party cedes high-end futures.

Playing center of late, which could increase his trade value.

Jeremy Swayman : C- Needed to adjust to becoming the full-time No.

1 following Linus Ullmark s departure.

Missing all of camp extended the adjustment period.

An .891 save percentage does not align with his $8.25 million average annual value.

Struggling with his puck play.

(Top photo of Mark Kastelic, Jeremy Swayman and Andrew Peeke: Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images).

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