A fresh start for Bruins

It’s time to line ’em up and see what they have

The Bruins preseason, set to kick off this week with the team’s participation in the rookie/prospects tournament in Buffalo, just may be the most interesting one in a couple of decades.

It may not be as anticipated as 2010, when No.2 overall pick Tyler Seguin made his Bruins debut, but it is even more important. The B’s were already a good team when Seguin arrived. You may have to go back to 1997 — when Joe Thornton (No. overall) and Sergei Samsonov (No. 8 ) ushered in a new Black ’n’ Gold era — to find a time when the future of the franchise rested so heavily on young players.

But unlike 2010 or 1997, the focus will not be on just one or two high draft picks, but rather on a multitude of youngsters vying for spots, some of whom have spent time in the Bruins system or even on the roster. Some are firstrounders. Others have raised their stock throughout their college and/or brief pro careers. As many as seven or eight first- or second-year forwards have a fighting chance to make the roster. If enough of them are deemed ready, it could force a trade of a veteran. On defense, meanwhile, they’ve already penciled in two defensemen — Brandon Carlo, 20, and Charlie McAvoy, 19, — who can’t yet legally buy a drink.

How it all shakes out will be fun to watch. Three of the B’s seven preseason games are at the Garden. It’s a good bet some experimentation will extend into the season and Bruce Cassidy, headed into his first full season as coach, showed last year that he’s much quicker to mix it up than his predecessor Claude Julien.

For argument’s sake, here’s one guess on how the lines and pairs will break down once the tryouts are done:

• FIRST LINE: Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Frank Vatrano

The chemistry between Marchand and Bergeron, hatching for almost seven seasons now, is evergreen. A year after Bergeron set a career high in goals, Marchand bested his own high-water mark from the previous season. It hasn’t really mattered if Seguin or Brett Connolly was riding shotgun on the top line. The pairing produces. Still, it would be nice to get some production from the right winger, too. Thanks to a foot injury that wiped out the first three months, 2016-17 was a largely wasted year for Vatrano. He must prove he can play against top pairs and lines, which won’t be easy. But if he could pop in 20plus goals, it will allow Cassidy to sprinkle the scoring threats throughout the lineup.

• SECOND LINE: Jake DeBrusk, David Krejci and David Pastrnak

While Bergeron at least has had the constant of Marchand on his left, Krejci’s had a revolving door on both his wings since Nathan Horton began the exodus in 2013. It’s time to give him a more permanent playmate in Pastrnak. The two Czechs can be dynamic together, though they’ve had issues getting out of their own end when playing together. DeBrusk, one of the B’s three first-rounders from 2015 (No. 14 overall), had the kind of year in Providence last season you would have hoped for, steadily improving throughout the AHL season until he was one of the most trusted players on the roster. As for Pastrnak’s contract negotiation impasse, our rosecolored glasses make us believe that his desire to stay in Boston and the B’s desperate need for his abilities will have him in uniform before the Dec. 1 deadline when, if a RFA is not signed, he is ineligible to play for the season.

• THIRD LINE: Ryan Spooner, David Backes and Anders Bjork

Backes was used as the right winger on the Bergeron line late in the season and, though not a perfect fit, the combo got better with time. But perhaps a return to his natural center position could increase his production from the 17 goals he scored last season. Spooner, signed to a one-year deal worth $2.825 million, remains a curious fit. He’s an excellent power-play man but hasn’t found his even-strength niche. Bjork, a left shot, played much of his Notre Dame career on the right side and would be comfortable there. Leaving college early was not an easy decision for Bjork and there’s no doubt he’ll want to make it pay off. He’s a top line candidate, too, but this is a big jump from Hockey East.

• FOURTH LINE: Matt Beleskey, Riley Nash and Noel Acciari

Beleskey, due $3.8 million for three more years, is looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled, three-goal campaign. And he has to, because there are other capable youngsters looking for jobs. After going long stretches without any production, Nash came up with some big goals down the stretch and his PK work should earn him this spot. It’s hard not to love Acciari’s bowling ball-style and he finally showed late last season that he can indeed score the kind of goals required of him to stay in the NHL.

• CONTENDING FOR SPOTS: LW Danton Heinen (started last season in Boston but not ready; finished very strong in Providence); LW Peter Cehlarik (was very good in a short stint playing with Krejci before defensive problems cropped up; still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery so he may not be slow to start); LW/C/RW Sean Kuraly (plays with the same abandon that Acciari does); LW Tim Schaller (the New Hampshire boy will find his way into the lineup at some point, to be sure, but sticking is his next career step); LW Kenny Agostino (the 25-year-old led the AHL in scoring in 2016-17); C/RW Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson (it was just one game with the B’s at season’s end — and a difficult one at that — but it looked as if he needs time on he farm); RW Zach Senyshyn (the No. 15 overall pick in 2015 has the speed and the shot, but a year in Providence would do him good); C Austin Czarnik (showed flashes in his second pro season, but more consistency is needed).

• DEFENSE PAIRINGS: Zdeno Chara and Brandon Carlo — Save for a couple of Carlo growing pains, it was a solid pair last season and should stay the same, if not improve.

Kevan Miller and Charlie McAvoy — The right-shooting Miller playing the left side is not ideal, but the pairing played well to start the playoffs.

Torey Krug and Adam McQuaid — The reliable pairing could see closer to second pairing minutes.

• CONTENDING FOR SPOTS: RD Paul Postma (veteran pickup would most likely fill seventh D role); LD Robbie O’Gara (saw three games last season and did not look out of place); LD Matt Grzelcyk (a puck mover in the Krug mold); LD Jeremy Lauzon (another smooth, skilled D-man); LD Jakub Zboril (the No.13 overall pick in ’15 should get seasoning in Providence).

• GOALTENDERS: Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin — Khudobin is the key to getting Rask back to elite status.

• CONTENDING FOR SPOTS: Zane McIntyre and Malcolm Subban —. It would appear that McIntyre has surpassed 2012 firstround pick Subban and could even give Khudobin a run for the backup job.