EP Rinkside 2021-22 Prospect Pool Rankings: No. 24-ranked Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins aren't there yet -- their core can probably still contend for a Stanley Cup for an extra year or two -- but a reset is looming for the team. It might even happen sooner than anticipated with the departure of David Krejčí in the off-season, whose move overseas weakens the Bruins' centre line, putting even more pressure on an ageing Patrice Bergeron.

Bergeron might still be one of the very best two-way centres in the league, but he will have to carry a heavier load than in previous seasons, unless one of the Bruins' youngsters steps up to fill that second-line role effectively. Looking at their pool of young players, however, the transition to the post-Krejčí era probably won't be smooth for the Bruins.

The team has had some success recruiting college free agents in the past, but those players fill depth roles more often than top-six or top-four ones. The addition of Fabian Lysell is a step in the right direction, but the Bruins will soon need a lot more talents like him. They will have to think twice about moving their high picks in the next couple of years, especially since the next two drafts project as some of the best in the past decade.

Even as they aspire to another Stanley Cup, it feels like the right time for the Bruins to start planning for the future and stocking up their organizational depth.