Despite major roster turnover in recent years, the Boston Bruins have stayed competitive.

They've put together consistent regular-season performances and have missed the post-season one time since the 2016-17 season. However, Boston has some work to do before they’ll be considered a front-runner for the Stanley Cup.

After this off-season, there's a path for the Bruins to end up in the mushy middle. They may not be good enough to make the playoffs, and not bad enough to have a great shot at the first-overall draft pick.

Arrivals:

J.J. Peterka (LW), Ivan Ivan (LW), Connor Clifton (D), Jiri Patera (G), Brendan Gaunce (LW), Will Borgen (D)

Sweeney’s big off-season play was the acquisition of J.J. Peterka, who posted 25 goals and 47 points in 82 games in his first and only season with the Utah Mammoth last year. Peterka is now on his third team in as many years, which could prove to be a red flag.

Elsewhere, the Bruins addressed their defense by essentially replacing blueliner Andrew Peeke with Will Borgen and Connor Clifton, with the latter beginning his second stint in Beantown.

Projected to enter the season with a goaltending tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Michael Dipietro, Sweeney also signed Jiri Patera. The 27-year-old has only nine games of NHL experience and slots in as the third goalie on the Bruins' depth chart.

DiPietro and Patera might not be enough insurance in net if Swayman goes down with injury, which could be a concern that may end up hurting the Bruins this season.

Departures:

Viktor Arvidsson (LW), Joonas Korpisalo (G), Andrew Peeke (D), Fabian Lysell (RW)

Sweeney gave 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell to the Colorado Avalanche in the deal to acquire Ivan Ivan. Neither Lysell nor Ivan are difference-making players at the NHL level, but either could realize their potential in a new environment.

They also parted ways with Joonas Korpisalo, who struggled mightily in his two seasons with the Bruins. Trading him to the Rangers rids them of the final two seasons of Korpisalo’s bloated salary, but also leaves a hole of experience behind Swayman in net. 

The Bottom Line: 

With superstar right winger David Pastrnak, forwards Elias Lindholm, Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha and defenseman Charlie McAvoy, the Bruins have a stellar core that’ll keep them out of the Atlantic basement.

You can argue Sweeney is going about his business the right way, picking up top draft picks and not trying to cheat the building process with high-stakes gambles. From that perspective, Sweeney’s patience could definitely pay off in Boston’s favor.

But at a point in time where virtually every one of Boston’s Atlantic rivals have notably improved, the Bruins have fallen behind. Making the post-season is still a possibility, but it will be an uphill battle if the team's biggest stars don't perform at a high level.

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