Cole Koepke is carving out a role on the Bruins fourth line
When the Boston Bruins signed Cole Koepke to a two-way deal in the offseason, he was expected to start the 2024-2025 campaign in the AHL. However, Koepke earned a spot on the roster after an impressive preseason, and it has been hard to keep him out of the lineup. On a Bruins fourth line that has been very good early on, he has started to carve out a role.
In four games, the former sixth-round pick has dished out three assists and found the back of the net once. Entering this season, Koepke had three points through his first 26 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Less than two weeks into the season, he has reached new highs offensively with no signs of slowing down.
While Koepek's offense has been a welcome surprise, he has also made an impact with his physical style of play. The Minnesota native has landed ten hits while averaging a career-high ice time of 9:27. Although his Bruins tenure is just starting, Koepke has already embraced his new city.
"It's been awesome, "Koepke told the media on October 13. "I knew coming into this that Boston is huge for sports, and hockey is a big deal out here, and it's a team with a great history... The arena, the atmosphere, and the fans are awesome."
As the Bruins look to be more consistent, they will need Koepke to build on his recent play. Although his sample size is small, he has been a bright spot so far. The 26-year-old has been smart with the puck and has not been afraid to sacrifice his body.
With four games in the books, Koepke has shown the potential to be an important part of the bottom six.