Adding a top-six center (Elias Lindholm) and a quality rugged defenseman (Nikita Zadorov)? Check.
Becoming a heavier team in the off-season after years of being pushed around during the playoffs? Check.
A new contract for Jeremy Swayman? Check.
But as opening night proved, the 2023-24 Boston Bruins have a long way to go before they consider themselves legit challengers to dethrone the Florida Panthers.
Like the previous two playoff matchups, the Panthers overwhelmed a sluggish Bruins squad from the get-go.
“Their execution was really good, and our execution was really poor,” head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters.