Preseason Preview: Boston Bruins

Well, its August and that means there's not a whole much of anything going on. That said, I'm gonna try and nail out 30 team evaluations before the preseason is underway.

Now, the Boston Bruins

Team M.O.: These guys weren't the best after the lockout, but a journeyman goaltender named Tim Thomas took the team and threw them on his back. A few seasons later, the Bruins have become a complete and balanced team while Thomas went from AHL goaltender to being a Vezina nominee. The Bruins are known for a physical brand of hockey that is complemented by talented skill players.

Last Season: The team ended up first in the conference by the end of the regular season, yet were eliminated by the scrappy Carolina Hurricanes. Media reports indicated that somehow, the Bruins weren't having the kinda fire underneath them that a playoff team should have. They can't be complacent again or the team will very much be broken up.

Offense: Marc Savard has been exposed as one of the best playmakers currently in the league thanks to his time in Boston. Phil Kessel and Patrice Bergeron are still trying to resolve health issues, but are talented enough to make an immediate impact when their on the ice. Milan Lucic is on track to become one of the best power forwards in the league while Blake Wheeler is looking to be his understudy should Lucic become injured. David Krejci and Michael Ryder have discovered their offensive game in the Bruins system while Chuck Kobasew and Mark Recchi are further down the depth chart only because the Bruins are so deep up front. Steve Begin adds an agitating presence while Shawn Thorton will keep the flies off as the team's policeman. Marco Sturm, who's talented in his own right, will be looking to come back from a disappointing injury-riddled campaign last season. All and all, this team is absolutely stacked at all forward positions.

Defense: Well look at this, the defense on this team isn't too shabby, either. Zdeno Chara's one of the best defenders of the league while Dennis Wideman is absolutely prolific from the point. Andrew Ference and Derek Morris are perfect for a second pairing option and should be able to give the other team's offense the fits. Matt Hunwick and Mark Stuart seem to be a lock for the fifth and sixths spots. The team could stand to add more depth for the bottom pairing, even if Johnny Boychuk gets the job after camp, but looks great overall.

Goaltending: The Bruins work in a platoon system and it hasn't seemed to fail them yet. Tim Thomas as proven capable of being able to hold the fort while rookie goalie Tuukka Rask has proven he's ready and capable to holding off NHL shooters on a regular basis. Dany Sabourin is tabbed for the number 3 spot but are lacking a reasonable number 4 option. If they could convince someone like Marc Denis to come in on a two-way deal, they'd be good to go.

Expectations: It's not playoffs or bust for these guys, it's Stanley or bust. Sure Pittsburgh looks good with their offensive firepower, but I feel that Boston has a more complete team. For the moment, I'm picking them to take the whole enchilada at the end of the season and if they don't, it's their own fault.