September's finally here. And given how slowly teams are coming together, we decided to put off the previews until September this time. We go in alphabetical order because hey, why not? We'll be doing this until September ends. With that said here we go.
And now, the Boston Bruins.
Team M.O.: The Bruins seem to have everything you'd want in a hockey club: talented point producers, solid defense, and two capable goaltenders; all of whom are built to play a physical brand of hockey. Simply looking at them you'd think they'd be a Stanley Cup caliber team. Yet in 2009, they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Conference Semifinals as a first seed. And last season...
Last Season: ... they finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference and were eliminated in seven games by the eventual Prince of Whales winners Philadelphia Flyers. That wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
In short, they really need to get that monkey off their backs but they have to stay healthy to do so.
Offense: This team has the forward depth to roll 4 lines but may hot be able to afford that luxury from either a health or financial standpoint. As it stands, the Bruins would be over the salary cap if they were going into the season with Marco Sturm (and that's with a 21 man roster...) He's on the shelf following a torn MCL and ACL and won't be back until late November or December. Considering he was their leading goal scorer (in addition to being a solid two-way performer) last season, it isn't really much of a relief to not have his salary count against the cap. Marc Savard missed half of last season with various injuries (most notably a concussion due to a vicious hit by Pittsburgh Penguins player Matt Cooke) and wasn't necessarily his best when he returned come playoff time while David Krejci was primed for a career playoff season until he broke his wrist (and the team subsequently missed him dearly.) Nevertheless, both are excellent playmaking centers who should only make the talent surrounding them prolific and scary for other teams. Milan Lucic also fought some mid-season injuries, but he was able to turn it up come playoff time; he could put up 50 points or better if he can stay healthy next season.
It's not all bad though. Top prospect Tyler Seguin joins the team after being drafted second overall and appears ready to handle "easing in" to the Boston Bruins thanks to their excellent depth at center (and if he isn't ready, he goes back to Junior and saves the team cap space.) Nathan Horton was also acquired in a trade with the Florida Panthers to provide the team with a big, talented goal-scoring winger. Mark Recchi managed to break the 40 point barrier and was in all but one game last season; both of which are impressive considering that he's 42. Patrice Bergeron had the most appearances last season that he's had in the pass three (with 73) and managed to remind people why he was able to break into the league as a 18 year old. Blake Wheeler wasn't as prolific as he was the past season, but for a "sophomore slump" on an injury-riddled team, he wasn't half bad (38 points on a third-unit.) Michael Ryder provided the team with a solid goal scorer, but if anyone's going to be the odd-man out in the "cap crunch" it appears to be him. Daniel Paille and Greg Campbell (also from the Panthers) will provide the checking while Shawn Thornton will be the resident enforcer who can actually play games.
At this point, the team looks like they'd do well to trade one of their big money players for a not-so-big money player and re-sign Steve Begin; who plays the agitator role well (and that's a necessity in the East.) If the team decides to trade a big-money player for a pick/prospect and go with a fringe player as their 14th forward (looking at you Trent Whitfield) then that would work too.
Defense: Well one thing's for certain: The team certainly doesn't need to go shopping for a Number One defenseman. Zdeno Chara has done everything asked of him and more because he can do anything asking of him. Dennis Seidenberg was looking good as a result of his acquisition from the Florida Panthers until, surprise, he suffered a wrist injury. Hopefully for Bruins fans he can play well to that four-year extension he just received. Andrew Ference and Mark Stuart play a solid stay-at-home style of hockey and will be a great benefit to their squad if they can avoid the infirmary. Matt Hunwick wasn't able to capitalize much on the team's defensive shortcomings last season (16 points but -18 during the regular season) but has the skill to produce significant points from the blueline. Johnny Boychuk did the exact opposite, however, going from being a depth defender who was sent to the minors on a conditioning assignment to putting up career bests (15 points and +10) to secure a two-year contract extension.
Beyond this, all the team needs is depth, which they have, so the blueline can remain as is.
Goaltending: Tuukka Rask was given his opportunity last season and ran with it; going 22-12-5 in 45 games played; making him Number 1 on the pecking order for goaltenders. His Number 1A counterpart Tim Thomas put up legitimate individual numbers last season but still posted a losing record overall, causing many to wonder how the team's going to deal with his salary as a "backup." Frankly, I think the team should keep Thomas to the bitter end. No one was making a big fuss over how little he made while he threw the team on his back and carried them as they rebuilt after the lockout; I think the honorable thing to do is to let him wear the Black and Gold while the team honors the contract he deserves. The team can use their depth goaltenders as emergency backups if need be, but this team, again, has a supreme Number 1/1A setup that seems to be the new model of consistency for competitive teams.
Management: Give Peter Chiarelli credit; he may have some cap issues to deal with but he's done well to put together a legitimate team on the ice (and if he can now just get a better medical staff...) If anything, it's on Claude Jullien to figure out how to get the team to work. Otherwise, he's going to be looking for new employment come mid-season.
Prediction: Second in the Northeast Division and in the playoffs.
Let's face it; the Northeast Division's teams don't look frightening (except for the Buffalo Sabres, who seem to have just "enough" to win), so Boston has a solid chance of making the playoffs as is. How deep they go, however, depends on exactly how healthy they can remain and how much resolve the healthy players can have to persevere in times of distress. They're certainly built to contend; now they just need to prove that they're able to.
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