Boston Bruins likely to get back to the top of the Northeast
In 2009-10 the Boston Bruins finished in sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. The Big Bad Bruins then proceeded to oust the favoured Buffalo Sabres in the first round, only to be upset by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round, after holding a 3-0 series lead.
In 2010-11 the Bruins look ready to return to the top of the Northeast Division and challenge in the Eastern Conference play-offs.
Roster changes
General Manager (GM) Peter Chiarelli opened the month of June by pulling off a blockbuster trade with the Florida Panthers, which saw Boston send Dennis Wideman, and other first and third-round picks, to Florida in return for Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell.
The rest of the off-season has been spent re-signing talent such as Johnny Boychuk, Blake Wheeler, Mark Recchi, Daniel Paille, Mark Stuart, and Adam McQuaid.
Forward
Up front, the Bruins are still incredibly deep, even too deep at the centre position, as the team currently faces a logjam that could see them part with Marc Savard.
Nevertheless, the first line will be centred by Savard, flanked by Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton. The second line will feature David Krejci at centre, with Wheeler and Recchi on his wings. The third line is very capable, centred by Pierre Bergeron, who is complemented with Michael Ryder and Marco Sturm. The fourth line will house newly acquired Campbell with Paille and Shawn Thornton.
Defence
With all their talent up front the Bruins have been forced to part with several skilled defenders, and now look thin at the back end.
Zdeno Chara will take top line duty with Dennis Seidenberg, while the second unit will feature Andrew Ference, coupled with Boychuk. The third pairing meanwhile will be a battle between Stuart, Matt Hunwick, and youngster Mcquaid.
Goalie
In net the Bruins will be led by sophomore Tuukka Rask, who performed incredibly last season, topping the league in save-percentage and goals-against average. Rask is expected to be backed up by the very well paid Tim Thomas. However, the Bruins are looking to move the veteran net-minder before the season begins.
Can the Bruins challenge for the cup?
Up front the Bruins are incredibly deep, perhaps only topped by the Philadelphia Flyers. Nevertheless, Boston will be able to score with the best of them in 2010-11. In addition, Patrice Bergeron, who led the team in scoring last season, is one of the League’s best defensive forwards.
On defence the Bruins begin to run into problems. Chara is an all-star, and is always a capable of challenging for the Norris Trophy as the Leagues best defenseman. However, after Chara the Bruins have little to no top-level talent on the blue line.
Seidenberg is not a first line defender, and Boychuk still remains untested as a number four. Meanwhile, Ference is not totally reliable, and is the club's only puck-moving defenseman. Without improvement at the back end it will be tough for the Bruins to make a deep push into the post-season.
In net the Bruins will have to hope that Rask does not lapse into the dreaded sophomore slump. The Finnish tender was outstanding last year, and is expected to be just as impressive in 2010-11. If Rask does begin to look shaky, Thomas is more than competent as a back-up.
The Bruins should win the Northeast in 2010-11. The Sabres have not improved and the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators are still not deep enough to contend with them for the division title.
The Bruins are concerned with one thing next year, and that is winning the Stanley Cup. However, if their defence stays as thin as it is, it is unlikely they will be able to make it to the finals.
Expect the Bruins to finish in third place in the East next season.
Tags: