Fantasy preview: Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins look to be ready to take over the Northeast Division title with an impressive group of forwards and perhaps the League’s best goaltending. The Bruins are likely to make it back to the post-season and have been picked to garner home ice advantage for the first round.
Boston is a very deep fantasy club specifically at the forward position. They have several players capable of big years, with the majority of the men upfront poised for a bounce-back season. On defence they are still a little thin, but make up for it in net.
Forwards
The Bruins continued to add to their already impressive forwards group this off-season and look to once again have one of the League’s most potent offences. The all-star for the Bruins is Marc Savard, who is capable of some very impressive numbers when healthy. Last season the centre-man was limited to 41 games but still managed 33 points and six power play points (PP). Because of his injury Savard may drop in the draft, making him a great selection in the third round.
The Bruins are also expecting a break-out year from David Krejci, who they believe is on the brink of a major offensive season. The newly acquired Nathan Horton could prove to be a major steal in the draft. With 20 goals and 57 points in 65 games with a below-average Florida Panthers side, he is poised for a big year.
In terms of sleepers you are not going to find many in the Bruins forward group, although Blake Wheeler has the potential to have a big year after taking a step back last season. The 24-year-old was still able to notch 18 goals and 38 points and with the addition of Horton any pressure he felt to perform last season is likely to fade.
Defence
At the back end the Bruins are counting on a couple of youngsters to step up and have strong years. Leading that group however is the always dangerous Zdeno Chara. One of the NHL’s elite defenders, Chara can be expected to go early in the draft. Last season was considered an off year for the big man and he still managed 44 points, while going plus-19 and accumulating 87 penalty minutes (PIMs).
Two major sleepers on Boston’s back-end are youngster Johnny Boychuck and veteran Andrew Ference. Boychuck only participated in 51 games last season, but is expected to play a full season for the first time in his career. Boychuck was able to notch 15 points, while going plus-10 and tallying 43 PIMs. Although he may not be a draft selection he is worth pulling off waivers if you sustain an injury.
Ference conversely is coming off of another season cut short by injury; having played in only 51 games last year, he was only able to tally eight points. Nevertheless, he is healthy for 2010-11 and is likely to slot in on the club’s first line power play, something that should help boost his totals. Like Boychuck he is not worth a draft pick, but could be useful if you need someone off waivers.
Goaltending
The Bruins are going with the tandem of Tuukka Rask and Tim Thomas to start the season. This pair is by far the best one-two punch in the NHL. Rask had his coming out party last season, playing in 45 games, recording 22 wins and leading the league in save-percentage and goals-against average. Because of his impressive year the starting spot is Rask’s to lose. However, the veteran Thomas is likely to keep the pressure on, as he is only two years removed from a Vezina season.
The Bruins are a deep fantasy squad and worth studying closely. Their forward core is second to none, while both their goaltenders are capable of impressive seasons.
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