A Preview Of The 2009-2010 Season: The Boston Bruins

Over the next 30 days, I will be previewing all 30 NHL clubs.  I will be looking at their available salary cap room, the additions and deletions from the 2008-09' roster and where I think they will stack up in their division and conference for the 2009-10' season. 

Let's get a move on with the Boston Bruins, Northeast Division, And Eastern Conference.

The Boston Bruins currently have 18 players under one-way contracts, a goaltender, seven defensemen and ten forwards.  The salary cap hit for these 18 players is $52.98 million.  Add to that the two-way contracts of prospects, Blake Wheeler, Milan Lucic, and Vladimir Sobotka.  Along with the two-way contract of Dany Sabourin, the current Bruins salary cap hit sits at $58.0 million, putting the Bruins over the salary cap. The Bruins still have one significant RFA to sign, Phil Kessel.  In order to sign Kessel, look for the Bruins to have one or two more moves up their sleeves, heading into training cap.

Significant Additions:

Derek Morris signed a 1 yr. $3.3 million UFA contract from the Rangers. Steve Begin signed a 1 yr. 850K UFA contract from the Canadiens. Dany Sabourin signed a two-way, 1yr. 600K UFA contract from the Oilers.

Significant Deletions:

P.J. Axelsson, Manny Fernandez, Steve Montador, Shane Hnidy and Stephane Yelle were lost to Unrestricted Free Agency.  Aaron Ward was traded to Carolina for Patrick Eaves, who then seen his contract bought-out by the Bruins. 

Restricted Free Agents still to Sign:

Phil Kessel and Kevin Regan

Prospects that Impressed in 08/09:

Blake Wheeler:

This former 4^th overall draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes, came to the Bruins, via free agency after an entry level agreement could not be reached with the Coyotes.  During his rookie season, Wheeler started off like a house on fire but tailed off near the end of the season and into the playoffs. 

The majority of his lack of production in the second half of the season can be contributed to Wheeler playing NCAA hockey instead of going the Major Junior route, where the schedule is only 44 games with a lot more time to rest between games.  The Bruins are looking for Wheeler to return to his numbers of the first half of the season and for him to continue that production throughout the season.

Milan Lucic:

Out of the rookies who made a huge impact in 2008-09', none were more impressive then Milan Lucic.  Lucic is a multi-purpose player who has touch around the net and leaves a huge impact along the boards: Just ask Mike Komisarek. 

The two have a heated rivalry that probably will not subside with Komisarek moving to the Maple Leafs.  Lucic averaged almost a point per game in his first playoff run with the Bruins and as a rookie; he was a +17 during the regular season.

Byron Bitz:

In his rookie season, Bitz split time between Boston and Providence, the home of the Bruins AHL affiliate.  At 6’3” 200lbs, this Cornell graduate will be battling for the 13^th spot on the Bruins roster during training camp.  Bitz may have the upper hand in the battle, having a strong impact during the second round of the playoffs against the Hurricanes

Prospects to watch in 09/10:

Tuukka Rask:

The time for the former Finnish junior team star and the 21^st overall draft pick of the Maple Leafs in 2005.  Rask was acquired in the Andrew Raycroft deal in ’06.  With the back-up job being up for grabs with the Bruins, the salary cap hit may stop Rask from a full-time move to Boston.  He has played five games during the past two seasons so he should get a chance with the big club but his chances of finding a full-time spot with the big club are not promising during this season.

Brad Marchand:

The Bruins’ third round pick in ’06 is a little ball of hate.  At 5’9” and 183 pounds, this little agitator had drawn comparisons to players such as, Ken Linsemen and Theo Fleury.  During the AHL playoffs, this talented forward scored 15 points in 16 games.  He will battle Bitz and Sobotka for a spot on the big club but will probably be the old man out based on his cap hit and age but should be an injury call-up during the season.

Johnny Boychuk:

The reigning AHL defensemen of the year will get a look with the big club.  He will battle for the 6^th spot on the depth chart and the future maybe just around the corner for this former second round pick of the Avalanche in ’02 has showed signs he is ready for prime time in Boston.

Recap of 08/09:

The Boston Bruins are coming off a breakthrough season in 08/09.  After pushing the Canadiens to seven games in the ’08 playoffs, the Bruins became the Eastern Conference regular season champions. 

Their 116 points was second in the NHL behind the President Trophy winning San Jose Sharks. 

The Bruins also sported multiple major award winners last season. 

Chara was the top defensemen, winning the Norris Trophy. Head Coach Claude Juilen was named the Jack Adams award winner as the NHL’s coach of the year.

Manny Fernandez and Tim Thomas took home the Jennings award for having the lowest goals against average in 08/09 and Thomas was the Vezina Trophy recipient, as the league’s top goaltender.

Outlook for 2009-10':

Strengths:

The Bruins are big, punishing and have arrived as one of the classes of the Eastern Conference. 

Lead by Zdeno Chara and Tim Thomas, the Bruins are on the cusp of an Eastern Conference championship and a berth in the Stanley Cup finals in 09/10.  Their forwards are lead by a pair of quality playmakers, Marc Savard and Patrice Bergeron.  Bergeron is still improving after missing almost all of the 07/08 season with a concussion. 

Offensively, the Bruins are lead by 36 goal scorer and unsigned RFA, Phil Kessel and six players who cracked the 20-goal plateau.  Defensively, the top defensive team from a year ago, as added offensively gifted Derek Morris to a UFA contract.  Add to that the Norris Trophy winner, Chara and Dennis Wideman, who is looking to improve even more after a breakthrough season for the former St. Louis Blue.

Weaknesses:

The Bruins have only couple of holes in their line-up.  The Bruins are putting their fortunes in the hands of 35 year old goaltender Tim Thomas.  With no proven back-up behind Thomas, the Bruins are one injury away from a major problem in Bean town.  The Bruins also have very little wiggle room under the salary cap, currently they are over the Cap, and so they have problems during the season if injuries start to mount.

Prediction: 

I foresee the Bruins finishing as the Northeast Division Champions and gaining one of the top seed in the Eastern Conference.  Playing in the weak Northeast division will give the Bruins a leg up on the other potential division winners, the Washington Capitals and either the New Jersey Devils or the Pittsburgh Penguins.  If everything goes according to plan, on paper, the Bruins should make their first final four appearances since 1992.

On August 4th, I will be reviewing the Buffalo Sabres, as I continue to preview each of the 30 NHL clubs.