Flortheast Division Previews: The Boston Bruins

So… hey guys… this is awkward… yeah, about that whole epic comeback in an elimination game… well, karma’s a bitch and turns out it really sucks to be on the receiving end. So sorry about that, gang! But hey, buck up! You’ve got Dave Bolland now to take care of all your clutch needs! (ed note: this was written before Bolland scored twice to help the Leafs beat Philadelphia)

Between then and now, the Bruins have done some tinkering. Overreacting to an obscenely low and rather unlucky shooting percentage and perceived inability to play “our style of game*” (*hittin dudes), Tyler Seguin was dangled to make room for Nathan Horton to re-sign. Unfortunately, Horton’s affinity for zoology scuttled their best laid plans, but on they pressed, sending Seguin packing to Dallas for soon-to-no-longer-be-“underrated” Loui Eriksson and some mid-tier prospects. With the cap savings, they picked up spring chicken Jarome Iginla, and this time they’re pretty sure it worked. 

While the long term impacts of ditching youth for vets raises some serious questions, the near-term this season should prove a lateral move, with Eriksson and Iginla largely replacing Seguin and Horton’s production – though the team must be banking on them to revive a moribund power play, as neither outpaced their predecessor 5v5. 

Essentially, beyond these two roles being recast, it’ll be the same bruising-yet-skilled group as before. Look for a bit more mobile blue line with the departure of Andrew Ference and the promotions of Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski, along with a follow-up year of Dougie Hamilton, sole remaining bounty of the Phil Kessel trade (as if Jared Knight’s ever going to work out). With further development from these three, the team is hoping to reduce wear and tear on Big Z, whose huge minutes are beginning to grind on his heretofore ageless legs. Should the new faces integrate with the core as seamlessly as they’ve appeared to in the preseason, and Rask not be adversely affected by the fat wallet weighing him down, the Bruins should remain at the forefront of the Flortheast pack, jockeying with Montreal and Ottawa for much of the season.

And nearly a half hour per game in the playoffs, trailing only Ryan Suter’s 5 games in ATOI. I personally have no concern over his ability dropping off until the tail of his contract. There’s been no significant sign of decline in the regular season, the only indication has come in the Final series against Chicago, the defensive failure in which had far more to do with matching Krejci against Toews… (saves rant for another day). Claude simply runs him ragged in the post season and the hope is that keeping the rotation a bit more evenly distributed can result in a less battered Z come the playoffs and a more seasoned bottom 4. But counterintuitively, Chara’s now being placed in front of the net on the PP to get hacked at and hit with point shots, so we’ll see how all that pans out.

Well, we would have to pretend because Dougie already has. But suspending disbelief for a moment, from the parade of veteran acquisitions over the past few years (Zanon, Johnson, Mottau, Corvo…) dear god I hope not. I was certain he’d be in on Douglas Murray last year, which shows my level of faith in the front office’s valuation of defensemen. I fully anticipate a replacement level move for veteran depth regardless, though Chiarelli’s probably a bit trigger shy about big game hunting on the blueline given the reaction to the Kaberle trade (who was unfairly lambasted during the cup run, leading the D on offense and possession as he was). No matter who steps in, on the ice Ference will not be missed.

Indications from camp are that Swedish unicorn Carl Soderberg will move to the left wing, with several players duking it out over the RW slot: Reilly Smith and Matt Fraser (both of the Seguin trade) Ryan Spooner, Nick Johnson, and 1st round dud Jordan Caron. Smith has spent the most time as part of that trio in the preseason, though Spooner displays the greatest offensive gifts of the bunch. There’s a lot of moving parts to project here, between Kelly bouncing back to mere averageness rather than outright garbage, the remaining question mark on the right wing and a limited glimpse at Soderberg’s North American game. I’d cop out and say at least it’ll be better than last year’s low-PDO Kelly/Peverley duo riding with Chris “The Milkman’s Son” Bourque. If Spooner plays, as I hope, I’d peg Soderberg and Spooner for low-to-mid 30s based on their play in other leagues – cut by decrease in ice time – and cross my fingers that Kelly’s done paying the regression piper for his contract year and can flirt with his customary 25+.