Sunday, September 2, 2012

The Same, but Different

BOSTON BRUINS

2011-12 record: 49-29-4 (102 points)
Lost to Washington in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Zdeno Chara

Boston uses a scoring by committee approach when it comes to offense, as evidenced by six players scoring at least 20 goals last year.  Tyler Seguin led the team in scoring with 67 points, and he hasn't even touched the surface of his full potential.  He's entering his third year, and you figure the training wheels will come off for him.  80 points is not unreasonable for him this coming season.  One notable change in the Bruins lineup will be in goal, where Tim Thomas decided to skip the 2012-13 season.  That leaves Tuukka Rask as the starter, and while he has done well when he has played, he has also been injury prone.  If he is unable to play 65 games this season, the experience behind him is woefully thin.  The X-factor in the Bruins lineup is one Nathan Horton, who is good for 30 goals a season...if he is healthy, and that is where the problem lies.  Horton hasn't been able to stay on the ice for prolonged periods of time since the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, and it is uncertain whether he will get back to that level since he has received another concussion last season.  Don't be surprised if Dougie Hamilton is given the Tyler Seguin treatment this year.  He will likely crack the Bruins' opening night roster, and given the depth on the blue line, the Bruins will not have to rush Hamilton in the same manner that they didn't have to rush Seguin in his rookie year.  Tim Thomas' hiatus makes the Bruins' goaltending situation a little less certain, as he provided moments of dominance the last few years.  Rask can play, but there will always be that question of health.

Prediction: 2nd in the East

Band: Iron Maiden (Blaze Bayley era)

A familiar classic, but something seems a little bit off.


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