2005 BOSTON BRUINS PREVIEW

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2005-06 Boston Bruins preview

(MySportsbook.com) - The Boston Bruins came out of the lockout with only a handful of players signed to a contract. Some might have viewed that as a negative, but the Bruins utilized the situation as flexibility to go out and upgrade the roster.

General manager Mike O'Connell made several key signings as the frenzied free agent period began August 1. Like many clubs the focus was on defense, where he added future Hall of Famer Brian Leetch right off the bat, and he followed with forwards such as Alexei Zhamnov, Glen Murray, Shawn McEachern and Brad Isbister.

The above group joins captain Joe Thornton, who inked a new three-year contract worth a reported $20 million. Thornton, who has received his share of criticism for not stepping it up in key situations, was basically handed the keys to the dressing room and told this is his team. The onus will now be on him to mirror his stud 2002-03 season (101 points) rather than the step back he took the following year (73 points).

The Bruins have been a playoff team in each of the last three seasons, but they have not been able to exit the first round. With the pieces that have been obtained, this club might not be completely judged until it accomplishes that feat.

FORWARDS - Thornton has the package to be a be a legitimate NHL superstar, so long as he is healthy. With size, speed, aggressiveness and offensive tools he is only 26, so his prime is still on its way. In 02-03, Thornton erupted with 36 goals, 65 assists and 109 penalty minutes in 77 games. While his point total that season is 28 points more than his second-best career showing, numbers like those are expected to be the norm.

Sergei Samsonov hopes to remain healthy after a pair of seasons that saw him skate in only 66 contests combined. Once one of the league's most dynamic offensive players, he hopes to re-charge his career at the age of 26.

Murray has developed into one of the NHL's top goal producers, checking in with three consecutive 30+ goal seasons. He is at his best playing on a line with Thornton.

An x-factor for the B's attack will be the play of Patrice Bergeron, who shined as a rookie in 03-04. He tallied 16 goals and 23 assists, placing himself in contention for the Calder Trophy until a shoulder injury interrupted his season late. During the lockout Bergeron honed his skills with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, tallying 21 goals and 40 assists in 68 games.

Zhamnov is aging at 35 and was once one of the NHL's most unheralded offensive players. He missed much of the 03-04 season due to injury, scoring 11 goals with 25 assists in 43 games for the Blackhawks and Flyers. Remaining healthy will obviously be key, but he should be an asset, especially on the Boston power play.

Aside from its offensive producers, Boston has plenty of grit at its disposal. Scatchard and McEachern, who brings tremendous leadership qualities with him from Atlanta, should help in that department, as should holdovers P.J. Axelsson and Travis Green.

DEFENSE - Leetch immediately becomes the B's top blueliner adding stability to a corps that has had its problems over the years. Even in his waning years, Leetch has double-digit goal potential and is a very capable power-play quarterback. However, what remains to be seen is how well he can be as a pure defenseman when called upon. He finished in the minus for much of his later career with the New York Rangers, but a lot of that was a reflection of his team not him. Illustrating that is the fact that while with Toronto at the end of 03-04, he was a plus-11 in 15 games.

Leetch could be a valuable mentor for Nick Boynton, who will have some pressure eased off him with the presence of a veteran. Boynton is a terrific two-way rearguard, averaging nearly six goals and 15 assists in his three full seasons. Boynton plays with an edge as well, evident by his 304 career penalty minutes in 245 games.

A key for the B's could be how Jonathan Girard returns from a serious auto accident that forced him to miss all of 03-04. Prior to the accident, he showed hints of promise. During the crash, Girard suffered a severely fractured pelvis that required surgery.

Filling out the Bruins blueline will be veterans Hal Gill, Ian Moran and Jiri Slegr. Gill, who stands at 6-7, 250 pounds, is a pure wrecking ball. He'll likely be paired with Leetch or Boynton to complement their speed with size.

GOALTENDING - After years of trying to figure things out, the Bruins finally got an answer in goal with 2004 Calder winner Andrew Raycroft. He had been shuttled between Providence and Boston for three seasons before winning the job in 03-04. Raycroft was spectacular in 57 appearances (55 starts), going 29-18-9 with a 2.05 goals-against average and .926 save percentage.

The Bruins are lacking an experienced backup to serve as Raycroft's understudy. Hannu Toivonen has the job at the moment, after spending the last two years in Providence. He went 29-18-3 with seven shutouts and a 2.05 GAA in 54 games, earning himself a look with the big club.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - Mike Sullivan proved his abilities as an NHL coach in 03-04, and he's only going to get better. You have to love the upgrades made by the team during the abbreviated offseason, as the Bruins were one of the more aggressive clubs. They'll continue their playoff streak, but it's just a matter of how high in the East they will finish. Right now Philadelphia seems to be a notch above everyone else, but the Bruins are certainly at the top of that next wave.

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