Rear Admiral's 2015-16 Boston Bruins Season Preview
“Which way to the playoffs?”
Since the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011, each annual version of the team looked, for the most part, pretty similar to one it preceded. Aside from the usual off-season tinkering, there weren’t too many wholesale changes. But when he put his indelible stamp on the franchise on Friday, June 26 by jettisoning “Lone Wolf” Hamilton and pending-UFA Milan Lucic, new GM Don Sweeney assured that the 2015-16 Boston Bruins would have a much different look. And given the staleness that seemed to envelop the team even prior to last season, a shake-up of some sort was certainly warranted. Now…will it all work it? That remains to be seen.
As a fan of the Bs, approaching this season has been very much like taking hallucinogens. I mean, I’m assuming everything will go okay and it should based on past experience (i.e. they get back in the playoffs). But all it takes is one little fuck-up to have everything spiral out of control and next thing you know, you’re outside in the rain covered in poutine and naked but for a Guy Lafleur shirt. Or something like that.
Gone from last year’s team are Lucic (LA), Hamilton (Calgary), Greg Campbell (CBJ), Carl Soderberg (COLO), Reilly Smith (FLA), Niklas Svedberg (KHL), and Matt Bartkowski (VAN). New to the Bruins roster are Matt Beleskey, Jimmy Hayes, Joonas Kemppainen, Zac Rinaldo, Matt Irwin, Colin Miller, Jonas Gustavsson, and Tyler Randell (via Providence).
Despite the overhaul, the Bruins most important players haven’t gone anywhere. David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron are still one of the league’s top 1-2 punches up the middle. All-world goaltender Tuukka Rask returns to man the pipes. On the back end, Zdeno Chara looks to return to form after an injury-plagued season that limited him to 63 games and saw his overall effectiveness diminished. Hopefully, the injury he sustained in preseason is minor and doesn’t remain an issue going forward because that’s the last thing the Bs need right now (Bruins just announced he’ll be out tonight). He might not be the same Z as 4-5 years ago but he’s still a huge defensive force. Oh, and 19-year-old RW wunderkind David Pastrnak should provide plenty of highlights in just his second season.
Still, many fans and some media are down on this team, seeing last year as the beginning of a trend rather than an injury-fueled aberration. There are certainly feelings that the Cup window is closing quickly, if it hasn’t already. And even though he’s in the West, the sting of the Tyler Seguin trade will be felt every time you watch a highlight show or check out the NHL leaders on the stats page or visit Barstool Sports. However they end up, here’s a closer look at the guys who will determine their fate.
Offense. Lots of new faces though no major concerns. As always, lines are subject to change.
Matt Beleskey—-David Krejci—-David Pastrnak
A healthy and hungry Krejci will return to form this year to pace the offense…Beleskey lacks Lucic’s size but goes to dirty areas, will top 18 goals Lucic scored last year (look for Mike Knuble-type goals)…Pastrnak looks to be a pretty special player and I can’t wait to see the beautiful music he makes with 46…Though not eligible for Calder, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get more points than either Eichel or McDavid…Should be fun line to watch.
Brad Marchand—-Patrice Bergeron—-Loui Eriksson
Bergie and Brad are one of the NHL’s great dynamic duos, linemates who just know where to be…Pending UFA Eriksson complements the aforementioned pair well and should top the 22 goals he scored last year…Collectively scored 69 goals last year (though not all as a unit), making them Gronk’s favorite NHL line…Defensively responsible line that can also torch you, making opposing coaches choose which line to blanket more…Marchand really should see more PP time.
Jimmy Hayes—-Ryan Spooner—-Brett Connolly
An intriguing (wild card?) line with a smallish center and two big wings…As an offensive guy, I’m interested to see how Spooner fares as the third center…If his D isn’t up to snuff, Kelly could be moved into his slot…I have no idea what to expect out of highly-drafted Connolly because we barely saw him last year but he’s in a “prove it” year that could set him up nice…Had 12 goals in 50 games in limited Tampa role before trade…Hayes will need to block out the many distractions of being a Dorchester Bruin…Career-high 19 goals with Florida last year…Not overly physical for his size (6’5”) which will perturb a portion of fan base.
Chris Kelly—-Joonas Kemppainen—-Zac Rinaldo
A completely new fourth line after Campbell and Dan Paille weren’t re-signed…The 27-year-old Kemppainen is listed at 6’3”, 223 lbs…Not known as offensive player but strong defensively and excellent on face-offs…May be better than a fourth-liner…Kelly is also a pending UFA but already got his payday from Chiarelli…Very versatile guy who Julien could plug in anywhere on bottom six…Still wondering how come Sweeney had to part with a third rounder to obtain Rinaldo…Plays agitator role and plays it well but also known for dumb/dangerous hits…Will need to win fans over by not committing dumb/dangerous hits.
Extra forwards: Max Talbot and Tyler Randell. Talbot cleared waivers earlier this week and is on the Opening Night roster…He’s a vet that can still offer something in bottom-six role…Will be a much needed vocal, veteran presence in locker room…Will be in line-up soon enough…Randell was bit of a surprise, making roster ahead of some fellow P-Bruins…Led Providence with 120 PIM last season to go along with 11-9—20 totals.
Defense. A couple of new faces and major concerns.
Zdeno Chara—-Zach Trotman
Would have been tonight’s top pair until Chara was injured, not the way you want to start…All eyes will be on Z when he returns after injury-plagued season…If he struggles, Bs will struggle with him…Trotman played 27 games for big club last year and looks to be solid defenseman (when you don’t notice a young D-man who is not a puck-rusher, it’s usually means he’s not screwing up)…Will likely be paired with new Bruin Matt Irwin tonight.
Torey Krug—-Adam McQuaid
Mutt and Jeff will likely start season as top pair…Like I said, major concerns…Krug, looking to become a top-4 D-man, will certainly have an opportunity to impress now…Has heart and balls galore but size presents challenges in his own end…Tough, physical McQuaid doesn’t do much on offense but a thumper in his own end…One of the more feared fighters in the league…Not a natural top-pair guy, it’ll be interesting to see how long Claude sticks with him there.
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Joe Morrow—-Kevin Miller
Morrow, along with Eriksson, are last two remnants of Seguin trade…Like Trotman, you didn’t notice him for the wrong reasons in his 15 games with big club last year…Miller returns after injuries ended last season early for him…Another tough, stay-at-home type.
Extra defensemen: Dennis Seidenberg (out injured), Matt Irwin and Colin Miller. Seidenberg will be sidelined for awhile after getting back surgery…Irwin should be in the line-up tonight with Chara out…The Zoo-Mass product who arrived in Martin Jones deal showed some offensive pop in preseason…Miller came over in Lucic trade…Has great upside…Hardest shot and fastest skater at last year’s AHL All-Star game…Has yet to see NHL action.
Goaltending
Tuukka Rask—-Jonas Gustavsson
The Finn was overtaxed last year when Claude lost confidence in back-up Niklas Svedberg…Still posted a .922 SP…Rask remains a top goalie in the league…Starting goalie is position of least concern on this team…If you blame Rask, you get tuned out right away…Like Rask, Gustavsson was supposed to one day save the Leafs in net…Was a serviceable back-up in Detroit for last three years…His 178 GP compared to Jeremy Smith’s 0 GP likely the difference in winning back-up role.
Coaching
Claude Julien
Claude is being asked to alter his very defense-oriented system to open things up a little more…Has been very open with media regarding said changes, which is somewhat out of character for how he’s conducted business here…Cam Neely says he’s not on the hot seat now but a shitty start will put him there quickly.
Prediction: There’s a lot of uncertainly surrounding this team, more than there has been in years. Despite turnover and loss of Hamilton, it’s still a room with a lot of talent and just as much pride. If the D needs veteran help early (a good possibility), Sweeney can look at trades. Despite all the naysaying, I got the Bs finishing third in the division behind Tampa Bay and Montreal to make playoffs.
A few more buds for your NHL bowl…
*The Kings played their annual pre-season game in Vegas vs. Colorado Saturday night. I’m guessing Dean Lombardi called Peter Chiarelli to get the number of the Night’s Watch that patrolled the hallway outside of Seguin’s hotel room during the Bruins 2013 run at the Cup. But all of LA’s well-documented off-ice troubles merely served as a smokescreen for what was truly their worst offense—appearing in the putrid “Entourage” movie.
*Speaking of Seguin, if I could find a line, I’d throw a few shekels on him to win the Art Ross. He was on a torrid pace last season that was derailed only when Florida’s Dmitry Kulikov went low on him to take his knees out. If the durable star stays healthy, he has as good a chance as anyone. And if Antti Niemi helps get Dallas back into the playoffs (because it won’t be Kari Lehtonen who does it), Seguin will be in contention for the Hart.
*Pronounce the Hawks dead at your own peril.
*A hungry Lucic, in the last year of Chiarelli’s generous ‘pay for potential’ deal, could be good for 30+ tallies if he stays on a line with Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar (don’t read into one game too much). Though not a pure scorer, eclipsing his high of 30 goals in 2010-11 is definitely within reach for Lucic playing alongside a pair of such high-end talents.
*Sorry, Preds. Can’t do it anymore. Can’t have you as one of my low-key NHL side-pieces like I’d been doing for awhile now. I always knew how much of a scumbag Mike Ribiero was on the ice. I didn’t realize he was 1000X worse off of it (the original story is not new but the specific details of his scumbag actions are). This is where Seth or Amy would chime in with, “Really, David Poile?”
*Time for Mike O’Connell and Kevin DuPont to root against Joe Thornton for another season.
*Fuck Raffi Torres.