BOSTON, Mass – With each and every additional win by the Philadelphia Flyers, fans of the Boston Bruins are reminded to think “what if”? One of the main reasons the Bruins blew a historic three games to none lead to the Flyers in the Eastern Conference semifinals was a lack of offense.
One of the biggest differences between the 2009-10 Bruins and the 2008-09 version was goal-scoring and one of the best pure offensive players in the league, Phil Kessel, left the Bruins as a restricted free agent during the 2009 offseason. The compensation package Toronto used to seal the deal was first and second round picks in 2010 and a first round pick in 2011. Even though Kessel chipped in 30 goals in his first year with the Leafs, that club failed to improve much and Toronto wound up next-to-last overall in the NHL.
Due to their poor season the Leafs wound up having to assign the Bruins the second overall pick in the 2010 draft.
Based upon their previous drafts it would appear the Bruins need to focus on defense in this draft.
Six of their last eight first and second round picks in the Entry Draft have been forwards. The club has high hopes for their top picks in the last three drafts, Zach Hamill, Joe Colborne and Jordan Caron, respectively, and they’ll need roster spots soon. Additionally Boston also has Marc Savard, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Marco Sturm, Patrice Bergeron and Blake Wheeler at the NHL level, so the club is stocked up front.
It’s different on defense. The club has had players such as Eddie Shore, Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque throughout its storied history and Zdeno Chara is the club’s captain and best defenseman. Yet Chara is only signed through the 2011 season. Next on the depth chart for the Bruins are Dennis Wideman and Andrew Ference, and although they are fine players neither of them should be confused with a number one defensemen. Frankly defense should be an area for concern for the Bruins this off-season and certainly the 2011 off-season unless Chara re-signs earlier. Looking at the club’s cap situation Chara is going to probably need to take something less than the $7.5 million he is scheduled to make this year. If Chara is a mercenary the Bruins will find themselves in deeper cap trouble or looking for a new captain.
Ideally the Bruins would be looking at defensemen Cam Fowler, Brandon Gormley and/or Erik Gudbranson with their first choice, but neither one of those players are considered the equal of consensus first overall pick Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin the player who most believe will go second. Yet part of the Bruins recipe for success is a top defenseman and that issue needs addressing within the year.
Seguin is a top-notch player and frankly the Bruins don’t have much goodwill to burn after their playoff collapses the past two seasons. There is no more room for error from the current management team. If Edmonton goes with Hall the Bruins will tab Seguin and then try to move their 15th overall pick up in an effort to pick up the defenseman they truly need.
“With the second pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Boston Bruins select Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers.” To learn more about Tyler Seguin click on his name.
Contact Tom.Schettino@prohockeynews.com
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