Only a week after the Red Sox ended their 162 game season in a remarkably unfashionable way, the Boston Bruins will start their season off tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers, after a long needed ceremony to congratulate the 2011 Stanley Cup champs. It seems game 7 against the newest rival added to the Bruins list, the Vancouver Canucks was just yesterday. However, after a long summer of late nights and early morning skating, hopefully the Bruins can piece together what happened to click together so well last year.
After only losing Michael Ryder to the Dallas Stars, who was a significant player in the playoff run, however, did not nearly play up to the level that was expected of him. Similar to that of defensemen Tomas Kaberle, who found a new home in Carolina, playing for the Hurricanes. That being the only two major losses to the Bruins line-up, and in my opinion they are not considered losses at all, the Bruins are heading into the 2011-2012 season as favorites for the Stanley Cup once again.
However, like every year in the NHL, new young players seem to arise, jump starting a team to the top of their conference. This year, that team will be determined shortly, however, after winning the cup, the Bruins still find themseleves having some of the youngest talent in the league.
I believe the Bruins will win the Eastern Conference, from there on, who knows what will happen. The Stanley Cup playoffs are always a mystery. However, if Tim Thomas can play as well as he did last year and Tuuka Rask can remain to understand his roll as the back up and play to the best of his level when called upon, than the goalie situation should not be an issue.
For the defense, Zdeno Chara, always a favorite for the Norris Trophy every year, an award that is given to the NHL's best defenseman. Also, with help from Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuck, Andrew Ference and the rest of the Bruins D-men, than the Bruins defenesive zone should be that of the Stanley Cup champions they are.
For the offense, Nathan Horton is coming off a Stanley Cup concussion and hopefully will be able to turn it around for the 11-12 season, establishing himself as one of the NHL's leading goal scorers. Also upfront, play makers like Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand should be able to keep the Bruin's scoring. And with tough hard hitting from Milan Lucic, Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton, the Bruins should be able to establish themselves once again as a team with the most depth in the league.
Asides from the players mentioned, two players that i believe will have major break out seasons this year, leading the league in many categories and finding themselves as NHL all stars are David Krejci and Tyler Seguin. Krejci has been in the league for a few years and has shown that he has some of the best all around talent in the league. There is really no aspect to hockey that he cannot do well, however, he never really finds himself at the top of the leader categories in goals and assists, this year will be his break out year. For Tyler Seguin, he is playing in his supposedly "sophmore slump" year, however, the slump will miss him. He is one of the fastest skaters in the league, and after a long off season of working out to add weight to his nineteen year old frame, Seguin will establish himself as the player the Bruins expected to get when they drafted him second overall in the 2010 draft.
The 2011-2012 season is less than 10 hours away. The Bruins will have their last night to celebrate their 2011 Stanley Cup victory as the rings will be received and the banner will be risen. However, after tonight's ceremony, they are the same as every other team in the league. Although still champs, there starting from an empty slate, and repeating as champions in the NHL is close to impossible. Regardless, the NHL is back in season and their is no better time of year for sports than now. Teams will develop, enemies will be made and the Bruins will be on the top of everyone's list to beat. Lets go B's!
