I don't know if its a good thing or a bad thing that I was pretty close about the Bruins' final point tally. They finished up 35-41-6, for a total of 76 points. Very close to my final asessment in March of 36-40-6, and not too far from my 32-38-12, 78 point attempt earlier in the season. What will they do in the off season? Not too much, I'm afraid. This team is a long way from any kind of playoff run. They're not missing a sniper or a great defenseman or even a goalie. They're missing all of those. They've got Murray, who got 28 goals last year, and Marc Savard, who's got the best chance at being a true talent in the league, he had 96 points last year on a very strong line, and thats great too. Problem is, Murray is 35, and Savard is 30. Zdeno Charra had an extremely disappointing year, if you ask me, with a whopping -21 +/-, and though he had good points on defense, and was certainly an upgrade to Hal Gil, he's still not a superstar, if you ask me. Not alone. But there are very few defensemen who truly are. The Bruins need to break down, toss out all the old guys for draft picks better than their 8th this year, and some true young talent, and aim for a cohesive unit, and keep that cohesive unit by actually paying those players to stay together. Bergeron and Kessel are a huge help, and they'd be a great nucleus for a team to build around. Here's what I suggest:
1) Trade for a really good goalie prospect, or better yet, a true #1 goalie. This will give the opportunity for Hannu to look, learn, and hopefully settle down. Because Hannu is minor league talent right now, and no better. 3-9 with a 4.23 GAA is horrible, even for a second stringer. But he's young, and even though he looks like the Dutch Boy paint kid, he's got some talent in that body, even if he's psycho, even for a goalie. But you can't expect him to come in, and become a 1st stringer. And Tim-may isn't a 1st stringer either.
2) Trade Murray and Savard for good young defensive talent. They're getting old/are old, and Savard had a career year this year. Trade him before he comes back to earth.
3) Open up the pocketbook. I don't need to reiterate why this is so important.
4) Get some local talent. Get guys that were big names in BU/BC/UNH, and you'll see more interest from the fans. Pay them to stay, and voila, you've got a good nucleus for a good team.
5) Get a goon. Preferably a smallish goon. This city likes its small scrappy players. If the guy can score, even better, but getting someone who can fight that will be outsized will bring back some of that Jay Miller feel to the building.
6) Know that there will be some rebuilding years. Make that clear to the players and the fans, but bring in young talent that shows prospect, and you'll see the tickets sell and the fans be excited, a la the Celtics the last 2 years. Bergeron and Kessel are still young, and if you start honestly rebuilding now, they'll be invaluable in 3-5 years.
Well, this might be the last Bruins post until October or so, when I can once again curse the Icecapades.
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