The Boston Hot Spot

Nathan Horton finished last year with 53 points in 80 games but could very well get 70 next year.  This is because, Horton was moved to the first line mid-year and after that began to hit the scoresheet much more.  With a year in the Bruin’s system already under his belt, look for Horton to score 30-35 goals next year along with 70 points while playing alongside David Krejci and Milan Lucic.

The next player ready for a breakout season is Tyler Seguin.  Seguin netted just 22 points in his rookie year last year with the B’s and now could see a lot more ice time while playing on the second line.  Seguin has a lot of talent and appeared much more relaxed and controlled during the playoffs.  Look for Seguin to get roughly around the same stats as Horton is predicted with around 70 points.

Last, Rich Peverley will have a much better year next year for the black & gold.  Peverley struggled during the regular season with just 7 points in 23 games for the B’s.  However, in the playoffs, Peverley was able to thrive on the ice and should be able to do more of the same next season.

Keep Tuukka Rask in Black & Gold

by: Tyler Murry: Majority Writer: Hockey (Boston Bruins)

Arguably the best goalie currently riding the bench in the NHL, Tuukka Rask has had his name appear in numerous trade rumors.  Two seasons ago Rask was the starting goalie for one of the strongest teams in the NHL but lost his job in Prague during the second game of the season against Pheonix to Tim Thomas.  We all know how that turned out as Thomas went on to have a record setting year by breaking Dominic Hasek’s save percentage record and taking home his second Vezina trophy in three years.  

Now with Thomas firmly in place as the B’s number one goalie, questions surround Tuukka Rask.  His value is high with many teams desperate to find a starting goalie.  Teams like Tampa Bay, Florida, and Philadelphia showed interest but all potential deals fell through once each of those teams signed goalies earlier this July.  Let there be no questions, there is interest in Tuukka and he is likely worth a first round pick along with a second-third round pick.  Although his value his high, the black & gold should keep him in a Bruins uniform for many reasons.

For instance, Tim Thomas is 37 years old and nearing the end of his career. He has had injury problems with a hip problem in the 09-10 season that sidelined the net-minder for awhile and affected his play for the rest of the season.  As a hockey player myself, those can be nagging injuries and can come back to haunt you especially as a goalie.  That being said, that injury did not seem to slow him up this year at all, but I worry that this injury could arise in years to come.  Therefore keeping Rask is essential if Thomas were to go down with an injury or if his play were to drop off drastically due to his age. 

Why the Bruins Are a Better Hockey Team and Can Repeat

by Tyler Murry: Majority Writer: Hockey (Boston Bruins)

“Get the Duck Boats ready” were the final words of Boston’s own Dave Goucher as he announced the game on the radio last June, as the Bruins knocked off the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.  The B’s first cup win since 1972. The real question is, how can the Bruins win it all again? 

The Bruins for the most part have kept the team intact. Some notable losses include wingers Mark Recchi and Michael Ryder along with defenseman Tomas Kaberle.  Recchi the 43 year-old veteran announced during the year that he would retire if the Black and Gold could take home the cup, and surely his leadership and defensive presence will be missed. Not to mention his 14 goals and 35 assists as well.  He is not a guy on the ice that you can replace but the B’s have a strong core of young prospects and role players that can step up and fill his minutes.  Someone like Tyler Seguin or Rich Peverley are ready for a larger role in the Bruin’s lineup, and this can be their opportunity.  

As for the 31 year-old sniper Michael Ryder, he is a fairly big loss but can be replace.  Michael Ryder was signed to a 2 year deal worth $7 million with the Dallas Stars earlier this July (NHL.com).  Ryder did put up 41 points in the regular season and was a big time contributor offensively in the playoffs but he was at times soft in the defensive zone.  Head coach Claude Julien is known to emphasize a physical style of play where defense comes first.  Thats not Ryder’s game and although my be missed on the offensive side of the ice, he will not be missed in the defensive zone.  He will do well in Dallas but his exit from Boston has been overdue and will be replaced by the surplus of youth in the Bruin’s system such as 2009 1st round pick Jordan Caron.    Caron put up just 7 points in 23 games this year but showed glimpses of greatness and is ready for a spot on the Bruin’s lineup.

The next notable loss for the Bruins was defenseman Tomas Kaberle who signed a 3 year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes worth over $12 million this offseason (NHL.com).  Kaberle was a rental player whom was acquired at last years trade deadline.  To say he underachieved was an understatement.  He made mistake after mistake in the Bruin’s end and was responsivle for numerous goals.  Therefore the Bruins knew they needed to upgrade the defense and did just that by adding Joe Corvo.  Corvo will help the Bruins offensively and will be a rock-solid defenseman in their own zone.