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The Bruins finished the 2011-12 season with 102 points, winning the Northeast Division and finishing as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They actually had more wins (49) than the 2010-11 season when they finished third in the East with 103 points and 46 wins. But in the end, the Bruins fell short of their goal, losing in the first round of the playoffs. That playoff failure cost Julien an A. Julien and his staff had a lot to deal with in preparing and guiding the Bruins this season. They came in with targets on their backs as the defending Stanley Cup champions and clearly struggled with that early, going 3-7-0 in October. But Julien got his players back on track as they stormed through November without a regulation loss and were dominant again in December. Then when the midseason doldrums set in during January and February, Julien once again led the team out of that slump and they finished the season strong to take second place in the East. But unfortunately, he and the Bruins couldn't adapt to a Capitals team that played with a strong defensive system and a determination to drive to the net for the dirty goals (sounds very similar to how the Bruins won the Cup last season).

The Bruins GM has always had a knack for making shrewd moves to bolster his team. Last season the additions of Chris Kelly and Rich Peverely weren't flashy moves, but both played a key role in the Cup run. This season Chiarelli made some smaller moves, adding Brian Rolston, Greg Zanon and Mike Mottau. All three added solid depth, and Rolston seemed to be rejuvenated in Boston, chipping in 15 points in 21 games. While those moves were solid, it was clear in the playoffs that the Bruins needed more scoring, size and grit in the absence of Nathan Horton, who was out with a concussion. But Chiarelli was in a tough spot at the deadline, when it was still expected that Horton would return to the lineup. While not being more aggressive at the deadline might have hurt the Bruins' playoff chances, Chiarelli still put the Bruins in a position to win. Chiarelli's decision to only make minor tweaks during the offseason -- like the signing of Benoit Pouliot -- and keep the Bruins' core intact was a smart move. While the Bruins didn't win the Stanley Cup this season, the future is still bright for this team.

Coming off a 2010-11 season in which he went 35-11-9 with a 2.00 GAA and .938 save percentage and won the Vezina Trophy (top goalie in the NHL) and the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), the biggest question was if Thomas could come close to matching that performance in 2011-12. A run like Thomas had last season was historic and that's why things must be kept in perspective when judging his 2011-12 season. While Thomas could've been better this past season and in the playoffs, it's not like he had a bad season. Thomas was 35-19-1 with a 2.36 GAA (13th in NHL), .920 save percentage (10th in NHL) and five shutouts. He was then 3-4-2 with a 2.14 GAA, .923 save percentage and one shutout in the seven-game series loss to the Capitals. While Thomas certainly wasn't as consistent this season, neither was the team in front of him. But while Thomas was solid, the Bruins still need him to be better, which is why he's not earning an A this season.

While Rask wasn't great all the time, there were plenty of games this season when the 25 year-old netminder was the main reason the Bruins won. Rask went 11-8-3 with a 2.05 GAA and .929 save percentage (would have been tied for 5th in the NHL if we played enough to be qualified) and looked more like the confident Rask we saw in 2009-10 when he held the No. 1 role. Rask was positioned better and more importantly, he recovered from tough losses and bad games better, learning not to let them linger. If not for the groin injury he suffered in early March that essentially ended his season, Rask might have been graded even higher.

As the Bruins' brass and coaching staff continually said all season, the team had one of the NHL's best goalie tandems in Thomas and Rask. Both have the ability to steal games and carry a team on their shoulders for an extended stretch. Thomas wasn't as good as he was during his amazing 2010-11 season, but he wasn't bad either. Meanwhile, when healthy, Rask had some very solid runs and showed that he is ready to take it to the next level and play more games. But there were also some inconsistent stretches for both goalies this season. While Thomas and Rask are definitely one of the league's top duos, they still have room for improvement heading into 2012-13.

Ference had a better than expected season offensively and also was a solid physical presence on the blue line. The Bruins' alternate captain had six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 72 regular-season games, the second highest point total in his career (he had 31 for the Flames in 2005-06) and then a goal and three assists in seven playoff games. Ference also was a leader on and off the ice. His physical play and willingness to drop the gloves to defend his teammates once again made him a well-respected player in the dressing room.

Corvo himself was very open about the fact that he simply did not have a good season and did not deliver the offense and the boost to the Bruins' power play both he and the team were hoping he would when he was acquired from Carolina last July. After a 40-point season in Carolina in 2010-11, Corvo had just 25 points in 75 regular-season games and then none in five playoff games. Head coach Claude Julien was patient with Corvo, waiting until the final month of the season to make him a healthy scratch, but Corvo could never seem to find his way in Julien's system. His confidence was clearly dwindling to the point where, at his final media availability after the Bruins' loss to the Capitals, a downtrodden Corvo told the media he didn't expect to be back with Boston next season and openly wondered where his career would take him next. The Corvo experiment was one both the Bruins and Corvo will try to forget.

Zanon only played 17 regular season games and then seven in the playoffs, registering a goal and two assists in the regular season and then one assist in the playoffs. While he had a few bad games, he was a reliable player for Claude Julien when the Bruins needed him to fill in for an injured or scratched player. His willingness to block shots and his stay-at-home style made him a safe choice to play in a pinch.

There really wasn't enough of a sample from Mottau since he played just two games in the regular season with the Bruins and then two in the playoffs. But when he did play he was a dependable fill-in. Mottau usually made that safe outlet pass and wasn't really noticeable, which is a good thing for a defenseman.

As we have said in our previous defense report cards, the pairings switched frequently due to injuries and match-up issues, but on many nights Joe Corvo and Andrew Ference were the Bruins' third defensive pairing, and while the Bruins expected much more offense from Corvo, they thankfully got a solid season offensively from Ference. But while neither Ference (plus 10) nor Corvo (plus 10) was a minus, each had a problem with turnovers and on many nights proved to be a defensive liability. Corvo is most likely gone next season, and thankfully for the Bruins that means his errors in the defensive zone and those that led to scoring chances for the opponent will be too. But the Bruins will need Ference to improve in this area and also find a better partner for him.

While Seidenberg had a solid regular season with five goals and 18 assists in 80 games, he once again showed his worth in the playoff spotlight. He helped frustrate Capitals superstars Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, limiting their role in the series. Ovechkin had five points and Backstrom had four in the seven-game series, but their time and space were severely limited and they were not as effective as they could be. Seidenberg had a huge factor in the Bruins' 2011 Stanley Cup run; if some of his teammates followed suit this year, his performance could've helped them advance past the first round.

McQuaid isn't at the level of Seidenberg as a shutdown defenseman, but he is improving every season. If not for a late-season concussion that eventually kept him out of the playoffs and ended his season, McQuaid would have helped the Bruins' cause against Washington. He had only 10 points in 72 games, but McQuaid isn't afraid to drop 'em and throw his 6-foot-4, 197-pound frame around. The Bruins needed more of that against the gritty Capitals.

As the season wore on, injuries left the Bruins with an assortment of pairings. But when the whole blue line was healthy and together, the tandem of Dennis Seidenberg and Adam McQuaid was a solid shutdown pair, with both providing a physical presence and Seidenberg providing some offensive flair. McQuaid is morphing into a solid option to provide physical yet legal intimidation as opposing players enter the Bruins' zone. Meanwhile, Seidenberg once again proved he is part of an elite group when it comes to that and keeping NHL superstars off the score sheet. This pairing is a viable option again next season if Claude Julien chooses to spread the wealth and not keep Seidenberg and Chara together all the time.

Chara had a career high in points (52) and assists (40) and was a plus-33. Combine that with his stellar defensive work and it's no wonder he's a Norris Trophy nominee again. While he struggled through the team's midseason funk in January and February, Chara helped lead the Bruins out of that funk in March and continued his dominant play in the playoffs with a goal and two assists. Chara was not only his normal intimidating self with his size and strength, he became an offensive threat again. Chara really improved in pinching down low, which made it harder for opposing goalies to stop his blistering slap shot. The captain reached the 1,000-game plateau, and based on his conditioning regimen, it's no stretch to say that at 35, Chara could play another 10 seasons. The Bruins should be the beneficiaries of many more Norris-worthy seasons.

Boychuk was nominated for the Masterton Trophy for his perseverance this season, and while his 15 points in 77 games may have not shown it, his determination on the ice and work ethic off it did. Boychuk became a much more physical player and made life difficult for opponents who wanted to stay away from Chara's side of the ice. Boychuk had some highlight-reel hits and was constantly in the face of opponents along the boards. He also had a solid playoff series against the Capitals with a goal and two assists in seven games. Boychuk's play allowed coach Claude Julien to split up his postseason shutdown pairing of Dennis Seidenberg and Chara during the regular season.

The defensive pairing of Chara and Seidenberg was a potent shutdown combo in the playoff loss to the Capitals, but the Bruins' normal top pairing of Chara and Boychuk wasn't too shabby either. Both Chara and Boychuk have cannons of a shot and they built a solid chemistry in the defensive and offensive zones. Chara and Boychuk also brought a physical presence that made it very difficult on opponents. With Chara's size and reach and Boychuk's thunderous hits, entering the zone was difficult enough, and if an opponent was lucky enough to get through that wall, he had to pay the price in the corners and in front of the net.

Paille finished the regular season with six goals and nine assists in 69 regular season games and then added a goal in the playoffs. As always, Paille brought speed to this line, which also makes him a valuable part of the penalty kill. Paille battled some injury issues early in the season and was a healthy scratch at times but he played his role well.

Campbell had eight goals and eight assists in 79 regular season games and two helpers in the playoffs. The middle weight of the fourth line, Campbell never backs down from a fight and uses his physicality to slow down opponents in front of the net and in the corners as well as creating space for his teammates in the offensive zone. Campbell has also increased his role as a quiet leader on and off the ice.

Thornton was signed to a two-year extension towards the end of the season and it was deserved. Thornton's importance isn't just because he is a heavyweight enforcer. He's also one of the Bruins leaders and has the ears of his teammates. He's also not just an enforcer, he's a good skater and chipped in with five goals and eight assists on the season. He was a healthy scratch for the final two games of the seven-game series loss to the Capitals, but he took it with class, putting team first. That's why he gets the highest mark on this line because he personifies what this line is about -- team.

Caron wasn't a regular part of this line, but he saw increased playing time this season, appearing in 48 regular season games (some on the fourth line and some on other lines). He played in the final two playoff games against the Capitals when coach Claude Julien needed more versatility with Patrice Bergeron battling an oblique injury. The fact that Julien and his staff believed in Caron enough to sit a veteran leader like Thornton means the team has confidence in the 2009 first-round pick. Caron's stats weren't as good as they need to be with just seven goals and eight assists in 48 games, but he has earned the faith of his coach and should be given a chance to solidify a roster spot next season.

There is a reason that Bruins head coach Claude Julien has no fear about rolling out his fourth line of Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton (and at times Jordan Caron as well) just as much in the playoffs as he did in the regular season. Julien trusts these players. They are arguably one of the best fourth lines in the NHL and in 2011-12 they had another solid season, creating energy and serving as the physical presence that reminds the opponents that the Bruins won't be pushed around. The one negative to this line would be that three of the four players were a minus and they're depended on for defensive play. But other than that they did their jobs.

When the Bruins signed Pouliot as an unrestricted free agent last summer it was a bit of a head-scratcher as there were plenty of questions and rumors about the work ethic and commitment of the fourth-overall pick in the 2005 draft. Pouliot was a frequent healthy scratch in his previous stops with the Wild and Canadiens and had yet to realize his full potential as a top 5 pick. While he might never reach that level, his work ethic improved and he was able to score 16 goals and help set up another 16 in the regular season. He also chipped in with a goal and an assist in the playoffs with his goal being the grinding, drive-to-the-net type goal the Bruins needed more of in their seven-game series loss to Washington. Pouliot was definitely better than expected but still has room for improvement with his natural skill and size.

When Tyler Seguin met the media after being awarded the Seventh Player Award as the "player who best exceeded expectations" he immediately said that Kelly deserved the award over him and there is no argument here. Kelly, who was named an alternate captain at the beginning of the season, was the team's unsung hero and gave the Bruins much more than they expected. For the first time in his career, Kelly reached the 20-goal mark, finishing with 20 goals and had 19 assists. Already one of the team's best defensive players and someone that gives his best effort every game, Kelly became a scoring threat as well and was one of the team's best all-around players.

The right wing slot on this line -- much like the right wing slot on the No. 2 line -- changed a lot due to a midseason knee injury to Peverley. When Peverley did play, he was solid, especially in the playoffs where he had three goals and two assists while playing on a number of different line. But Peverley was limited to just 57 games due to the injury, finishing with 11 goals and 31 assists. Thankfully, Brian Rolston arrived at the trade deadline and found the fountain of youth again.

Like the line of Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Tyler Seguin, the Bruins' third line of Pouliot-Kelly-Peverley/Rolston gave the Bruins a lot more offense than expected. The trio was depended on for a solid two-way game, but defense was always expected to be their bread and butter. But ironically this line helped the Bruins be the second-highest scoring team in the NHL while still maintaining that defense-first mentality. They provided versatility for head coach Claude Julien and were another example of the depth he had in his forward unit.