The halfway point of the exhibition season seems like the perfect time to take stock of the Boston Bruins' roster.
As expected, there are only a couple of jobs still available and the predicted combatants are pursuing them. By my count, there are 38 available bodies still in camp. Here's a position-by-position breakdown of how things are shaping up with the regular season 10 days away:
Number in parentheses is total players Bruins probably will carry at the position.
With 59 saves on 61 shots in two preseason appearances, Rask has done exactly what he was expected to do and proved to the Bruins that he's NHL-ready. Sabourin should be hitting the waiver wire on his way to the American Hockey League. Regan will be joining him in Providence.
Hunwick or Boychuk will be your No. 6 D-man on opening night, and both could be in the lineup if Ference isn't game-ready in time. Ference's health also could open the door for McQuaid or Wozniewski to stick around as an insurance policy.
If Krejci isn't healthy for opening night, that opens the door for Hamill to make the team and center the third line, which could feature some combination of Sturm, Wheeler and Lucic on his wings. That's the type of skill the Bruins want their 2007 first-round pick surrounded by.
Bitz and Marchand are on pace to edge out Sobotka for the 12th and 13th roster spots. To me, Sobotka has been one of the disappointments of camp because he's been sort of pedestrian. However, the Bruins might want 21-year-old Marchand to play regularly at Providence to start out the season.
Once Krejci is healthy, the Bruins will have some tough choices. Hamill could play his way into a definite spot, and that could make Bitz or even Thornton vulnerable. Carrying a third-liner such as Kobasew at a $2.3 million cap hit might be a luxury the Bruins can't afford, and he could be tradable.
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Matt Kalman
Matt Kalman covers the Boston Bruins for ESPNBoston.com and is the founder/managing editor of TheBruinsBlog.net. Send any questions for Matt to his mailbag and he might answer them in his Bruins mailbag.
