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Wednesday, November 8, 2000
Can't be worse than last year
By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell
Special to ESPN.com
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There was significant embarrassment during last season's horrific
campaign, which resulted in the Bruins missing the playoffs for the second
time in four years. The club got off to an 0-5-4 start, and aside from a surge
in November, never could get out of their own way. There were major injuries
to key personnel, many of whom required surgery, and the team was center-poor
the entire year with Joe Thornton the only natural center to play the whole
season. It didn't help that goalie Byron Dafoe was average after coming back from a long holdout and didn't come close to the form he had in '98-99 that earned him a
finalist spot in the Vezina Trophy balloting.
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Wed., Sept. 27
To be competitive, Joe Thornton must continue his growth rate at the same pace. He took a big step forward last year and will have to take another step of equal distance forward this year. Also critical is Jason Allison's ability to bounce back both physically and on the ice. He was their top center when he went down with injuries last year.
And the Bruins also need a Vezina-like year from Byron Dafoe. Holding out and then getting a late start last season hurt him and the team. If all three things don't happen, it will be difficult for Boston to be competitive. |
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It was a Murphy's Law kind of season where everything that could
possibly go wrong, did. Coach Pat Burns was embattled pretty much out of the
gate and speculation followed him all across North America that last year was
going to be it for him. However, Burns is back, determined that this is going
to be a better year even if it ends up being his last. It should be much
improved, especially since the Bruins signed two of their three restricted free agents – Joe
Thornton and Sergei Samsonov. The other holdout, Anson Carter, scored 22 goals in 59 games last season and will be missed, but his return remains uncertain at this point.
Defensively, the club has swapped one Hall of Fame defenseman – Ray
Bourque, who was dealt in a much publicized trade to the Colorado Avalanche
last March – for Paul Coffey, signed as an unrestricted free agent over the
summer.
They signed spotty forward Andrei Kovalenko, in hopes he can add some
offensive spark. They also signed veteran blueliner Peter Popovic in hopes he
can at least prevent other teams from having an unimpeded path to the net as
they did last season.
Center Jason Allison is coming off tendon transplant surgery on his
right wrist and ligament surgery on his left hand. Allison wasn't hampered at
all by either hand during camp, which is the single biggest relief the Bruins
could possibly have.
In the net, Dafoe had two right knee surgeries in the span of five
months (early March and late July) and has rehabilitated successfully.
Defenseman Kyle McLaren, who is coming off a disappointing year, also had
knee surgery after the season and had the left knee scoped in late August in
order to remove built-up fluid. McLaren is one of the heaviest hitters the
Bruins have and they need a terrific year from him.
The Bruins are expecting big things from forward Brian Rolston, who came
to Boston in the Bourque trade. However, Rolston is better at wing than
center and until Burns is able to play him there, they won't get the most
they can from his talents.
Right wing Lee Goren is a possible impact rookie although his skating is
a liability. The University of North Dakota standout led the nation in goal
scoring last year and helped his club to the NCAA championship, where he
captured the most outstanding player of the tournament honors.
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Bottom Line on the Bruins
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Strengths
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Weaknesses
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Goaltending
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Center
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Defense
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Scoring
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SEASON OUTLOOK: This team has a very strong core of young players. All are
talented, versatile and strong. Whether they can all come together at once
and consistently remains to be seen. But Burns will squeeze every ounce out
of them and that's the best thing they have going for them. |
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe writes a weekly national NHL column for ESPN.com.
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ALSO SEE
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Ottawa Senators preview
Montreal Canadiens preview
Buffalo Sabres preview
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