Blogging the Return of the Big Bad Bruins

Power Play has spent the off-season combing the rosters, measuring stick curves and interviewing a “Sully” in every NHL city and takes a stab at predicting the 2009-10 order of finish by points in each conference.

WESTERN

15. Phoenix: What a mess. Hockey will never make it in the desert.
14. Colorado: Looks like a few lean years for a once proud franchise
13. Minnesota: I sure miss the old jerseys of the North Stars. Viva Cesare Maniago.
12. Dallas: Steve Ott. Enough said
11. Edmonton: For some reason, I love watching games played in Edmonton. Perhaps it’s the lighting?
10. Los Angeles: UMass’ Jonathan Quick might play his way onto Team USA’s entry in Vancouver.
9 Nashville: Still hard to take hockey seriously in the Music City.
8. Columbus: Still hard to take hockey seriously in a college city.
7. St. Louis: Most underrated team logo in the NHL.
6. Anaheim: Not pretty during the regular season but nasty during the playoffs.
5. Detroit: Still an elite squad but definitely on the back nine.
4. Calgary: Always a favorite at this address for beating the Canadiens in the ’89 Finals.
3. Vancouver: City is hoping to be Ground Zero for all things hockey in 2010.
2. Chicago: Their window of opportunity opened rather quickly but could also close just as fast.
1. San Jose: Almost getting to be now or never for the regular season sensations.

EASTERN

15. NY Islanders: They’ve got their building block in Tavares but they’ve yet to break ground.
14. Atlanta: At least congratulate them for outlasting the Flames in Atlanta. Where have you gone, Dan Bouchard?
13. Toronto: Give Komisarek credit for not jumping out west and avoiding Lucic.
12. Montreal: The squad Gainey has put together will get him the boot by next May.
11. Florida: I still can’t believe they traded Luongo.
10. Ottawa: They begin the climb back towards respectability. Did Kovalev bring his personal sniper from the Montreal balcony?
9. New Jersey: Lemaire is back behind the bench. Avoid attending Bruins – Devils games.
8. Buffalo: Watching Steve Montador take a beating in every fight is a must for all sadists in good standing.
7. Tampa Bay: Too much talent to stay at the bottom of the conference.
6. NY Rangers: Can Torts make all the odd-ball pieces of the puzzle work? Ten bucks says that Gilroy easily makes the jump to the NHL.
5. Carolina: Aaron Ward may not contribute all that much on the ice but he’ll be an All-Star in their locker room. Class act.
4. Philadelphia: Ultimately will de done in, as usual, by stupid penalties.
3. Boston: Don’t expect to match the number of points from last season. Do expect them lo last a bit longer in the playoffs.
2. Pittsburgh: I still can’t believe Hal Gill’s name is on the Stanley Cup.
1. Washington: Will they trade some offense for some defense at some point?

Stanley Cup Final: Pittsburgh over Chicago (because Marian Hossa always seems to be on the wrong end in the Finals)

Hart, Vezina & Norris: Who cares? It’s all about winning the Cup.

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After several weeks of training camp and endless exhibition games, Peter Chiarelli and Claude Julien have settled on a roster for opening night against Washington. Of course, what you see on the first night of October won’t be the same as who dresses come April, but let’s take a thumbnail look at the initial Bruins roster.

Centers:

Marc Savard: Playmaker extraordinaire and in a contract year. Will he commit to being an all-around player?

David Krejci: Returning from hip surgery earlier than originally expected. Most complete forward on the team.

Patrice Bergeron: Hopefully the lingering cobwebs from earlier concussions are a thing of the past. He should improve on last season’s total of 39 points.

Steve Begin: Basically this year’s version of Stephane Yelle. Solid fourth line player

Forwards:

Milan Lucic: The team feeds of his emotion at times. Must take fewer dumb penalties. Should be a major part of the offense.

Blake Wheeler: Added off-season muscle and hopefully won’t hit the wall again. Expect a big year from him.

Marco Sturm: If the knee holds up, should pot 25+ goals. Intense, solid two-way player.

Michael Ryder: A fast start, unlike last season, would be a boost for the team. Underrated two-way player.

Mark Recchi: Classy veteran but how much gas is left in the tank? Watch him fearlessly park himself in front of the goal. Great at tipping shots from point.

Chuck Kobasew: Hard-nosed winger with the ability to score. Salary could make him expendable later in the season.

Byron Bitz: Fan favorite but had a mediocre training camp. Must establish a physical presence on the fourth line.

Shawn Thornton: Team policeman and respected veteran in the locker room.

Vladmir Sobotka: Pesky player with good wheels. Not shy about taking the body.

Defensemen:

Zdeno Chara: The league’s best last season. Could use a lighter workload but I don’t think he’ll get it (or want it).

Dennis Wideman: Love him from the blue line going forward. Is a liability in his own zone. Must put the puck on net more.

Andrew Ference: Injured a good chunk of last season but played well when healthy. Must not let NHLPA activities affect his play. He’s no Brad Park.

Derek Morris: Good skater and can move the puck. Is he Dennis Wideman II though?

Mark Stuart: Tough, strong physical presence on the backline. His stock is rising in the league.

Matt Hunwick: Smaller player with great wheels. Can he hold up for an entire NHL season after rupturing his spleen?

Johnny Boychuck: End of the bench defenseman who could play forward in a pinch.

Goalies:

Tim Thomas: Can’t dispute a Vezina Trophy but is he capable of carrying a team to a Stanley Cup?

Tuuka Rask: The Bruins prized prospect. Has all the tools to be a superior NHL goaltender. Should play at least 30 games this season.

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Oct. 1 Washington, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 3 Carolina, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 8 Anaheim, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 10 N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 12 Colorado, 1:00 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 at Phoenix, 9:00 p.m.

Oct. 21 Nashville, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 22 at Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Ottawa, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 29 New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 31 Edmonton, 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 1 at N.Y. Rangers, 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 3 at Detroit, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 5 Montreal, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 7 Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 10 Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 12 Florida, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 16 N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 19 at Atlanta, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 23 at St. Louis, 8:00 p.m.

Nov. 25 at Minnesota, 8:00 p.m.

Nov. 27 New Jersey, 12:00 p.m.

Nov. 28 Ottawa, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 2 Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Montreal, 8:00 p.m.

Dec. 5 Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 10 Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 12 at N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 14 Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 19 at Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 21 at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 23 Atlanta, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 27 at Florida, 5:00 p.m.

Dec. 28 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 30 Atlanta, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 1 Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m.

Jan. 4 at N.Y. Rangers, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 5 at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 7 Chicago, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 9 N.Y. Rangers, 1:00 p.m.

Jan. 13 at Anaheim, 10:00 p.m.

Jan. 14 at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

Jan. 16 at Los Angeles, 4:00 p.m.

Jan. 18 Ottawa, 1:00 p.m.

Jan. 21 Columbus, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 23 Ottawa, 1:00 p.m.

Jan. 24 at Carolina, 5:00 p.m.

Jan. 29 at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 Los Angeles, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 2 Washington, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 4 Montreal, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 6 Vancouver, 1:00 p.m.

Feb. 7 at Montreal, 3:00 p.m.

Feb. 9 at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13 at Florida, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 2 Montreal, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 4 Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 6 at N.Y. Islanders, 2:00 p.m.

Mar. 7 at Pittsburgh, 3:00 p.m.

Mar. 9 at Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 11 at Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 13 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 15 at New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 16 at Carolina, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 18 Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 21 N.Y. Rangers, 3:00 p.m.

Mar. 23 at Atlanta, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 25 Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 27 Calgary, 1:00 p.m.

Mar. 29 Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 30 at New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.

Apr. 1 Florida, 7:00 p.m.

Apr. 3 at Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Apr. 5 at Washington, 7:00 p.m.

Apr. 8 Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.

Apr. 10 Carolina, 1:00 p.m.

Apr. 11 at Washington, 3:00 p.m.

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In a timely and well written piece posted to this site, Mr. Donahue suggests what the league needs now is Sid, Sweet Sid.

There’s certainly some merit to the belief that the NHL would like young Mr. Crosby to seize the position of “face of the league” through a seventh game victory. But, is that truly what the league and its fans need now? Or would the league be better off with a victory by the Red Wings and a restatement of the value of dynasties, be they real or perceived?

For many years, the various pro sports have followed the marketing lure by ordaining individual players as the face of their respective leagues. We moved away from the days of the “Big Bad Bruins” or the “Broad Street Bullies” and into the days of “The Great One” during Gretzky’s tenure in the NHL. Gretzky was bigger than the game and brought the league attention that crossed prior boundaries. Since that success, the NHL has always pined for the next big star that it can anoint and recapture the glory of Gretzky. (Eric Lindros was going to be that guy, wasn’t he? ) Now, in Crosby, the NHL believes it has that next transition star. Since even before his arrival, the league has touted him as the next big thing.

It’s my belief that the NHL (and all the other leagues, for that matter) would do well to return to the days of giving the teams the top of the marquee and giving the players the second slot. While people recognize Gretzky as the unquestioned star of that time, most fans refer to the dominance of the Oilers of that period. Remember, they won without Wayne, too. In the same way, people remember the dynasties of the Islanders and the Canadiens more than they focus on the great accomplishments of Mike Bossy or Clark Gillies or whichever really annoying French guy was skating for Montreal at the time.

What the league needs now is a classic hero/anti-hero confrontation. It needs a strong dynastic force like a Champion Red Wing team. Even better, they need that team to deny St. Sidney from the Cup. The celebration when we see someone reaches the top of the mountain is often far less interesting than watching the climb to get there. While there would be a great amount of celebration if Crosby hoisted the Cup, isn’t it better for the NHL if the drama of St. Sid winning his first plays out a little longer? Better still if the Red Wings oblige and play the unmovable force against which he has to play?

The NHL shouldn’t focus on signature moments, because moments are too fleeting. The NHL should focus on signature events. Events like the high quality Stanley Cup Finals being played between two good teams who happen to have several great players. The events may not have the “where were you when” panache of a signature moment, but they have staying power that outlasts the individual accomplishment.

Mr. Crosby’s got many great days ahead of him (unless the NHL’s New York based PR machine decides to anoint John Tavares next year and Sid gets pushed to second fiddle). The league needs an iconic championship team against which its many subplots can play out. It needs a Red Wings championship.

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The NHL has a rare chance for a much-needed “signature moment” Friday night in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Think back through all the defining Stanley Cup moments of your lifetime and you’d be hard-pressed to think of many freeze frames that stand frozen in time. To say they are few and far between would be a gross understatement.

You say Ray Bourque finally holding the Stanley Cup over his head in 2001. I say, great, but that was after the game concluded.

You say Bob Nystrom scoring the Cup-winning goal in overtime in 1980. I say okay, but that was only Game 6 of the series and is probably not even recalled by casual fans.

You say Bobby Orr flying through the Garden air after winning the 1970 Stanley Cup in overtime. I say it was Game 4 of the series and the Blues were basically an expansion team, not to mention that was almost 40 years ago.

Other than those, I can’t think of many other modern Stanley Cup moments that are forever etched in the minds of hockey fans. Friday’s Game 7, however, has the ingredients to provide one of those rare, memorable moments badly needed to help promote and market the game going forward and one player in particular has the potential and ability to make that moment happen——- Sidney Crosby. Crosby entered the league as the newest “Next Great One” and has lived up to the enormous expectations but has been hearing, if not seeing, the footsteps of Alexander Ovechkin the past couple of regular seasons. Game 7 gives Crosby the chance to distance himself from Ovechkin and truly make his North American face the undisputed face of the league, much to the delight of the NHL league offices.

The 1950 Detroit Red Wings were the last team to win the Stanley Cup in overtime of Game 7. Imagine it’s overtime of this year’s Game 7 and Crosby gatheres the puck in the neutral zone, dekes a defenseman and performs an acrobatic move to slide the puck past Chris Osgood, winning the Stanley Cup over the hearty defending champions. A mega-star would be born and the NHL’s marketing division would immediately cancel all summer vacations.

The sport desperately has been awaiting a magical moment. What do you say, Sid?

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This Stanley Cup Finals sure looks familiar—have we seen this match-up before? Well, sure, you can look back to last season when the grizzled Detroit Red Wings took care of the up-and-coming Penguins in six games. Pittsburgh’s young stars, Sydney Crosby and Evengi Malkin, got a taste of hockey’s biggest stage and are back for another kick at the can against the same veteran Detroit squad which is hoping to add another championship notch to their hockey headboard.

In order to predict the winner of the series, we’ll follow the wisdom of Original Six-raised (Boston Latin and Harvard) philosopher George Santayana’s, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This series shapes up as a repeat of the Oilers – Islanders Finals from 1983 and 1984.

The high-octane 1983 Edmonton Oilers were hockey’s New Kids On The Block in the ’83 Cup Finals and poised to knock the three-time defending champions from the throne. However, with the likes of playoff tested Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies and Denis Potvin, the Islanders would have none of that and not only defeated the Oilers but swept them, surrendering only six goals in the four game series.

Fast forward one year to the 1984 Cup Finals and the same two combatants are back again, this time a rapidly aging Islanders team one year older and a maturing Oilers team one year wiser. The teams split the first two games in New York and then ventured west for three games in Edmonton. The series never returned to Long Island because the Oilers vanquished the honorable champs in three consecutive blowouts, thus ending the Islanders dynasty and beginning one for the Oilers.

Power Play thinks this year’s Finals shapes up in much the same manner. The Penguins should benefit greatly from their experience in last year’s Finals and use it as a springboard to leap-frog the venerable Red Wings this year.

Penguins in 6

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Momentum in the Bruins – Hurricanes series is clearly wearing black and gold as the teams head back to Boston for a decisive Game 7 on Thursday night and Power Play is back with a few random thoughts while waiting for the puck to drop.

It’s nice to see the Bruins develop a rivalry with the Hurricanes, pretty much courtesy of Scott Walker’s sucker punch of Aaron Ward. Ward was engaged with Matt Cullen before Walker crashed the party (Third Man In) and popped Ward as he was still trying account for Cullen’s whereabouts. In any event, a regular season Carolina game in Boston would generally be a ho-hum affair and just another night on the NHL calendar, albeit with a fair number of Hartford Whalers jerseys in the crowd. Thanks to this series, and specifically Mr. Walker, that will probably change starting next season. Disdain for the opposing team is always good for hockey.

“The most dangerous lead in hockey is a two goal lead.” No truer words can be found. Sure, a two goal lead is great, but it gives a team a false sense of security that can lead to a tie score in less than 90 seconds. Every time the Bruins went up by a deuce in Game 6, Carolina seemed to be on a five-on-five “power play” in the Boston end of the ice with the Bruins missing easy opportunities to clear the puck out of their zone of a countless number of occasions. Tim Thomas was spectacular while denying the Hurricanes the chance to make it a one goal game and blowing the roof off the RBC Center.

Steve Montador can scare the living hell out of any Bruins fan when handling the puck in his own end, but the guy clearly can skate and is effective in the transition game and jumping up into the play in the offensive zone.

Dennis Wideman has been a disappointment this series. Like Montador, he’s not to be trusted in his own zone with the puck, but he usually compensates for that with his offensive skills in the attacking zone. However, even in the offensive zone things don’t seem to be going his way as of late with the puck always seeming to be jumping over his stick or him making an errant pass on the power play. His inability to put the puck on net is now becoming legendary for “Wideleft.” He’s still a skilled a player and can hopefully gain some confidence going forward.

Patrice Bergeron is playing some sound hockey right now. His direct passes to Recchi and Kobasew for goals in Game 6 were pinpoint and almost indefensible by Carolina.

The Hurricanes clearly have no answer for Milan Lucic, who can impose his will on them any time he wants, and that seems to be every time he’s on the ice as of late. How can this guy not be consider the successor to Chara as captain of the Bruins?

Byron Bitz has done a stellar job and his physical play will probably keep Blake Wheeler on the bench for Game 7. Perhaps the Bruins might even give him a normal hockey number during train camp in September?

Okay, prediction time. Power Play has always maintained that a team failing to close out a series in Game 6 at home rarely wins Game 7 on the road and that should hold true Thursday night in Boston in front of what promises to be a raucous crowd. If Carolina doesn’t score first they’re in a heap of trouble as things could spiral out of control for them very quickly. Prediction? Bruins 5, Hurricanes 1.

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Most Bruins’ fans were cognizant that Tim Thomas was an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and felt confident General Manager Peter Chiarelli would hammer out an agreement with Thomas’ camp shortly after the Bruins season concluded. However, on April 3, roughly two weeks before the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Bruins announced that a multi-year contract extension had been reached with Thomas, catching many followers of the team off-guard.

In hindsight, the timing may have been by design as it gave Thomas a “vote of confidence” by team brass prior to the start of the playoffs. Chiarelli may have realized that the weight of impending contract negotiations may not be ideal for a goaltender gearing up for what was expected to be an extended playoff run. A few soft goals or bad games in the playoffs could potentially have a goalie thinking of future years rather than the task at hand.

Thomas has been more than effective and has looked comfortable in the six playoff games thus far and credit must be given to team management for acting swiftly and decisively in identifying Thomas as a key ingredient for their playoff success this season and going forward, presumably in tandem with the grooming of Tuukka Rask.

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Unlike the NBA, the NHL re-seeds after the first round of the playoffs conclude. The Bruins, seemingly idle for an eternity, still don’t know their opponent for the second round of the NHL’s playoff dance party.

As the number one seed, the Bruins will face the lowest remaining seed remaining after two Game 7s finish tomorrow evening. Let’s take a quick look at the three possibilities next in line for the Bruins.

Rangers # 7: Couldn’t close out the Capitals in Game 6 at home which will be prove to be fatal for them. Teams rarely recover from this missed opportunity and go on to win on the road in Game 7. The 2001 Devils and the 2004 Flames both had a chance to win the Stanley Cup on home ice in Game 6. They both squandered the opportunity and lost Game 7 on the road. Ditto for the Rangers tomorrow night.

Hurricanes # 6: They’ve played the Devils honorably thus far. However, beating Marty Brodeur in his home building in a Game 7 will prove to be a daunting task. They’ll play with grit but will ultimately lose a close, hard-fought game.

Penguins # 5: With the Rangers and Hurricanes predicted to be on the short end of their respective Game 7s, the Pittsbugh Penguins, along with their explosive offensive arsenal will be the lowest remaining seed still standing and be headed to Boston later in the week for the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

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