can Tim Thomas repeat last season's numbers? his save percentage of .938,with a goals against average of 2.00... the two time Vezina Trophy winner could lower his G.A.A.,from 2.00,but his save percentage was the best in NHL history,for one season,so numbers can be better,but not much better... the defending Stanley Cup champions has stayed mostly intact,but the retirement of Mark Recchi,will not hurt the team on ice,but that will hurt team some in locker room(leadership),and overall team chemistry,and free agency departures of Tomas Kaberle(to Carolina),and Michael Ryder(to Dallas) will hurt more of overall grit,on roster... talent-wise,they are near the top of teams in NHL,which is good,but the bad news(and it is good bad news,for the Bruins),the Bruins will get the best of their opponents,because beating the defending champs makes that game high on the list of accomplishments,for the opponents' season...
the Bruins are anchored on offense,by Milan Lucic,David Krejci,Gregory Campbell,Tyler Sequin,and Rich Peverley,and the return of Nathan Horton,from his concussion suffered in the third game of Stanley Cup Finals,should make the Bruins more potent on power play,and penalty kill,and the defense will be anchored by Zdeno Chara,one of the best defensemen in the NHL,Dennis Seidenberg,Joe Corvo(from Carolina),Andrew Ference,and Johnny Boychuk... if they can improve their defense around their own net,and like i said earlier,if there is even a resemblance of Thomas' 2010-2011 season,the Bruins will be tough to beat... however,the last time Thomas won the Vezina Trohy(2008-2009-similar numbers to 2010-2011;.933 save percentage,with a 2.10 G.A.A.),Thomas had a sub par season,in 2009-2010(numbers:a .915 save percentage with a 2.56 G.A.A)... will he repeat those numbers,or,finally,be the great goaltender that his two Vezina Trophies represent?
the Bruins have the talent to win back to back Stanley Cups,as the pundits say,but honestly,i am not convinced... will they win the division? possibly... will they win the Eastern Conference? possibly,but there will be a major dogfight,in both conferences... can they win the Stanley Cup? not likely,but they will have a fight to do it... to quote the late,great Howard Cosell,"that is the reason that you play the game"(season,and playoffs)...
note:the last team to win back to back Stanley Cups was the 1997-1998 Detroit Red Wings,so the Bruins have a tough road to hoe,with Vancouver,Chicago,Detroit,and San Jose,in the Western Conference,along with the much-improved Philadelphia Flyers,Washington Capitals,Tampa Bay Lightning,and ever-present,and 24 time winner,of the Stanley Cup,Montreal Canadiens all very hungry,for a shot at the Stanley Cup...
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