| | By Charles Avellino
Special to ESPN.com
Clubhouse/schedule | Stats: Preseason / '98-99 | Roster
Last year: 39-30-13, 91 points (Lost to Buffalo in second round of playoffs)
Coach: Pat Burns
GM: Harry Sinden
Captain: Ray Bourque
KEY ADDITIONS
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KEY LOSSES
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Name
Joe Hulbig
Dave Andreychuk
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Pos.
F
F
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From
Oilers
Devils
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Name
Tim Taylor
Randy Robitaille
Dimitri Khristich
Ken Baumgartner
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Pos.
F
F
F
F
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To
Rangers
Predators
Unsigned
Retired
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Outlook
Has Boston Bruins general manager Harry Sinden ever heard of the concept that you have to spend money to make money?
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Boston is coming off such a great year last year and has some good
young players. Everything is so positive, but then the Dmitri Khristich
situation develops, where he's gone because of money. And Byron
Dafoe is holding out.
The Bruins have lost a player who scores 20-30 goals every year, and for
now one who plays 50-60 games a year and was a Vezina finalist. Those
are big shoes to fill. Will Dafoe sign? Is he happy if he does come back?
And can they replace Khristich's offense with the other young players?
They have some young talent, but there will be a few questions to answer. If Dafoe comes back, they are
certainly a playoff team, and one of the top six teams in the league. They are team with a lot of weapons. Will
the young players play as well as last year?
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It started during the offseason when Sinden declined to meet an arbitrator's ruling on a new salary for right wing Dmitri Khristich. Khristich led the Bruins with 29 goals last season and likely will never play again in Beantown. Now, it appears Boston will begin the season without Byron Dafoe. All he did last season was post a 1.99 GAA and lead the league with 10 shutouts. Dafoe will be on the sidelines as he tries to hammer out a new contract with management.
In the meantime, Boston will have to make do with Rob Tallas, who enters the season with a grand total of 22 career NHL wins. Tallas will more than likely be backed up by Ron Grahame until Dafoe returns.
The Bruins will miss Khristich's regular-season production - remember he was a non-factor in the playoffs -- but expect third-year pro Joe Thornton to improve on his 16 goals last season. Ultimately, with Pat Burns behind the bench, defense is always the emphasis. Even still, the Bruins will have a solid offensive attack with Jason Allison, Anson Carter, Sergei Samsonov and Steve Heinze.
The biggest offseason addition up front was veteran Dave Andreychuk, who is capable of scoring 20 goals. That should soften the blow of losing Tim Taylor to the Rangers. Also, Joe Hulbig, signed as a free agent during the summer, could be a pleasant surprise for Boston.
And no breakdown of the Bruins would be complete without the inclusion of ageless defenseman Ray Bourque, who returns for his 21st NHL campaign. Only Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio played more NHL seasons.
If Bourque tires, Kyle McLaren is beginning to emerge as a force on the blue line. After those two, however, the Bruins will be hard-pressed to find defenseman who can play a solid two-way game.
Boston will overcome the loss of Khristich, but if Dafoe doesn't come into the fold soon, Boston could have a tough time getting out of the starting gate when the season begins Oct. 2. If Dafoe is out for a long period, the Bruins will not be an automatic to make the postseason.
The bottom line
Better or not: Better
By how much: 2-3 wins
Most improved: Joe Thornton
Most valuable: Ray Bourque
Biggest disappointment: Sergei Samsonov
Charles Avellino is a lead NHL researcher for ESPN.
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