2015-16 NHL Season: Preview and Power Rankings
By Adam Savard
Jul 29, 2015; Foxboro, MA, USA; Boston Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs poses with a Winter Classic puck during a press conference for the Winter Classic hockey game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Number 24: Boston Bruins
How about that offseason, Bruins fans? If you’re feeling good about the 2015-16 NHL season after watching Carl Soderberg, Reilly Smith, Milan Lucic and amazingly Dougie Hamilton find new homes; then you’re either an eternal optimist or spoiled by your football team.
This offseason felt like a team going through an identity crisis. Moving on from veterans makes sense when you are building for the future or moving your youth onto the NHL stage. Part of that youth was Hamilton, who now is part of a frighteningly talented and fast Calgary Flames team.
Then you go and spend three first round picks who haven’t made the best first impression. Sprinkle in an aging Hall of Famer in Zdeno Chara and you have Patrice Bergeron, and Tuukka Rask left to hold together what was at one time a Stanley Cup favorite more often than not.
Not that Brad Marchand, Loui Erickson or Torey Krug aren’t nice players. But if you’re counting on these guys leading the charge toward the playoffs, you’re not getting there. David Pastrnak made some nice contributions last year, but Boston is still further out of the playoffs than in, even if he scores 30.
The Bruins are facing major questions heading into the 2015-16 NHL season. After the offseason they had even the most loyal Bruins fan has to wonder how they get answered.
The Boston Bruins make the playoffs if Tom Brady can also play second line center and get 65 points.
A successful 2015-16 NHL season looks like: Pick a direction and stick with it. Time to start figuring out who the core of this team is and look to trade the rest of the veterans. Bergeron and Rask feel safe. Nobody else.
Player to watch: Chara. He would wind up traded. He could also wind up playing like he’s 29 and be in the Norris Trophy hunt. It is clear that he isn’t the player he was a few years ago. Time remains undefeated. But I’m not betting against a good 2015-16 NHL season from him.
Next: Another Team Fearing A Rebuild