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March 4, 2006 | 03:05 p.m.
KIRK'S CALL
What the Future Holds
By Kirk Luedeke
To make the postseason or not … that is
the big question facing the Boston Bruins in the next 30 days.
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Tim Thomas
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The team that looked dead in mid-January pulled
a Lazarus act – thanks in large part to the goaltending heroics
of Tim Thomas – but even after a two-week break still has
a lot of work to do.
The B’s entered the weekend four points
out of a playoff spot and will have to make the most of each and
every opportunity.
The biggest question facing this club is, can
Thomas continue to play at such a high level? He came to earth in
a 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay prior to the Olympics, and some think that
NHL teams have started to figure him out. Whether that assertion
comes to fruition remains to be seen, fans love him for his sensational
play and the hard road he’s taken to get to Boston. He's a
story anyone can identify with, and his stellar play has solidified
his status as a local legend.
Who knew on the eve of training camp in September,
that this team that was riding the positive wave of promise would
be in danger of missing the playoffs, and that the one guy most
responsible for getting them back into the game would be Thomas?
If the B’s don’t make the postseason, it won’t
be because the goaltending fails them in the coming weeks, especially
with Andrew Raycroft getting a start here and there to rest Thomas
down the stretch.
Scoring, or overcoming the lack of production
that has plagued the club recently, will determine whether the B's
make it in or not. Sergei Samsonov and Glen Murray are going to
be catalysts to getting the offense going. If they don’t,
then it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the team trade
one or both. Samsonov is due to become an unrestricted free agent
in July, while Murray is signed for three more years beyond this
one. However, at 33, he’s shown signs of slowing down and
has had problems staying healthy. Although quite pricy at $4 million
per year, he could appeal to a contender. Samsonov got off on the
right foot by scoring against Carolina, and if he can help take
the pressure off of the top line, Boston's chances to accomplish
their objective of the playoffs increase substantially.
The linchpin of the Boston offense will continue
be Patrice Bergeron, who, along with rookie Brad Boyes, has carried
the forwards in the new year. Marco Sturm could make the jump to
30 goals for the first time in his career, and is back after missing
time and the Olympics with an upper-body injury. If anyone can get
him the puck, it’s Boyes and Bergeron, who are virtuosos at
dishing the pass.
When healthy, P.J. Axelsson will be counted on
to bring his steadying influence and solid play in all zones, and
he’ll help keep the B’s in every game. Look for center
Wayne Primeau to play a similar role in helping to provide energy
and timely offense along with solid two-way play.
The defense will be charged with making the high
percentage play, and not giving away too many opportunities to the
opposition.
Brad Stuart is the best rearguard seen ‘round
these parts since Ray Bourque wore the spoked B on his chest, and
it’s probably no small coincidence that Stuart is thriving
in Boston with Bourque helping out as a coaching consultant. Brian
Leetch might be traded, but the smart money is that the B’s
will use his experience and savvy to help spearhead the run to the
postseason. Say what you will about his disappointing year, he could
be a big factor in the spring.
Nick Boynton, Hal Gill, David Tanabe and Milan
Jurcina round out the regular rotation on defense, with Andrew Alberts
also getting a chance to see some minutes. The defense is good,
but not championship caliber. If they can continue to build on what
they accomplished in January and early February, they could key
a successful postseason berth.
Will Mike O’Connell make any moves to help
this team’s chances to make the postseason and get out of
the first round for the first time since 1999? He might, but if
the B’s stumble in the games immediately prior to the trade
deadline, look for the team to take on more of a seller’s
role. With every point precious, the B’s must capitalize and
not beat themselves. If they do, they can’t depend on other
teams to help them get into the dance.
Looking into the crystal ball, the improvement
in effort and opportunism since the team got blasted out of the
TD Banknorth Garden by San Jose and Los Angeles in January is noteworthy.
This new attitude gives the B’s a fighting chance at the postseason,
but they may have squandered too many opportunities in October in
November.
The B’s are going to make it into the postseason,
largely on the back of Thomas’ excellent goaltending, and
the continued production from the top line. Beyond that, the picture
is cloudy. Can this team pull an upset or two in the second season?
Anything is possible, but this group has their work cut out for
them.
Fans may need to prepare for another spring
of discontent before the B’s can generate future success.
Kirk Luedeke can be reached at feedback@hockeyjournal.com.
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