Things look good in Boston, where the Bruins gambled that having few players under contract once the lockout ended would pay off and, at least on paper, look like they won.  While Bruins teams have looked good in the recent past and still faltered, this team looks good...but could easily falter.

And now this: these previews will appear, two a day, until the season starts on October 5th.  They will be put on-site by division, roughly in order of predicted finish.  Note that the rookies listed are only those most likely to make the team, not necessarily ones who have already sewn up a spot, and surprises always occur in training camp.  The In/Out portion represents significant players added and lost since the end of the 2003-04 season.  And now, on with the show...

In: Tom Fitzgerald, Brad Isbister, Brian Leetch, Shawn McEachern, Alexei Zhamnov, Dave Scatchard

Out: Sergei Gonchar, Ted Donato, Mike Knuble, Martin Lapointe, Dan McGillis, Mikael Nylander, Sean O’Donnell, Felix Potvin, Brian Rolston 

Rookies: Andrew Alberts, Milan Jurcina, Mark Stuart, Hannu Toivonen, Brad Boyes, Colton Orr

Bruins GM Mike O’Connell tried very hard to be in a position where, once the lockout ended, he would have few players under contract and could sign a large number of high-end free agents.  While O’Connell perhaps didn’t quite put the defense together he would’ve liked, losing out on his bid to keep Sergei Gonchar, he did manage to sign a solid group of forwards to complement his young core of star Joe Thornton, forwards Sergei Samsonov and Patrice Bergeron, and defenseman Nick Boynton and goaltender Andrew Raycroft.

Strengths: 1. The Bruins are as deep in terms of quality centers as any team in the league.  With returnees Thornton and Travis Green complemented by the newly signed Zhamnov and Scatchard, the Bruins have the luxury of playing Bergeron and rookie Brad Boyes on the wing.  Collectively, Thornton, Scatchard and Green are quite possibly the best group of faceoff men any team in the league can boast of, while Zhamnov is not completely inept at faceoffs, and Bergeron have proven a quick study in that area.  Championship teams are solid in the middle, and the Bruins have a very nice group here.

2. Between Raycroft and rookie Hannu Toivonen, the Bruins have a very young, very solid goaltending duo that could last them a long time.  Raycroft, of course, won the league’s Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2003-04 and is just 25, while Toivonen, 21, was nothing short of excellent in the AHL last season, posting a rather stunning 2.05 GAA and .932 save percentage in 54 games and leading Providence to two rather improbable playoff upsets before the team bowed out in six to the eventual champions, Philadelphia, in the semifinal.  Both could do with a little more NHL experience, and will probably make some mistakes before the season's out, but should provide the Bruins with solid goaltending for years to come.

Weaknesses: 1. While Boston’s set of forwards looks impressive, their defense looks a lot less imposing than last season with the loss of O’Donnell, McGillis, and Gonchar.  Of particular concern is the situation with Nick Boynton, who has yet to sign a contract with training camp well underway and the Bruins already very near their stated budget goals without Boynton’s salary in the mix.  While few are doubting Leetch can still play at 37, one has to wonder just how much ice time he can reasonably be expected to play each night.  Likewise for Jiri Slegr, who is little more than a power play specialist at this point in his career, and Ian Moran, who has never been more than a fifth or sixth guy.  That leaves hulking Hal Gill, who struggled mightily at times in 2003-04, Jonathan Girard, who hasn’t played in two years after nearly having his career ended by a car crash, and depending on Boynton either one or two spots for rookies Milan Jurcina, Andrew Alberts, and Mark Stuart.  Jurcina, having already spent two full seasons in the AHL, seems the likeliest candidate for full-time NHL duty, considering the other two have just left US colleges.  Stuart is probably the best prospect of the three, but the Bruins can’t rush him if he isn't ready.

2. Expectations are high in Boston, and justifiably so.  For years, this team seemed on the cusp of being a real contender, but unwilling to add what was perhaps just one or two pieces to really push it over the top because of budgetary concerns.  With owner Jeremy Jacobs having been very vocal during the whole CBA mess, then getting everything he could want in a new agreement, the first thing that’s going to turn the fans off is a continuation of what many saw as Jacobs’ penny-pinching.  The second thing will be a losing squad.  All the excuses are gone in Boston now, which can be a scary position to suddenly be in, and the fans will be wanting results.

Don’t be Surprised If: Thornton leads the league in points.  Armed with a new three-year contract and the re-signing of one of his favorite linemates in Glen Murray, Thornton’s also got some very nice support at center and the makings of a solid power play if Leetch stays healthy.  Not only that, but he has something to prove to Bruins fans who pointed fingers at him for the team’s playoff loss in 2004, despite the fact he played with a serious rib injury.  Thornton could have a monster season.

Outlook: Ottawa and perhaps Montreal will challenge for it, but the division title is Boston’s to lose.  This team will likely compete with Philadelphia and Tampa Bay for the conference title as well.  If the playoffs roll around and the Bruins haven’t added a top four defenseman, however, their post-season hopes could be dashed fairly quickly.

Centres: 1. Joe Thornton  2. Alexei Zhamnov 3. Dave Scatchard  4. Brad Boyes  5. Travis Green

Wingers: 1. Glen Murray  2. Sergei Samsonov  3. Patrice Bergeron  4. Shawn McEachern  5. Brad Isbister  6. P.J. Axelsson  7. Tom Fitzgerald  8. Eric Nikulas  9. Colton Orr  10. Nate Robinson

Defensemen: 1. Brian Leetch  2. Jiri Slegr  3. Jonathan Girard  4. Hal Gill  5. Ian Moran  6. Mark Stuart  7. Milan Jurcina  8. Andrew Alberts

Goalies: 1. Andrew Raycroft  2. Hannu Toivonen

Restricted Free Agents: Nick Boynton (D), Andy Hilbert (C), Martin Samuelsson (W)