Boston Sports Changeover

With the Red Sox limping into the post-season with a playing style that is anything but promising, I'm very excited about the first game of the Boston Bruins season being tonight. While the guys didn't really play to their potential in the post-season last year (they really seemed to have what it took to go all the way before getting handled by the hurricanes), this year looks like it should be exciting in that we might have a chance to see some young stars in Boston start coming into their own just as Milan Lucic did last year. First of all, we have lost a player I held in fairly high regard; Phil Kessel. I considered Kessel's speed to be an excellent weapon in the Bruin's offensive arsenal. My uncle, who knows more about Hockey than I do, says that the NHL is moving away from speed and more towards size and aggression (think Lucic or Alex Ovechkin). We can all remember two years ago when Kessel was benched for a few games in the post-season series with the Montreal Canadiens for lack of aggressive play, so perhaps this is not as big a loss as I think. It should also be noted that Boston received two first round and a second round draft picks from Toronto in exchange for Kessel, so hopefully this move will enable us to strengthen our system for years to come.

And speaking of the future, here are the four young Bruins players that I think have the potential to establish themselves as rising stars this season, from oldest to youngest:
Byron Bitz - The 25-year old Right-Winger from Saskatoon was the Bruins 4th round draft pick in 2003. He's got the size to not get pushed around on the ice and he aquitted himself fairly well in the postseason last year, picking up a goal and an assist in the only game he played. Paired with the right Center he could do some impressive things this year, either finishing drives at the net or feeding a shooter.
Matt Hunwick - The 24-year old Michigan Defenseman was drafted in the 7th round by the Bruins in 2004 and has played in parts of the last two seasons. He saw increased action last year with injuries to several Boston defenders. With Aaron Ward's departure to the Carolina Hurricanes (another player I will sorely miss) Hunwick will probably see a great deal more ice time and will have a chance to show that previous successes were not a fluke and can be reproduced.
Blake Wheeler - At 6'5", 205 lbs this Minnesota-born right winger is a big guy and I believe has the biggest chance to make it big this year. He was first-round draft pick for the Coyotes in 2004 and he played like it last year, putting together a decent run at rookie of the year. He is a competent skater and is too big to be run off a puck he goes where he wants to and he can make others go where he wants them to. He essentially started for the Bruins last year and given his performance, I can't see anything changing this year.
Tuukka Rask - 22-year old Fin, Tuukka Rask is my youngest pick, the only non-North American and the only goalie. He was Toronto's first-round draft pick in '05 and he's been doing quite well in Providence. Now that the Bruins have cut-away the anchor that was Manny Fernandes and his salary, Rask looks to have a garuanteed spot backing the pride of UVM, Tim Thomas. With Thomas slated to play for the US Olympic Team, Rask should get plenty of starts for the Bruins. A final note on Rask, headcase-wise he should make an excellent back up to the occasionally pugilistic Thomas, if his performance last march is anything to go by.

So there you go and here's hoping the B's have another great season.