Last years record:  42-31-9  93pts  4th in the Atlantic

Didn’t qualify for the playoffs

Key losses:  Loui Eriksson

Key additions:  David Backes, Dominic Moore

Outlook:  After an injury plagued season and no playoffs, Tukka Rask and the Bruins look to have a bounce back season and bring playoff hockey back to Beantown.  David Backes and Dominic Moore bring buckets of experience to an already seasoned team.  With the addition of Backes the Bruins solidified the center posititon, especially if Ryan Spooner continues to take strides in the right direction this season like he did last.  David Pastrnak, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, and Patrice Bergeron lead a talented group of forwards that should bring plenty of offense to the B’s this season.

On the other hand, the Bruins blue line is still a little suspect.  Zdeno Chara is aging, Torey Krug had a down season last year, and both Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller aren’t top four defensemen.  The Bruins will look to some of their young guys like Colin Miller, Brandon Carlo, and Matt Grzelcyk to step up and help solidify the blue line.  It’s also rumored that the Bruins could be interested in Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba.  It would take quite the trade package to acquire Trouba, but I think the Bruins would be willing to pay it.  Maybe something like Malcolm Subban, Jakub Zboril, a forward prospect, and a pick would get the job done.  If the Bruins blue line can stay healthy and if one or two of those new guys can step up, the defense should be significantly better than last season.

If they can avoid any significant injuries I don’t see any reason why the Bruins can’t at least nab a wildcard spot.  Tukka Rask needs to return to his former Vezina winning self if the Bruins want to be playing hockey come April-May.