It's hard to imagine that a summer of fun, sun, and Stanley has come to an end. But alas, 53 members (what are they, a football team?) of the Boston Bruins crammed into the TD Garden early Friday afternoon to take part in the first day of the training camp. And as 'welcome backs' and first impressions were made between veterans, sophomores, and rookies alike, the focus was quickly shifted towards finding out just who has the mental and physical make-up to don the black and gold in 2011-12.
Can this team repeat? With a considerably untouched roster and a system that's built to win in the playoffs, it's possible, but not without some unsung heroes along with a killer instinct that has to remain in the bloodstream. Something the Bruins certainly know and plan on addressing with what should be a spirited camp.
Here are your questions and subsequent storylines to follow as camp progresses...
Dougie Hamilton: The man, the myth, the doesn't-have-a-chance...
Let me preface the statement I'm about to make: I think B's prospect
Dougie Hamilton is a great kid. He's approachable, honest, and hard-working. But I couldn't help but be simply baffled when a fellow B's scribe asked the ninth overall pick from this past draft if he felt that he had a 'good chance' at cracking the NHL roster this season. No, not in two years, or even three years, but
this season. While it's surely not impossible, especially after Carolina's signing of
Ryan Murphy to an entry-level deal, it's just almost a done deal that the 18-year-old Hamilton will find his way back to top-ranked Niagara this year for another go-round with the Ice Dogs.
But can the 6-foot-4 blue-liner make a lasting impression of a debut here in Boston? It's unknown whether or not Hamilton will get in for any preseason contests, which kick off in Ottawa in four short days, but a quick preview of what's to come as the lanky d-man continues to develop will do nothing but leave B's fans salivating for the future even more.
And hey, once you got a city on your side, it's a tough feeling to let go off. In other words? The name of the game is motivation, baby.
Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand: Continued development or sophomore slumps?
Despite the parties, photos, and surely embarrassing tales that developed involving Boston rookies
Brad Marchand and
Tyler Seguin this past summer, it's clear that the two arrived back to the Hub with some always needed motivation.
For Marchand, who (somehow) arrived to Boston trimmed down to just 5-percent body-fat, it's about proving his worth as the 2.5 million dollar man he became just a few days ago. And for Seguin, who scored just 11 goals last season, it's about taking the next step and playing a more critical role in Boston's retooled offense.
With the duo expected to skate on the wings of the
Patrice Bergeron line, the potential for magic is there if developed correctly.
Where the heck does Benoit Pouliot fit in?
He's only been here for a week or so, but B's forward
Benoit Pouliot's done his fair share of chatting. He's subtly slammed Montreal's
Jacques Martin for their falling out, and has made it known that he intends on providing a stable and strong presence to Boston's line-up on a nightly basis. Also known as the "How to win fans and influence t-shirt sales" speech every athlete in the history of sports gives when they arrive to a new city. But Pouliot has bigger issues.
The biggest being just where he fits into the grand scheme of things. Finishing last year as a healthy scratch on an injury-depleted Habs squad, and after a year that saw the 24-year-old pot just 13 goals and 30 points in 79 contests, it's 'breakout or bust' for the 6-foot-3 forward. And for better or worse, expect Pouliot to be in a full-on dogfight for a roster spot.
Expected to duel with
Jordan Caron and the contract-less
Chris Clark for a spot on Boston's wing of either the second, third, or fourth line, it's simply imperative that Pouliot gets things going from the onset of play. If not, boy..this could be a total waste of a roster spot and repeat of a 2010-11 that saw Pouliot bounced up and down the line-up in hopes of chemistry developing.
Who emerges as the second 'A'?
I'm a firm believer that leaders aren't named, as much as they emerge into the role. It's something that you're born with. Be it the quiet 'lead by example' type such as a Bergeron, or the 'rah-rah' type perhaps best exemplified by guys like Philadelphia's
Chris Pronger. And for the past two and a half years, the B's had a perfect mix of both in alternate captain
Mark Recchi. However, Recchi's time is over. Retiring immediately after the Cup victory at the ripe age of 43, Boston's hunt for a new 'A' to join a captaincy anchored by
Zdeno Chara and Bergeron begins in training camp.
From the
Boston Globe:
“It will have to be by committee,’’ Shawn Thornton said of replacing Recchi. “He’s one of a kind. Anybody who plays that long, has three Cups, his résumé speaks for itself. The stuff he did off the ice, he’s a special man, that’s for sure.’’
While nobody has Recchi’s credentials, the Bruins shouldn’t be lacking in candidates who could wear the second “A.’’
“I really feel we’ve got some strong leaders in that dressing room that are common-sense guys,’’ said coach Claude Julien. “We’ve got guys that coaches like [myself] really appreciate. That’s guys who don’t get too high or too overconfident, remain humble, and understand that the start of this season is a whole new season.’’
Who has the voice to lead? The attitude? Or the special quality that maybe only a coach sees? Maybe it's veteran enforcer
Shawn Thornton, or perhaps it's blue-liner
Andrew Ference, who has
seemingly seized the role before the 2011-12 club even takes to the ice.
Can Jared Knight or Ryan Spooner challenge for an NHL spot?
This is without question the most interesting story for B's fans to follow as camp unfolds. Following yet another strong showing at rookie camp, 2010 second rounders
Jared Knight and
Ryan Spooner enter the year as dark-horses for a nine-game trial with the club. But interestingly enough, the two players represent two totally different sides of what the Bruins could use for their club.
Knight, perhaps the hardest working prospect in the organization, is a player who simply seems to get bigger with each trip back to Boston. Standing at a hair under six feet tall, the 32nd overall pick from a year ago has seemingly addressed his weak areas time and time again, and has remedied the undeniable flaws that come with an unseasoned skater. And after getting his skates wet with a three-game cameo in the AHL last season, the 19-year-old net-crasher could be poised to make the leap to Boston's third line to start the year by way of a strong training camp, much to the chagrin of
Dale Hunter's London Knights.
Meanwhile, the mild-mannered Spooner possesses qualities that you simply can't teach. With a knack for the offensive that you simply can't teach, it shouldn't have come as a shock when the quick-footed Spooner chimed in with four points in the first of two rookie games against the New York Islanders.
From B's prospect sage Kirk Luedeke's
analysis of the rookie games:
Ryan Spooner, C- His 4-point game 1 performance had everyone buzzing including members of the Boston front office who witnessed it. He came into the tourney as Boston’s top offensively-skilled player and demonstrated it. He was held off the scoresheet in Game 2, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. He was stoned several times by Isles goalie Anders Nilsson. The overall game is still a work in progress, but the talent is clearly there. Given his expectations coming in, it’s hard to put Spooner in this category, but there’s really no other alternative given his pure ability and performance.
Now while Spooner has 173 games of OHL experience and three games of AHL seasoning (with two goals and an assist in the Providence showing), it's NHL or OHL for the 19-year-old centerman. And while it's unlikely that he'll make the team as a center, perhaps Boston's biggest strength, it's no secret that Boston lost some offense during the summer. Hit with the loss of Recchi and
Michael Ryder, Boston's attack -- specifically on the power-play -- could without question be aided by the approach and vision possessed by the smooth-skating prospect.
Something a strong preseason could pave the way for as Spooner will without question get his chances to shine considering his ability to do nothing but impress since being drafted just one year ago.
Follow Ty on Twitter, shoot him an email at [email protected], or become Facebook friends with the HockeyBuzz Bruins profile for links, interactions, and updates. 
Boston Bruins Blogger •Bruins Feature Columnist • 
Join the Discussion:
»