Now that the 2017 season is officially over for the Boston Bruins lets takes a look at the positives going into 217/18. For the fifth time in six years the Bruins have been knocked out of the playoffs. This years culprit was the Ottawa Senators. You can say injuries was a big reason for getting eliminated in game five but in all fairness it was the Bruins themselves. Certainly it was not lack of effort it was just a simple matter of talent. Head coach Bruce Cassidy hired mid way through the year replacing Claude Julian did a masterful job. Going forward the Bruins need to tweak their roster. Decisions need to be made on first goaltender Tukka Rask. Rask had a decent year in 2017 registering eight shutouts and winning 31 games. But the bottom line he hasn’t won anything in post season since Tim Thomas left after their 2011 Stanley Cup season. The question is who do they replace him with. With nobody near[y as good in Providence the Bruins will have to consider trading him or explore free agency. Two goalies that are available are free agent Ben Bishop and Flyer goalie Steve Mason. Mason 29 years of age has a cap hit of 1,000,000 dollars played in only 58 games in 17 winning 26.. He’s at best a backup. Bishop on the other hand is the same age as Rask 30 yrs old. Bishop played in only 39 games 1n 17 but overall is about is as good as Rask. The rest of the roster is loaded with youth. Names t keep an eye on are center Tim Schaller,center Austin Czarnik, defenseman Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins need to let go non productive players Jimmy Hayes, Matt Beleskey, and center Ryan Spooner. Veteran defenseman and captain Zedeno Chara is 40. For 40 years old Chara is still productive logging 80 games in 17 and 75 games the year before. With young defenseman on the way up he could be a good role model to have around for another year at 4,000,000 guaranteed. With a weak free agency in 2017 the only attractive names on the market are defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk,Brian Campbell, defenseman Johnny Oduya and winger TJ Oshie. Shattenkirk 28 years old is the youngest and one of the most productive offensive defenseman going.Would be worth a long term investment for the Bruins. Campbell and O’duya are both in their mid to late thirties.Both would be short tem with Oduya’s playoff experience he would be the better fit. The other issue the Bruins need to explore are center David Krejci. Krejci recently signed a long term extension with the Bruins but his production has fallen considerably plus he missed the playoffs with an upper body injury. Krejci also has a no trade clause in his contract . Any deal that may come along the Bruins would ha to swallow most of and most likely get very little in return. One name to keep an eye on in free agency is winger TJ Oshie. Oshie had a solid season for the Capitals Oshie who averages 25 goals a year and still young would be the perfect fit for the Bruins. Clearly the Bruins have some decisions to make over the summer. The best thing they did was go with the youth movement and fire Claude Julian. They need to come to terms with Krejci and Rask and start winning in post season. Bruin fans are waiting patiently.
