Just when we thought we had satiated our sports fix with red (Sox), green (Celtics), and red, white, and blue (Patriots), a team that plays on a sheet of ice in the dead of winter is attempting to push some black and gold into the equation. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'm going to take it very...very...slow. Here goes.
The Boston Bruins are...actually...pretty good. Whew! I said it!
For years, the Bruins were so very easy to dislike. Owned by Jeremy Jacobs, notorious for being on the cheap side of the spending spectrum, and an equally cheap General Manager, Harry Sinden, the Bruins had plenty of good players to cheer for, but always seemed to trade them before their time was up.
Two such deals stand out to me: the Joe Thornton trade to San Jose in December 2005 and the much-ballyhooed Ray Bourque to Colorado deal that enabled the Hall of Fame defenseman to finally get a title.
I understand why Bourque requested the trade and I'm glad Boston did it. I just wish they didn't have to do so in order for one of their stars to win a ring. As far as Thornton, it signaled that the Bruins weren't ready to be a contender and were far away from putting together a club that really could utilize Thornton in the right way.
While Jacobs still owns the team, things have slowly started to change.
Hall of Famer and beloved son, Cam Neely, was brought back to be a public face and decision maker in the organization. Peter Chiarelli was hired in 2006 to be the club's new GM.
Finally, after years of lackluster play, lockouts, fan alienation and seeing every other major team in the city win a championship, this Bruins team might be okay after all. As I write on this Monday night, the B's are tied for the Northeast Division lead with the Buffalo Sabres and second overall in the conference. Here are a few reasons why:
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about 1 month ago
Tim Thomas is to Boston what Chris Osgood is to Detroit -- an underrated goalie who'll be remembered for the goals he lets in more than the goals he keeps out, even if the former are actually fewer than the latter. Never mind the stats or the nightly performance. As long as their names aren't Brodeur or Kiprusoff, they'll be treated like back-ups thrust into the starter position even if their numbers are superior to more well-known stars in goal.
Finally, I think Wideman should be on the list, as a critical component of any team's success in today's NHL is a good, offensive defenseman.
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