Assessing the Off-season (Defense)

With Zdeno Chara singlehandedly clogging up half the space behind the blue line, whether intention or unintentional, defense seems to come fairly naturally to the Bruins as long as Chara stays healthy. Still, whether the Bruins high level of defensive play can be maintained in 2010-2011 remains to be seen as the off-season saw more subtraction than addition on the defensive end. Gone is defenseman Dennis Wideman, sent to Florida as part of the trade that brought in right winger Nathan Horton and center Gregory Campbell, and on a significantly lesser note, so is the organization’s top AHL goaltender Dany Sabourin. Wideman appeared in 76 games last season for the Bruins, scoring 6 goals and 40 assists in the regular season, before adding another goal and 11 assists in 13 post-season games. Though Wideman’s was susceptible to the boneheaded mishap from time to time, and the fans let him have it for it, Wideman was still a valuable contributor and fine player overall, perhaps the best blue-line passer and offensive setter among defensemen on last year’s roster. Though the team acquired a potential offensive force on the other end of the trade, losing Wideman will hurt more than some critics might anticipate, especially considering the leaps and bounds he seemed to take in last year’s playoff run. Read more…