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.To replace Wideman’s contribution, the Bruins will have to rely on more of the same, sticking to the guns already in place on last year’s roster, without any acquisitions to bolster the group of defensemen. Yes, Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuk and Mark Stuart were all extended, but as far as new blood goes, there isn’t any to go around. Seidenberg, who actually started as the team’s 2 defenseman a season ago should continue to eat the majority of the minutes at the position, though injury and depth now has to be a concern. Last year, he saw his season ended in early April thanks to a lacerated tendon, continuing an annual tradition of Seidenberg, who has never played a full season of hockey at the NHL level. He should be healthy to start the year, but it seems to be more of a question of how long will he last as opposed to will he get hurt. Perhaps, Andrew Forence will be able to provide the necessary boost to replace the departed Wideman, as though he’s not new to the Bruins, he played in just 51 games last year, limited by a now-corrected hernia issue, restricting him to less than full-strength even when he was able to suit up. Playing in a similar mold to Wideman, were Forence able to return to his pre-injury form, he would greatly mitigate the loss.Fortunately, the Bruins are blessed with a duo of netminders that make being a Bruins defenseman a lot like being the weatherman in San Diego. Just two years ago, goalie Tim Thomas was awarded the Vezina Trophy for the league’s top goaltender, only to be ousted by fellow goalie extraordinaire (and much younger) Tuukka Rask, the only goalie in the league to post a goals against average under 2 and save over 93 of shots against. With Rask serving as the full-time starter going into the year and Thomas suddenly becoming the NHL’s most capable backup, it looks like few pucks will find their way into the home end of The Garden Nets, no matter who is skating in front in them.