Boston Bruins: Seven Defensemen Fighting For Two Jobs.
The Boston Bruins have prided themselves these last few years on having a very deep field of defensemen. Last year, that deep field was plowed over due to injuries and a questionable trade. Those injuries were the primary cause of the Bruins missing the playoffs last season.
Now, the 2015-16 Boston Bruins team will see an interesting combination of new players and old blood. The Bruins will have four returning veterans to their lineup this year. Bruins captain Zdeno Chara leads the group along with Dennis Seidenberg, Adam McQuaid, and Torey Krug. Barring a last minute surprise trade, all four of them will be part of the three defensive pairs next season for Boston.
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Technically, there are seven players competing for those last two spots(The third place finisher will likely be guarding the popcorn machine on the ninth level at the TD Garden). Those players are: Zach Trotman, Matt Irwin, Colin Miller, Kevan Miller, Joe Morrow, Tommy Cross, and Christopher Breen. It’s very likely that Cross and Breen will be sent down to Providence during or after Boston’s training camp. Neither of them have played any NHL time, and Don Sweeney has upset enough apple carts this off season.
Now we’re down to five potential players. The next two players likely to be cut just before opening night are Colin Miller or Joe Morrow. Not because they’re poor players, but because of their contracts. Neither Colin Miller or Joe Morrow are subject to waivers. After losing several players to the waiver wire last season, it’s doubtful the Bruins would go and make the same mistakes again. I see both Miller and Morrow being called up the moment someone gets hurt or the following players just aren’t cutting it.
Now we’re down to three. If I had to decide who was going to end up as a full-time part-time player for Boston, I’d go with Matt Irwin. Irwin (again, short of a very strong camp) will likely be headed to the ninth level to start opening night. He’s not a terrible player, but he’s not what Claude Julien and Don Sweeney will use on day one.
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Unless he has a terrible camp, Zach Trotman will likely be paired up with Zdeno Chara. (Trotman is the new Hamilton.) Trotman has a one-way deal this season, and I can’t see Don Sweeney repeating the waiver errors Peter Chiarelli did. Of the seven players, only Kevan Miller has more experience. He put in twenty-seven games last year in Boston, putting up five points(one goal). While he’s not going to be a speed demon on the ice, he will compliment Chara adequately.
Trotman was paired with Chara at the end of last season, and I can’t see Julien breaking them up just yet. Claude Julien is change-resistant. He’ll want to keep what (sort of) works. Also, looking at the current core of defensemen, he’ll need to spread the experience out amongst the three lines, and that means putting a relatively new player with a seasoned veteran.
Kevan Miller will get the other opening night slot. The Bruins tend to reward loyalty, especially when they get injured in doing their job. Miller’s injury came from a fight in February against the Calgary Flames. The Bruins will remember that when it comes time to filling out the roster. As long as Miller’s shoulder is good to go, and he has a good camp, he’ll be the last of the top six blueliners.