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Poll: Will the Bruins end their two-year playoff drought?

Detroit Red Wings v Boston Bruins

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 07: Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with Matt Beleskey #39 and teammates after scoring against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period at TD Garden on April 7, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

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This is part of Boston Bruins day at PHT...

The Boston Bruins haven’t made the playoffs in the last two seasons and they’re hoping that they’ve done enough this off-season to change that.

The biggest acquisition of the summer was David Backes. The 32-year-old signed with Boston on July 1st, after spending the first 10 years of his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues.

In terms of offensive production, Backes’ best days are likely behind him, but that doesn’t mean he won’t contribute at all. The veteran center scored 21 goals and 45 points in 2015-16.

Backes gives the Bruins a solid one, two, three punch down the middle with Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci also on the depth chart.

The three centers will have help from Brad Marchand, Matt Beleskey, David Pastrnak and a few other solid wingers.

Having Tuukka Rask between the pipes should also help.

So that’s the good news. Now, the bad...

The Bruins wanted to add a puck-moving defenseman. They tried to acquire Backes’ former teammate, Kevin Shattenkirk, from St. Louis, but no deal was struck.

Unfortunately for Boston, they didn’t only miss on Shattenkirk, they also whiffed on every one of their targets (on defense). They might be able to acquire someone between now and the start of the season, but as of right now, they’ve come up empty.

It looks like the Bruins will have to rely on an aging Zdeno Chara to play big minutes again. Torey Krug will also serve as a key puck-mover for Boston. The Bruins have John-Michael Liles and defensive defensemen Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller. Rounding out the defense will be Colin Miller and Joe Morrow.

They’re also a little lighter on the wings, as Loui Eriksson left for Vancouver in free agency.

There’s certainly a lot of questions surrounding the Bruins in 2016-17.

Has Boston done enough this off-season? Will the Bruins be able to overcome their deficiencies on defense? Can they break this two-year playoff drought with the current roster?

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