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Offseason Report: Boston Bruins

Andrew Ference, Chris Kelly, Gregory Campbell

Boston Bruins’ Andrew Ference (21), Chris Kelly (23) and Gregory Campbell (11) celebrate Ference’s goal against New York Islanders goalie Anders Nilsson in the third period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, in Uniondale, N.Y. Kelly also scored two goals during the Bruins 6-0 win. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

AP

From July 16-Aug 16, we’ll be profiling all 30 NHL teams by recapping what they did this offseason and previewing their upcoming campaigns.

2011-12 season

49-29-4, 102 points. First in the Northeast Division, second in the Eastern Conference. Lost in opening round of playoffs to Washington (4-3).

Additions

Aaron Johnson, Garnet Exelby, Christian Hanson

Departures

Tim Thomas, Joe Corvo, Benoit Pouliot

2012 Draft

1st round, 24th overall — Malcolm Subban (OHL Belleville)

Looking back

It was a quiet offseason for Boston save one incident: Tim Thomas taking a year’s sabbatical to focus on “friends, family and faith.”

This put Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli in a unique position -- after consciously retaining most of his Cup-winning roster from 2011 (and adding few pieces to it), he proceeded to lose the guy most responsible for winning it.

Not to say Boston didn’t inquire about some key acquisitions. Chiarelli reportedly made an offer for Zach Parise and only recently announced he was out of the running for Rick Nash/Bobby Ryan.

Looking forward

The Bruins will likely keep the trade doors open (most popular names are David Krejci and Milan Lucic) in the event they need to add offense at some point. It’s still unclear what kind of condition concussed forward Nathan Horton is in, and Boston did lose a bit of goalscoring with Pouliot (who netted 16 last year.)

For a team laden with veterans and experienced players, Boston’s 2012-13 campaign could rely heavily on a pair of youngsters. Tuukka Rask, 25, will be the opening-night starter for the first time in his career and the Bruins will need him to shoulder a heavy workload -- probably more than the career-high 45 appearances made in 2009-10.

On defense, hopes are high for OHL Niagara product Dougie Hamilton, taken ninth overall in 2011. Hamilton, 19, was named the OHL’s best defenseman a year ago with one scout calling him “the best defenseman outside the NHL.” Hopes are high he can come in and play a top-four role, possibly sparking a Bruins power play that only scored 43 times last year, 22nd in the league.

Have your say

Vote in our poll and let us know what you think of the Bruins’ 2012-13 outlook in the comments section.

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