After launching an investigation into a number of long-term contracts believed to be circumventing the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the National Hockey League is reportedly on the verge of laying the hammer down on three guilty parties.

According to the New York Post, the New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks may be in a world of hurt if the Players’ Association fails to comply with the following rules:

1. That the cap hit on future multi-year contracts will not count any seasons that end with the player over 40 years of age. The cap hit would be calculated on the average of the salary up through age 40 only.
2. That the cap hit on future contracts longer than five years will be calculated under a formula granting additional weight to the five years with the highest salary.

As far as mandate No. 1 goes, the Bruins can breathe a huge sigh of relief knowing that center Marc Savard’s seven-year pact will expire just a month or two before he celebrates his 40th birthday. Whew! No mention of No. 91′s contract was made in the article, indicating that the B’s should be in the clear. According to the Post, the Players’ Association has until 5:00pm on Friday night to comply or the league will promptly move to reject Ilya Kovalchuk’s latest proposal (a 15-year deal), void netminder Roberto Luongo’s current deal that will keep him in Vancouver until 2022 and embark upon a formal investigation into the Blackhawks’ deal with Marian Hossa (which would keep the Slovak winger in Chicago until 2021).

The NHL has certainly backed up its bark with a whole lot of bite. Thankfully for both Savard and GM Peter Chiarelli, it appears as though the B’s are going to walk away unscathed.

Blake Wheeler is today’s featured Bruin in the Black and Gold Blog’s series of player previews for the 2010-11 season.

BLAKE WHEELER | #26 | Wing

HEIGHT: 6-5 WEIGHT: 205 SHOOTS: Right
BORN: August 31, 1986 – Robbinsdale, Minnesota
DRAFT: 2004 – 1st round (5th overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes
CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2010-11 ($2.2 million cap hit)
2009-10 STATISTICS: 18 goals, 20 assists, 38 points in 82 games

LOOKING BACK ON 2009-10

After an impressive start to his NHL career in 2008-09, Wheeler seemed to hit a wall coming down the stretch in his first season with the B’s and has struggled to consistently produce ever since. Scratched thrice and held pointless in eight postseason tilts in 2009, Wheeler was eventually reunited with David Krejci and Michael Ryder this past season, but the trio failed to click the way they had the year prior. The former University of Minnesota standout dropped from 45 points to 38 points. After finishing second behind Krejci (plus-37) with an astonishing plus-36 rating for the league lead, Wheeler plummeted all the way down to minus-4 in 2009-10.

The 6-foot-5 winger almost looked like an entirely different player in his second NHL season. Having notably bulked up during the offseason, Wheeler gave the impression that he’d be far more physical last season but that seemingly never proved to be the case. The 24-year-old winger seemed to lack the confidence he possessed at the onset of his first season in the Hub of Hockey. The dazzling stick-handling abilities he should in his first few months in Black and Gold, his quick acceleration and ability to create offense on his own all seemed to have vanished in year two.

After a stretch in March that saw him pot four goals in five games, Wheeler went ice cold. The young winger had just one goal and one assist to his credit over the B’s final 13 regular season games. Just as it was in 2009, Wheeler’s performance in the ensuing playoffs was hardly spectacular. While he did pick up five assists, the former fifth overall pick scored just one goal in 13 playoff games and finished with a minus-6 rating.

FIVE FACTS

1. To date, Wheeler has just one playoff goal in 21 tilts.
2. Wheeler’s 45 points was the sixth most among rookies in 2008-09.
3. The winger was whistled for 22 minor penalties last year, more than any other Bruins’ forward.
4. After scoring four times in seven chances in 2008-09, Wheeler went 2-for-13 in the shootout last year.
5. Wheeler equaled his total of three PP goals in 2008-09 last season, despite jumping from 0:55 to 2:04 of TOI per game on the man advantage.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010-11

After failing to come to terms on a contract, Wheeler’s tenure as a restricted free agent came to an end when he and the Bruins agreed to an arbitration award of $2.2 million for the young winger. Wheeler will have a lot to prove in 2010-11. Far too prone to lengthy goal droughts, consistency is undoubtedly atop the Minnesota native’s checklist. For a player of his stature, Wheeler should be able to frequent the “dirty” areas of the ice at a higher rate and come away victorious in far more battles in the corner and along the boards. Often indecisive with the puck in the offensive zone, Wheeler has pledged to be a more proactive shooter in the upcoming campaign.

In all likelihood, the “WKR” line should be reunited at the start of the season. With Krejci healthy, Ryder pressing to stay in Boston and Wheeler’s dreaded sophomore slump now in the rear-view mirror, the trio should be collectively more productive than they were in the first half of 2009-10. No one would ever expect Wheeler to suddenly morph into a power forward, but if he can continue to take a page out of Mark Recchi’s book by parking his big frame in front of opposing netminders and turn his grit level up a notch or two, it would be a major boost for the Bruins as they hope to get reliable production from the top three lines.

PREDICTION FOR 2010-11

Wheeler was oft-criticized throughout the year and the subsequent offseason for his often-times meek play and overall subpar performance in his second year in Boston. The intelligent, well-spoken winger will undoubtedly be motivated to to do whatever is necessary to take the next step in his young career. My optimistic outlook for the motivated forward: 25 goals, 31 assists, 56 points in 2010-11.

NEXT PREVIEW (9/2): Tuukka Rask

Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg is today’s featured Bruin in the Black and Gold Blog’s series of player previews for the 2010-11 season.

DENNIS SEIDENBERG | #44 | Defense

HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 210 SHOOTS: Left

BORN: July 18, 1981 – Schwenningen, West Germany

DRAFT: 2001 – 6th round (172nd overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2013-14 ($3.25 million cap hit)

2009-10 STATISTICS: 4 goals, 28 assists, 32 points in 79 games

LOOKING BACK ON 2009-10

Displeased with the makeup of his defensive corps, GM Peter Chiarelli orchestrated multiple trades on deadline day to shake things up. Derek Morris was jettisoned before even completing his first year in Boston. Chiarelli turned to the Panthers to fill the vacancy, acquiring Seidenberg in hopes of finding a better fit alongside Zdeno Chara.

The two gelled instantly. Seidenberg, renown for being a hard-hitter and shot-blocker extraordinaire, picked up nine points and sported an impressive plus-9 rating in his first 17 tilts with the B’s. The newcomer elevated his partner’s level of play as well, as Chara picked up seven points and was plus-11 during the stretch. Unfortunately the magic was short-lived. An errant skate damaged tendons in the defenseman’s forearm in a game up in Toronto on Apr. 3, sidelining Seidenberg indefinitely. The German olympian had resumed skating during the Bruins’ second round series against the Flyers, and likely would have returned to action had Boston advanced to the conference finals.

FIVE FACTS

1. Seidenberg finished 2009-10 with 215 blocked shots, more than any other player in the NHL.
2. Only Steve Begin (184) was credited with more hits than Seidenberg (166) among players who suited up for the B’s last year.
3. Seidenberg, who debuted with Philly in 2002-03, had only suited up for 70+ games in an NHL season once prior to 2009-10.
4. The German defender set career highs in assists (28) and points (32) in 2009-10. His career high for goals is five (Carolina, 2008-09).
5. Seidenberg is two assists shy of 100 for his NHL career.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010-11

Despite his brief stint in Black and Gold last year, Chiarelli saw enough in Seidenberg to ink the 29-year-old blueliner to a four-year deal worth $3.25 million annually. Head Coach Claude Julien was undoubtedly thrilled by the success he and Chara enjoyed together, a pairing highly reminiscent of Chara’s days with Aaron Ward, but may be tempted to balance the B’s pairings out after seeing Johnny Boychuk click with the captain as well.

Seidenberg’s lone sore spot throughout his career has been health, as the rugged defender’s fearless style has cost him a number of games throughout his career. Over the course of three NHL season from 2005-06 to 2007-08, Seidenberg was absent for 84 tilts due to injury. When healthy, however, the 6-foot-1 blueliner fits the prototype for a tough-as-nails, shutdown defender to a tee.

If Julien decides Seidenberg would be best utilized away from the top pairing, slotting Johnny Boychuk in alongside Chara, one of Matt Hunwick, Mark Stuart or Andrew Ference will begin the season as his playing partner. With Hunwick, Seidenberg could prove to be a stabilizing presence and allow the offensively-gifted d-man to jump into the play more often. With both Stuart and Ference, the B’s could confidently rely on their middle pairing to shutdown opposing forwards on a consistent basis.

PREDICTION FOR 2010-11

Having appeared in only two NHL postseasons, Seidenberg has clearly played most of his career for subpar squads. With the Bruins expected to vastly improve upon their performance last year, Seidenberg could be in line for the best statistical season of his career. My prediction: 7 goals, 29 assists, 36 points for No. 44 in 2010-11.

NEXT PREVIEW (9/1): Blake Wheeler

Right Wing Michael Ryder is today’s featured Bruin in the Black and Gold Blog’s series of player previews for the 2010-11 season.

MICHAEL RYDER | #73 | Right Wing

HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 186 SHOOTS: Right

BORN: March 31, 1980 – St. John’s, Newfoundland

DRAFT: 1998 – 8th round (216th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2010-11 ($4.0 million cap hit)

2009-10 STATISTICS: 18 goals, 15 assists, 33 points in 82 games

LOOKING BACK ON 2009-10

After potting 27 goals in his first season with the Bruins in 2008-09, quelling incessant complaints from fans about his price tag, Michael Ryder slid back into the focus of armchair GMs with his disappointing follow-up campaign. Ryder, who tied with center Marc Savard for the team lead in points during the 2009 postseason, dipped from 53 points to just 33 last season. The 20-point drop-off was understandably eye-catching, as Ryder was the highest-paid winger on the squad.

The magic he shared with David Krejci and Blake Wheeler seemed like a distant memory by season’s end, as both wingers endured serious funks to close out the campaign. Prior to tallying twice in the season finale against Washington, Ryder had scored just once in his previous 22 games. Owner of arguably the most lethal shot on the Bruins, especially in the wake of Phil Kessel’s departure, the Newfoundland native dropped from seven game-winners in 2008-09 to just one in 2009-10.

Ryder followed up the second-worst statistical season of his career with a slightly better playoff performance. The former Hab netted four goals for Boston, chipping in an assist to boot for a total of five points in 13 tilts.

FIVE FACTS
1. Ryder has never scored against his former team, the Canadiens, in 12 regular season matchups.
2. In the past two seasons combined, no one has scored more goals for Boston than Ryder (45).
3. Ryder led Leksands IF with 48 points in 32 games during the lockout in 2004-05.
4. Only six of the 231 players drafted after the first round in 1998 have more career goals than Ryder, the 216th overall selection that year. Five of them were pick by the conclusion of the third round.
5. With seven more points, Ryder will hit the 300 mark for his career.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010-11

While Ryder will undoubtedly be looking to rebound in 2010-11, his window of opportunity to do so may be an extremely small one. Upon Marco Sturm’s return from long-term injured reserve, the Bruins will be forced to put an end to at least one player’s tenure in the Hub of Hockey.

Due to his high salary and the fact that he significantly underperformed last year, Ryder may be forced to have his mail forwarded to the Dunkin Donuts Center down in Providence. Despite his highly-respectable resume, the B’s lone solution to their looming cap dilemma may be Ryder’s demotion to the AHL.

So what exactly will a hot start or a vicious cold streak to kick off the campaign mean for No. 73? It’s hard to tell. If Ryder rediscovers the chemistry he had in 2008-09 with Wheeler and Krejci, the B’s might be able to find themselves a trade partner or determine that removing the winger from the roster isn’t the best course of action. Should Ryder embark upon an early-season slump, sending him down to the farm will make the devastating move a little bit easier to make for Peter Chiarelli.

PREDICTION FOR 2010-11

Is it just me or do these keep getting increasingly more difficult? Odds are that Ryder will in fact score more than 18 goals and pick up more than 33 points in 2010-11. Whether that’s with Boston, another NHL squad or for Providence is anyone’s guess at this point. The pressure he must be under heading into the season, a contract year to boot, must be immeasurable. If forced to guess one way or the other: 4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 19 games before the Bruins find a willing taker or are regretfully forced to assign No. 73 to the minors.

Adam McQuaid is today’s featured Bruin in the Black and Gold Blog’s series of player previews for the 2010-11 season.

ADAM MCQUAID | #54 | Defense

HEIGHT: 6-5 WEIGHT: 209 SHOOTS: Right

BORN: Oct. 12, 1986 – Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

DRAFT: 2005 – 2^nd round (55^th overall) by the Columbus Blue Jackets

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2011-12 ($575,00 cap hit)

2009-10 STATISTICS: 1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point in 19 games

LOOKING BACK ON 2009-10

Whenever faced with a depleted blueline, the B’s relied heavily upon prospect Adam McQuaid to fill in with the big club. The 6-foot-5 defender, who finished his AHL campaign with 10 points and 66 penalty minutes in 32 games for Providence, appeared in 19 tilts for Boston.

Proving to be no stranger to fisticuffs during his tenure with the P-Bruins, McQuaid asserted himself quickly in Boston, dropping the gloves twice in his first eight games. While his overall numbers weren’t anything spectacular, the former Sudbury Wolves’ standout held his own with the parent club, looking far more comfortable than a number of promising defenders had in their brief appearances in the past few seasons.

The Prince Edward Island native suited up for nine playoff games, joining up with veteran defender Andrew Ference to form the B’s bottom pairing. McQuaid received 10:11 of ice time per game during the postseason, as Claude Julien depended upon the likes of Zdeno Chara, Johnny Boychuk and Dennis Wideman to carry the load. McQuaid was shutdown after suffering an injury against the Flyers in game three and went on to miss the rest of the series.
FIVE FACTS

1. The Bruins sent a fifth round pick to Columbus in May of 2007 (which turned out to be Jamie Benn, who scored 22 goals as a rookie with Dallas this year) to acquire McQuaid.
2. McQuaid’s 141 PIM narrowly edged out Jeremy Reich (139) for the Providence team-lead in 2008-09.
3. Rangers’ defenseman Marc Staal was McQuaid’s teammate during all four of his seasons in the OHL.
4. McQuaid’s lone NHL goal was of the game-winning variety, as the defender opened the scoring in an eventual 3-0 win over Montreal in February.
5. McQuaid, often referred to in hockey forums as “Lone Wolf” (coinciding with an MMA fighter also named Adam McQuaid, and undoubtedly in honor of the 1983 Chuck Norris’ flick Lone Wolf Mcquade) ironically shares a birthday with Hugh Jackman, the actor famous for portraying Wolverine.*

* Author’s note: I hereby nominate No. 5 as the most amazing factoid in Bruins, NHL and possibly even world history.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010-11

After inking a two-year deal worth an average of $575,000 annually this summer, ending his brief tenure as a restricted free agent, McQuaid will return to the Hub of Hockey as the seventh defenseman on the depth chart. In all likelihood, the 23-year-old defender will see slightly more action than he did in 2009-10.

Proving capable of filling in at any time, Head Coach Claude Julien showed confidence in the young blueliner. With injuries always forcing the lineup to be reconfigured, and fellow d-men Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Mark Stuart all having missed a good chunk of action in the second half last season, it’ll be no surprise to see No. 54 patrolling the blueline for the B’s in 2010-11.

If McQuaid is able to build upon his experience in 2009-10 and assert himself as a shutdown defender as he has at the AHL level, it could provoke the Bruins’ brass to ship out a defenseman with a higher salary. Chiarelli could confidently free up cap space and be comfortable with the hard-hitting blueliner becoming a regular in the top six.

PREDICTION FOR 2010-11

McQuaid’s role will almost completely depend upon the health of his fellow teammates. If the blueline collectively gets off to a rock-solid start, the 23-year-old defenseman might wind up collecting dust up in the press box, much like Johnny Boychuk did in 2009-10. With that said, we’ll take a conservative approach: 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points in 22 games for the Lone Wolf.

NEXT PREVIEW (8/30): Michael Ryder



Continuing with the Black and Gold Blog’s ten part series, we’ll now take a look back at the 2002 NHL Draft and see how the Bruins fared. To share what grade you think the team deserves, check out the poll below.

In the year 2002…

DRAFT HELD: June 22-23
BRUINS GM: Mike O’Connell
BRUINS HEAD COACH: Robbie Ftorek
PREVIOUS RECORD: 43-24-6-9 (1^st in East)
TOTAL PICKS: 7

Outside of hockey…

MUSIC: Maroon 5 releases hit album “Songs About Jane” on June 25.
MOVIES: Tom Cruise’s futuristic flick Minority Report hits theaters on June 21.
TV: Sci-fi fans are still in mourning a month after the series finale of The X-Files.

ROUND ONE

27^th overall – Hannu Toivonen (Goalie, HPK Hameenlinna)

After being selected by the Bruins in the first round, Hannu Toivonen had B’s fans buzzing after he posted a 16-2-4 for HPK Hameenlinna. Following two solid years developing in Providence, which included a .932 Sv% and 2.05 GAA in 2004-05, Toivonen made his NHL debut on October 8, 2005 for Boston.

After earning an OT victory in his first game, which included allowing Sidney Crosby’s first NHL tally, Toivonen posted a 9-5-4 record before succumbing to an ankle injury. Unfortunately for Toivonen and the B’s, his initial rookie run proved to be the best stretch of hockey in the Finnish netminder’s NHL career.

Toivonen got shelled to the tune of a 4.23 GAA in 2006-07 under Dave Lewis, and was subsequently shipped to St. Louis for the ever-enigmatic Carl Soderberg the following offseason. His struggles continued there, notably in a game on Dec. 9, 2007 against Colorado. Toivonen was pulled twice in the same game, sent back in after the Blues cut into the Avs lead only to wind up allowing a total of eight goals on a mere 25 shots in a 9-5 setback.

The 6-foot-2 netminder returned to Finland in 2008-09 before deciding to rejoin St. Louis’ AHL affiliate in Peoria. Toivonen was moved late last season and made five appearances for the Rockford IceHogs. He sported a 1-4-0 record with an unspectacular 3.44 goals against average for the ‘Hawks affiliate. The former Bruin is under contract until 2010-11 for Chicago, and will likely spend majority of the campaign in the American Hockey League.

ROUND TWO

56^th overall – Vladislav Evseev (Left Wing, CSKA Moscow)

Evseev, occasionally deemed to be Yevseyev in other hockey circles, was a highly-touted prospect in Russia who received little attention in North America. The Bruins came calling in the second round, grabbing him despite a lengthy history of shoulder problems. Evseev never crossed the pond, and has remained in Russia ever since.

The 6-foot-1 winger remains active, but has played sparingly throughout the decade. Since 2002-03, Evseev has suited up for a grand total of 194 games for Moscow Dynamo, Ufa Salavat Yulayev, Cherepovets Severstal and Chekov Vityaz (now of the KHL). Average that out and you’re looking at slightly more than 24 games per season.

Over the next seven picks, future NHL regulars Matt Stajan, Jiri Hudler, Tomas Fleischmann and current Bruin Johnny Boychuk were selected.

ROUND FOUR

130^th overall – Jan Kubista (Right Wing, Pardubice HC)

Extensive internet research turns up nearly no information on the mysterious Czech winger Jan Kubista. Drafted 130^th overall, Kubista played in just 12 games over the next two seasons for Pardubice HC. No other records of any kind could be found, making it appear as though the forward called it a career at the young age of 20.

ROUND FIVE

153^rd overall – Peter Hamerlik (Goalie, Kingston)

Originally drafted 84^th overall by the Penguins, Peter Hamerlik headed to the OHL to sharpen his game before re-entering the draft in 2002. Over three seasons, the netminder renown for his puck-handling abilities appeared in a total of seven games for Providence. Following the 2004-05 campaign, he returned to his native Slovakia.

After two years with Skalica HK 36, Hamerlik was out of hockey during both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. He returned to the game this past season, going 18-17-0 for Trinec Ocelari HC.

NHL defenders James Wisniewski, Paul Ranger and Ian White were all selected after the B’s grabbed Hamerlik.

ROUND SEVEN

228^th overall – Dimitri Utkin (Forward, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 2)

Utkin, pronounced “OOT-kin” for those who were curious, proved to be yet another Russian prospect that never saw ice time in North America. Utkin followed the draft by appearing in just four games for Yaroslavl in 2002-03. After a two-year hiatus, he returned to hockey with Moscow Spartak. Utkin called it a career in 2008 after appearing in just 93 games over a six-year span.

Former Bruin Dennis Wideman was selected just 13 picks later by the Buffalo Sabres.

ROUND EIGHT

259^th overall – Yan Stastny (Center, Notre Dame)

The Bruins took a shot on the son of a Hall of Famer in round eight, grabbing Peter Stastny’s son Yan out of Notre Dame. After the center spent two seasons overseas with the Nuremburg Ice Tigers, Stastny found his way back to the Bruins’ organization thanks to a trade with the Oilers in 2006.

After his rights were originally sent to Edmonton in the summer of 2005, Stastny returned and played in 17 games for the B’s at the tail end of 2005-06, as he and Marty Reasoner joined the Bruins in exchange for Sergei Samsonov. Additionally, the B’s received a second round pick in the upcoming draft which turned out to be Milan Lucic.

Stastny remains a fringe NHLer to this day. After spending most of the past three years in the AHL, appearing in just 50 games for the Blues during that stretch, Stastny was traded to the Canucks on March 3, 2010. On June 29, the former Bruin signed on with CSKA Moscow of the KHL.

ROUND NINE

290^th overall – Pavel Frolov (Forward, Novgorod Jr.)

With the second-to-last pick in the 2002 draft, Boston selected yet another Russia forward, this time going with Pavel Frolov. Like many of his Russian peers, little is known about the 6-foot-2 pivot. Frolov is listed as having appeared in just one game for Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo in 2003-04. The rest of his career and life beyond hockey remain a mystery.

Mr. Irrelevant, Jonathan Ericsson, has played in 89 games for the Red Wings, including 62 tilts in 2009-10. Ericsson, a 6-foot-4 Swedish defenseman, has 78 points in 176 career AHL games.

DRAFT SUMMARY
After a minor obsession with over-sized defenders in previous years, the B’s repeatedly rolled the dice on Russian forwards in 2002. Unfortunately, each time they did resulted in the dice bouncing off the table and disappearing into a black abyss. Only two of the seven draftees made it to the NHL and, as mentioned in the caption above, Stastny remains the only one to record an NHL point (though, we can’t really hold that against Toivonen). The Bruins scouting staff was wrong at nearly every turn in 2002. While the pickings were slim that year, it’s doubtful many NHL clubs wound up with as little to show for their selections as the Black and Gold.

Daniel Paille is today’s featured Bruin in the Black and Gold Blog’s series of player previews for the 2010-11 season.

DANIEL PAILLE | #20 | Left Wing

HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 200 SHOOTS: Left

BORN: April 15, 1984 – Welland, Ontario

DRAFT: 2002 – 1st round (20th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2011-12 ($1.075 million cap hit)

2009-10 STATISTICS: 10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points in 76 games

LOOKING BACK ON 2009-10

Following a trade that sent Chuck Kobasew to Minnesota, the Bruins replenished their depth on the wing with the acquisition of Dan Paille from Buffalo. The former 20th overall pick picked up four points in his first five games with Boston, but proved that his best contributions came at the other end of the ice throughout the course of the season.

Mired in an absolute funk, the B’s penalty kill welcomed the speedy winger and his strong defensive game with open arms. Paille finished the campaign with 1:59 of short-handed TOI per game, tops among Bruin forwards. His large contributions helped Boston maintain the highest efficiency rating on the PK throughout the league for most of the season, before they eventually settled for third behind the Blues and Paille’s former teammates on the Sabres.

Though he did finish with ten goals, Paille’s lack of finish often negated the opportunities his blazing speed provided him. The Ontario native took off on a number of breakaways, but seemingly never cashed in on any of his chances. A former 19-goal scorer, Paille racked up 10 tallies in 74 tilts for Boston, nine of which came in his first 51 games. The former Sabre picked up an assist in each of the Bruins’ playoff series, finishing the postseason with two points and a minus-2 rating in 13 games.

FIVE FACTS
1. Paille was held without a point in 28 of the B’s final 31 games.
2. Only one of Paille’s ten tallies came while short-handed.
3. In 2003-04, Paille posted 37-43-80 totals in 59 games for the OHL’s Guelph Storm.
4. Paille was assessed just six minor penalties on the year with Boston, the lowest total among all forwards who appeared in 50+ games for the B’s last season.
5. Paille is just four points shy of the 100 mark for his career.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010-11

After bouncing around a bit in 2009-10, even seeing time on the top line, Paille’s role should be far more clearly defined this coming season. Barring injuries or desperation on the part of Claude Julien, the 26-year-old forward is expected to join Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton on the fourth line.

Given his limited offensive abilities, it should prove to be a good spot for Paille. Julien typically expects high energy and solid defensive play from the unit, and Paille’s skill-set seems like a perfect fit. Often drawing comparison to longtime Bruin P.J. Axelsson, who consistently averaged over three minutes a game on the PK, the limited even-strength action should give the winger more time to concentrate on the penalty kill.

Considering those facts, however, it’s highly doubtful Paille ever nears that 19-goal campaign he enjoyed in Buffalo back in 2007-08. His soon-to-be centerman Campbell does have a 32-point season on his resume, but that came in 2008-09 when he saw nearly 17:00 of ice time. The former Panther pivot had just two goals in 60 games for Florida in 2009-10. Paille will get an abundance of breakaways once again in 2010-11 but, without a premier pivot like Patrice Bergeron or even Marc Savard centering him, his numbers are bound to dip once again.

PREDICTION FOR 2010-11

Paille knows his job and certainly fulfills it. Due to injuries, the gifted defensive forward was often placed in a scoring role on one of the top three lines in 2009-10, a spot where a little too much may have been expected of him. Given the B’s new acquisitions and the number of prospects looking to make the jump to the NHL, he shouldn’t be forced to do so again in 2010-11. My prediction: 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points for No. 20 next season.

NEXT PREVIEW (8/29): Adam McQuaid

After a dislocated wrist put an end to his best stretch of play in 2009-10, David Krejci hopes to pick up where he left off in 2010-11 for Boston. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Center David Krejci is today’s featured Bruin in the Black and Gold Blog’s series of player-by-player previews for the 2010-11 season.

DAVID KREJCI | #46 | Center

HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 177 SHOOTS: Right

BORN: April 28, 1986 – Sternberk, Czechoslovakia

DRAFT: 2004 – 2^nd round (63^rd overall) by the Boston Bruins

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2011-12 ($3.75 million cap hit)

2009-10 STATISTICS: 17 goals, 35 assists, 52 points in 79 games

LOOKING BACK ON 2009-10

Originally slated to be out until late November, David Krejci rehabbed from offseason surgery at the speed of light, enabling him to suit up for the Bruins’ opening game against the Washington Capitals. Looking back now, the young center’s quick return may have been a little too rushed. After stretches as one of the most productive lines in hockey in 2008-09, the trio of Krejci, Michael Ryder and Blake Wheeler all got off to extremely slow starts in 2009-10. Through his first 16 tilts, Krejci had just five points his credit.

After a solid showing as a member of the Czech Republic team at the Winter Olympics in February, Krejci returned and helped the B’s solidify their spot in the postseason with a magnificent run down the stretch. The crafty pivot picked up 21 points over his final 22 games, shining in spite of the continued struggles of both of his linemates. During that stretch, Krejci sported a plus-9 rating and was whistled for just a single minor penalty in nearly two dozen games.

The former QMJHL star carried his hot-streak into the postseason, chipping in four goals and four assists in nine games. Unfortunately for Krejci and the Bruins, it all came to an abrupt end in the first period of game three against the Flyers. Philly captain Mike Richards lined up No. 46 as he carried the puck past his own blueline, resulting in a dislocated wrist and a major void being created up front for Boston. While they did manage to grab a 4-1 victory in his final game, the Bruins (as you well know) subsequently went 0-4 without him.

FIVE FACTS

1. Only Patrice Bergeron (4) scored more game-winning goals than Krejci (3) in 2009-10.
2. Krejci also finished second behind Bergeron (55) with 31 takeaways.
3. Boston went 2-0-1 in Krejci’s three games out of the lineup.
4. Krejci’s four goals in the shootout, three of which decided the affair, led the B’s.
5. Krejci performed far better on the road in 2009-10, picking up 32 of his 52 points away from the TD Garden.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010-11

With rehab for his wrist injury going along smoothly, Krejci should enter the upcoming season far closer to 100 percent than he did in 2009-10. In all likelihood, Krejci should find himself centering the familiar faces of both Wheeler and Ryder to start the year, but just how long that lasts remains up in the air. Upon the return of Marco Sturm to the lineup, all signs point to Ryder being demoted to Providence in order for the Bruins to remain cap compliant.

Krejci’s productivity certainly dipped last year, but his torrid pace down the stretch and into the postseason should bode well for the upcoming campaign. With over 200 NHL games now under his belt and three very strong postseason showings, the 24-year-old pivot should benefit from the added experience and continue to thrive as he begins to enter the prime of his career.

In the conference call following the announcement of his one-year deal, Wheeler proclaimed that he plans on being a far more active shooter in 2010-11. This should bode well for a playmaker like Krejci, who has consistently had at least twice as many assists as goals throughout his career. The Czech native’s production on the power play should also trend upward, as the B’s offseason acquisitions should inject a significant amount of talent into the top two PP units.

PREDICTION FOR 2010-11

Barring the exodus of Marc Savard, Krejci will remain the No. 2 center — arguably No. 2b behind Patrice Bergeron — on the Bruins’ depth chart. A healthy campaign from the first line, which in all likelihood will consist of Savard, Milan Lucic and newcomer Nathan Horton, will deflect a tremendous amount of attention away from Krejci and keep the opposition from focusing on shutting him down.

While his numbers will depend on the productivity of his linemates, a group that in all likelihood will include a recovering Marco Sturm at some point, Krejci’s masterful abilities to maintain possession and his overall hockey sense allow him to create offense completely on his own. My optimistic forecast: 24 goals, 55 assists, 79 points for No. 46 in 2010-11.

NEXT PREVIEW (8/28): Daniel Paille

Goaltender Tim Thomas is today’s featured Bruin in the Black and Gold Blog’s series of player-by-player previews for the 2010-11 season.

TIM THOMAS | #30 | Goaltender

HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 201 SHOOTS: Left

BORN: April 15, 1974 – Flint, Michigan

DRAFT: 1994 – 9th round (217th overall) by the Quebec Nordiques

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2012-13 ($5.0 million cap hit)

2009-10 STATISTICS: 17-18-8, 2.56 GAA, .915 Sv%, 5 SO in 43 games

LOOKING BACK ON 2009-10

Prior to the start of the 2009-10 campaign, goaltender Tim Thomas had never headed into an NHL season as the clear-cut starter. After earning the lion’s share of starts for the B’s for four straight years, beating out the likes of Andrew Raycroft, Hannu Toivonen and Manny Fernandez over that stretch, the ultra-competitive netminder finally etched his name atop the goaltending depth chart in stone when he was awarded the Vezina Trophy after the 2008-09 season. Everything looked infinitely promising for the former University of Vermont standout.

Poised to carry the Bruins even further in the postseason and potentially in line to be named the starting netminder for Team USA at the Winter Olympics, Thomas’ season seemingly never went according to plan. After struggling to stay above .500 and losing out on the starting gig for the United States to Buffalo’s Ryan Miller, Thomas put on one of the best performances of his career on Jan. 14 in San Jose. With the Bruins missing Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Marc Savard, Thomas stopped 41 of 42 shots from the Sharks in an eventual shootout victory. Seven starts, nearly two calendar months and an Olympic break later, Thomas finally earned another victory for the B’s.

Nagged by a persistent hip injury that significantly altered his hyper-active style between the pipes, Thomas eventually was forced to watch as super-rookie Tuukka Rask grabbed the reins as the team’s starter and never looked back. It was a move Claude Julien was undoubtedly reluctant to make, but after the B’s Head Coach pulled the 36-year-old netminder five times in a stretch of 18 post-Olympic starts, the writing was on the wall. Thomas’ last appearance in 2009-10 came on the final day of the regular season against the Washington Capitals, after Boston had already secured a playoff spot.

FIVE FACTS

1. Over a six-start stretch from Oct. 29 to Nov. 12, Thomas allowed just six goals but had only one win (1-3-2) to show for it.
2. Despite his struggles, Thomas matched his career-high with five shutouts, doing so in a mere 43 starts.
3. Thomas’ numbers were significantly better at home. He sported a 2.41 GAA at the Garden versus 2.71 on the road.
4. Crazy coincidence: Thomas and Rask both faced 1221 shots on the year and 33 shots apiece in the shootout.
5. With 11 wins in 2010-11, Thomas will leapfrog Byron Dafoe and Andy Moog into sixth place on the all-time wins list for Bruin netminders.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010-11

The 2009-10 regular season was a tough one to swallow for the prideful Thomas. The ensuing offseason couldn’t have been much easier. After offseason surgery to repair his hip and rampant trade speculation, thanks largely to the goaltender’s oft-criticized contract, Thomas and his $5.00 million dollar cap hit seemed to be a primary target for Peter Chiarelli in an attempt to clear salary. After denying ever being asked to waive his no-trade clause in recent weeks, Thomas made it all but certain that he will still be a Bruin by the time training camp rolls around on Sept. 17.

So what exactly can we expect from arguably one of the most competitive athletes to ever don the Black and Gold? If the past is any indication, height indifference aside, Rask should be prepared to have the veteran breathing down his neck and pressing to wrestle back some playing time. Without a doubt, Thomas’ career has been a storybook one worth marveling at. But, to expect him to just simply allow a sub-par, injury-marred campaign to be the final chapter is beyond foolish. If indeed ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from hip surgery and able to revert to his 2008-09 form, Thomas won’t make it easy for Rask to run away with the starting gig in his sophomore season in the NHL.

Bruins’ fans are quite familiar with the team’s affinity for churning out one flash in the pan after another between the pipes. Rask could be the next Blaine Lacher or turn out to be the Bruins’ own homegrown version of the Sabres’ Miller or even all-time wins leader Martin Brodeur. While no one knows the young, Finnish netminder’s future for certain, we do know that it’s his job to lose at this point. Thomas, however, will be doing everything in his power to win it back.

PREDICTION FOR 2010-11

Will Rask carry the bulk of the load? Possibly. Could Thomas steal his job back by season’s end? You never know. Second-season struggles are quite common for goaltenders who shined in their rookie seasons. Just ask Columbus’ Steve Mason. With that said, I’ll predict that Thomas will fall somewhere in the middle of being relegated to sparingly-used backup and bona fide No. 1: 21-8-3, 2.39 GAA, .924 Sv% for the Tank.

NEXT PREVIEW (8/27): David Krejci

Brad Marchand is today’s featured Bruin in the Black and Gold Blog’s series of player-by-player previews for the 2010-11 season.

BRAD MARCHAND | #63 | Forward

HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 183 SHOOTS: Left

BORN: May 11, 1988 – Halifax, Nova Scotia

DRAFT: 2006 – 3rd round (71st overall) by the Boston Bruins

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2010-11 ($821,667 cap hit)

2009-10 STATISTICS: 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point in 20 games

LOOKING BACK ON 2009-10

After a 59-point campaign in his first season in Providence in 2008-09, Marchand made his NHL debut on Oct. 21, 2009 for the B’s. After notching an assist in his first tilt, the 5-foot-9 winger appeared in 19 more games over the course of the year for Boston. Coming off of a successful junior career that included a 2006-07 postseason in which he racked up 40 points in 20 games for Val d’Or Foreurs, Marchand showed promise during his multiple stints with the big club, but was also prone to the occasional mistakes that are commonplace for rookies.

Renown as an agitator extraordinaire during his days in junior and the American Hockey League, Marchand never showed many glimpses of his bark or his bite during his multiple call-ups. The 22-year-old winger finished the campaign with 32 shots, 20 minutes in penalties, a minus-3 rating and an average of 11:57 of ice time per game in the 20 tilts.

FIVE FACTS

1. Marchand finished 2009-10 as Providence’s seventh-leading scorer, despite playing just 34 AHL games.
2. His plus-14 rating was a team-high.
3. The B’s acquired the pick to grab Marchand (71st overall in 2006) in a draft day trade with the Isles, sending New York a fourth and fifth round selection.
4. Marchand played alongisde future Providence teammate Andrew Bodnarchuk in his final QMJHL season with Halifax.
5. Marchand scored a team-high seven goals in 16 playoff tilts for the P-Bruins in 2009.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010-11

With two pro seasons and 20 NHL games now under his belt, Marchand should now be poised to fully display both the skills and feisty demeanor that the organization is undoubtedly expecting from the young forward. Proving himself capable of producing at a point-per-game pace in the AHL (32 points in 34 games in 2009-10), Marchand’s development is certainly on the right track. How far it leads him, however, depends on a number of factors.

While the Bruins will look to solve their salary-cap crunch, Marchand will certainly press for consideration for one of Claude Julien’s final roster spots with Marco Sturm opening the campaign on long-term injured reserve. Unfortunately for Marchand, the list of players he has any hope of beating out and jumping ahead of on the depth chart is a short one. Naturally a center, Marchand has since been converted to wing as a pro. Unless the Bruins somehow sour on one of the members of the fourth line (Dan Paille, Greg Campbell, Shawn Thornton), which seems entirely unlikely when considering that all three signed deals this past summer, Marchand will likely return to Providence. One other long-shot scenario that could lead to No. 63 being on the opening night roster would be the demotion of Michael Ryder to Providence before Boston’s first regular season tilt, thus opening a spot for the chirpy winger.

PREDICTION FOR 2010-11

Injuries are as much of a certainty as death and taxes, so expect Marchand to be atop the list of players worthy of being plugged into the parent club’s lineup when they occur. Still just 22, Marchand made big strides down in Providence this past season. If he can continue to progress at the same pace in 2010-11, there’s a good chance the undersized winger finds a bit more success in his second NHL season. My prediction: 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points in 24 games for No. 63 in 2010-11.

NEXT PREVIEW (8/26): Tim Thomas