2008 Woodie Awards
Boston's under-the-radar team
Alex Leonard
Issue date: 12/13/07 Section: Maine Sports
So far this fall, the national sports spotlight has shined brightly on Boston and a little bit south. If you've been under a rock, or just neglect to watch Sports Center, the Red Sox won the World Series, the Celtics are 17-2 and the Patriots are undefeated. However, if you ask anyone but Barry Melrose what the Bruins record is, they probably couldn't tell you. Well the runt of the litter, if you will, actually holds the second best record in the Eastern Conference.
Some may say, "Alright, but it's still the NHL." This may be true, but the Bruins have gone about their business a different way than the other three mega-teams in Massachusetts. Instead of acquiring big-name players and dominating their league, the B's have instead played scrappy hockey to rise to the top.
Just two years removed from trading MVP Joe Thornton, the Bruins have used young players and a slew of under-rated veterans to remain competitive. Despite seeing their best young player, Patrice Bergeron, sidelined indefinitely after a vicious hit in November, the Bruins have continued to chug along.
This is due in large part to center Marc Savard. He leads the league in assists and is tied with Thornton at 35 points. Savard, signed as a free-agent before the 2006-07 season, has been nothing short of spectacular in his year-plus with the Bruins. He has arguably kept Glen Murray in the league. Murray was struggling so badly at the beginning of the year that there was talk of trading him to Dallas. Murray scored five goals in the next five games, and Savard assisted on all five.
Another surprise on offense has been Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew played just 50 games last year, scoring only five goals between Calgary and Boston. He seems to be flourishing alongside 20-year-old Phil Kessel and Peter Schaefer, who was acquired from Ottawa during the off-season. Kobasew leads the B's in goals scored and looks rejuvenated playing with two energetic forwards in Kessel and Schaefer. It is important to note that he is a plus-9 after being a minus-6 in just 10 games with the Bruins last season.
Some may say, "Alright, but it's still the NHL." This may be true, but the Bruins have gone about their business a different way than the other three mega-teams in Massachusetts. Instead of acquiring big-name players and dominating their league, the B's have instead played scrappy hockey to rise to the top.
Just two years removed from trading MVP Joe Thornton, the Bruins have used young players and a slew of under-rated veterans to remain competitive. Despite seeing their best young player, Patrice Bergeron, sidelined indefinitely after a vicious hit in November, the Bruins have continued to chug along.
This is due in large part to center Marc Savard. He leads the league in assists and is tied with Thornton at 35 points. Savard, signed as a free-agent before the 2006-07 season, has been nothing short of spectacular in his year-plus with the Bruins. He has arguably kept Glen Murray in the league. Murray was struggling so badly at the beginning of the year that there was talk of trading him to Dallas. Murray scored five goals in the next five games, and Savard assisted on all five.
Another surprise on offense has been Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew played just 50 games last year, scoring only five goals between Calgary and Boston. He seems to be flourishing alongside 20-year-old Phil Kessel and Peter Schaefer, who was acquired from Ottawa during the off-season. Kobasew leads the B's in goals scored and looks rejuvenated playing with two energetic forwards in Kessel and Schaefer. It is important to note that he is a plus-9 after being a minus-6 in just 10 games with the Bruins last season.
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