BLITZ 07 TEAM REVIEW - BOSTON - B LEAGUE

[LA Robbie]

BOSTON BRUINS - BLITZ 07 B LEAGUE

COACH: PEARATE

TEAM LINK: http://www.blitz94.com/draftab/rosterinfo.asp?team=BOS

TEAM OVERVIEW

Boston Bruins coach Pearate is counted as one of the best at B level, so he'll no doubt want a major improvement on last season from his Bruins players in Blitz 07. After sneaking into the final playoff spot they were dispatched from Blitz 06 in 5 games by eventual runners-up, Ottawa.

A look down the roster suggests the draft hasn't been too kind to Boston, as they've lost a couple of important players from last season, and not really replaced them, most notably Rod BrindAmour and Dale Hawerchuk, which could affect their offensive capabilities.

They look like a team lacking a goal scorer, and when you factor in the loss of Patrick Roy from their roster they look weaker at the back too. They've even come out of the draft looking less physical than last season thanks to the losses of BrindAmour from the forward line and big hitter Gerald Diduck at the back.

The success of their season is going to depend largely on 2 things: Whether they can find an effective attacking blend with the lack of an elite goalscorer, and whether Pearate's undoubted ability as coach can draw every ounce of performance from a group that may have gone backwards since Blitz 06.

TEAM MAKE-UP

The Bruins have been very unlucky in the draft. If they could have kept the majority of their important players from last season they'd have had a good base to start from, but having to choose from Gretzky, Roy & BrindAmour in the first protect round meant 2 of the most important players were going to be lost. The only remaining players from the roster for Blitz 07 are "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky, Sandis Ozolinsh & Scott Neidrmayer.

Gretzky was Boston's top scorer last season in goals & 2nd top in assists (58 & 34). With that 6 agility and 4 speed, 4 stick handling and 6 passing this guy is the king of the '94 playmakers........and that could be the problem this season. His 2/2 shooting (Seriously, that's criminal isn't it?!) means that he can't be relied on for goals. He's only got above 50 twice in his Blitz career and Pearate took him to his career best stats in Blitz 06. This is not the leading guy in your team - This is the guy making it all happen & setting up the leading guy. He's far more suited to assisting the plays than finishing them.

With BrindAmour & Hawerchuk gone Gretzky is going to be lining up this time around with big Jaromir Jagr and Craig Janney. Jagr adds some much needed muscle to this team. His 10 weight and 4 checking make him a frightening sight for any opposition forward when he gets back on D, and for any Dman stupid enough to hang on to the puck for too long in his presence. With the lack of any other monsters on this Bruins roster he's going to be a big player on the defensive side of the puck this season, and with his superb 5/4 skating and 4 passing he can more than play his part on offence too........only thing is, with his 3/3 shooting he's not the sniper to finish off the chances Gretzky's laying on, which brings us to Janney.

Goals win games........there's big pressure on Craig Janney to deliver the goals for the Bruins this season, because he's far and away Boston's best shooter on the roster......but he's still nowhere near being an elite goalscorer. He combines 3/4 shooting with 4 passing, and with his 5 Off awareness he's gonna get in position for the onetimers. Unlikely to score too many slappers, and add in his 4/3 skating and there's some average stats to go with what he does well. His best ever career stats are a 50 point season with Iceguy in Blitz 04..........this HAS to be a breakout season for him if Boston are to achieve any success.

Backing up these 3 forwards are Brent Sutter, with more average shooting and snail's pace. Dave Poulin has yet more average shooting, average speed, but a nice pass, and although he's not a big guy he hits above his weight, and may be more useful in the enforcer's role to hang on to a result. He won't take down the biggest guys, but he's no soft touch either. Kelly Kisio was brought in at the deadline to provide this team with some much needed average shooting and average speed He's actually a nice enough backup who can fill in for injuries and will surely see some time on the ice through the season.

So on D Ozolinsh and Niedrmayer are joined for this season by Gary Suter and Alexei Gusarov. Niedrmayer has average 3s across the board. Solid and dependable, and with his 9 weight is Boston's 2nd biggest hitter. Ozolinsh has a similar skill set, but at only 7 weight doesn't pack too much of a punch and it's hard to see him starting in front of Niedrmayer. Suter's great 5/4 skating, 4 passing and 4/2 shot mean he can more than contribute on offence. He handles well on D and despite his 7 weight his 4 checking ensures he still hits hard. He's got it all and looks a great signing for Boston this season. He'll surely be their 1st choice Dman, possibly partnered by Niedrmayer? Gasarov again has almost identical stats to Niedrmayer, but at 6 weight is even smaller than Ozolinsh.

After Niedrmayer it's a tiny defensive line really made up of solidly skilled guys. They should be competant, but they're unlikely to dominate too many forward lines out there.

Completing the roster in goal is Chris Terreri, coming in on deadline day in a swap deal for Dale Hawerchuk. Tough to lose an elite playmaker, but a dependable goalie was desperately needed ahead of Arturs Irbe. He'll be an important addition to the squad, but there's no way he's going to fill Roy's shoes.

All in all the team looks to have lost in all areas, and you have to think it's going to take all of Pearate's undoubted ability, and a reliance on Gretzky's creativity to achieve what the Bruins managed last season.

STARS

This team is looking to Gretzky & Jagr all the way, but the combined ability of these two is going to have to make up for the lack of an elite goalscorer.

On D Suter will have to be the leader. Does he have enough to carry the team at the back and give the offence a solid base to play from?

WEAKNESSES

The changes at Boston during this draft have left them without a real goalscorer. Last season you had 2 elite playmakers - Gretzky & Hawerchuk feeding Rod BrindAmour. Certainly not an elite sniper by any means, but certainly a player who can be relied on for goals, as his 107 point season for Pearate in Blitz 05 showed. Now Gretzky & Jagr are feeding Janney, and it's hard to imagine he can possibly be a genuine replacement for BrindAmour. The lack of a real scorer could be the downfall of this team.

There's also a distinct lack of muscle here too. Jagr is a beast, but after him Niedrmayer is the team's biggest hitter with an 8.625 checking effect - Tough, but not Chuck Norris tough. Poulin & Suter can hit too, but Jagr is the only dominator on this roster, and with only Jagr & Niedrmayer over 9 weight the others are going to be easily knocked off the puck too. Will the Bruins lack of physical presence make it an uphill battle when they come to face the bigger teams in the league?

PRE-SEASON PREDICTION - BATTLING TO SNEAK IN TO THE FINAL PLAYOFF PLACES

The heart and soul was ripped out of this team in the draft, and after the attempted transplant they look like they're still on life support. The loss of BrindAmour looks huge in terms of the balance of the team, and there's no way Terreri is a replacement for Patrick Roy in goal.

Gary Suter does add something new on D, but all the responsibility seems to be on Gretzky & Jagr. They're 2 playmakers with no one to supply. If Boston are to achieve anything this season they'll have to overcome their poor shot ratings to once again produce career best seasons.

Gretzky really will have to be "The Great One" in Blitz 07.

An offensive formula will need to be found in this team, but it looks as though it could be Pearate more than his team who will have to pull some rabbits from a few hats to get Boston into the playoffs.