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Making the Grade: Bruins 2009-2010 Season Report Card

More than a week after the “choke heard ‘round the world,” the Bruins have since cleaned out their lockers and spread out to all corners of this great continent, to begin what will surely be a long and frustrating off-season.

They came into the season with high expectations, with many hockey experts picking the B’s to raise the Cup at season’s end. Then the regular season happened. Filled with ups and downs, expectations were tempered greatly, and as the team squeezed their way into the bottom part of the Eastern Conference playoff race, fans were just happy to see them make it to the dance. Then Boston beat Buffalo. Expectations were back on the rise. Then came the 3-0 series lead over the Flyers. Those Cup visions were back in full view.

Then crash, bang, boom… the wheels fell off and the Bruins’ championship hopes were dashed, in historic fashion.

But now that some time has past, and the sting of the heartbreaking loss has waned a bit, it’s now time to look back and see which Bruins made the grade this season. While the team may have flunked the final exam, several members of this year’s Bruins team made significant improvements and solid contributions to help get the B’s into the playoffs in the first place.

So let’s jump into my grade book and see how each player stacked up in the ’09-’10 campaign…

FORWARDS

Patrice Bergeron: A

As the team’s “Mr. Everything,” Bergeron was used in all facets of the game; on the power play, on the penalty kill, and as a master of the faceoff dot, winning nearly 58% of his draws. Tied atop the team’s stat sheet with 52 points, it’s safe to say Bergeron has finally fully come back from that devastating concussion from a few years ago.

David Krejci: A-

Krejci’s season was bookended by two major injuries, as the centerman started the season coming back from off-season hip surgery, then ended the season with breaking his wrist in Game 3 of the Philly series. His game, however, continues to round into shape, giving the team dominant strength up the middle, with the help of Bergeron and Marc Savard.

Mark Recchi: A-

No one could have expected the kind of season we saw from 42-year-old Mark Recchi this year. To say that Recchi was durable would be an understatement. The only game he missed was the last game of the regular season, when coach Claude Julien rested him for the upcoming playoffs. His net-front presence and veteran leadership are invaluable to what is mainly still a young team that’s learning how to win.

Marc Savard: B-

It was quite the interesting season for Savard, who inked a new long-term deal midway through the year. He only appeared in half of the team’s 82 regular season games due to injuries, headlined by the grade 2 concussion he sustained in the infamous open-ice hit by Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke, but nonetheless, Savard’s presence was felt and his contributions were meaningful when healthy. He’ll unfortunately act as one of the scapegoats of the Game 7 “too many men on the ice” debacle that turned out to be the beginning of the end, but Savvy is still one of the pieces that this team is built around.

Milan Lucic: C+

His offensive production was disappointing this season, with just 20 points in 50 games during the year, as Lucic was bumped and bruised through much of the season battling a broken finger and high ankle sprain. But Lucic did play his best hockey in the playoffs when it mattered most, leading the team with 42 hits in the playoffs, while adding five goals and four assists. Hopefully the physical winger can take that production and roll it into a productive 2010-11 season.

Miroslav Satan: C+

With Savard out for much of the year, Miro Satan was able to step in and keep the power play somewhat powerful. The former Sabre had a huge series against his former team, with five points in the series including two game-winning goals. Whether he’ll be back or not next season remains to be seen, but he certainly served a purpose for the B’s this season, especially while paired with Krejci in the playoffs.

Shawn Thornton: C+

You’ll never see Thornton light up the stat sheet, but his production hit an all-time low this season with just one goal and nine assists on the year. His leadership and ability to ignite a team’s fire with his physicality is there, but as a free agent to be on July 1st, are those marketable skills that will help him land a job with the B’s next year?

Marco Sturm: C+

He quietly led the team with 22 goals in the regular season, but his run was cut short in the playoffs in Game 1 vs. the Flyers, as he ended his second straight season with an ACL tear. Twenty-goal seasons are what is expected of Sturm these days, so his year this year earns him a slightly above average grade. SO slightly.

Vladimir Sobotka: C+

Sobotka’s role was never more important than in the playoffs, when the team seemed to lean on the youngster most. With Savard out of action in the Buffalo series and Krejci missing much of the Philly series, Sobotka was asked to elevate his game down the stretch, and for the most part, he answered the call. His regular season didn’t wow anyone, with just 10 points in 61 games, but his playoff intensity may have earned him a roster spot for next season.

Daniel Paille: C

His value on the penalty kill is undeniable, but a guy with Paille’s speed should be more of a playmaker on the offensive end, no doubt about it. I felt myself liking Paille’s game one day, then wanting him off the team the next day. Whether we see him back on this team next year remains to be seen, but his contributions this year can’t go completely unnoticed or unappreciated.

Steve Begin: C-

You’re telling me the team couldn’t have just brought back Stephane Yelle to do what Begin did this year? Begin was the definition of “underwhelming” this season. I can’t point out a single play this year where I said to myself, “THAT is why the B’s went out and got this guy.”

Blake Wheeler: C-

On paper, an 18-goal total for his sophomore season seems reasonable, right? But by the eye test, Wheeler’s play was well below his potential. He’s 6’5″, but plays like a “Mini-Me” version of himself, lacking in physicality and toughness. Turnovers were a big problem for Wheeler as well, something he hopefully focuses on in the off-season.

Michael Ryder: D+

If I didn’t know what his salary was, maybe him putting up 33 points this year wouldn’t bother me so much. But Ryder, in my mind, is by far the most overpaid Bruin of the 2009-10 season. If the B’s can find a trading partner in the off-season to dump this contract to, they should jump all over it, even if it’s just for a bag of pucks and a “Slapshot” DVD.

Incompletes: Trent Whitfield, Brad Marchand

DEFENSEMEN

Zdeno Chara: A-

The captain, Big Z, was the leader of one of the league’s top defenses, and Chara was clearly the class of the group. Offensively, he chipped in with 44 points and had a team best +19 rating. He’ll certainly be one of the off-season priorities, as Chara will be entering the last year of his current deal.

Johnny Boychuk: B+

He started the season as a healthy scratch more often than not, but ended the year as a top four defenseman on the team. No one grew more than Boychuk this season, and once he was paired with Chara, his game flourished even more. Boychuk should have a spot secured on this team next year, if the B’s can bring him back. He will be a restricted free agent on July 1st.

Mark Stuart: B

Stuart was another Bruin who had to battle the injury bug much of the year, between a broken sternum that held him out of action midseason to a finger infection that kept him sidelined until the last three games of the series with Philadelphia, when his play looked, well… rusty, at best. He’s a workhorse though, you can’t deny that. Also a restricted free agent, here’s hoping the B’s can find room under the cap to bring back Stuart.

Dennis Seidenberg: B

His stay was short, but his impact was felt, as Seidenberg’s contributions were pivotal in helping the team earn a playoff spot down the stretch. Boston has already expressed an interest in bringing the 28-year-old back next season, and as he enters the prime of his career, bringing him back wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Matt Hunwick: C+

Hunwick got better as the season went along, which is obviously what you hope for from any young player. His -16 plus/minus was a team worst, but his confidence and his play entering the offensive zone was much improved. He should be an impact player on both sides of the ice next year.

Dennis Wideman: C

A team-leading 12 points in the playoffs saves Wideman from having a much lower grade, but to say that Wideman had an “off-year” shouldn’t shock anyone. He, too, makes a healthy chunk of change, so the B’s ought to see more out of him next year, otherwise he may be sent packing if the B’s can make it happen.

Andrew Ference: C

Somehow, two groin injuries and a lousy start to the season was enough to earn Ference a brand new 3-year contract. I just don’t get it. He was a dreadful -9 plus/minus in the playoffs, but we’ll get three more years of the guy. I can’t like him, I just can’t.

Incomplete: Adam McQuaid, Derek Morris (traded)

GOALTENDERS

Tuukka Rask: A

Leading the league with his 1.97GAA and .931 save pct., Rask had one heck of a rookie season for the Bruins. Earning himself the starting job down the stretch, Tuukka took this team on his shoulders and led them to the promise land. Without his superior play, the Bruins wouldn’t have made the playoffs, no doubt about it. He’s the goalie of the future for this team, and he’s only 23 years old. He’s going to get even better, which is scary.

Tim Thomas: C+

The reigning Vezina Trophy winner had a tough first season on his well-paid four-year contract, losing his starting job to a much younger, much less experienced goaltender. Timmy’s 2.56GAA is still not awful, but it’s not close to the stellar, award-winning numbers of a year ago. He could be packing his bags if the B’s are able to unload his lofty salary on a goalie-needy team.

Tags: Boston Bruins, David Krejci, Marc Savard, Mark Recchi, Patrice Bergeron, Tim Thomas, Tuukka Rask, Zdeno Chara

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