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Bruins: Who Is On Defense?

By Robert Doherty

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Bruins fans in the last decade have gotten used to the idea of having a really good defense and a frustrating offense. The 2015-2016 Bruins did the opposite and reminded us what a suspect defensive core can do to a hockey team.

Oddly enough the 2016-2107 Bruins have four of those guys already signed up from last year, with one waiting in Torey Krug. How does that make sense? I am in favor of Keeping Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg, but Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller both don’t need to be back. Krug, however is a player that I would think the Bruins would want to keep, he is offensive minded , skates well, and can move the puck up the ice.

Jun 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg (44) and Zdeno Chara (33) battle in front of the net with Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Brenden Morrow (10) and center Sidney Crosby (87) during the first period in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg (44) and Zdeno Chara (33) battle in front of the net with Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Brenden Morrow (10) and center Sidney Crosby (87) during the first period in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Can this team that has just missed the playoffs two years in a row afford to bring back the same defense that hasn’t worked?

The answer is no, and that can mean a number of things. One of the four guys under contract will be moved. Both Chara and Seidenberg have no movement clauses so moving one of them is not as easy as it should be. Both McQuaid and MIller have injury history and dont exactly excel in today’s NHL.  It is looking more and more like Krug is the odd man out here.

The Bruins have sort of built up a pile of young players in waiting on the blue line. Joe Morrow, Collin Miller, Zach Trotman all had a sniff at the NHL, add in Rob O’gara, Matt Grezlyck, Jacob Zboril, Brandon Carlo, and Jeremy Lazuon and you have to figure one of those guys can step up to take one spot.

If Krug is the guy that they decide to move on from and upgrade, that is just not enough, They are in need of two or three guys to come in and take this thing over. 5.25 million to have Mcquaid and Miller on this team alone is enough to question what Don Sweeney is doing. Considering the ages of Chara and Seidenberg every penny on defense absolutely counts.

Maybe the answer comes via trade with Krug, picks, or prospects. Maybe it comes from free agency which blocks the younger players from making the jump.  Either way this team in major need of a new top pairing on defense, how confident are you in Don Sweeney to get them?

Next: Why the Bruins Should Not Buy Out Dennis Seidenberg

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