Bruins are Making Another Key Mistake

The Boston Bruins Are Headed Down A Familiar, Frustrating Path.

Don Sweeney and the Bruins look like they are about to make the same mistake that they made last season: taking a group of young defensemen and hoping one of them steps up and sticks.

Last season it was between Zach Trotman, Colin MIller, and Joe Morrow

Not sure that exactly worked out for them.

Sep 28, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Colin Miller (48) shoots the puck on goal during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Of those three guys Miller has the highest ceiling and it seemed as if he had the shortest leash at times. A dynamic offensive defenseman who needs time to grow and learn how to play in his own end doesn’t mix well with Claude Julien. One calendar year later hopefully Miller has improved defensively and he can slide right in and be a regular in the top six.

As of right now the Bruins have done absolutely nothing to improve the blue line for the 2016-2017 season. Buying out Dennis Seidenberg opened up a spot in the top six and nobody from outside of the organization has been acquired to fill that spot. So, does that mean Don is going to try the same thing over again?

If the Bruins had a good top four already in place that could work out fine, but they desperately need consistent solid play from more guys. The best possible scenario for Sweeney is that either MIller or Morrow have made huge improvements and they give him no doubt that they can handle the load. Plan b would have to be that one of the younger guys in the system with no NHL experience has a great camp and not only wins a job but keeps that job.

One difference this year would have to be the bigger and according to many a better pool of prospects that could win a job.

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Charles McAvoy poses for a photo after being selected as the number fourteen overall draft pick by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

The group of defensemen that will be attending development camp on July 12th include: Brandon Carlo, Cameron Clarke, Matt Grzelcyk, Emil Johansson, Jeremy Lauzon, Ryan Lindgren, Charlie McAvoy, Wiley Sherman, Jakub Zboril.

It is not an ideal situation to be in especially after seeing it fail drastically last season, and a shocking roll of the dice. After the way the defense played and looked last year it was almost a guarantee that Sweeney would either improve the defense or do something different, so far he has done neither.

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