This morning, I posted my 2011-12 Bruins Season Preview Part 1, which was sort of a big picture look at the season and some expectations I have for the defending Stanley Cup Champions. In part 2, I will address some of the specific questions facing the B's, as well as make some predictions for the upcoming season.
* Tonight the Bruins will raise the Stanley Cup Banner to the rafters of the TD Garden and it should be an emotional evening to say the least. However, once that banner is raised, it is time for the B's to focus on the task at hand or as Claude Julian said, "cut the cord" on last season. The Bruins will face the new look Philadelphia Flyers who will try to avenge last year's embarrassing sweep in the playoffs, which led them to blow up their nucleus of players. They will be a legit contender this year with goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and are not a team to take lightly.
* Everyone seems to be looking towards Tyler Seguin and Tuukka Rask as players to watch and for good reason. Seguin should hopefully improve on last year's campaign and will start off on the third line with Benoit Pouliot and Jordan Caron. Luckily for Seguin, he still doesn't have to be THE guy for the B's, unlike most high draft picks. I still want to see him on the second line but I'll save that for NHL '12 on the Xbox. In regards to Rask, Julien has already said that he will be splitting time with Thomas this year and it's important for Tuukka to step up and play at a high level when given the opportunity. In a few years, this will be his team and it's time for him to be in more games.
* All I know is that Rene Rancourt had better fucking sing the National Anthem tonight. I was disgusted when Steven Tyler sang it last year for Opening Night and will be even more so if Rene doesn't get the call. There is nothing more pink hatty than rolling out a celebrity to sing the anthem in lieu of the guy who has been doing it since before I was born. Plus, Gene's fistpump is the shit.
* Speaking of the pink hats, I can tolerate them at Gillette or at Celtics games. But one place I will not tolerate pink hats is at the Garden. No Sweet Caroline, no bidding on TD Garden bricks, none of that crap. On one hand, hockey is such a niche sport that unless you're somewhat of a fan already, there shouldn't be an influx of fairweather fans. On the other hand, the Jacobs' still own the team and we have seen in the past that they will do whatever it takes to make a buck. You can still fill the seats with diehards and not sacrifice the integrity of the fan base. Bottom line is that if you don't know who Adam Oates is, you're a pink hat. Follow the team, cheer for them but don't tell me about how you've always been a hockey fan (i.e. Bill Simmons, pictured above during the Finals)
* The Bruins start the season with 13 out of their first 17 games at home. Knowing this, it is imperative that they get off to a good start. The last thing that this team needs is to stumble out of the gate like the Red Sox did (2-10 in April). Take advantage of the early home-ice advantage and get yourself in a good position early on in the Eastern Conference.
* As I wrote earlier, the defensive pairing of Seidenberg and Chara in the playoffs was a revelation and hopefully Julien will use that pairing more often than not. However he may break that pairing up to create more balanced lines down the stretch. Still you gotta think that few teams are looking forward to seeing two of the most skilled and physical defensemen in the league on one line.
* Everyone knows how bad the Bruins' PP unit was last year, and if you don't, welcome to the bandwagon. Joe Corvo will be the new "puck moving defenseman" for the B's and will hopefully give the Bruins an advantage with a man up. The PP unit was actually decent during the preseason so it will be interesting to see how the changes will look going forward.
* When the dust settles, I expect the Bruins to finish in the top 3 in the Eastern Conference and will certainly contend for another Cup come next spring.
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