A few days ago I covered the five unappreciated Montreal Canadiens players of the 2012-2013 season. Being a fan of both the Canadiens and the Bruins (yes, you read that correctly) I like to keep these two teams equal. So, I have decided to do the same by discussing four Boston Bruins players, who in my opinion will be the key players to help their team next season.
The focus on these four players will be how well they performed throughout their careers, but especially in the 2012-2013 shortened season and playoffs. The focus will then move to forecasting how they will play in the 2013-2014 season.
Matt Bartkowski is a 25-year old player who currently plays for the Boston Bruins. The defenceman was drafted in the 7th round, 190th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers. In 2010-2011 he was sent to the Boston Bruins along with Dennis Seidenberg in exchange for Byron Bitz and Craig Weller along with a second round draft pick. For most of the 2010-2011 season he played for the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League. He played 69 games for Providence, scoring five goals and 18 assists. He also played six games for the Boston Bruins that season but was held point-less. In the 2011-2012 season, Bartkowski played 50 games for the Providence Bruins scoring three goals and assisting on 19. He only played three NHL games that season, and was held without a tally. Finally, in the 2012-2013 season Bartkowski played 11 games in the NHL, assisting on two goals in the regular season and in the playoffs, scoring one goal and assisting on another.
For the next season, Bartkowski was close to being sent to the Calgary Flames in the Jarome Iginla deal, but when Iginla had a change of heart, Bartkowski remained a Bruin and signed a one-year contract with the club. This upcoming season you could possibly see Bartkowski playing a lot more in the NHL to replace defenceman Andrew Ference. With that being said, his passing skills and speed will help get him a lot more assists and possibly a few goals. He did well in the playoffs under pressure, so with more experience only time and practice will determine how well he does. If he plays well, he will have a chance of getting an extended contract. If he does not play well he probably will get traded.
Torey Krug is one of the newer members of the Boston Bruins. Krug is 22 years old defenceman from Michigan. Krug is an undrafted player who played NCAA hockey with the Michigan State Spartans as well as the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League. He helped his team to their first ever Clark Cup and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker award.
In 2012, Krug was signed to an entry level contract by the Boston Bruins and made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played two games with the Bruins where he averaged 18 minutes of ice time per game and recorded one assist. His 2012-2013 season was spent in Providence, playing 63 games, scoring 13 times and having 32 assists. He only played one regular season game for the Boston Bruins that season, in which he recorded one assist. In the playoffs he got called up to replace some injured players and played 15 games, scoring four goals and two assists. He is the first rookie defenceman in the history of the NHL to score four goals in his first five playoff games.
The playoffs started this youngster’s career. Now with key players gone and him helping his team in the playoffs by scoring, he will be one to watch out for in the coming seasons. His speed, passing and shooting skills are all to watch out for. I believe he can be a top scorer and have the most points in the upcoming season for the Bruins. Every time he is on the ice he gives 110%, and it shows on every shift.
Dougie Hamilton is a 20-year old Canadian born hockey player from Toronto. In 2011, Dougie Hamilton was selected ninth in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. His parents were Olympians (rowing and basketball) for Team Canada in the 1984 Olympics and his brother, Freddie Hamilton, was a 2010 draft pick for the San Jose Sharks. In 2011 the defenseman signed a three-year entry level contract with the Bruins. In 2013 he made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers and two games later scored his first NHL point – an assist in an overtime win. Less than a month later he scored his first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres. He played 42 NHL games in the 2012-2013 season, scoring a total of five goals and 11 assists. Hamilton also made his playoff debut last season after Andrew Ference got a one-game suspension for an illegal hit against Mikhail Grabovski of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played a total of seven playoff games, not scoring any goals but recording three assists.
Hamilton is still a very young player who is maturing and will learn from his mistakes. This season I think Hamilton will be a key player to watch out for. He is known for racking up points by assisting and even scoring. I think fans will note his speed, sportsmanship and his ability to help other players score.
Adam McQuaid is a 26-year old player from Prince Edward Island. The defenceman was selected in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a second round, 55th overall pick. In the off-season, McQuaid was traded to the Boston Bruins where they immediately signed him to a three-year entry level contract. McQuaid also played for the Providence Bruins. In the 2009-2010 season McQuaid played 19 NHL games, and in those games he scored one goal. The 2010-2011 season saw McQuaid play permanently in the NHL, playing 67 games, scoring three times and eight assists. That year he also helped his team win their first Stanley Cup in over 30 years. That summer he was given a three-year extension, extending to the 2013-2014 season. In 2011-2012 he played 72 games, scoring twice and assisting eight times while in the 2012-2013 shortened season he 32 games, scoring once and assisting three times.
In the upcoming season, expect McQuaid to come out strong. He had an injury last season that kept him sidelined, but he will be back ready to fight and score some goals. Against other players he is a bully causing fights, but he seems to know when the right time to fight is. I think he will be a high goal scorer this season and will help his team to many wins. I also believe that the Bruins will extend his contract for the upcoming seasons especially if he plays as well as he normally does.
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