Pre-Season Team Report Card: GDC Bruins (Mike)

Calgary (CP) Our very own GDHL commish, Mike MacCormack is up with his Bruins.

Immediate Needs:
+ 5 F projected for 90+ PPts
+ 3 D projected for 60+ PPts

What They Got:
+ F Daymond Langkow CGY
+ F Ray Whitney CAR
+ F Martin Erat NSH
+ F Glen Murray BOS
+ F Cory Stillman CAR
+ D Francois Beauchemin ANA
+ D Pavel Kubina TAM

Analysis:
For the life of the pool, Mike will live and die via the real-life Bruins. Luckily for him, they have some outstanding players in Savard and Bergeron. One thing about this team that I've pointed out in previous blogs is the lack of superstar power that exists. IMO, Savard and St.Louis (although marginally) fit into that category. His team relies on depth players to do their job every night. If they do that, fine. If not, that's where Mike will dip. Superstars on the other hand have the ability to breakout at anytime and can make up ground fast. This year I feel it will be much of the same for Mike.

Trading Block:
+ F Martin St.Louis TAM
+ F Michael Nylander WAS
+ F Joffrey Lupul PHI

Questions:
+ Will the real Patrice Begeron please stand up?
+ Will Nylander and OV-1 (That is Ovechikin and not a diagram using a DoDAF profile) develop chemistry?
+ Is Eric Johnson the real deal?

Injury Concerns:
+ G Dipietro (Neck)
+ F Stillman (Shoulder)
+ F Nylander (Knee)

Grades:
+ Draft (B): Mike nabbed several forwards that should have no trouble meeting his depth needs.
+ Offence (B): His has only 2 players projected for 110+ PPts, but his 12th best forward should still net ~70 PPts. That is depth.
+ Defence (C-): Will be his weakness as I see many people rotating in and out of the lineup. Needs a No.1 gut steady the ship.
+ Goalies (A): Was never convinced about Dipetro's capabilities until last year. Being combined with Luongo = Mike's goaltending duo for the life of the pool.
+ Overall (B): He'll need a couple of things to fall into place to make another serious run, most notably on D. Make no doubt though that Mike will do what it takes to be there in the end but I believe he will fall short based on the strength of many teams this year.

Fur Engee (CP)