The promise and the possibility

One year ago, the Bruins found themselves somewhere they hadn't been in 10 years -- the second round of the NHL playoffs.

After an epic sweep of the Montreal Canadiens, it seemed the B's were finally started to gain some recognition in a city they once ruled. As the top-seed in the East, maybe it was finally Boston's year. After all, the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots had all won ... why not the Bruins? Fans chanted "We Want the Cup" during every playoff game in the Garden. The Bruins looked fast, strong, tough. A team that could win it all -- but, then something happened. The dream season so many fans had waited for suddenly ended with a Game 7 overtime loss at home. A heartbreak for the lone franchise out. But was it really a missed opportunity?

The slow start for the Bruins was undoubtedly disappointing. The trading of Phil Kessel, recent Vezina winner Tim Thomas' under-performing in net, and just the overall lack of Boston's ability to score was a complete 180 from their dream season just a year ago. It looked like a return to the postseason was deeply in jeopardy.

But here we all are now, on the brink of the second round. And somehow, as a No. 6 seed, the B's finds themselves with home ice advantage once again. Hosing the No. 7 Philadelphia Flyers, Boston is ready to make amends for what they know was a postseason that should have gone further. Fans are ready to believe again. What better time than now?

And despite all their shortcomings during the regular season, I know I still believe. I believe in this team as much as I did at this time last year. The best thing about sports has always been the unpredictability and the possibility. Maybe what's as remarkable is knowing that for all the injuries and unfortunate setbacks the team faced this season, they're still back where they were a year ago. But hopefully, they'll be happier ending this time around.

It's what the Bruins deserves.

Bruins + Fenway = SUCCESS

As if I needed anymore reminder of what is to come in 26 days. I would much rather attend this than an Iowa bowl game. This is once-in-a-lifetime. Whether I find cheap tickets or risk paying $300+ for one remains to be seen. Either way, I am counting down the days until I see my beloved Bruins playing in my beloved Fenway Park.

Welcome Home..

Despite struggling offensively early in the season, the Boston Bruins were able to find their scoring touch. The timing couldn't have been planned any better.

With the return of Phil Kessel to the TD Banknorth Garden for the first time since he was a member of the B's last season, Boston managed to outscore the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-2 en route to the win.

The Bruins looked strong in many facets of the game despite still allowing two goals. As expected, Kessel was booed thoroughly throughout the game and practically every time he touched the puck. There were also the classy taunts of "Kes-sel, Kes-sel" that could be heard all around the arena.

As Kessel said during a postgame interview:

"You hear it, but it didn't get to me. I've got to be better. You figure when you are dealt that's going to happen. It's part of the game."

Interestingly enough, the two teams play again in a re-match on Thursday in Boston. Highlights of the game are below:

Kessels returns to Boston

Well, speaking of the devil (from the previous post), tonight former Bruins first-round pick, Phil Kessel makes his return to Boston as the Bruins hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs at the TD Banknorth Garden.

After holding out for a contract and eventually signing with the Leafs and some recent comments made public by Marc Savard, it'll be interesting to see what type of reaction Kessel receives as he steps onto the ice.

I'll put my money on him getting booed every time the puck touches his stick. If that is the reaction of the Bruins faithful, I wouldn't be surprised. To be honest, I feel as though it's well-deserved. Kessel didn't leave on good terms and it's only gotten worse. Why wouldn't you boo him?

Photo from www.zimbio.com

Kessel hasn't cut all ties with Boston just yet...

When Bruins center Marc Savard signed a 7-year extension, it was a little surprising to me. After all, he is 32-year-old already. However, I trust that GM Peter Chiarelli knows what he is doing and that this will only benefit the B's in the future.

I came across this from WEEI's Graig Woodburn.

You can count ex-Bruin Phil Kessel among those who were disappointed when Bruins center Marc Savard inked a seven-year contract extension this week. Speaking on the Dale & Holley Show on Thursday, Savard said he and Kessel have stayed in touch after his former linemate was traded to Toronto in September, and that he heard from his ex-teammate during his contract negotiations with Boston.

"We've texted a lot," Savard said. "He was obviously one of the guys telling me to wait and not sign."

The 32-year-old admitted that Kessel had a hard time learning some of lessons that Savard experienced upon his arrival in Boston in 2006-07.

"Some things he did reminded me of myself a lot," said Savard. "It's a humbling experience especially when you are young like that, I think he handled it well. He went through some tough times. As Toronto gets better, he'll get better."

I don't see how Phil Kessel isn't public enemy No. 1 in Boston. I really don't. He's just asking for fans in Beantown to turn against him. Although, I could already see that tide turning when he held out signing an offer early in the off-season. Kessel, what are you doing?!

Things to be thankful for...

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving (or Slapsgiving -- for those who know what that references, bonus points).

So last night while making mashed potatoes and attempting my first Thanksgiving dinner away from home with my friend Lacey, I got to thinking about the things I was grateful for -- including growing up in the greatest sports city there is. Here below are my list of things I am thankful for as a Boston sports fan:

1.The return of Patrice Bergeron.
After suffering a devastating concussion in 2007, many people weren't sure if he would ever be the same again. Drafted as a 18-year-old in the 2nd round (45th overall) of the 2003 NHL draft, Bergeron was an early candidate for the Calder Trophy for the league's top rookie. While he lost out to then-teammate and former Bruins goaltender Andrew Raycroft, it's Bergeron who has gotten the last laugh.

At only 24, the Quebec native keeps continuing to impress but it isn't necessarily the numbers he's putting up, but rather the little things he does so well. It wouldn't surprise me if after Zdeno Chara, Bergeron was named the next captain of the B's. In a sense, #37 reminds me a little bit of the great Hall of Famer and former Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman. Hopefully Bergeron's career will have the same longevity.

All I have to say about this clip is "CONCUSS THIS!"



2. Tom Brady being ... well, Tom Brady.
I'll admit it, I'm not the biggest football fan. In fact, football isn't even in my top 3 favorite sports. However, being born and raised in Massachusetts, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the New England Patriots.

I was so happy for them in 2001 when they beat the St. Louis Rams, pissed when they lost Super Bowl XLII to the New ork Giants in 2007, and then shocked when Brady when down within the first few minutes of the first game of the 2008 season. The Pats were New England's pride and joy (well until the Red Sox and Celtics came along later in this decade, but that's another story).

While the Patriots currently sit at 7-3 and on top of the AFL East once again, simply seeing Brady throw those touchdowns to Randy Moss and Wes Welker is a marvelous sight. Unlike last year when good health wasn't with New England, I'm thankful to see a very rejuvenated Tom Brady back on the field.

3.Rasheed Wallace in Celtic green.
The best (and maybe worst) thing about Wallace is that he's the type of player who you hate if he's not on your team but love when he is. During the 2008 playoffs when he was still a member of the Detroit Pistons, he lashed out after Game 5 and was fined $25,000 for these comments:

"All that bullshit-ass calls they had out there. With Mike [Callahan] and Kenny [Mauer] -- you've all seen that shit. You saw them calls. The cats are flopping all over the floor and they're calling that shit. That shit ain't basketball out there. It's all fucking entertainment. You all should know that shit. It's all fucking entertainment."

His usage of profanity and 70s talk is simply awesome, ya dig? But even more great is his passion as a basketball player. To be angry after a loss, to voice your displeasure, to let your teammates know you care -- what else could you ask for? So with that said, I'm glad 'Sheed is a Boston Celtic playing with the "Big Three" rather than against them. He may be 35 but he still has plenty of game left. But if -- for whatever reason -- he doesn't prove to be the player the C's hoped he would be, at least he can still provide some type of entertainment:



4. Boston University hockey winning it all.
Ever since I was in the 8th grade, I've been in love with BU hockey. It all started with my school crush on then-goaltender Sean Fields but regardless, seeing the Terriers and getting into the Bruins at the same thing, one thing was abundantly clear: I was in love with the sport of hockey. For whatever reason, it was always ALWAYS BU hockey -- no other collegiate program ever caught my attention the way theirs did.

Fast forwarding to 2009, BU had an amazing year. After watching rival Boston College win the NCAA championship the previous season, it seemed the Terriers were playing with a chip on their shoulder. They had a dynamic team with Hobey Baker Award winner (hockey's version of the Heisman) Matt Gilroy, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft, Colin Wilson, and freshman sensation goalie Kieran Millan.

All year they had been favored to win it all. However, during the title game, as the top seeded squad they found themselves in a bit of trouble against No. 4 Miami (Ohio). Things were looking grim. It seemed the Terriers were about to be upset. Instead, after scoring two goals in the last minute to tie it up and then scoring in overtime, BU somehow managed to pull it off and win their first NCAA championship since 1995.

This clip may be a little long but I promise you it's very much worth watching all the way through. Easily one of the best hockey games I have ever seen.



5.[In progress:] Theo Epstein, boy genius.
While everyone generally stuffs their face on Thanksgiving, Theo usually does his best work then (cough *Curt Schilling* cough). However, it's asking a lot for him to try to get Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Roy Halladay but who knows? People in Boston believe in Theo and I don't think he'll disappoint.

However, no deal has been set yet. The 32-year-old righty is undoubtedly on the top of a lot of team's list as the No. 1 player to acquire this off-season. So for now, this spot is reserved for Theo if he manages to steal away Halladay from the Blue Jays and the other MLB teams.

(He'll smile once he's in a Boston uniform...)

*Photos from Sports Illustrated, www.MLBdailydish.com and www.photos.upi.com

B's extend winning streak to three!

It seems as though the Boston Bruins are starting to look a little more like their former selves. The B's have strung together their first three-game winning streak of the season. Patrice Bergeron dished four assists, while Milan Lucic, Mark Recchi, Marco Sturm, and Blake Wheeler all scored a goal in the 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The game also marked the return of Marc Savard, who had been out for over a month with a broken left foot.

Highlights of the game below. Also, I highly suggest checking out an impressive save by St. Louis goaltender Steve Mason at the 3:20 mark.

Take Heart Bruins fans...

Boston Globe sports writer Tony Massarotti recently penned quite the article about the Bruins and their chances for a Stanley Cup this season.

Here's the link: http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2009/11/for_bs_story_has_been_penned.html

All isn't lost so early in the season as the Pittsburgh Penguins proved last year. The Pens had a slow start but obviously, went on to win it all. That's something I've always found interesting. It isn't necessarily how you start but how you finish that could be the bigger key in success. Can the Bruins do it? I still have a lot of hope. Will they? That's another story.

This One's For the Girls...

This bit of news was passed along to me by a friend back in Massachusetts.

All I can say is, who says hockey players don't have style? The Improper Bostonian, a bi-weekly publication chose five Boston Bruins hockey players to turn into models for a day. Boy, these guys did NOT disappoint. Here are the photos from the shoot:

Left Winger Marco Strum

Defenseman Dennis Wideman

Center Patrice Bergeron

Center Marc Savard

Defenseman Matt Hunwick

*Photos from The Improper Bostonian

Compulsive gambling + Boston Bruins = Win?

With the trend of Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics scratch tickets popping up around Massachusetts and other New England regions the last few years, it was only a matter of time before the Bruins got their own. Well, ta-da Massachusettes state lottery announced its newest addition today with the B's and their own scratch and win.

To be honest, I don't particularly like gambling. But only because I've seen how it can ruin people first hand. I also think more or less, it's a great waste of money. However, with all that said ... this is awfully tempting. As a borderline broke college student who will have accumulated quite the debt in my last three years going to an out-of-state school such as Iowa, this can't necessarily be the best thing.

But hey, one of the prizes includes season tickets for a decade. Well jeez, how can I pass an opportunity like that?

*Photo from www.hubhockey.com

What could have been with Phil Kessel?

This was my commentary written for my sports writing class earlier today. Since it's not being handed in for a graded assignment, I think it's fair game to post this on my blog:

I can’t get over it. At least not yet.

Much like the fallout in any type of relationship that I have invested myself in, I just cannot get over it. Maybe I sound like the psychotic ex-girlfriend who can’t seem to let go of something that’s no longer in my control, but regardless ... Phil Kessel, you broke my heart.

A month ago, Kessel from traded from my beloved Boston Bruins to division rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Quite simply, it sucked. I hated to see him go. He was young (No. 5 overall pick in 2006), he was good (36 goals, 24 assists last season), and he was a part of a Bruins squad that had shown more promise and heart than I’ve ever seen.

For the first time in a decade, Boston had won a playoff series (sweeping hated rivals Montreal in four) but more importantly, people in Beantown were starting to care again.

The potential for something great was there.

But as soon as the Bruins were shown an exit from the postseason with a heartbreakingly devastating Game 7 overtime loss at home, I knew at that moment, something had to give. After all, doesn’t something always have to give when a season ends?

I don’t blame Boston GM Peter Chiarelli. He had a job to do. To be honest, I find myself blaming the only person I can: Kessel.

Perhaps my bitter feelings are the getting the best of me, but I guess I’ll never fully understand why he chose to leave Boston. He had everything going for him. He could have returned to a team that was on the rise. He could have returned to help win a championship. He could have shown loyalty. But instead, he chose money. Isn’t that always the way of the business?

Chiarelli had a lot to deal with during the off-season including dealing with other young budding stars in 23-year-old center David Krejci and 24-year-old defenseman Matt Hunwick while also attempting to re-sign Vezina (Best Goalie) winning goaltender Tim Thomas.

Thomas was re-signed to a four-year, $20 million deal while Hunwick got a two-year, $2.9 million extension. Securing Krejci with a 3-year, $11.25 million dollar contract the Czech native scored 22 goals and dished 51 assists to finish second in points on the team, Kessel seemed the lone man out.

In hindsight, I wonder if re-signing Krejci first had any effect to how Kessel viewed his contract negotiations. Perhaps the Wisconsin native believed by holding out, he could get a better offer for more money. Instead, he got traded.

Could the Bruins use those two first-round draft picks and a second rounder to their advantage? Absolutely. Could letting Kessel go possibly come back to bite the B's in the ass? Absolutely. Letting him sign a 5-year, $27 million contract is a risky move by Toronto but they heavily believe he is the future. The same way Boston once believed it too.

Maybe in my fairytale world, athletes who get drafted by an organization actually show some devotion for the team that helped get them started. Maybe athletes wouldn’t be driven by money? Maybe athletes wouldn’t ever leave until they wanted to retire? Hell, maybe the Bruins would find a way to finally win the damn Stanley Cup?

Ah, if only fairytales existed.

Two weeks into the NHL season and neither the Bruins or Maple Leafs are having very much success. Boston went 2-3-0 in their five-game homestand while Toronto is an even more unimpressive 0-5-1 to start the season. In fairness to the Bruins, their big problem seems to be defense rather than offense. After having one of the stingiest defenses last season, the B's have done a complete turn around. The team's GAA (goals against average) ranks them 27th in the league while Thomas is 1-2-0 with a 4.01 GAA and .868 save percentage. Very un-Vezina like numbers.

But maybe I need to give it a rest. I'm going to try to give the B's the benefit of the doubt and assume they'll get better as the season goes on. Do they need Kessel? It doesn't appear so. Would it have been nice to have him around? Probably. Will this stop me from wondering what could have been if he had stayed? Not likely.

That won't happen until I learn to just get over it.

*Photo from www.boston.com and www.hockeyheadblog.com

Back in Black

OH HOCKEY, how I have missed you.

Tonight I finally caught my first Boston Bruins game of the season. Sadly, I was unable to watch the season-opener on Versus against the (very talented) Washington Capitals on Thursday night. However, from what friends have told me, it's better I didn't see it.

Coming out to their alternate third jerseys (the black ones debuted last season), Boston played every bit like the team that stood atop the Eastern Conference last season. They were scrappy and hard-working, which showed on the scoreboard. Seven different players scored for the B's in the 7-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in the TD Banknorth Garden. Maybe something boiled inside them as they realized they were facing the same team that eliminated them last season in Game 7 of overtime or maybe they just realized falling into a 0-2 hole to start the season is never fun. Either way, whatever it was, I hope they keep it up for the future.

Here is some postgame reaction from Inside Hockey:

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want...

It took a little while for the news to sink in: Phil Kessel, the newest member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Bruins unloaded their former first round pick to their division rivals for two first-round picks and a second rounder. Toronto ended up signing the 21-year-old winger to a 5-year, $27 million contract -- definitely not the price range the B's were looking at.


Scoping out The Boston Globe, ESPN, and TSN.ca I've seen a lot of different perspectives and opinions on the deal. Some are saying the B's got the shorter end of the stick because they didn't get an actual player in return for their leading goal-scorer while others believe given the situation, Boston did all it could and didn't come out so badly.

Before I get to my opinion on this whole thing, let me say that sometimes I wonder if I'm the right person to discuss trade talks with.

I tend to get more attached to players than most other normally sane sports fans. I don't handle change very well and I hate seeing players leave Boston -- even if it isn't on a good note. With that said, I have mixed feelings. Any time your favorite team trades a player who's only 21, who shows so much potential, who could be the answer to your championship prayers -- it's hard to accept. Especially when you only get draft picks in return. It's a very "Really? THAT'S ALL? Well, what the hell?" type of moment.

On the other hand, Kessel didn't want to be a Bruin. Well, at least not enough to take a pay cut. When an athlete believes their worth is higher than what a team is willing to pay, something's bound to give. And it did. I guess the only thing left to hope for is that Kessel doesn't turn out to be some franchise player who goes on to light up Boston for future years to come. To be honest, there's no way of knowing. He may have scored 36 goals last season (66 in his career) but is he still the same player without Marc Savard (who had 63 assists last season) on his line?

The worst thing about this trade is hearing it compared to departure of former No. 1 overall pick, Joe Thornton.

He was supposed to be answer for the Bruins, the one player who was supposed to spend his entire career in black and gold, the one who would help bring back Lord Stanley's Cup. Five years ago, when he was traded -- it was stunning but I can't say that it was all that surprising. No matter how good a player is, sometimes he just isn't the right guy. Thornton wasn't and I have a feeling Kessel isn't either.

So while Thornton has gone on to have a pretty success career with the San Jose Sharks (who still have also not won a Cup, might I add), the B's steadily began to rebuild their team. But the future arrived a lot quicker than most people thought it would. In five years, the B's went from a team that missed the playoffs for two season to sneaking into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed to finishing on top of the Eastern Conference last season.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is that the world didn't end with Thornton leaving and it won't end with Kessel either. If neither player was happy in Boston, if they didn't fit into the bigger plan, then so be it. The Bruins have already proven they can survive giving up a "franchise player" in hopes of rebuilding for the future. But the best part often seems to be, the future almost always arrives much sooner than expected.

*Photo from The Boston Globe and The Calgary Herald

Breaking News: Kessel to Toronto

Well, TSN's Darren Dreger is reporting that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins have reached an agreement that will send the 21-year-old Phil Kessel up north to become a Maple Leaf.

Read the full story here.

Once more details come out about the trade, I'll be sure to post my analysis of what went down and how things are looking for the B's.

G-l-a-m-o-u-r-o-u-s

As if I didn't need anymore reason to get excited for the start of the hockey season, the Boston Bruins debuted their Winter Classic jerseys this week.


As (my future husband) B's center Patrice Bergeron models, much like in other Winter Classics of the past, the look of the jersey is more vintage. I actually happen to like this look. I think the gold is a good look however I probably would have preferred the dominant color of the jersey to be black. One of the more popular looks for the B's is their new third jersey. It would have been cool to see something like that mixed in with a vintage flare. However, by going back with the yellowish gold it refers to the Bruins early history as the jersey is reminiscient of that time period... SUCCESS.

Either way, I'm sure the Bruins will look great at Fenway Park during the Winter Classic whether they are back in black or gutting it out in gold.

*Photo from www.myfoxboston.com

Update on Kessel...

The Boston Globe is reporting that negotiations between Phil Kessel and the Boston Bruins are officially through.

According to Kessel's agent, Wade Arnott, the 21-year-old's top priority is to start looking at offers from the other 29 teams in the league. Click here for the full story.

"The Bruins, who open their full training camp at the Garden Sunday, have tried to sign Kessel to a deal on par with the three-year, $11.35 million pact signed earlier this summer by 23-year-old pivot David Krejci. However, it has become obvious since July 1, the start of free agency, that Kessel believes he is worth more. He noted to a Globe reporter during last month’s US Olympic orientation camp in suburban Chicago that Krejci’s contract was not relevant to his deal. Kessel also said he would accept a discount to re-sign with the Bruins, for whom he has played all of his three seasons in the league, but it would not be a significant rollback from his asking price (which he has never made public)." -- The Boston Globe

If that's true, I'm really truly disappointed in Kessel's decision. While this doesn't mean he won't be a Bruin this upcoming season (Boston can match whatever offer sheet is given), chances are looking slim. Supposedly, he thinks he should get around $4-5 million a season. As much as I enjoyed what he did for the B's offensively.. he isn't worth that kind of money. Not right now at least.

With the economy in such a decline, it just blows my mind how selfish some athletes can be. But if that's his attitude, if he really believes he is worth $5 million a season, he should go sign with a team who is willing to overpay for him. If I were the GM of another organization, I'd take some notice in how he's handling the situation now. Unless a team is going to lock him up long-term, they can look forward to similar contract disputes in the future as well.

No. 88 -- it was nice knowing you. You were great in your time with Boston so I'll thank you for that. However, I don't wish you any future luck, how can if this is the way things are going to end?

*Photo from The Boston Herald

For Love of the Game

Phil Kessel had a coming out party last season with the Boston Bruins. Only 21 years old, the Wisconsin native showed great maturity on the ice and even had the honor of scoring the first goal of the season for the Black and Gold in a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

Over the course of the 2008-09 season, Kessel led the team with 36 goals accumulating 60 points (with 24 assists for a +23 rating) while helping Boston finish as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite the potential for offensive stardom, the 5th overall pick of the 2006 NHL draft still finds himself without a contract after becoming a restricted free agent this offseason.

The Bruins and General Manager Peter Chiarelli have been put in a tough situation. As The Boston Globe explains:

"As of Oct. 1, payrolls for NHL clubs must not exceed the league-mandated $56.8 million cap. However, prior to Oct. 1, clubs are allowed to exceed the cap by 10 percent, to a limit of $62.48 million.

The Bruins, with some $55 million committed for next season, have tried to convince Kessel to sign a deal that would increase the payroll to around $59 million, forcing Chiarelli to ditch a roster player in the minors or offload salary via trade. But thus far none of Boston's offers has been to Kessel's liking."

With little money left to be offered and rumors swirling that division rival Toronto might be interested in looking to give Kessel an offer sheet, Bruins fans might be considering hitting the panic button.

Perhaps one of the biggest issues in re-signing Kessel is those who worry about his defensive style of play. Some have criticized the Right Winger as "being soft" believing he isn't tough enough to play a more physical style the B's have found recent success in. Other have also labeled Kessel as "selfish" for wanting to sign a bigger contract. Then again, for being the team's leading goal scorer, Kessel only made $850,000 last year. It was obvious he was due for some sort of a raise. However, what he wants (and perhaps deserves) and what the Bruins can offer at this moment just aren't the same.

Ultimately, it seems the former Minnesota Gopher needs to decide for himself which is more important: returning to a Stanley Cup contending team for less money or inking a deal that could provide a big pay day?

Other questions to ponder:
- Will Kessel have a contract signed before his 22nd birthday (Oct. 2)?
- Could he essentially be the key to helping Boston finally bring back Lord Stanley's Cup?
- But more importantly, with all the strides made last season, can the Bruins actually now win WITHOUT him?

*Photo from Sports Illustrated

Jubilant for Julien

[Photo courtesy of the Boston Globe]
The Boston Bruins announced today that head coach Claude Julien has signed a multi-year extension to stay with the organization. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed but with whatever raise Julien most likely received, many Bruins fans will tell you it was probably well deserved. Leading the Bruins to one of the better seasons in recent memory, he compiled a 53-19-10 record (116 pts) while finishing first in the Eastern Conference and leading his club to winning its first playoff series in a decade with a sweep of hated rival Montreal.

This was undoubtedly an excellent move by the organization. Julien was this season's recipient of the Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year) for turning around the Bruins, who had previous barely sneaked into the playoffs as the 8th seed. In his two seasons with Boston, he's accumulated a 94-48-22 in 164 games (.640 winning percentage). With Julien now locked up for the next few years, there's a lot of buzz for the hockey club. For the first time in a long time, Bruins fans no longer need to ponder about the future but can focus on the now.

With the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots each having won a championship at some point during this decade, the B's have been under some pressure. Constantly being looked at as the team that didn't belong with the others because of underachieving success, it would seem as though "the times are a-changing." With Julien at the helm and a majority of core players still under contract, the Bruins may be closer to a Stanley Cup than ever before.