Every hockey fan has an “All-Time Team” associated with his or her organization of choice. If you spend enough time watching a team play, you start to have favorites. So I figured, as the 2009-10 season begins, I would take some time to compile the “All-Board and Blades Bruins” squad.
A few points of order:
1.) The team consists of players who played for the Bruins from the 1981-80 season through those who were on the 2008-09 team. This covers season in which I have been alive. My research on years 81-84 is spotty since I was focused a bit more on trivial things like learning to talk, walk, eat and go the bathroom. From 1985 on, I am going based on what I saw with my own eyes. Yes, I was scouting when I was 4. Ask my dad.
2.) In order to be considered, a player had to play a significant portion of his prime for Boston. Thus, players like Paul Coffey, Brian Leetch, Sergei Gonchar and Mark Recchi aren’t included on the list. All are great players, but they either played for the Bs too late or for too short a time period to be included. Kind of made including players like Wayne Cashman and Stan Jonathan a dilemma. At the end of the day, Cash got consideration because he won two Cups. Jonathan was in the mix because I don’t want him finding me and pummeling me.
3.) This is not an All-Star team. I am looking to construct a team that I would put on the ice if such magical occurrences were possible. So, there will be a checking/energy line. Basically, there is a chance P.J. Axelsson could be on my team. You have been warned.
4.) I am going with positions as they are listed on BostonBruins.com. They have a real neat feature where they list the rosters of each season. So there is no flipping wings to make room for someone. This showed me that the Bruins have been against having really good left wings on their last 28 teams.
5.) We are rolling four lines, three sets of defencemen and two goalies. There is a taxi squad of two forwards, one D and a goalie. Always need solid depth in games between hypothetical dream teams.
First Line: (LW-C-RW)
Charlie Simmer (1984-87) – Joe Thornton (1997-2005) – Cam Neely (1986-96)
Second Line:
Sergei Samsonov (1997-2006) – Adam Oates (1991-97) – Rick Middleton (1977-88)
Third Line:
P.J. Axelsson (1997-2009) – Patrice Bergeron (2003-Present) – Brian Rolston (2000-04)
Fourth Line:
Randy Burridge (1985-91) – Ken Linseman (1984-90) – Keith Crowder (1980-89)
Ray Bourque – Don Sweeney
Zdeno Chara – Glen Wesley
Brad Park – Aaron Ward
boardsandblades
Love that you put Aaron Ward on there. I loved Ward for his tenacity and ability to ham it up on the radio.