The Bruins Defensive Preview - The Low-Talent, No-Time D-men

Three members of the Bruins defensive roster are expected to see very little, if any, pro ice time this year. For one, that will be a change. For the others, it is their lot in life.

Cory Cross and Chris Therien, both in the final years of their contracts, have been in this boat before. Repeatedly.

Cross saw action in only two games, during the mid-year stretch, when the Bruins defense was in tatters. Sean Brown was suspended for a bogus mugging penalty, Jackman and Kaberle were injured, and Matt Walker was... well, Matt Walker. Cross filled in as the last defensive option for the team, and managed to not screw it up, holding the plus-minus even for his time on the ice and accumulating no penalty minutes.

Chris Therien, on the other hand, took to the ice early in the season as a late-line defenseman. When the team was off to its putrid start, though, some options were worked on and Therien found himself shuffled back to the farm system. In ten games with Boston, he scored no goals, but had two assists in a -4 rating.

Both men will find themselves in the farm, providing experience and leadership support for the other farmers as they develop their skill sets.

Bret Hedican, on the third hand, played in all eighty-two games for the Bruins last year, scoring five goals and notching twenty assists. On a team with a negative goal differential, he managed to finish +3, and notched only eight penalty minutes.

But time, it appears has not been kind to Bret Hedican. As he heads into a new season, he has reported to early camp in what appears to be weaker shape due to lost muscle mass. His endurance did not appear strong in the preiminary treadmill testing, and when told of his lackluster standings in the training testing, the intensity of pride did not spark in his eyes. His stickwork, furthermore, was sloppy, as he was skipping passes all over the ice and had the worst lost puck margin (gaveaways, if you would) of all defensive players but Cory Cross.

While NBC5 sportsreporter Kimmi Woodza was discussing a feature on prospect Andrej Meszaros, she spoke with Hedican, who was left reaching for a breath. She asked how he was feeling, and Hedican merely grunted. "It's a young man's game," he said between gasps. "I wonder sometimes if it is worth it nowadays."

It will be a definite role change for Hedican, but he, too, is expected to spend most of the year with the farm club. His experience and leadership, though, should serve well in developing the players, and it is hoped by management that someone like Pierre-Luc Edmond, Andreas Lindstrom, or Rick Kozack can pick up defensive skills from him while playing with the farm club.

The Bruins hope, though, that Hedican maintain himself while there. His defensive skills could come in handy versus a powerhouse club where the needs may shift, or if any of the new faces should falter.

Projections -
Cory Cross; 0 games, 0-0-0
Chris Therien; 0 games, 0-0-0
Bret Hedican; 0 games, 0-0-0