Admitting it is the first Step

I was born in late October of 1974. My father was a life long hockey fan, and is the man that first turned me on to the game. I remember watching games on Saturday afternoon with him; in fact, I can still hear Fred Cusik, saying, Live, from Le Colisee in Quebec! It’s the Bruins and Nordiques next, on WSBK!

My memories are of Pete Peters, Cam Neely, and Randy Burridge. All the great battles they had when the Montreal rivalry meant something, and the wars they had with Quebec and Hartford. Is it just me and Taz, or did these guys have a zillion fights on Saturday afternoon? It was what Bruins fans loved, a Saturday afternoon game. Chances are excellent that I sat with my father as he fed me, or laid on the floor while the likes of Sanderson, Orr, and the end of the Big Bad Bruins played in the background. The point I am making is I have been a Bruins fan for almost 33 years, and what I am about to say is very, very hard. I can finally admit it out loud. The Bruins don’t want to be good.

Seriously. I LOVE the Shawn Thornton signing. I really do. He is a big tough sonofabitch, and for those of you that have never seen this kid play, I assure you, you’ll love him. A guy that really enjoys the role of enforcer, and I think could be the next PJ Stock from a fan perspective. He’s huge, and addressed a huge issue. Toughness. Done. Check.

Now, what is the other issues facing the Black and Gold? They can’t stop pucks. The jury is out on the Manny Fernandez deal. I don’t have any problem with what they gave up for him. A 4th rounder and a decent prospect aren’t bad if it pans out. However, he had his chance to take the reigns when Rollie the goalie was deemed expendable, and it didn’t exactly work out in Minny’s favor. Granted the guy was hurt, but he’s also 32, and may be in the twilight of his career. We got a guy like that already, his name is Tim Thomas. What does this do for the log jam in goal now? I heard Glenn Murray and Toivonen to Edmonton, but haven’t heard more on that. Personally, I think trading Toivonen is a mistake. I really think he’s a very good goalie, and once he’s 100% healed, and playing with confidence (which he should be this fall) he’ll surprise some naysayer’s around here. If I am wrong, which often happens, I will apologize.

The Bruins also can’t score any goals. This is a team that needs offense like I need a life coach. Why not, with six million dollars under the cap, go for Chris Drury. Daniel Briere would look good in a Bruins uniform, hell; even Scott Gomez would have been good. Drury is from New England for Christ sake. He may have wanted to play here. I am making my own point. They all want to go where it appears the organization is at least trying to try.

So, the big name forwards are all signed. Maybe it’d be a good time to go after Billy Guerin again, or Mike Comrie? Nope. These guys are standing pat with Shawn Thornton, and Manny Fernandez.

Another big hole for Boston is the defense. They have some glaring weakness there, and I’m not just talking about the big cone signing from last year. I think they have some very good prospects on the blue line, and signing Alberts was a good move. What isn’t a good move is not sending hookers, and guns and fire trucks to Sheldon Souray as incentive to get him to sign here. Could you imagine a Power Play unit with him and Chara on the point? Souray is an offensive defenseman with a cannon for a shot. He is also very tough and can fight. In my opinion, he’s been the best available free agent all along, and if the Bruins were interested in being a good team, they would have gone to his door with a hooker, a case of Molson, and six million dollars, and begged him to sign. Instead it looks like he will be an Islander.

Alas, the Bruins don’t want to be good. There is no way they can be this poorly managed. The directive to do nothing must be coming from somewhere. It has to be Jeremy Jacobs right? I mean seriously? Is there another logical explanation for why a team like Boston that needs to make improvements to be good, and has the money to do so would stand by and watch as the teams around them (some in their own division mind you) load up for bear? I really am at a crossroads here. Being a life long Bruins fan, this is hard to watch. It’s hard to comprehend how a team that used to be so vibrant in this City, is now less relevant than most of the college hockey teams in town.