Bill Clement

The Bruins were a big surprise last season as they fought hard down the stretch to gain the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and then in the first round, they took Montreal to seven games before bowing out.

This season, Boston has high expectations. This is a team that can win it all. Here’s why the Bruins could emerge as NHL champions.

Zdeno Chara
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound defenseman is a unique weapon that other teams can’t match. He’s the best shutdown defender in the NHL. When you factor in his size, and the fact the league allows him to use a bigger stick by a few inches, he can cover close to half the width of the ice surface with one step.

Combine how big and strong he is with his fierce competitiveness and his high hockey IQ, and you’ve got one very special player. He’ll never get points for style because given his size he looks awkward on the ice, but there is nobody in the league who can do what he can do defensively.

Offensively, he is an incredible asset on the power play. He knows when to pass the puck, and passes it extremely well. He can launch twine-seeking missiles harder than anybody.

He hits hard, and his tattoo parlor is always open for business. If an opponent gets caught in a corner with Chara coming at him, that opponent ought to start praying he’s still in one piece after the hit from Chara.

Claude Julien
The Bruins’ coach knows how to teach defensive hockey, and Boston is a terrific defensive team. But this season the Bruins have become a much better offensive team.

Julien has encouraged his players to forecheck much harder than they did last season. They also are shooting more, and coming up with more second chances. Boston’s defensemen are joining the rush way more than they did last season.

Julien is really helped by assistant coach Craig Ramsay, who has one of the brightest hockey minds in the sport. Another of Julien’s assistant coaches, Doug Houda, has done a tremendous job with the team’s defensemen. The coaching staff makes a conscious effort to balance out the ice time among the team’s players.

Team Defense
The Bruins’ defense ranks first in the league by a sizeable margin. Unless Boston implodes the rest of the way, it will finish on top in the NHL in goals against average.

The Boston goalies, Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez, should win the Jennings Trophy for the best goals against average in the league. But it’s not just the defensemen and the goalies that deserve credit for the Bruins’ suffocating defense — it’s the forwards as well.

Team Offense
The Bruins are ranked No. 1 on offense in the Eastern Conference, and No. 2 overall in the league (behind the Red Wings). Last year, Boston was ranked No. 24 offensively in the NHL.

The difference is clear to see. This season instead of taking one scoring chance and retreating, the Bruins have more people closer to the net to pick up second opportunities to score off rebounds.

They are shooting more, and they have their defensemen joining the rush. Instead of having their collective foot on the brake most of the time like last season, they have it on the accelerator.

Development of younger players
Center Phil Kessel leads the team in goals, and he can terrorize opponents with his speed, and his moves. He’s the type of player who thrives in the spotlight. He likes the big stage.

On the Bruins’ second line, the emergence of center David Krejci is notable. Krejci has a very high hockey IQ, is an excellent passer, and he competes extremely hard.

Defenseman Dennis Wideman is extremely productive in getting goals from the blue line. He’s got deceptive toughness and skill.

Winger Milan Lucic has battled injuries, but there’s no question he is a rising star, who someday should elevate to be Boston’s captain. His competitive level and leadership are off the charts.

Another winger, Blake Wheeler, is 6-foot-5, 214 pounds, and is reliable defensively, and getting better with each game he plays.

Marc Savard
The veteran center is a huge reason why Boston has such an effective power play. In his 11th season in the league, he is still one of the most underrated and gifted setup men in the NHL. He’s an unbelievable passer.

Being undersized (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) hasn’t prevented Savard from becoming a slick playmaker, who boasts gifted hands, and solid offensive instincts. He can be a magician with the puck. He can see the big play, and make the big play.

After over a decade in the NHL, last season was Savard’s first in the playoffs. He is beyond motivated to win a Stanley Cup.