The Boston Bruins were bound to prove nothing in their Thursday night bout with former ally Johnny Boychuk and the New York Islanders.
If anything, their 3-2 loss (official box score here) splashed a dewdrop of vinegar on the gash they opened with a trade that looked lopsided from the start.
Boychuk's presence at the TD Garden in opposing attire coincided with a shortcoming that dropped the Bruins back below .500 at 4-5-0 on the year. With essentially one-ninth of the regular season over, that serves to bring short-term and long-term doubts surrounding his old employer's 2014-15 campaign back to the forefront.
For the sake of formalities, here is a rapid review of what spawned this storyline.
Less than three weeks ago, and four days before their regular-season opener, the Bruins dealt Boychuk for either two or three draft picks. They now have the rights to an extra second-round choice in both 2015 and 2016 and, depending on how the Isles handle Boychuk’s services, a third-rounder next June.
Beyond financial flexibility, and still n ...
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Article written by Al Daniel