As a young team that is a few short pieces away from being a serious contender for the Stanley Cup, the Boston Bruins were not a favorite to break in several rookies for prominent jobs with the big club.  There were a couple of players that the Bruins had thought at the start of training camp may be poised to develop into regulars, but the Spoked B’s brain trust would be ultimately surprised with the players that made the most impact.

Patrice Bergeron

Age: 18
Date of birth: July 24, 1985
Place of Birth: Ancienne-Lorette, PQ, Canada
HT: 6-0 WT: 186
Shoots: R
Drafted by Boston in 2003 (2^nd round/45^th overall).

When the 2003-04 training camp began, the Boston Bruins did not have an established No. 2 center.  When they drafted Patrice Bergeron at 45^th overall, the Director of Amateur Scouting Scott Bradley and Bruins scout Daniel Dore were thrilled to have the 6’0”, 185 lb center drop down that far.  Bergeron has a great blend of soft hands, great vision, excellent hockey sense and a defensive conscience that is uncommon in players his age.  The early assessments compared Bergeron to a young Adam Oates, which is no small comparison. 

Bergeron made the Boston Bruins right out of training camp playing his first game on October 8^th against New Jersey at the Fleet Center in Boston.  He scored his first point on October 15^th on the road against the Dallas Stars assisting on Brian Rolston’s game winning goal in a 2-0 win. He recorded his first NHL goal on October 18^th on the road in Los Angeles against the Kings with Brian Rolston returning the favor assisting on the power play marker along with Sergei Samsonov.  Bergeron was named to the NHL Youngstars game picking up one assist. 

One of the most consistent NHL rookies throughout the year, Bergeron was considered as a Calder Trophy finalist losing out to Trent Hunter (NYI), Michael Ryder (MTL) and teammate Andrew Raycroft (BOS).  Bergeron rankings for the regular season were as follows:  Goals (T-5^th), assists (4^th), points (5^th), plus/minus (15^th).   Bergeron has become a solid NHL player in his first season of action.  He has all the potential to be a star in the league for years to come.

Andrew Raycroft

Age: 23
Date of birth: May 4, 1980
Place of Birth: Belleville, ON, Canada
HT: 6’0 WT: 180
Catches: L
Drafted by Boston in 1998 (5^th round/135^th overall).

On September 3, 2003 the Boston Bruins signed Felix Potvin and at the time many pundits thought it was to provide clarity to the goaltending position in Beantown.  At 2003 training camp, goaltending prospect Hannu Toivonen was dispatched to Providence to hone his skills in the American Hockey League.  Steve Shields was sent to the Florida Panthers for future considerations.  This left Potvin and highly touted prospect Andrew Raycroft to compete for the starting position.  It was an enviable position to be in having either a highly talented rookie between the pipes or a solid veteran as the alternate choice.  Although Raycroft had 21 NHL games under his belt prior to the 2003-04 season, this was the perfect opportunity for him to entrench himself as the Bruins goalie of the future. 

The season started with both goaltenders getting a reasonably equal share of starts until November when Raycroft strung together four consecutive victories from November 8-20^th.  This coupled with four less than spectacular starts by Potvin from November 19 - December 4 when he gave up a total of 18 goals was all it took for Raycroft to firmly take over the starting position.  He recorded his first NHL shutout turning away 27 shots in a 2-0 victory against the Dallas Stars on October 15, 2003.  Raycroft continued to put together a fine season, leading the Bruins to a second overall finish in the NHL and a second overall ranking in goals against. 

There was no competition for Raycroft among rookie goaltenders this year statistically as his statistics proved to be among the best of all NHL goaltenders.  Raycroft ranked tenth in wins (29), sixth in goals against average (2.05), and fifth in save percentage (.926).  Although his season was cut a little shorter than the Bruins would have liked, losing out to Montreal in seven games in the first round, Raycroft’s excellent season garnered him a Calder Trophy finalist nomination as the league’s top rookie.  Raycroft is no longer a prospect and now the Bruins incumbent starting goalie.

Carl Corazzini

Age: 25
Date of birth: April 21, 1979
Place of Birth: Framingham, MA, USA
HT: 5’10 WT: 182
Shoots: R
Signed as a Free agent in 2001.

After being signed as a free agent by Boston in 2001 after a solid career at Boston University in the NCAA, Corazzini has split time between the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League and the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the ECHL.  On January 14, 2004 Corazzini was recalled from Providence because of his fine early season.  Known as one of the faster skaters in the American Hockey League, Corazzini provided an added energy to the Bruins with his high intensity game.  Corazzini scored his first NHL goal and point on January 20, 2004 against the New York Rangers with a short-handed marker.  He continued his 12-game NHL stint until February 18, 2004 when he was reassigned to Providence.  If Corazzini can continue to solidify his defensive game, he could evolve into a fourth line energy/penalty killing type of player. 

Sergei Zinovjev

Age: 24
Date of birth: March 4, 1980
Place of Birth: Novokuznetsk, USSR
HT: 5-10 WT: 185
Shoots: L
Drafted by Boston in 2000 (3^rd round/73^rd overall).

Sergei Zinovjev has been an enigma since being drafted as a 20-year-old in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.  After completing several successful seasons in the Russian Super League with Spartak Moscow and Aks Bar Kazan, the Boston Bruins finally inked the smallish skilled center to a two-year deal.  A more challenging situation coming into camp than most prospects, Zinovjev showed up two weeks late after a paperwork problem coming over from Russia.  This coupled with a sore groin had Zinovjev sent down to Providence to get into NHL game shape.  There was some concern that Zinovjev would exercise an option to return to Russia if sent to the minors.  After deciding to accept the demotion, Zinovjev played well in a four-game stint in the AHL earning a promotion back to the big club. 

He played his first NHL game on October 25, 2003 at the New Jersey Devils, starting on the fourth line with Sandy McCarthy and Michal Grosek, but soon after promoted to the second line with Sergei Samsonov and Martin Lapointe.  Zinovjev played well, scoring his first NHL point with an assist on Sergei Samsonov’s third period goal.  The next four games Zinovjev had solid but unspectacular outings becoming a healthy scratch for the next six games.  He was skilled enough to continue playing but his decisions with the puck had yet to evolve to the NHL level.  He did return to the line-up for five more games but at a severely reduced amount of ice time. 

Zinovjev was demoted on December 6, 2003 and exercised his option to return to Russia on December 17, 2003.  He played the final 27 games in the Ak Bars Kazan season.  His whirlwind season did not end there.  He was named to the 2004 Russian World Championship squad only to be sent home by the Russian team after an independently administered drug test turned up positive for marijuana.  There was some question whether the situation was legitimate or the issues were more related to Zinovjev’s relationship to the Russian Team’s management.  There is still hope in the Bruins organization for a return to the NHL in the future.

Patrick Leahy

Age: 24
Date of birth: June 9, 1979
Place of Birth: Brighton, MA, USA
HT: 6-3 WT: 208
Shoots: R
Signed as a free agent by Boston in 2002.

Patrick Leahy is another of the Boston Bruins free agent signees who has been developing in the American Hockey League for the last couple of years.  Leahy was recalled from Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League to fill the spot vacated by Sergei Zinovjev.  After two solid offensive seasons in the minors, he was primed for the opportunity and with the Providence Bruins having injuries to several high profile prospects including Andy Hilbert, Matt Herr and Kris Vernarsky, Leahy was the logical next choice.  Leahy made his NHL debut on December 6, 2003 against the Philadelphia Flyers.  In six games as a Bruin, Leahy did not make any significant impact averaging less than six minutes of ice time per game on the fourth line.  Leahy is still down somewhat on the Bruins depth chart and will attempt to earn a fourth line roster position at the 2004-05 training camp. 

Martin Samuelsson

Age: 22
Date of birth: January 25, 1982
Place of Birth: Upplands Vasby, Sweden
HT: 6-2 WT: 200
Shoots: L
Drafted by Boston in 2000 (1^st round/27^th overall)

Martin Samuelsson has many of the qualities that you would want in an NHL prospect.  He has size, work ethic and very good skating ability.  It was anticipated that Sergei Zinovjev would make the big club out of training camp, but with Zinovjev’s early season reassignment to Providence of the American Hockey League, Samuelsson began the season in the NHL.  Samuelsson started the season as the fourth line right winger and didn’t impact at all over three games early in the season.  The recall of Sergei Zinovjev ended Samuelsson’s early season opportunity with the Bruins and he was reassigned to Providence.  Samuelsson received two other call-ups in January due to injury.  Samuelsson has not been able to translate his skills into an offensive threat in the NHL.  He may have to adapt his game to a bottom six forward to be able to become a full time NHL player.

Kris Vernarsky

Age: 22
Date of birth: April 5, 1982
Place of Birth: Detroit, MI, USA
HT: 6-3 WT: 207
Shoots: L
Acquired in 2002 in exchange for Ric Jackman

Kris Vernarsky is a player that the Bruins had pegged for one or two more seasons in Providence of the American Hockey League.  In his young career, Vernarsky has been labelled as a two-way forward, but many wonder if he has an offensive upside.  He received a three-game call-up in January 2004 to replace Travis Green who was lost to injury.  Vernarsky did not make any significant impact in any of the games that he played this season averaging over six minutes a game as the fourth line center.  He will have to continue to develop his game in the American Hockey League to become a regular in the NHL.

Zdenek Kutlak

Age: 24
Date of birth: February 13, 1980
Place of Birth: Budejovice, Czech
HT: 6-3 WT: 222
Shoots: L
Drafted by Boston in 2000 (8^th round/237^th overall)

Zdenek Kutlak was qualified this past offseason to provide depth on the Bruins blue line.  In this his fourth year in the Bruins organization, Kutlak had to quickly impress management to convince them that he would fit into their long term plans.  After only fitting in for a couple of games and being a healthy scratch for significant stretches, it appears that time is running out for Kutlak in the organization.  With labor uncertainty, Kutlak signed a contract on May 16, 2004 with HC Karlovy Vary of the Czech Extraleague.  There has been no word on whether Kutlak would return to North America if a new collective bargaining agreement were reached in the NHL.

Colton Orr

Age: 22
Date of birth: March 3, 1982
Place of Birth: Winnipeg, Man., Canada
HT: 6-3 WT: 215
Shoots: R
Signed as a free agent by Boston in 2001

Colton Orr is a big physical center that is sought more for his pugilistic skills than his on ice skills.  He was called up for one game this season to replace the Bruins other tough guy Doug Doull who was out with the flu on January 8 versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Orr did not reach the score sheet either in a scoring capacity or on the penalty sheet.  He was unimpressive in his NHL debut looking quite lost on the ice in limited action.  He was reassigned to Providence of the American Hockey League upon Doull’s return the following day.  Orr may have a future as an NHL tough guy if he improves his overall hockey skills.

The Boston Bruins have spent many years developing prospects and have solid depth in most positions in their prospect cupboard.  This year’s rookie crop lead by Patrice Bergeron and Andrew Raycroft shows the Bruins have a talent for recognizing and developing their young talent.  With two Calder Trophy contenders on this season’s roster, it’s not a stretch at all to say that the Bruins had the finest rookie crop in the NHL.