As the final horn was sounded on the 20050-2006 NHL season, it saw the Boston Bruins sitting outside of the playoff picture having only compiled 74pts. Change was necessary, fans had become unaccepting of the mediocrity they were force fed and it showed via empty seats. That change came in the form of Peter Chiarelli, a former player’s agent who had, prior to his appointment as General Manager of the Bruins worked as the Assistant GM in Ottawa for two years and a shift in attitude, commitment and vision had begun.

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Halifax - August 23, 2013 - As the final horn was sounded on the 20050-2006 NHL season, it saw the Boston Bruins sitting outside of the playoff picture having only compiled 74pts. Change was necessary, fans had become unaccepting of the mediocrity they were force fed and it showed via empty seats.

That change came in the form of Peter Chiarelli, a former player’s agent who had, prior to his appointment as General Manager of the Bruins worked as the Assistant GM in Ottawa for two years and a shift in attitude, commitment and vision had begun. Some have whispered it may have begun in a hush hush manner when Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard both signed on as UFA`s while Jeff Gorton was still in the GM position of the Bruins. Although it would have been an NHL no no for someone employed by another team to take part in current decision making for their future team, the conspiracy theorist in me says his prior relationship with Chara, and the connection of Savard being from Ottawa has me thinking otherwise.

Chiarelli`s next duty was to appoint a coach, and this is where things get a touch ugly for Bruins fans as they hoped their fortunes were changing. Chiarelli appointed Dave Lewis as coach of the Boston Bruins for the 2006/2007 season. Lewis, is a well-respected hockey man but was ill equipped to coach this Bruins team. Immediately following the season Chiarelli appointed Claude Julien as coach and this team hasn`t looked back since. A kid playing for the Vancouver Giants drafted by the Bruins in the second round named Lucic played a huge role in the on ice attitude of this team, and Julien`s insistence to defensive detail truly began an upswing of fortunes for the franchise.

That 2007-2008 season saw the Bruins making the playoffs in the absence of Patrice Bergeron and stretching a then strong Canadiens team to 7 games before bowing out in the first round but something was different. These Bruins weren`t the same beyond their prime players, pluggers nobody wanted. Kids like Lucic, Krejci, Sobotka began what has now become part of the organizational shift in Boston under a cap system which is, keep the core together, incorporate younger players amongst the veterans, put them in situations to have them succeed, give them the chance to learn. For Bruins fans, there was optimism.

An unbelievable run in 2010-2011 Cup playoffs had the Boston Bruins, and their Cup starved fans finally experience the taste of victory. One wouldn`t have blamed Peter Chiarelli, or Cam Neely who was appointed President of the Bruins to rest on their laurels but they haven`t. Although this team was giftwrapped a few draft picks from the Leafs which turned out to be Tyler Seguin/Dougie Hamilton and Jared Knight, they have also put together a nice full cupboard of prospects in recent years.

Chiarelli has stockpiled plenty of talent up the middle with the likes of Ryan Spooner, Alexander Khokhlachev both playing last year in Providence with Khokhlachev being a late addition to the team after his Windsor Spitfire season ended.

For toughness and grit, kids like Anthony Camara, Jared Knight could very well be solid future contributors to the Bruins.

Chiarelli also has the attitude of never having enough defenseman, whether through free agent signings or the draft. This past playoff season introduced Bruin fans to a new and mobile breed of defensemen that the Bruins haven`t had the luxury of having in many years with Torey Krug, Matt Bartkowski and first year pro Dougie Hamilton all having the opportunity to taste playoff minutes with Krug asserting himself well into the Cup finals against the Hawks. Joe Morrow was acquired in a summer deal with Dallas and arrives in Boston as a Defenseman who many anticipate will be a very solid NHL player sooner rather than later.

The Bruins have also made certain goaltending will be strong in the future, Malcom Subban was the Bruins first pick in the 2012 draft and will have plenty of time to perfect his craft either with, or behind Niklas Sveberg who manned the pipes last season and did so very well with the Providence Bruins. With Tuukka Rask signed for years to come, the Bruins are not forced in any way to rush any of these prospects which is a huge bonus.

In a perfect world, every draft pick/signing made would develop then be promoted to the NHL club. The reality is, that won`t happen, if the prospects do develop and put themselves into a position in which any of the 29 other teams see value, this can only strengthen the options for Peter Chiarelli when the time comes to make a deal.

It wasn`t long ago that this fan was uncertain if upper Management of the Bruins were aware there was a team in Providence to develop prospects, not any longer as the future appears bright for this Boston Bruin team moving forward.