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1999-2000 Stat Leaders Stat  Leader  No.  Goals  Joe Thornton  23  Assists  Joe Thornton  37  Points  Joe Thornton  60  +/-  Anson Carter  8  Shots  Ray Bourque  217  Ice Time (F)  Brian Rolston  22:11  Ice Time (D)  Ray Bourque  27:11  Faceoff Pct.  Jason Allison  60%  Hits  Don Sweeney  301  PP Pts.  Ray Bourque  26  SH Pts.     0

How bad was it for the Bruins in 1999-2000? For starters, Ray Bourque finally wanted out. And how could you blame him? Let us count the ways ... They allowed a couple heart-and-soul guys to escape, gave Dmitri Khristich away and played chicken with holdouts. They were then left with a parade to the M*A*S*H unit, underachieving second-tier players, the meltdowns of Joe Murphy and Marty McSorley, and an owner who openly criticized his coach. But perhaps there is a single number to sum it all up: Twenty four.

The Bruins won a mere 24 games last season, fewer than every team in the NHL with the exceptions of Tampa Bay and Atlanta. A league-leading 19 ties kept Boston in the points race, but the season was an unqualified disaster. So the Bruins blew the whole thing up, right? Fired the coach. Brought in cream-of-the-crop free agents. Made headlines during the draft. Signed all of their disgruntled restricted guys. No to all of the above.

Keeping three-time coach of the year Pat Burns -- almost reluctantly, it seemed -- the Bruins also made few waves in the draft or free agent pools. (Though you could probably count on Paul Coffey in the hot tub.)

But as always there is at least a Ray, er, a ray of hope.

For more on the Bruins, bookmark this page and check back Wednesday, Oct. 11 for a Sports Illustrated Scouting Report.

BRIGHT SPOTS		GRAY AREAS
Byron Dafoe didn't hold out this season. Joe Thornton and Sergei Samsonov didn't wait too terribly long to sign their deals. Unless every important player in camp goes down for the season and there is no return of (or for) Anson Carter, the 2000-01 Bruins will hardly resemble last season's embarrassing outfit. After his trade from Colorado, Brian Rolston scored six points in his first seven games. Coaching. Players did the Save Our Pat routine last season. Assistant coach Peter Laviolette, hired over the summer, led the Providence Bruins -- comprised of many players Boston will count on this season -- to an AHL record 56-win season in 1998-99. Joe Thornton may push a healthy Jason Allison for the No. 1 center spot sooner rather than later.		Dafoe (knee surgery) and Kyle McLaren (wrist and knee surgery) went back for second procedures on their knees prior to the preseason. Allison (wrist and forearm), Thornton (slight shoulder ligament tear), Carter (torn rotator cuff) and Darren Van Impe (shoulder separation) also had offseason surgery. Dafoe's assumed backup, John Grahame, broke his ankle under dubious circumstances (the Bruins say they won't pay his medical bills). Backup duties will now fall to 20-year-old Andrew Raycroft and Peter Skudra, signed Oct. 3. The latter begins the season in Providence. Andrei Kovalenko, a.k.a. "a proven goal scorer" if you ask management, hasn't drawn rave reviews from Burns. Recurring contract problems are disturbing, especially in the case of players like possible 30-goal scorer Carter. Again, lots riding on unproven players who wouldn't even get a chance in many NHL cities. No captain has been named. Laviolette's hiring is one step closer to Burns's firing.

Comings
Player	Pos.	From	Via
Elias Abrahmson	D	Boston	Re-signed
Shawn Bates	C	Boston	Re-signed
Paul Coffey	D	Carolina	Free agent
Mikko Eloranta	LW	Boston	Re-signed
John Grahame	G	Boston	Re-signed
Joe Hulbig	LW	Boston	Re-signed
Andrei Kovalenko	RW	Carolina	Free agent
Eric Manlow	C	Providence (AHL)	Free agent
Cameron Mann	RW	Boston	Re-signed
Eric Nickulas	RW	Boston	Re-signed
Peter Popovic	D	Pittsburgh	Free agent
Andre Savage	C	Boston	Re-signed
Don Sweeney	D	Boston	Re-signed

Goings
Player	Pos.	To	Via
Aaron Downey	RW	Chicago	Free agent
Antti Laaksonen	LW	Minnesota	Free agent
Steve Heinze	RW	Columbus	Expansion
Mike Matteucci	D	Minnesota	Free agent
Joel Prpic	C	Colorado	Free agent
Rob Tallas	G	Chicago	Free agent
Mattias Timander	D	Columbus	Expansion
Landon Wilson	RW	Phoenix	Free agent

Prospect Watch
Sami Pahlsson, C, 5' 11", 207
Born: Dec. 17, 1977 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
Acquired: Trade with Colorado (March 6, 2000)
Pahlsson's wasn't a lock to make the big club and was sent to Providence at the conclusion of camp. And he might not even be the team's best prospect, but he may be the most important. Pahlsson is the prospect Boston mined from the Colorado system to make the Bourque deal happen. So keep your eye on the "poor man's Peter Forsberg," who's said to have No. 21's desire, grit and passing skills but not his size, flash or speed.

Get the Highlighter
Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Ottawa. After a dismal 1999-2000, the Bruins get an early start on 2000-01 with a tilt against division-rival Ottawa.
Wednesday, Oct. 11 at Anaheim. As is usually the case, Boston gets a west coast trip out of the way early. In consecutive years this has been the most crucial part of the season. After the Ducks, the Bruins travel to Los Angeles, San Jose, Edmonton and Calgary. Boston doesn't travel west of Detroit again until February.
Wednesday, Feb. 21 and Saturday March 24 vs. Colorado. Facing Ray Bourque for the first time in another building and, a month later, Bourque Appreciation Day is a matinee.

Quoteworthy
"I admit, I [wasn't] 100 percent ... September 7. But we're looking at making sure I'm 100 percent for October 5. The way it's progressed, I'm very confident. Three weeks ago, I wasn't exactly jumping for joy at what was going on, but since then I've been doing my rehab with [trainer] Don Del Negro and [therapist] Scott Waugh, and it's definitely progressed much better."
—Byron Dafoe

Team-by-team previews compiled by CNNSI.com's Ken Klavon, Jamie MacDonald and Jimmy Traina.

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