When the New Jersey Devils scored the game-winning goal in overtime at the TD Garden last April 15, it brought to an end one of the most frustrating seasons that the Boston Bruins have struggled through. In a season that started with so much hope, things went sideways fast, and when the dust settled, they finished tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for last place in the Eastern Conference.
That is not what many envisioned when the season began. Not many people envisioned the eventual fire sale at the trade deadline by general manager Don Sweeney. Boston's GM sent captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers, to win a Stanley Cup, Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche, Trent Frederic to the Edmonton Oilers, Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild, and Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs.