WILMINGTON — A quick lesson in Bruins history: In the post-lockout season of 2005-06, after B’s ownership/management did a splendid job of destroying a deeply talented roster, the team employed 43 different players. Many were profoundly forgettable — Erik Healey? Zdenek Blatny? Pat Leahy? Kevin Dallman?
Not surprisingly, the Bruins were a disorganized mess and finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 29-37-16. Coach Mike Sullivan, who deserved a better fate — and better players — was fired.
The following season, new coach Dave Lewis had a roster that had been improved via the signing of free agents Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard, but still was built with an awful lot of ill-fitted NHL driftwood.