D-men can jump at chances

Claude Julien's plan would enable defensemen to get more involved in attacks without the team allowing odd-man rushes. (Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff)

The low-supply, high-demand economics of offensive-minded defensemen kept the Bruins' checkbook closed this summer when other clubs paid top-shelf sums to the likes of Brian Campbell (eight years, $57 million), Wade Redden (six years, $39 million), and Mark Streit (five years, $20.5 million).

One reason for the no-thanks approach was the expectation of the existing corps to play a bigger role in the offense.

"As an organization, we want to develop our own players that can jump up in the play," said assistant general manager Jim Benning. "With Matt Hunwick and Matt Lashoff, we have some of that. [Andrew ] Ference can jump up in the play.

"The other part of that is that, as an organization, we decided that if we were going to spend our money, we wanted somebody who could shoot the puck. He scored 30 goals in Montreal, so, hopefully Michael Ryder can get back to that."

As a first-year coach in Boston last season, Claude Julien's top priority was to bolster a sieve-like defense that allowed 285 goals in 2006-07, second-most in the NHL. After adapting to Julien's box-plus-one system, the Bruins whacked 70 strikes off their goals-against list.

With the patches to their back line seemingly filled, the Bruins plan on activating a joker into their game this season that, in theory, will boost their 24th-ranked offense.

Last season, the real estate below the dots in the offensive zone was practically a no-fly zone for Boston defensemen. This season, Julien plans on easing the leash on his D-men.

"I think we're at the stage now since we've kind of solidified our defensive play a lot better from last year, I think it's important now to add a little bit without subtracting," Julien said. "I think our D can support the rush a lot better than we did last year.

"But at the same time, you want to make sure you don't start playing a run-and-gun game. If the defenseman is going to support, then we have to have our forwards responsible enough to cover up at times."

Yesterday, during the first official day of training camp at TD Banknorth Garden, Julien included drills that had the far-side defensemen hurtling into the offensive zone and serving as a back-door option.

Dennis Wideman is the team's top puck-mover. Zdeno Chara, especially on the power play, showed hints of being a far-post threat last season. Lashoff and Hunwick, fighting for NHL jobs, can get up and down the ice. A healthy Ference can support the attack. Mark Stuart has the wheels to jump up in the play.

Easing them in
While Julien didn't rule them out, it's unlikely that Chara (shoulder) and Shane Hnidy (knee) will dress for tomorrow's preseason opener against Montreal in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Both skated yesterday and have been participating in informal sessions at Ristuccia Arena. During the offseason, Hnidy underwent surgery on his right knee to clean out wear-and-tear damage, as the defenseman put it. Hnidy believed it would be a simple arthroscopic procedure, but the surgery was more extensive than expected. "Want to make sure I don't reaggravate it," Hnidy said. "It feels good. We've got a little time here to make it stronger, so it should be good." . . . Manny Fernandez, who last saw NHL action Oct. 22, 2007, when he gave up six goals to Montreal, will face the Canadiens tomorrow in the first of eight preseason games . . . Marc Savard centered Milan Lucic and Ryder on the No. 1 line in yesterday's morning practice.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com