Sturm skating

Once Sturm gets rolling and his condition subsides, flipping him and Axelsson looks to be a beast of a line-up. Three quality scoring lines, and one absolutely shut-down 4th line. Not to mention the kids in the waiting....

Don't discard the 4th as not being able to score, they are doing a hell of a job at putting the puck in the net as well

the 4th line won't be able to score with axey on it, but they'll still be a solid energy line that plays good D.

The defense will get a boost when Ward comes back & replaces Lashoff. Hopefully add Ference before the playoffs & this team is in great shape. You have to be impressed with the callups from the PBruins, they've all stepped in & played well.

Who do you sit when Ference comes back? Hunwick has shown he belongs, Hnidy has been solid, as has Stuart. The D is solid, if unspectacular.
The forwards, when everyone gets back into form will look pretty deep. For the first time in the 25+ years I've been watching these guys, they don't really need anything. Hunwick has proven to be the 3rd offensive Dman they needed

its a nice problem to have really
i think it becomes hnidy, i would have said stuart a few weeks ago, but even julien said something about his improved play in the papers and he is paired with chara now. i think looking beyond this season, you want stuart to keep getting the ice time and experience, hunwick too. although hunwick can continue to play in providence if they send him down, but i wouldnt agree with that choice. hnidy becomes the guy who you can sit and still use in case of injury, fatigue, etc. he's been solid, but is probably number 7 on the depth chart. but i think julien has shown that he willgo with the better player at that time. so if hunwick implodes or stuart goes cold, or even if ference doesnt come back strong from his injury, ala last year, then he'll keep hnidy in, especially since it appears as though so far the b's have a legitimate shot at the cup this year