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Bruins start long road back to respectability vs. Panthers

Oct 6, 2006 - 1:47 PM Boston (0-0-0) at Florida (0-0-0) 7:30 pm EDT

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) - Perhaps no club retooled more than the Boston Bruins in the offseason. And for good reason.

The once-proud franchise has a new coach, a new general manager and perhaps the biggest free-agent signee, and begins the 2006-07 campaign against the Florida Panthers on Friday in the season opener for both clubs.

The Bruins struggled last season, finishing last in the rugged Northeast Division and missing the playoffs for the third time in six seasons.

Boston hired former Ottawa assistant general manager Pete Chiarelli as its GM and former Detroit Red Wings coach Dave Lewis to be its coach. The Bruins then signed massive defenseman Zdeno Chara to a five-year, $37.5 million deal and named him captain.

A 6-9, 260-pound blue-liner, Chara will be looked to log plenty of ice time and quarterback the power play.

The Panthers, who finished in fourth place in the Southeast Division, were involved in perhaps the biggest offseason trade, shipping goaltender Roberto Luongo to the Vancouver Canucks for right winger Todd Bertuzzi, whom many felt underachieved with the Canucks last year.

Florida hopes the change of scenery will rejuvenate Bertuzzi, who had 25 goals and 46 assists in 82 games.

The Panthers also hope Bertuzzi will bring some zip to the offense. Only Florida captain Olli Jokinen had more than 60 points last season (89).

To replace Luongo, the Panthers signed Ed Belfour, who had an injury-shortened campaign with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. Belfour went 22-22-4 with a 3.29 goals-against average in 49 games.

The Panthers have missed the playoffs the last five seasons.