The other significant loss was team captain Zdeno Chara who missed 19 games with a knee injury and ultimately ended up with just 20 points in 63 games. This is part of an ongoing trend that has seen Chara's assist totals drop significantly. Since the end of the lockout in 2013, Chara has just 47 assists in 188 games (21 assists over 82 games) after constantly getting 30-40 assists per year prior to the lockout. His 32 goals over the last three seasons are great but being goal-heavy typically leads to inconsistent point totals. He may still have some decent offensive years left in him but his 40-point days are likely over.

Even though some of the Bruins' prospects had nice showings in the NHL this year, they ultimately did not provide enough over the long haul to cover for the losses. Ryan Spooner (18 points in 29 games) and David Pastrnak (27 points in 46 games) were both very good when in the lineup but only played 75 combined games, and that was not enough to change their playoff fortunes in the grand scheme. The good news is that we will see both full-time in the NHL next year.

Other notable newcomers to see action in Boston include Seth Griffith, Zach Trotman and Joe Morrow. None of them had a significant impact which unlike in past years left the team with weaker depth. With that said, all three could be in the mix for roster spots this fall depending on the changes that take place this summer.

Of course, the Bruins' salary cap situation will be a factor again this offseason. It may not be as big of a problem as in the recent past but with rising star Dougie Hamilton up for a new contract it could leave them in a tough situation. Mainly, quality secondary players are not going cheap these days so it will be very difficult for the team to add a supporting cast that matches what they've had during their years as an elite squad. Alternatively, they could seek a trade to clear some cap space although those are never easy to complete. Plus, we all remember the negative impact that the Johnny Boychuk trade had.

In goal, things are once again very interesting in Boston. Obviously, Tuukka Rask remains the unchallenged starting goaltender. However, he took a bit of a step back from a fantasy perspective mainly due to the team not enjoying the success they had in years past. With the team currently at a bit of a crossroads, so is Rask's fantasy value. The team has yet to name its new general manager (and in all likelihood a new coach) so it is not known if the team will push forward or if it will focus more on young players, plus we do not know if the team will employ a defensive-minded system. Each of these changes will significantly impact Rask's fantasy value in the coming years. Regardless, he should still be very good for peripheral stats as he just showed in a year where his team fails to grab a playoff spot.

The backup gig will be equally intriguing as current backup Niklas Svedberg just signed to play next year in the KHL. Currently in the organization there are some solid choices in Jeremy Smith and Malcolm Subban, although recent signee out of college Zane McIntyre could make a push in camp next fall. Then again, there are some decent-quality backups available every summer on the free agent market that would sign for cheap just to maintain their spot in the NHL.

Overall, the Bruins are a team that could see some significant changes to their roster over the next few months in addition to the changes taking place at the management level. This will impact many players on the roster more than looking at more specific metrics such as shooter's luck. This will be one of the most interesting teams to follow over the summer. They could potentially find a way to get right back into title contention or they could embark on a youth movement.

RFA: Ryan Spooner, Dougie Hamilton
UFA: Gregory Campbell, Daniel Paille, Carl Soderberg, Adam McQuaid, Matt Bartkowski

*

Follow me on Twitter @DH_EricDaoust.