NHL.com – At one point during the 2011-12 season, the Boston Bruins didn't just look like favorites to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, they looked like a juggernaut not seen in the NHL since the days when the Montreal Canadiens last ruled the landscape.

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A couple of injuries, particularly a concussion for Nathan Horton, sapped the team's forward depth, and goaltender Tim Thomas wasn't quite superhuman like he was the year before.

Thomas has said he's taking the season off, but the Bruins should again be among the NHL's elite, especially with some extra rest after a surprising first-round playoff exit.

Forwards

Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Nathan Horton

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Tyler Seguin

Rich Peverley - Chris Kelly - Jordan Caron

Shawn Thornton - Gregory Campbell - Daniel Paille

Chris Bourque

Defensemen

Zdeno Chara - Johnny Boychuk

Dennis Seidenberg - Dougie Hamilton

Andrew Ference - Adam McQuaid

Matt Bartkowski

Goaltenders

Tuukka Rask

Anton Khudobin

NOTES: Horton is expected to be healthy for training camp, and having him puts everyone back in the roles where they were in the first half of the 2011-12 season when the Bruins tore through the League like few teams in history (winning 18 of 21 at one point). The Bergeron line might already be the team's top line, but expect it to be confirmed this season if Seguin and Marchand continue to improve.

There are five defensemen who look set, but the sixth could shuffle the pairings. If Hamilton is ready, it's hard to think the job won't be his, and expect him to be paired with one of the top guys for a proper apprenticeship. The other candidates include Bartkowski, Colby Cohen, David Warsofsky and Torey Krug. If the sixth comes from that group, he might be put with McQuaid as part of a more traditional third pairing.

This is Rask's chance to prove he's a No. 1 and it will be interesting to see how much Claude Julien uses Khudobin, who has great NHL numbers (albeit in seven career games) and whose American Hockey League resume has improved in the past two campaigns.

by Corey Masisak | NHL.com Staff Writer

With edits by BostonBruins.com...