Tough Decisons Ahead Part I - Backup Goalie and Defense

via NHL.com

With 1 game of pre-season hockey left and training camp coming to an end, it's time to take a look at who's going to make the opening night roster and who's going to be left out.
The contested spots heading into this season concern the 3rd line Center and Right Wing position, the Defense and the back-up goaltender.
My decisions are based on the 3 televised pre-season games against Montréal, Washington and Winnipeg, things I read about training camp and obviously the performance from last year. 


So let's start at the back end with the battle between free agent signing Chad Johnson and Providence goalie Niklas Svedberg for the back-up goalie spot.

Johnson dressed in the 1st pre-season game at Montréal alongside Malcolm Subban, allowing 3 goals on just 8 shots from the Habs.
He left the game as agreed halfway through the 2nd period with a .625 SV%, beeing out of position more than once and not looking confident at all. Subban took over and earned a shutout with 12 saves in 30 minutes.
The other night at Joe Louis Arena he got the chance to play a full game against a weaker Red Wings lineup, resulting in a 18 save shutout.
Svedberg started at Baltimore Arena against Washington, allowing 2 goals besides stopping 5 attemps in a 3 - 2 shootout win for the B's.
The Swede also convinced in last nights 3 - 2 OT victory against the Jets, saving the disorganized Bruins Defense multiple times, especially on the PP. (26 saves, .929 SV%)

Svedberg was my favourite going into the off-season and Johnson couldn't take away that spot during training camp/preseason. Sved is younger, already put up better numbers in the AHL and is a RFA going into next season. 
With his 2-way contract it would be no problem at all to send him back down, if Providence needs help for whatever reason (Subban beeing injured), which leaves the question why we even signed Johnson ? 
He got a 1-way contract but I don't see any reason to give away another roster spot to a 3rd goalie, which means he has to start the season in the AHL as Malcolm Subban's back-up.
For me an absolute no-brainer to choose the Baz Bastien Trophy  winner Svedberg as Tuukka's back-up this year.

Advantage: Niklas Svedberg 

Now things are starting to get complex ... 
3 young talented guys who already had their shiny moments in the NHL fighting for just 2 roster spots.
First of all, who would have thought that Matt Bartkowski would even be with the Bruins at this time, besides performing outstanding this preseason.
The 25-year old struggled to make the Bruins team for 3 season in a row, before the management decided to trade him to Calgary for Jaromie Iginla. 
To seal the deal they gave him a 1-way contract, but as we all know things turned out differently and very much in Barts favour.
In contrast to Krug and Hamilton he's a more defensive minded player which fits with the style of hockey Claude Julien likes his team to play.
His contract and other style of play make him the 1st guy to pick, besides his outstanding performance as Bruins point leader with 6 assists in only 4 preseason games.

Speaking about outstanding performances, how about Torey Krug's playoff run with the B's ?
The Michigian State Spartan brought the Bruins power-play back to life and continues to do that this preseason. With 5 points in 4 games he just sits behind Bartkowski, trying to convince the management that he's the right defensive guy to help the wounded powerplay finally get better this year.
On the other hand we have Dougie Hamilton, who lost his roster spot to the 2 guys from Providence last playoffs. It's an open secret that both play the same style of hockey, but it's the details that make this decision slightly easier.

Krug had good chemistry with Adam McQuaid in the playoffs and can hold his own defensively, whereas Hamilton only played with experienced guys like Seidenberg and Chara and tends to make .. well rookie mistakes. Not as if I'd blame Dougie for that, it was his rookie season and he's not yet ready to be the guy who leads a D-line.
On the other side, it's that argument that makes Torey Krug the guy who earns this last spot at the back end.
Starting the season in Providence can even help Dougie on his way to be a franchise player one day,  besides getting more ice-time they'll expect more leadership from him down in the AHL, a thing that he won't learn that fast in the major league.
Well now the management comes into play "My goal is to have him in the NHL"- Peter Chiarelli, which raises the question if Claude Julien can even decide on his own, just by looking at the performance from training camp.
The 2 big C's confidence and consistency might be crucial to pick Bart and Krug.
Also noticeable that Kevan Miller could end up staying as depth defenseman with his "tough to play against" stay-at-home style.
Without a doubt the player who ends up beeing left out of the lineup, will be sent down to the AHL.
It would be a total waste not to play one of those 3 talented guys.

Advantage: Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug