Though the Boston Bruins finished first in the Eastern Conference last season, few prognosticators will pick them to repeat that feat given the changes in key personnel -- the loss of Bill Guerin and Byron Dafoe, and the holdout of Kyle McLaren -- and the adjustments made by other clubs.

But the fact no one expects very much from the Bruins might be just what the doctor ordered. Look how well it's been working out for the New England Patriots.

With the Super Bowl champions raking up victories, Beantown fans have yet to focus much, if at all, on the fortunes of the black and gold. That doesn't hurt either, after all, teams -- like coaches -- are neither as great when they are winning or as bad when they're losing as their fans think they are.. So the lack of criticism the Bruins have gotten, doesn't mean they're without a weakness. And the lack of fan fare doesn't mean they're without impressive strengths.

What kind of season they're going to have in 2002-03 could be argued in two ways:

Top 5 reasons the Bruins will be better than last year

	Sergei Samsonov is determined to break the 29-goal plateau.

5. Hunger: To say this club had great expectations last year is an understatement. They had two 40-goal scorers, were deeply talented down the middle and had a 35-game winner in net. The Montreal Canadiens, who hadn't been together as a unit for a good portion of the season, should've been easy pickings. However, the inspiring return of Saku Koivu, the addition of Donald Audette and the play of Jose Theodore, the Bruins were left hollow-eyed and in shock as a result of their abrupt dismissal in the opening round of the playoffs. No one in the dressing room has forgotten that feeling.

4. Crackdown on obstruction: Sure, you will see more dazzling play from the likes of Jaromir Jagr, Mario Lemieux and Pavel Bure (once he's healthy), but Boston also has its fair share of terrific skaters. Sergei Samsonov, already a buzz saw, will be more dangerous without opposing defensemen mugging him. With their size and speed, Joe Thornton, Glen Murray and Brian Rolston will be hard to stop when they come barreling through the neutral zone on their way to the net. The new standards of enforcement will also favor Bryan Berard's game, which focuses on puck movement.

3. Leadership: More than one person around the Bruins has said that we, the media, made way too big a deal of Guerin's contribution in the dressing room. Sure, he's experienced, knows how to win and isn't afraid to speak up. But what the Bruins lost when he signed with Dallas is, I'm told, a whole lot less than the media would have people believe.

2. Motivation: Thornton and Samsonov are entering the last years of their contracts. Without implying they'd play differently otherwise -- although more than a few players do when they get to this point -- the situation can't hurt. Both players have gotten better and better each season, and with Guerin gone, Thornton promises to shoot more and Samsonov is eager to break that 29-goal plateau he's been stuck at the past two years.

1. Offense from the defense: There were very few nights last year when members of the blue line posed much of a threat at the other end of the ice. Now that Berard has entered the picture, there's tons of potential for that to change. Youngster Jonathan Girard, playing in camp with a confidence not previously seen, could be a force on the power play. He's not the biggest guy (5-11, 192), but with clutching and grabbing going the way of the dodo bird, the time may be right for Girard to break in.

And, the top five reasons the Bruins will be worse than last year

	Can Jonathan Girard fill in for Kyle McLaren defensively, too?

5. Surprise factor: No team is about to say they don't respect another club. But by missing the playoffs in 1997, 2000 and 2001, a season which included four losses to the Atlanta Thrashers, it's safe to say the Bruins weren't exactly feared. Even without Guerin, Dafoe and McLaren, there is enough talent on the roster to give other teams fits, they know it, and they'll be ready for it.

4. Competition: The Buffalo Sabres are still in a mess after missing the playoffs for the first time in Lindy Ruff's five-year tenure, but other clubs who missed the party aren't likely to again. The New York Rangers are vastly better after adding Bobby Holik and Darius Kasparaitis, and getting rid of Theo Fleury. The Washington Capitals, whose first year with Jagr was a total bust, have added Robert Lang in hopes the former teammates can rekindle the magic they had in Pittsburgh, and goaltender Olaf Kolzig has promised a substantially better performance of his own. If Sergei Gonchar can score and Steve Konowalchuk can stay healthy, they'll be good enough to finish in the No. 5-8 spot, at least.

3. The McLaren Report: This is as befuddling an issue as the team has had this fall. McLaren, who is the Evel Knievel of defensemen given the number of bizarre injuries he's suffered in his still-young career, wants a change of scenery. The Bruins want equal value. So far, no one has gotten what they want, so McLaren, a restricted free agent, will hold out until he does. The scenario makes zero sense. If McLaren were to play, he'd increase his worth and be more likely to entice a team to deal for him. By sitting out, McLaren will be unable to help a club right away, making it more difficult for the Bruins to get what they're seeking in return. It's a lose-lose situation.

2. No Guerin: There's no question that 41 goals is a lot to make up. With Guerin gone, other teams will be targeting the other 41-goal scorer on the roster -- Murray, now the No. 1 right wing. There is a chance the increased defensive attention might result in a reduction in production. The club is hoping that Michal Grosek, who is eyeing a season similar to his best years in Buffalo, can take up some of the slack and Martin Lapointe, who had a disappointing 17 goals last season, can crank it up into the 20s.

1. Goaltending: Let's see: John Grahame has been slowed by a strained back and Steve Shields has had to deal with a family problem. That has caused both netminders, who are projected to battle it out for the top spot, to miss significant time in camp. Neither is to blame for their respective misfortunes, but it makes it that much tougher for the coaching staff and management to evaluate how strong they are at the most crucial position on the team. Meanwhile, Dafoe is still out there.

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.