Boston Sports Then and Now

The transactions that changed the Bruins.

This is a compilation of the Boston Bruins’ top acquisitions via trade or free agency of all time. All of these players had an impact on the franchise, but not all of them resulted in championships.

These players skated for the Bruins for many years or a short while. However, they are listed here because they all helped the Boston Bruins for the better during their stay.

10. Adam Oates-Oates had a stellar career with Detroit and St. Louis prior to coming to Boston. In St. Louis, he was paired up with sniper Brett Hull. They were one of the most feared tandems in the game. Hull

Adam Oates

had three straight seasons with at least 70 goals and Oates was feeding him the puck.

The Blues dealt Adam Oates to the Bruins after a prolonged hold out. Saint Louis would get pivot man Craig Janney and defenseman, Stephane Quintal in return.  Boston’s management probably had the images of Oates feeding Neely as he did with Hull. However, that dream never came to fruition due to Neely’s injuries.

With Neely sidelined, Oates became a better all around offensive player. In ’92-’93, he had his best career scoring season. Oates posted 45 goals and 97 assists for 142 points which was good for third in the NHL (Mario Lemieux and Pat Lafontaine finished first and second respectively).The Bruins finished with the best record in the league but got swept in the first round of the playoffs.

Oates had another great season in ’93-’94 season when he finished third in the NHL yet again with 112 points.  Oates had 53 points in the lock out season of ’94-’95 and finished his tenure in Boston with two more 70 point plus seasons.

The Bruins were going with a youth movement and traded Oates on March 1, 1997 to the Washington Capitals with Bill Ranford and Rick Tocchet for Jim Carey, Anson Carter, and Jason Allison.  The players the Bruins got in return had sparks of greatness but never had the consistent numbers of Adam Oates. He shouldered the offensive load during his stay in Boston especially with the injuries to Cam Neely.

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The Bruins trio of Adam Oates, Joe Juneau, and Dmitri Kvartalnov was nicknamed the "Bonanza" line.

I am not old enough to remember the TV Western “Bonanza” starring Lorne Greene, but I have fond memories of the Bruins “Bonanza” line.

One of the most prolific scoring lines in Boston Bruins history consisted of Adam Oates (Adam), Joe Juneau (Little Joe) and Dmitri Kvartalnov (Hoss).

The ’92-’93 NHL season was very special in Boston (the regular season, anyways).

The team just came off a Wales Conference sweep at the hands of the Mario led Pittsburgh Penguins. They finished second in the Adams Division and had playoff series victories over Buffalo and Montreal.

A successful season?

Yes and No.

The Wales Conference Finals is not a Stanley Cup championship.

They needed to pick up the offensive slack in the ’92-’93 season.

Cam Neely was recovering from a knee injury afflicted by goon Ulf Samuelsson during the playoffs.  He was only able to play 13 games due to injury. That left a major void in the Bruins offensive attack.

Center Adam Oates needed a winger to feed, but he also needed to put the puck in the net.

Who would step in and step up?

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Cam Neely always took time out for the fans at Ristuccia Arena.

It was the early 90’s, hair metal was on its deathbed and grunge was emerging from the musical murky soup.

I was a high school student at Wilmington High.

I had hockey hair(aka mullet).

I lived in Wilmington, the same town that the Boston Bruins held their training camp and in season practices.

It was my rink of dreams.

Ristuccia Arena.

They built it and I came.

I was and still am a die hard Bruins fan.

I had the shiny black coat with the golden spoked B.

I played street hockey and played goalie because I was a huge fan of Andy Moog.

I had an Adam Oates jersey because I was unselfish like him and rather set up the goal than take all the glory.

I admired Cam Neely and Ray Bourque for their leadership, intensity, and desire.

And I never forgave Glen Wesley for missing the empty net in Game 1 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals versus Edmonton.

I bled Black and Gold.

So, I became a regular fixture outside the Ristuccia Arena.

These were my heroes.

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