After having missed the playoffs the last two season, the Boston Bruins are focused on getting back in 2016-17.It was an interesting offseason for GM Don Sweeney. The Bruins added veteran depth and leadership at forward (more on that below) but lost veteran forward Loui Eriksson, who signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks. The Bruins bought out the contract of veteran defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, who recently signed a one-year deal with the New York Islanders. Finally, after six seasons in Boston, veteran unrestricted free-agent forward?Chris Kelly returned to the?Ottawa Senators, with whom he spent his first seven seasons.Heading into the season, the defense remains a mystery in front of goaltender Tuukka Rask. The Bruins could still acquire a solid, young blueliner via the trade market. If not, they will rely on their current defensive core and hope their blueliners stay healthy and find ways to be productive.If the Bruins get off to a slow start, coach Claude Julien could be on the hot seat and Sweeney might make a coaching change.Best new facesBoston added veteran forwards David Backes and Dominic Moore, along with veteran backup goalie Anton Khudobin. Backes, the former captain of the St. Louis Blues, signed as a free agent and will add depth down the middle and be a strong voice in the locker room, which the Bruins have lacked the past few seasons.With forward Frank Vatrano sidelined three months because of a foot injury, rookie Danton Heinen, 21, has a chance to earn a roster spot. The former University of Denver standout?could skip the minors and have an immediate impact in Boston because he has the hockey IQ and ability to do so. If not, he will develop his pro game in the AHL with Providence. Heinen is not used to the heavy NHL schedule, and hell need to be consistent in order to stick. So far, he has played well in training camp. Forward Austin Czarnik, 24, has played well during camp and could be a solid replacement as a penalty killer for Kelly. Czarnik is versatile, and that could serve him well.Biggest unknownsWhere Backes will play remains a question. Having David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron and Backes as the teams top three centers gives the Bruins a lot of depth. That could mean Matt Beleskey and David Pastrnak?play with Krejci. With Eriksson gone, finding chemistry for Krejci will be key. Julien could put veteran centerman Backes on Krejcis right side or move Ryan Spooner to the wing and keep Backes as the third-line center. Krejci had offseason hip surgery, so it will be interesting to see what kind of success he can have this season.Defenseman Adam McQuaid is healthy to start the season, and the Bruins will need him to remain that way in order to be successful. How much does veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara, 39, have left in the tank? Playing for Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey -- and reaching the finals -- should help the captain get off to a strong start, but if fatigue sets in down the stretch, that could be a factor.Sure thingsIf theres one sure thing in the NHL, its Bergerons consistent play. Bergeron and Marchand were outstanding for Team Canada during the World Cup, along with linemate Sidney Crosby, as they led their team to a championship. If their play during the best-on-best tournament was any indication of how theyll face this season, both Marchand and Bergeron could be in the top 10 in scoring in the NHL in 2016-17.Marchand, who recently signed an eight-year deal worth $49 million to remain with the Bruins, should carry his success from the past season (37 goals) and his play in the World Cup into this season. ?Rask will be Rask. Hell play his 55 to 60 games and be solid in the majority of them. He has been durable since taking over the No. 1 job during the 2013 lockout-shortened season.PredictionThe Bruins will not go a third season without making the playoffs and will earn a wild-card spot. It wont be easy for them, but they will make a strong push down the stretch and finish with a postseason berth. Fifth in the Atlantic. Rashan Gary Packers Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. Aaron Rodgers Jersey . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Brett-Favre-Packers-Jersey/ . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. Paul Hornung Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Jaire Alexander Womens Jersey . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. SAN FRANCISCO -- When a baseball-loving boy stopped Oakland reliever Sean Doolittle by chance Monday to check out the As bandanna worn by the pitchers dog, the little guy got an impromptu opportunity to play shadow baseball with a big leaguer.Doolittle and girlfriend Eireann Dolan were walking their Rhodesian Ridgeback dog, Stella, on Monday afternoon in San Francisco when 5-year-old Jordan stopped them to inquire about the dogs accessory and share how much he loves baseball. Dolan said that when she told Jordan that Doolittle is an As player -- he is currently away from the team while recovering from a recurring shoulder injury -- he didnt believe me, she said in a text message to The Associated Press on Tuesday night.So I showed him the pic on my phone of Sean in uniform, she said. His response was to take my phone and ask if I had any games on it.Jordan also proceeded to use her phone to snap a selfie with the red-headed, bearded closer and take another blurry shot of Doolittle giving a thumbs-up sign.ddddddddddddThat little boy was too much, Dolan said.Dolan posted the photo and video of their meeting on Instagram, and it became an instant hit.The video clip had nearly 4,600 views as of Tuesday night.Her caption read: This little boy saw us walking the dog and pointed to Stellas As bandana. He told us he loves baseball. He asked if we could play and he made Sean be the pitcher. Sean was charged with the run. Kid had no idea who he was playing with. (disclaimer: I had permission from his mom to post) .For Doolittle, the interaction with a young fan was a welcome distraction.It is always refreshing to rediscover how much fun baseball is through someone elses eyes, Doolittle said Tuesday. Rehab and DL stints can be a grind, so during those times it was nice to remember how lucky I am to play a childrens game. ' ' '