...but defense wins championships

When you think of Bruins clubs in the past, one thing stands out: the presence of phenomenally talented, offensively minded defensemen, dominating the play on the ice.

But for every Ray Bourque, there was a Don Sweeney lined up opposite on the blue line. For every Bobby Orr, there was a Dallas Smith, there to give Bobby the freedom to be the player he was. Going into the 2008-2009 season, we have team captain Zdeno Chara, and...

Andrew Ference?

This is not a shot at Ference (though, notably, he was a team-worst minus 14 last year) , or any other Bruin defender, but rather just to point out that the One-Two defensive pairing in the NHL can shape the identity of an entire team for several seasons. And right now, the Bruins have some good defensemen - some young and improving, others older but reliable - but none that are the blue chip to partner with Chara.

Going into the free-agent season, I think the B's should be most concerned with building a One-Two pairing that will elevate the entire club, and here are the three most intriguing free agents available for this purpose:

Jason Smith: Slim, angry, tough as nails. Was the captain of the Oilers and Flyers. Was the entire Oiler defense for awhile, and gave Philadelphia stability and an intimidating presence in their own zone. Would be an excellent Bruin, a great leader in the dressing room, and a solid, consistent support for Chara - who often gets beat when he tries to do too much. Smith's 2007-2008 salary was around $1.9 million.

Michal Rozsival: Rozsival is strong, speedy and reliable, and he puts up big numbers. His 2007-2008 salary of $2.3 million may scare away the Bruins brass, but consecutive seasons with more than 30 points and huge plus / minus numbers (a whopping plus 35 in 2005-2006), Rozsival represents a rare package that is worth paying for.

Brooks Orpik: Has one of the coolest names in the NHL, which is a plus when partnered with Zdeno Chara, Orpik is just coming into his own entering his 5th NHL season. Smart and reliable, with an excellent ability to make the first pass out of the zone, Orpik is an under-recognized asset, and a good bargain at his 2007-2008 salary of $1.075 million.

Hopefully the Bruins will make the smart decision and build from the blue line out, finding a partner for Chara, the big-minutes defender that they shelled out for last season. It would be the smart move, and possibly bring the team one step closer to a championship.