Anson Carter. (Associated Press)

1998-99 record: 39-30-13, 91 points, 3rd Northeast Division
Coach: Pat Burns (78-60-26, two seasons with Bruins)
New faces: LW Dave Andreychuk, LW Joe Hulbig, D Elias Abrahamsson, D Johnathan Aitken, RW Peter Ferraro Gone: RW Dmitri Khristich, C Tim Taylor
Strengths: In Burns, the Bruins have one of the top coaches in the NHL. He's a no-nonsense type who has guided Boston to consecutive 91-point seasons after the team missed the playoffs in 1996-97. Boston has shaved nearly 1 ½ goals off its goals-against average since Burns arrived in Beantown. G Byron Dafoe was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy and was second in the league in shutouts but remains underrated. Forwards Jason Allison, Sergei Samsonov, Joe Thornton and Anson Carter are all 25 or under. D Ray Bourque remains a force on defense, even if he is starting his 21st season.
Weaknesses: Dafoe remains a holdout as a Group II free agent. Role players like Taylor are hard to replace. General manager Harry Sinden is close to stepping aside but his public questioning of Allison, among others, following the Bruins' playoff elimination does nothing for morale. Boston has won only one playoff series over the last five years and time is running out in the two-decade quest to get Bourque's name on the Stanley Cup.