Two Questions

1. Is this year's Bruins team about to get ready for summer vacation?

There is no doubt that this Bruins team is one of the most talented units in the NHL and that would have been true even if they had lost to the Maple Leafs or Rangers in either of their first two playoff series.  This is essentially the same team that won the Stanley Cup in 2011 and that lost in the first round last year so everyone knows they are capable of winning championships or stumbling in the playoffs.

The problem facing the Bruins comes in the form of the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The Penguins have the most talent in the league, especially when it comes to offensive fire power.  Stopping the likes of Sydney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Jarome Iginla will not be an easy task for the B's.  Getting through this round to the Stanley Cup Finals will be no easy task.

The Bruins do have an advantage in net but Tuukka Rask is about to face his toughest challenge of the playoffs.  If he's on his game - like Tim Thomas was in the 2011 Cup Final against a similarly loaded Vancouver team - the B's have a shot but I'm taking Pittsburgh in 7.

2. Is it time to worry about Rob Gronkowski?

This is one of the most discussed questions in the Boston area lately.

I'm on the optimistic side with Gronk.  Yes, the multiple arm surgeries and an upcoming back surgery do not give much reason for this confidence but every NFL player fights though injuries during their career and a player like Gronk who plays so physically is likely to endure an increased amount of wear-and-tear than most other players.

At some point the beatings he endures will end his career but for now, I think he'll bounce back fine.  The prospect of him missing the first six games of this season if he's placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list is actually a positive in my opinion.  The time he can spend on the PUP list should give him ample time to recover and also avoid the early season beatings his body would endure so that, hopefully, he'd be full strength for the end of the season and the playoffs.