Top five reasons Blake Wheeler will make the Bruins

Mike McMahon gives five reasons why he thinks Wheeler will make the Bruins. Personally I don't have anything against Wheeler, I am sure he is a nice guy but I don't see him scoring a lot of goals or getting a lot of playing time for the Bruins. The Bruins coach Claude Julien is a task master and will not put up for soft play or lack of defensive focus. This is the same guy that benched Phil Kessel for three games during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

1. He can score

The Gophers were terrible last season (by their standards), and Wheeler still managed to put together respectable numbers. His 35 points led the way, and he played a role in 32 percent of the team’s goals. Wheeler has scored everywhere he’s been. His 15 goals likely would have been higher last season if he had anyone playing around him (remember, Kyle Okposo left in mid-season in a move that generated a lot of discussion). Nobody on the team had more than 20 assists expect, you guessed it, Wheeler.

2. He can skate

For a big kid (6-foot-4, 219 pounds), Wheeler can wheel. One of the more impressive aspects to Wheeler’s game is his ability to puck handle while moving his feet at top speed. He skates like a player who is 5-foot-10. He creates space for himself and makes plays for the guys on his line when he isn’t carrying the puck.

3. Versatility

This is in line with his skating, but Wheeler can play a variety of roles. He was an impressive forechecker with the Gophers — again, something you don’t normally see with a guy his size. He can also play both sides of special teams. He’s a melting pot of styles, and can fill a variety of roles.

4. Thin wings

Outside of Michael Ryder, Phil Kessel and Chuck Kobasew, the B’s don’t have another scoring right winger. Kessel can bounce between center and both wings, which leaves Kobasew and Ryder as the only two natural scoring right side wingers on the team. Others who have played at RW in camp thus far — Petteri Nokelainen, Martin Karsums, Jordan Knackstedt, Byron Bitz, and Shawn Thornton — Wheeler would be a better third-line fit than any of those players. That would leave Thornton on the fourth line.

5. He’s a big-game performer

Wheeler is at his best when the pressure is at its highest. In 2007, he practically carried the Gophers through their playoff run. In the Final-Five tournament, he potted a hat trick in a 4-2 win over Wisconsin, and then scored the game-winner in overtime to beat North Dakota 3-2 in the championship game. You might remember, that goal was showcased on ESPN …