SPECIAL TEAMS- Chara has been a mainstay on both the penalty kill and powerplay forever. Not having him there gives Claude the chance to change things up and see what other players can do in these situations. While not having Chara on a penalty kill may result in a lot more shots on net and goals given up in the short term, it should help the team down the line.
LEADERSHIP- Being the huge, well-decorated elder-statesman, Chara is a team leader both in the locker room and on the ice. Without him in the lineup, the Bruins will need to find more leadership from within. Once again, this is a place where a guy like Dougie Hamilton may find a chance to shine. Believe it or not, I also see this as an opportunity for bad boy Brad Marchand to earn a new and improved reputation.