S0 far as Bergy being out for a month, it just happened and the Bruins, Chara included, went quietly into the night with all the dignity and grace of the 2013 Sabres.
I guess it comes down to what an organization thinks can win you games which is $$, then playoff series, and then a cup if you are one of the teams that spends to cap in the NHL.
In the "modern era", since 2000 I guess, there has not been one team that I can name that has won the cup with that I would call a strickly "speed and skill" roster. They have all had some mix of toughness and one or two heavy hitters that as far as I can tell that kept teams honest for the most part especially in the regular season.
This is critical to me because the injury that Bergeron suffered a few weeks ago was a hit IMHO would say the Bruins of 2008-2015 would have expected in the Stanley Cup playoffs, not a regular season game against a non-rival in Dallas. Yes, I'm saying that there was respect, fear, whatever for the Bruins star players in the regular season for sure a few years ago.
I think there are many factors to take into account for the Bruins current roster composition and at the top I place Sweeney and Neely. I think Sweeney has over-rated the speed and skill ratio a team needs win over a toughness (grindy), speed, and then some skill along the bottom six. Marchand and his antics have been an issue with the league and the perception of the Bruins amongst the officials for good reason. The Bruins beleving their own hype about speedy players with zero jam in their game and how they can contribute in a legit Stanley Cup franchise is starting to rear its ugly head.
So far Sweeney's draft record, trade record, and on the ice product are lacking in a great many areas including a roster that generates the respect nessessary for keeping a total scrub like Borowiechy from ruining the rookie season and maybe career of one of your top two D prospects.
Yes, the rest of the season should be a war with Ottawa. Suspensions all around for players in your bottom 6 and bottom pair D. Every game.