2016 Opening Night Defense

[Pia8988]

There are 10 defensemen still left around, the final preseason game just ended. Who do you think should still be here after Tuesday? They carried 8 last year for most of it so we can set the limit to that for now. Ideally they would only have 7.

Click to read more...

 

[Johnnyduke]

My god what a scary looking bunch

 

[NinthSpoke06]

Who should be here?

Chara
Carlo
Krug
Ehrhoff
O'Gara
Miller

Who will be here?
Chara
Krug
McQuaid
Liles
Miller
O'Gara/Miller

 

[BruinDust]

Won't happen but I'd go.

Chara
Krug
Liles
Carlo
O'Gara
Ehrhoff

Keep the Millers around as the two spare D.

Find a new home for McQuaid ASAP.

Hurts me to say it as I've always been a supporter, but Morrow probably hits the waiver wire.

 

[DitClapper]

Chara/Carlo
Krug/Ehrhoff
Liles/Kevan

McQuaid
Colin

Ehrhoff snags a 1 year deal. Morrow gets exposed to the wire. O'Gara goes down to Providence for some seasoning.

 

[BruinDust]

It will be interesting to see where the polling ends up between Ehrhoff and Liles.

Similar skillsets, both can play both sides.

While I think both have been solid, Liles for me has been a little bit better. I wouldn't mind at all seeing both here in some capacity.

 

[Pia8988]

It will be interesting to see where the polling ends up between Ehrhoff and Liles.

Similar skillsets, both can play both sides.

While I think both have been solid, Liles for me has been a little bit better. I wouldn't mind at all seeing both here in some capacity.

Between the two, I think Ehrhoff is more suited for playing next to Krug. I also don't mind either. Liles would be a great 7th D for injury fill ins. I also expect waiver exemption will see O'Gara starts in Providence, but his play certainly shows he belongs. What a turn around 12 months can make on defense. The team looks in a much, much better spot than they did going into last season.

 

[nfld77]

Won't happen but I'd go.

Chara
Krug
Liles
Carlo
O'Gara
Ehrhoff

Keep the Millers around as the two spare D.

Find a new home for McQuaid ASAP.

Hurts me to say it as I've always been a supporter, but Morrow probably hits the waiver wire.

I could of wrote this cause everything he wrote is practically word for word the conversation I had with my son on the phone after game. Hey, you never overheard conversation did you, lol..

When the Bruins got Morrow as part of the Seguin trade, I said on several occasions Morrow would end up being the best player we got back..Damn, he looks so good out there on times but too many stupid turnovers or plain bad hockey IQ..

I said same thing, trade Quaider for peanuts but they cant because of his contract plus we're lacking toughness now although I think Backes will be the perfect Bruin{B style of play}..

Carlo belongs on the team now me thinks but as you said, he likely will go to Pro or sit in pressbox way too long. I expect opening night to be same as last season, unfortunately or as close as..

Chara, Krug, Liles, K Miller, Mcquaid, Ehrhoff..Maybe carry C Miller and Carlo as extra's.. I fully disagree as I think Carlo is ready now as well as Heinen and Czarnik up front!! Great game today. I had to keep reminding myself it wasn't regular season as it felt like opening night. Hope this gives Tuukku some confidence early cause last season, he was terrible out the gate as well as all the team.. Cheers Bruin friends!!

 

[nfld77]

Chara/Carlo
Krug/Ehrhoff
Liles/Kevan

McQuaid
Colin

Ehrhoff snags a 1 year deal. Morrow gets exposed to the wire. O'Gara goes down to Providence for some seasoning.

Between the two, I think Ehrhoff is more suited for playing next to Krug. I also don't mind either. Liles would be a great 7th D for injury fill ins. I also expect waiver exemption will see O'Gara starts in Providence, but his play certainly shows he belongs. What a turn around 12 months can make on defense. The team looks in a much, much better spot than they did going into last season.

Certainly agree but the problem comes down to the contracts handed out to Liles and Mcquaid. I think unfortunately that's enough to keep both of them in the lineup on a regular basis. But whenever Quaider gets hurt, Carlo comes out of the press box, worst possible place he can be for any limited time.

 

[nfld77]

My god what a scary looking bunch

Not as scary as last season is it?

 

[BigGoalBrad]

I send down Morrow and Colin and hope both clear waivers.


Keep 8 guys. Rotate one of OGara/Liles/McQuaid in as last guy.

Think its a good idea to try and get OGara 20-30 NHL games somehow. Hoping Carlo sticks period. Carlo is already better defensively than half the D men in the NHL. Might not be a lot of offense but he seems to know how to get his shot off and through traffic.

Z, Liles, and Krug should work with him.

 

[s3antana5757]

What I hope:

Chara/Carlo
Krug/K. Miller
Liles or Erhoff/C. Miller

That's not terrible IMO.

What I think happens:

Chara/McQ
Krug/K. Miller
Liles/Erhoff

 

[DKH]

My god what a scary looking bunch

Really??? Guess I'm wrong again

 

[Ratty]

Only need one of Liles/Ehroff. Same skill set. Liles has the nod because of his stint with the Bs last year.

Feel same as Bruin Dust re: Morrow.

Off their play in the pre-season, especially tonight when they were up against a formidable Flyers crew, O'Gara and Carlo stay for the time being, i.e. at least ten games.

Kevin M. is healthier at this point than McQuaid, so he stays.

C. Miller hangs in there as the seventh guy but playing more than he did last season.

 

[pierre gagnon*]

Only need one of Liles/Ehroff. Same skill set. Liles has the nod because of his stint with the Bs last year.

Feel same as Bruin Dust re: Morrow.

Off their play in the pre-season, especially tonight when they were up against a formidable Flyers crew, O'Gara and Carlo stay for the time being, i.e. at least ten games.

Kevin M. is healthier at this point than McQuaid, so he stays.

C. Miller hangs in there as the seventh guy but playing more than he did last season.

I pretty much agree with this and it looks to be way better than last year. Puck moving, quick decisions, pivoting, gap control is the new game on dee and unfortunately some of the long time Bruin warriors are going be weeded out. It has already has begun with Seids out. Going be a much more entertaining game to watch, too bad we are late to the party but it is coming. Colin, Carlo, O'Gara, Krug, Lauzon, Zboril, McAvoy, Lindgren, Arnesson, Johansson and even Sherman are going be in the mix in 2-5 years.

 

[Ice Nine]

Who should be our top 6 on opening night?

Chara
Krug
Colin Miller
O'Gara/Carlo
Liles
Kevan Miller

Who *will* be our D?

Chara
Krug
McQuaid
Liles
Miller
Ehrhoff

 

[Burt Reynolds]

My vote was them sending Carlo and O'Gara to providence because they don't require waivers. I'm guessing they're scared to lose assets for nothing in Morrow/C. Miller. I don't want Carlo or ROG to get sent down I think they can both be assets to this team.

 

[finchster]

Carlo has played 20 minutes a night or more in every pre-season game and looked good doing it. However, Carlo is 19 and probably needs some time in the AHL to become acclimated to the pro game. Carlo and Rob O'Gara will start in Providence; that's not a slight to them because injuries will happen on defence. I feel very comfortable with Carlo and O'Gara being the first defence call-ups and hope they can steal a job this year.

 

[PlayMakers]

Very tough call. I honestly don't know what I'd do.

I think I'd rank them...

Krug
Chara
Ehrhoff
Carlo
Kevan Miller
Liles
Colin Miller
McQuaid
Morrow
O'Gara

But how important is it to consider injuries and playoff depth? How many times do you see teams dealing for an Ehrhoff or Liles type at the deadline? If that's a consideration, then Carlo and O'Gara should go down so you can keep as many assets as possible. Is the gap between Carlo and say Colin Miller so big that it would be worth giving away Morrow?

 

[Tampbear]

I would run the preseason expected top 6 to start the year.

Krug-Killer
Chara-Chiller
Liles-McQuaid
Morrow

I would be doing everything I can to trade McQuaid and bring up Carlo who I think should be in our top 6 right now. I think Chiller brings offense to our back 5 that no one else is prepared to contribute, and has had a good preseason. I'm not sure I feel the need to have Ehrhoff sticking around, not because he hasn't looked good but because we have atleast 6 guys that look like they should be on the team. Even Providence has more guys close to the NHL if need be than we had last year.

 

[DKH]

Carlo has played 20 minutes a night or more in every pre-season game and looked good doing it. However, Carlo is 19 and probably needs some time in the AHL to become acclimated to the pro game. Carlo and Rob O'Gara will start in Providence; that's not a slight to them because injuries will happen on defence. I feel very comfortable with Carlo and O'Gara being the first defence call-ups and hope they can steal a job this year.

Well said

As Red Auerbach said its not who starts its who finishes.

March regulars likely given good health could find OGara & Carlo in the rotation and because we live in a 'bleep happens' world they could be sent down tonight and be in the home opener lineup on the 20th

 

[BruinDust]

Very tough call. I honestly don't know what I'd do.

I think I'd rank them...

Krug
Chara
Ehrhoff
Carlo
Kevan Miller
Liles
Colin Miller
McQuaid
Morrow
O'Gara

But how important is it to consider injuries and playoff depth? How many times do you see teams dealing for an Ehrhoff or Liles type at the deadline? If that's a consideration, then Carlo and O'Gara should go down so you can keep as many assets as possible. Is the gap between Carlo and say Colin Miller so big that it would be worth giving away Morrow?

Send one of O'Gara/Carlo down. Tough, tough call. There is a part of me that thinks keeping the 23 year old O'Gara up is a better option than a 19 year old Carlo. They've been even stevens with their play thus far, Carlo maybe more impressive physical tools, but O'Gara hasn't made many mistakes, and for my money has made less than Carlo. Just a less physically impressive, slightly more polished player. Hard decision.

Trade McQuaid before you get to a point where you can't move him with that contract. Love the guy but the Bruins don't have the luxury of waiting/hoping for him to get his game back to where it was pre-concussion. Nor do they need to.

Sign Ehrhoff to a one-year.

Keep Morrow and run with 8 D-men. Like you said you need depth. Remember the 2013 run they used 9 D-men before the 1st round was over. Let's be honest about Morrow, he's had a good camp preseason. It's just that some other guys have been slightly better. But it's not like a huge gap. And the Bruins have pile of cap space so carrying 23 players isn't a big deal.

Chara
Krug
Carlo/O'Gara
Ehrhoff
Kevan
Colin
Liles
Morrow

 

[neelynugs]

morrow has a one-way contract at 800k. a team would have to like him a lot to grab him on waivers. most clubs haven't been too interested in picking up NHL money for fringe guys, even those who have "upside". maybe he'll make it to providence and figure things out...

 

[DominicT]

Send one of O'Gara/Carlo down. Tough, tough call. There is a part of me that thinks keeping the 23 year old O'Gara up is a better option than a 19 year old Carlo. They've been even stevens with their play thus far, Carlo maybe more impressive physical tools, but O'Gara hasn't made many mistakes, and for my money has made less than Carlo. Just a less physically impressive, slightly more polished player. Hard decision.

Must be noted that O'Gara has been doing it playing his weak side as well. That's tough for a first year NHL'er even if you've been playing it your whole life.

 

[Tim Vezina Thomas]

Morrow to waiver wire and O'Gara to providence.

Chara K Miller
Krug McQuaid
Liles Carlo
Colin/Erhoff