2017 Bruins Playoffs Odds II - Currently 74.1% chance of qualifying

[JRull86]

IF they don't make the playoffs again, I'm expecting a core player moved out. My money is on Krejci. Just makes too much money for a guy who on most nights lacks the intensity to get this team to the level they should be at. The frustrati part is we know how talented he is, when he decides he wants to be engaged.

Sweeney may have difficulty moving that contract, he maybe will need to take back a bad contract in return or add a mid round pick to entice a team. Of course this is not taking into consideration Krejcis NMC.

A shakeup will be needed is this becomes anothe DNQ, which looks very possible at the moment

Honestly, in terms of CORE guys, it wouldn't shock me to see Rask go. Krejci is a close second.

 

[Oates2Neely]

Honestly, in terms of CORE guys, it wouldn't shock me to see Rask go. Krejci is a close second.

I'm not on the "blame Rask" bandwagon yet. He's a top-5 goaltender with a stable blue line in front of him imo. Not to mention who replaces Tuukka if he's moved? This fan base has been spoiled for quite a while now, between Thomas & Rask, long gone are the days of John Grahame John Blue Jon Casey Manny Fernandez Jim Carey etc..

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I think we all would throw up but if Harry DOES have any say with JJ it could be discussed.

I wouldn't.

 

[BruinDust]

I'm not on the "blame Rask" bandwagon yet. He's a top-5 goaltender with a stable blue line in front of him imo. Not to mention who replaces Tuukka if he's moved? This fan base has been spoiled for quite a while now, between Thomas & Rask, long gone are the days of John Grahame John Blue Jon Casey Manny Fernandez Jim Carey etc..

Folks wanting to trade Tuukka rarely mention who will be manning the Boston crease if he does get traded.

A decade of Thomas->Rask has spoiled fans who forget the goaltending revolving door that was here from the end of the Moog era until Thomas arrived. An era of goaltending mediocrity that kept this franchise perpetually mediocre for over a decade.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Folks wanting to trade Tuukka rarely mention who will be manning the Boston crease if he does get traded.

A decade of Thomas->Rask has spoiled fans who forget the goaltending revolving door that was here from the end of the Moog era until Thomas arrived. An era of goaltending mediocrity that kept this franchise perpetually mediocre for over a decade.

The guy has one of or the worst save percentages in the league,he has become those other crap goalies.

 

[DKH]

Damn you've been taking posting lessons from Alberta_OReilly_Fan

ps: that's not a good thing

Ha ha

I'm on IR and my days consist of watching a lot of hockey, baseball, some NCAA basketball and lots of HF (you make some great points I borrowed a couple

Oh and wiping dog paws

 

[BruinDust]

The guy has one of or the worst save percentages in the league,he has become those other crap goalies.

Did you even see Jon Casey play?

How about Vincent Riendeau?

Blaine Lacher?

 

[EverettMike]

No, seriously, it is impossible this is happening again.

 

[Hali33]

No, seriously, it is impossible this is happening again.

To be fair, there's still a chance we might be out of it earlier this season.

Maybe it doesn't come down to the last game.

 

[JRull86]

I'm not on the "blame Rask" bandwagon yet. He's a top-5 goaltender with a stable blue line in front of him imo. Not to mention who replaces Tuukka if he's moved? This fan base has been spoiled for quite a while now, between Thomas & Rask, long gone are the days of John Grahame John Blue Jon Casey Manny Fernandez Jim Carey etc..

I get that, but in a cap environment, you can't be paying your goalie $7 million to be mediocre. He was phenomenal to begin the year, no question, but he has been downright horrible for almost 3 months now outside of a few games. It's not all Rask's fault where this team is at, but he needs to be better.


Really wouldn't shock me to see them try and move him, if only to get out from under that contract.

Let me also state fore the record, I'm not advocating trading him quite yet, as he is better than he's shown lately, and frankly who knows what their replacement would be. But from a teams perspective, I do think it makes some sense.

 

[Blowfish]

If they lose do the bruins through in towel and let the young kids develop? Sit the usual losers!

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

If they lose do the bruins through in towel and let the young kids develop? Sit the usual losers!

Na pressure from ownership won't allow for that. But I wonder what they do with some of the core around expansion time when lots of dealing is going to happen.

 

[northeastern]

Folks wanting to trade Tuukka rarely mention who will be manning the Boston crease if he does get traded.

A decade of Thomas->Rask has spoiled fans who forget the goaltending revolving door that was here from the end of the Moog era until Thomas arrived. An era of goaltending mediocrity that kept this franchise perpetually mediocre for over a decade.

There is nothing worse than watching a team without a competent goalie. Just think where the bruins would be if the backups didn't start so terribly.

Tuukka can't be moved unless a legit starter can be brought back before the season starts as we're completely and totally ****ed. And once other GM's see the bruins are desperate for a goalie do we honestly think Sweeney would have any other choice but to get destroyed in a trade or sign the best UFA who probably sucks?


Also 42% is pathetic. I'm not sure tuukka will move this offseason but I want a change this team can't win big games in the regular season. Imagine a game 7...

 

[BruinDust]

There is nothing worse than watching a team without a competent goalie. Just think where the bruins would be if the backups didn't start so terribly.

Tuukka can't be moved unless a legit starter can be brought back before the season starts as we're completely and totally ****ed. And once other GM's see the bruins are desperate for a goalie do we honestly think Sweeney would have any other choice but to get destroyed in a trade or sign the best UFA who probably sucks?


Also 42% is pathetic. I'm not sure tuukka will move this offseason but I want a change this team can't win big games in the regular season. Imagine a game 7...

Exactly.

The Oilers and the Leafs have exactly 1 combined playoff appearance in 20 attempts this past decade. One common denominator in that stretch was inadequate to awful goaltending.

Playing in front of awful goaltending is soul-crushing for players, especially young players.

Seems like a lot of people here want to go to that. Even in a rebuild scenario I want capable goaltending to support the young guys so that culture of losing and getting their butts handed to them night after night never materializes.

 

[Dellstrom]

If they lose do the bruins through in towel and let the young kids develop? Sit the usual losers!

Wasn't it made clear that if they didn't make the playoffs, they were going to clean house with management? Pretty sure that was the case early in the season.

 

[Coach Parker]

SOMEBODY in the executive office will go. JJ will look for someone like Brian Burke to come in and clean house. For what it is worth Mike O'Connell has been at TD this week watching games. He still lives in the area working for the Kings.

Is Sweeney safe? I don't think he knows. Cassidy will be in limbo until upper management is known.

There's a better option possibly on the horizon...

 

[Coach Parker]

The wild card is Cassidy but I would retain him and staff unless Bazen or Leeman or maybe Dean is so enticing but I'd start with him

My assessment based on ZERO emotion/overreaction/like ability or dislike of a player but considering contracts, positional depth, needs, & expansion

Here are the 5-6 players at each forward position and 10 -12 defenseman vying for Opening Night

C- Bergeron, Krejci, Spooner, Kuraly, JFK, Czarnik, Moore

1. They have to pay Ryan and he's got JFK coming this year and Frederic next or year after and his position on this team seems tenuous even short term. Everything I've seen watching Providence tells me Kuraly can be that Nate Thompson 4th line big tough hard strong skating bottom 6 guy

Moore a wild card - if Spooner goes he could be back

LW- Marchand, Vatrano, DeBrusk, Beleskey, Cehlarik. Gabrielle with a strong camp

1. Beleskey is likely immovable and is a good bet to have a bounce back if he stays out of Asia- if Vegas takes him that's fine but he's actually capable of being helpful if he can get healthy and hasn't lost a step - if he can't get from point A to point B he's done.

The Pasta/Beleskey trip to China could be titled Break Out & Break Down

RW- Pastrnak, Backes, Nash, Heinen, Acciari, Bjork*

1. Senyshyn likely would benefit getting an AHL year in for a number of reasons that would pay off down the road

DEFENSE- Chara, Krug, McQuaid, C Miller, K Miller, Carlo, McAvoy, Grzelcyk, OGara, Cross (OK I broke rule)

1. Lauzon & Zboril need to learn from Dean assuming he's still the coach of Providence

2. Morrow is gone and one of McQuaid, C Miller, K Miller should be in Vegas Baby!!!

GOALIE- Rask, McIntyre, Subban

1. I like both AHL guys and I'm not ready to go all Washington Wizards wearing black like I'm going to a funeral next Providence game I attend

Here are my projections and educated guesses that will be the team as the holidays hit

C- Bergeron Krejci JFK Kuraly WC - Moore

LW- Marchand DeBrusk Vatrano Blidh WC - Gabrielle

RW- Pastrnak Backes Heinen Nash WC- Bjork

D- Chara Carlo Krug McAvoy McQuaid O'Gara K Miller

G- Rask & McIntyre

I like Colin Miller but I think he's the sacrificial lamb and having 3 kids on the right side doesn't work. Rask needs a strong backup and I'm a believer in ZM

I'd still draft the goalie in Windsor or BU somehow

This is how I see it 3/25/17

Thanks for the assessment DKH!

Do you think Cassidy heads back to Providence after this intern?

 

[DitClapper]

Maybe the fact they wake up this am and actually are out of the playoffs will wake them up? That's what I'm hoping for. They still have time to turn it around. They have time to redeem themselves.

Plenty of time. This is not an impossible task. We are technically 'even' with TB and NYI in the standings + Toronto is not far off.

Just by looking at the last 3 seasons (including this one), there is plenty of reason for doubt.

 

[JRull86]

Thanks for the assessment DKH!

Do you think Cassidy heads back to Providence after this intern?

Considering he was an assistant to start the season, and PROV has a coach in place already, I'd say the chances of that happening are 0%

If Cassidy gets canned, he's in another organization if he stays in hockey.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Folks wanting to trade Tuukka rarely mention who will be manning the Boston crease if he does get traded.

A decade of Thomas->Rask has spoiled fans who forget the goaltending revolving door that was here from the end of the Moog era until Thomas arrived. An era of goaltending mediocrity that kept this franchise perpetually mediocre for over a decade.

How about the guy they trade him for?

B's had some decent teams with Dafoe in goal and Raycroft's rookie season.

The Hackett/Shields combo had to be the worst.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Did you even see Jon Casey play?

How about Vincent Riendeau?

Blaine Lacher?

Evgeni Ryabchikov?

Saw him play an exhibition game. Perhaps the Bruins worst ever first round pick.

 

[mark3361]

Exactly.

The Oilers and the Leafs have exactly 1 combined playoff appearance in 20 attempts this past decade. One common denominator in that stretch was inadequate to awful goaltending.

Playing in front of awful goaltending is soul-crushing for players, especially young players.

Seems like a lot of people here want to go to that. Even in a rebuild scenario I want capable goaltending to support the young guys so that culture of losing and getting their butts handed to them night after night never materializes.

There is a middle ground between paying $7 million for a supposed top 3-5 goalie and awful goaltending, and former Leafs and Oilers goalies have had success afterwards. I would absolutely move Rask if we could. Goalies are too erratic year to year on invest that much on one guy. I'd rather a cheaper 1a+1b setup and go with hot hand. Price and Lundquist are better than Rask and those teams havent won anything

 

[bruinmann77]

it looking like we might be missing the playoffs for a 3rd season with that elite prospect

 

[smithformeragent]

Did you even see Jon Casey play?

How about Vincent Riendeau?

Blaine Lacher?

Having grown up watching the constant goaltending and coaching carousel that was the Boston Bruins, the past decade has been the exception to the rule.

 

[GloveSave1]

Folks wanting to trade Tuukka rarely mention who will be manning the Boston crease if he does get traded.

A decade of Thomas->Rask has spoiled fans who forget the goaltending revolving door that was here from the end of the Moog era until Thomas arrived. An era of goaltending mediocrity that kept this franchise perpetually mediocre for over a decade.

Byron DaFoe was pretty darn good. But you have a valid point...

I think it's more about the losing/faceplant culture. And fragile Tuukka is first in line there. They've gotta address what makes this team fold under pressure. It's glaring.

When 2 teams really want it, the Bruins always come out on the short end.

I don't know, man...does Tuukka make some big saves each game? Yes. Does he allow some horrible goals/backbreakers? Yes. I don't see the big step down.

Fast forward. The goal is a championship. Would you feel comfortable with fragile upstairs Tuukka protecting a championship caliber team? Scary stuff.