Boston Bruins 2023-24 Roster and Salary Cap Discussion IX

[Dr Hook]

I'm gutted for Poitras. But that certainly solved one tough roster decision for Sweeney.



What do you base this on? Like being how you feel, what's your evidence?

Jacobs spent so much last year we had to push money into this year. I'm not sure a guy can spend more, lol.

Yeah, you can't accuse him of being cheap with on-ice product any more. He's given the green light to spend to the cap every season, and is fine with overages. He is still cheap about the arena: the Garden needs redemdial work to correct the ice but that is a massive expense and would shut it down for a while (based on what @Fenway has shared about the issues), so maybe even that is less cheap and just the only sensible thing at this point. Cramming more seats into an already edge of uncomfortable arrangement is also maybe cheap, but more profit hounding than anything. The narrative needs to be put out to pasture with the Harry Sinden stuff.

 

[Gee Wally]

Yeah, you can't accuse him of being cheap with on-ice product any more. He's given the green light to spend to the cap every season, and is fine with overages. He is still cheap about the arena: the Garden needs redemdial work to correct the ice but that is a massive expense and would shut it down for a while (based on what @Fenway has shared about the issues), so maybe even that is less cheap and just the only sensible thing at this point. Cramming more seats into an already edge of uncomfortable arrangement is also maybe cheap, but more profit hounding than anything. The narrative needs to be put out to pasture with the Harry Sinden stuff.

bingo!
pre Cap era there was an argument to be had. Not since in regard to player spending.

 

[Blowfish]

bingo!
pre Cap era there was an argument to be had. Not since in regard to player spending.

True ... i recall the bruins being one of the top 5 teams spending "pre-cap" They just weren't any good finding the right players.

Yeah, you can't accuse him of being cheap with on-ice product any more. He's given the green light to spend to the cap every season, and is fine with overages. He is still cheap about the arena: the Garden needs redemdial work to correct the ice but that is a massive expense and would shut it down for a while (based on what @Fenway has shared about the issues), so maybe even that is less cheap and just the only sensible thing at this point. Cramming more seats into an already edge of uncomfortable arrangement is also maybe cheap, but more profit hounding than anything. The narrative needs to be put out to pasture with the Harry Sinden stuff.

The ice thing drives this fan crazy..Fix the f g thing!

 

[Fenian24]

bingo!
pre Cap era there was an argument to be had. Not since in regard to player spending.

If it was an argument it was the JFK vs Nixon debate. When Harry was around to guard JJ's money they spent as little as they could.

They spend to the cap for players now, I'm sure if it was still like the old days and salaries were undisclosed the Bruins would be the cheapest team they could be.

 

[Over the volcano]

Yeah, you can't accuse him of being cheap with on-ice product any more. He's given the green light to spend to the cap every season, and is fine with overages. He is still cheap about the arena: the Garden needs redemdial work to correct the ice but that is a massive expense and would shut it down for a while (based on what @Fenway has shared about the issues), so maybe even that is less cheap and just the only sensible thing at this point. Cramming more seats into an already edge of uncomfortable arrangement is also maybe cheap, but more profit hounding than anything. The narrative needs to be put out to pasture with the Harry Sinden stuff.

Right?!? The investments on the ice have been all you can ask for. But, under and around the ice is a whole other story.

 

[Dr Hook]

The ice thing drives this fan crazy..Fix the f g thing!

IIRC, that would require a complete renovation of the Garden to locate the Ice Surface on the ground rather than some levels up as it is now. Maybe Fenway can post about that again as it is not so simple as fixing the ice plant as many of us long thought. It drives me crazy too, but I think it is what is.

 

[Gee Wally]

If it was an argument it was the JFK vs Nixon debate. When Harry was around to guard JJ's money they spent as little as they could.

They spend to the cap for players now, I'm sure if it was still like the old days and salaries were undisclosed the Bruins would be the cheapest team they could be.

’if’…….well it aint. The thing you can be sure of is fact of what theyve done since.

 

[goldnblack]

No team has won more hockey games than us in the last decade. Lol the spending myth.

 

[dafoomie]

True ... i recall the bruins being one of the top 5 teams spending "pre-cap" They just weren't any good finding the right players.

Bottom 5 payroll, top 5 ticket prices.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

The Bruins also invest heavily in their Strength and Conditioning, Support, and Analytics teams. And pay their coaches very well overall. Fish rots from the head though.

 

[BergyWho37]

believe this is the play where he initially hurt his shoulder, and it is him initiating contact with an unfortunate results. Sucks, and I'm as disappointed as anyone, but anyone acting like this is a direct result of a lack of toughness is just not being objective.

And I spent all morning complaining about the teams lack of response last night so I'm more then willing to hear arguments about this stuff, but lets be reasonable

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I think it started further back but yes this was the final straw ..

 

[GordonHowe]

Jacobs allows his management to overspend the cap year over year. How is that not a commitment to winning? It's not like there's an internal budget he's enforcing that's limiting the team.

Other franchises would kill for the consistency we've had. Sweeney has made some great moves to improve this team, including going all in last year to assemble a super team that frankly underperformed in the playoffs. That roster was absolutely stacked but it was ultimately the players on the ice that couldn't get it done.


People act like there's a simple recipe to win the Cup that our management is too blind to follow when the reality is the Cup incredibly hard to win and involves a crap load of luck, which is beyond the control of the management.

Yes. I realize Jacobs spends to the cap, and has since he got his hard cap.

I appreciate that -- I do -- but when I say he doesn't care about winning, I'm saying he cares about it only to the degree that the Bruins turn a handsome profit. I don't like him. Never have, never will.

I like Charlie, though, and I believe he cares about winning. He went to BC. He knows what people think of his father.

There is, of course, no easy or simple recipe for winning a Stanley Cup, not least because hockey is a game of mistakes, and almost every season in the playoffs, a team or two comes out of nowhere to beat a favored opponent. Round One against FLA springs to mind.

A necessary, critical and proven element of success in the playoffs and advancing to the finals is "team toughness." Wearing down the other club with a relentless forecheck, finishing checks, and creating anxiety going into the corners works.

You see that every year, too. It's no coincidence.

Ask the 2019 Bruins.

You may not value physical play. You may think a heavy game and physical intimidation are passe. You may not care if teammates play for one another and step up for each other. You may believe instilling an "All for one, one for all" attitude and culture is silly and naive.

That's your prerogative.

Those qualities matter a great deal to me. They are why I love the game as much as I do.

All credit to Sweeney for assembling a deep roster last season and then adding to it with excellent additions before the deadline. It didn't work out for several reasons.

Consistent excellence in the regular season over many years is commendable, and Boston's regular season record has been the envy of many.

But I am not talking about the regular season, and I'm not talking about other clubs. I'm talking about playoff results over Don Sweeney's nearly ten-year tenure as General Manager of the Boston Bruins. It is entirely legitimate to question those results, and the manner in which the Bruins have repeatedly failed to advance beyond the first or second round.

Much of the problem, in my view, can be traced to teams constructed for regular season success and ill prepared to confront the physical demands of playoff hockey. You know, when it matters most.

I'm sure none of this will change anyone's mind. Ultimately, the above is simply an opinion.

We can agree to disagree, respectfully.

 

[BruinsFanMike82]

 

[UConn126]

Richard is not the answer for any of this teams problems. Seems like a Chris Bourque type player. Great AHL producer, but not an NHL talent.

 

[TD Charlie]

I don't care if Jacobs ever checks another box score in his life. All that matters to me is the financial contribution. It's been maxed out for quite some time now, so he gets a passing grade.

 

[Sheppy]

Richard is not the answer for any of this teams problems. Seems like a Chris Bourque type player. Great AHL producer, but not an NHL talent.

Does he bring any sort of physicality or is he just a plug and play jag?

 

[Colt.45Orr]

We've won at least a round 4 times under Sweeney while being bounced in the first round only 3.

I mean to say that the 3 rosters that got bounced early all were missing the toughness needed to match their opponents.

 

[Roll 4 Lines]

Yes. I realize Jacobs spends to the cap, and has since he got his hard cap.

I appreciate that -- I do -- but when I say he doesn't care about winning, I'm saying he cares about it only to the degree that the Bruins turn a handsome profit. I don't like him. Never have, never will.

I like Charlie, though, and I believe he cares about winning. He went to BC. He knows what people think of his father.

There is, of course, no easy or simple recipe for winning a Stanley Cup, not least because hockey is a game of mistakes, and almost every season in the playoffs, a team or two comes out of nowhere to beat a favored opponent. Round One against FLA springs to mind.

A necessary, critical and proven element of success in the playoffs and advancing to the finals is "team toughness." Wearing down the other club with a relentless forecheck, finishing checks, and creating anxiety going into the corners works.

You see that every year, too. It's no coincidence.

Ask the 2019 Bruins.

You may not value physical play. You may think a heavy game and physical intimidation are passe. You may not care if teammates play for one another and step up for each other. You may believe instilling an "All for one, one for all" attitude and culture is silly and naive.

That's your prerogative.

Those qualities matter a great deal to me. They are why I love the game as much as I do.

All credit to Sweeney for assembling a deep roster last season and then adding to it with excellent additions before the deadline. It didn't work out for several reasons.

Consistent excellence in the regular season over many years is commendable, and Boston's regular season record has been the envy of many.

But I am not talking about the regular season, and I'm not talking about other clubs. I'm talking about playoff results over Don Sweeney's nearly ten-year tenure as General Manager of the Boston Bruins. It is entirely legitimate to question those results, and the manner in which the Bruins have repeatedly failed to advance beyond the first or second round.

Much of the problem, in my view, can be traced to teams constructed for regular season success and ill prepared to confront the physical demands of playoff hockey. You know, when it matters most.

I'm sure none of this will change anyone's mind. Ultimately, the above is simply an opinion.

We can agree to disagree, respectfully.

Well written post!

 

[Fenian24]

Does he bring any sort of physicality or is he just a plug and play jag?

5'10 176 6pim in 15 NHL games. Plug

 

[Sheppy]

5'10 176 6pim in 15 NHL games. Plug

Classic.

 

[The don godfather]

Any cheap centers out there? Tyler Johnson?

 

[Gee Wally]

 

[Dizzay]

We need to trade/demote Gryz and Forbort asap! Having to call up the likes of Richard over Merk, Lysell, Beecher is straight up dumb!

 

[bob77]

So Poitras to LTIR for the remainder of the season?


Middleton is my dream deadline add. Would really improve the backend and add some physicality. He's the player we all hoped Forbort could've been here.

Forbort has to be playing hurt somewhat. How hurt, who knows? HIs leg has been bad all year probably. and the game where he didn't kill penalties after getting the roughing call with the other dude, he could be seen holding his hand in the penalty box. He didn't play the next game, and everyone assumes it is his leg again. But could be more.... The real question about Forbort, is should he be in the lineup if he is somewhat hurt. They even must have been playing Poitras and Gryz somewhat hurt also. A pro hockey player will play hurt. This isn't soccer or the NBA. It will impact their play though.

 

[Mione134]

Damn.

I didn't realize we were up against the cap like that.