Boston Bruins 2023-24 Roster and Salary Cap Discussion IX

[UncleRico]

This is so far from the reality of this board it’s comical.

Every loss is because of physicality. Catch up.

You’re really trying to say this board doesnt constantly blame refs in game day threads?

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

You’re really trying to say this board doesnt constantly blame refs in game day threads?

I would say game threads are a disaster and gleaning anything from them is stupid.

 

[HustleB]

Boqvist and Richard certainly provide a lot of speed together. Not sure to what end, but they will be fast. I'd have Richard in over Steen.

I’d certainly try it. I like Steen but he’s been pretty quiet out there.

 

[PB37]

I’m not necessarily buying that Poitras throwing that hit is the total cause of his injury. How about the many, many hits he had taken over the season? To me, that had to have taken a toll on the kid.

They wouldn't have sent him to play for Canada if he was dinged up. He was pretty clearly shaken up after he attempted to hit Durzi and didn't play the same since.

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

They wouldn't have sent him to play for Canada if he was dinged up. He was pretty clearly shaken up after he attempted to hit Durzi and didn't play the same since.

He was clearly shaken, but it didn’t look like much. Then again it’s hard to tell.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

He was clearly shaken, but it didn’t look like much. Then again it’s hard to tell.

Didn’t seem like you thought it was hard to tell if we’re being honest here.

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

Didn’t seem like you thought it was hard to tell if we’re being honest here.

I don’t follow? The play looked far from devastating, but freak injuries happen daily in every walk of life let alone the NHL.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I don’t follow? The play looked far from devastating, but freak injuries happen daily in every walk of life let alone the NHL.

You disputed that he got hurt on the play in question, no?

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

You disputed that he got hurt on the play in question, no?

I don’t know what you’re getting at.

 

[Tbaybruin]

Merkulov is one of those players who are good enough to dominate at the AHL level but not good enough to stick around in The Show.

Basically, he's Bruce Boudreau (when he was a player).....

He left school early and is a second year pro. I think he has huge NHL potential.

 

[TobanWest]

I don’t know what you’re getting at.

He's just doing what he does.

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

He's just doing what he does.

I don’t understand.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I don’t know what you’re getting at.

 

[UncleRico]

View attachment 816840

You disputed that he got hurt on the play in question, no?

Doesn’t look like they are disputing to me. It looks as though the OP said it wasn’t the total cause of the injury, just a culmination of hits until it finally gave way.

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

View attachment 816840

I never said he didn’t get hurt on that play. The countless times he was targeted before that couldn’t have helped. I still think that.

Doesn’t look like they are disputing to me. It looks as though the OP said it wasn’t the total cause of the injury, just a culmination of hits until it finally gave way.

Exactly.

 

[JAD]

I swear every loss is always on the refs. It’s never the bruins fault. Post season , regular season, doesn’t matter. The bruins didn’t lose because of how they played, they lost due to the refs or at least in part due to the refs!

Unreal Bruins fans have turned into Canucks fans in such a short amount of time.

Larry Robinson flat out said they targeted their smaller defensemen (then had three under 6 foot) and even took two suspensions. The funny thing about the series, when the Blues had their starting 20 they won 4 out of 5. Not having Miller and Grz IMO was the reason the Bruins lost.


Happened 50 minutes into the game and the Bruins had zero goals. That was probably the main issue with that gamgamethere

There are a number of reasons why the Bruins lost that series to St Louis ...

The slew foot that happened in game five that was not called - after 50+ years of watching Bruins hockey and all the other disappointments and missed calls throughout the years - that one non call robbed me of my joy for the game, not that one game alone, but the game of 'NHL' hockey battling for a championship. It changed the way I view and understand the game. I knew right there something wasn't right.

I use to live and breathe hockey, hockey was my passion I was obsessed with the game. That night I sat there staring at my TV in disbelief, there was no logical reason not to call a penalty. It was blatant - everyone saw it - including the referee. It almost appeared as though the ref knew he should call it, but knew he couldn't call it (and not because it wasn't a penalty).

I still watch hockey, follow along, still play mind games with coaching and GMing and what I might have done in such a situation with today's team or course of a game. But the emotional investment is gone. My passionate invested love for the game is gone.

For me, that non-call was the night hockey died.

Can someone please convince me that who ultimately wins is not heavily influenced by interests not always on the ice so as not to be obvious? Convince me that slew foot was not a penalty and that the referee truly didn't believe it was a penalty? Convince me that, that missed call, the blatant non-call did not dramatically alter the course of the game with time running out? Like many of you I can point out a hundred other reasons why Boston lost that series. And at this point it is what is. But for the life of me, I can not fathom one legitimate reason why that slew foot should not have been called.

 

[JAD]

I never said he didn’t get hurt on that play. The countless times he was targeted before that couldn’t have helped. I still think that.


Exactly.

Watch the video again. As Poitras is attempting to initiate the hit the opposing player is leaning downward towards his left. Poitras appears to attempt to check the opponent with the intent to continue to push him downward using his right side arm/shoulder while at the same time attempting to step around in front of him. Poitras appears to be little bit off balance during this possibly caused by the contact. The opponent drives upward with his left shoulder into Poitras right flank under his arm into his armpit at point of contact. It is a perfect storm for shoulder joint dislocation and thus connective tissue damage.

Granted prolonged or constant trauma to the shoulder could possibly result in micro- tears and inflammation somewhat weakening the area and potentially creating a heightened chance of more severe injury. However, there is equally the probability that considering the point of contact that this injury would has occurred in a structurally sound shoulder joint regardless.

 

[57special]

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.

Middleton would be a fantastic add for Boston. He has really stepped up in Spurgeon and Brodin's absence, playing top pairing with Faber. Has gotten smarter, and more efficient, and has been adding a bit of offense. Tough as nails, and can take on heavyweights if need be, though he is the sort of guy you want on the ice he is playing so well. Not a great skater, especially laterally, but good enough for rock n' roll.

Trouble is, he is signed for one more year at 2.5M. A team like MN who has one more year of cap hell(15M in penalties)needs player like him like they need to breathe, so I can't see Guerin(who loves players like him)trading him without the proverbial overpay.

 

[57special]

I think you're paying Lindholm 6.5mil specifically to play those tough minutes, go find me a guy that can play with McAvoy instead.

Middleton has been good with Faber, who is, essentially McAvoy jr. Ideally, he would be a middle pairing guy, being the "heavy" paired with a more skilled guy. He's a sort of happy assassin type.
He is only playing first pairing minutes with MN because of the injuries to Brodin and Spurgeon.

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

Watch the video again. As Poitras is attempting to initiate the hit the opposing player is leaning downward towards his left. Poitras appears to attempt to check the opponent with the intent to continue to push him downward using his right side arm/shoulder while at the same time attempting to step around in front of him. Poitras appears to be little bit off balance during this possibly caused by the contact. The opponent drives upward with his left shoulder into Poitras right flank under his arm into his armpit at point of contact. It is a perfect storm for shoulder joint dislocation and thus connective tissue damage.

Granted prolonged or constant trauma to the shoulder could possibly result in micro- tears and inflammation somewhat weakening the area and potentially creating a heightened chance of more severe injury. However, there is equally the probability that considering the point of contact that this injury would has occurred in a structurally sound shoulder joint regardless.

No matter what, I appreciate your efforts in replaying and dissecting the entire play like this.

 

[Dizzay]

Trade Gryz + Merkulov + Steen to Arizona for 2024 2nd round pick (they have three) and a 2024 3rd round pick (they have three) + Liam O'Brien. Nets us about 3.7 million in space and gets us back some draft capital for 2024. Merkulov becomes a regular on their team and they can attempt to re-sign Gryz and he can play in a top 4 role for them and provide some leadership.

Derek Forbort + 2025 1st for Jake Middleton

Mason Lohrei +John Beecher for Noah Hanifin(25% retained) re-signs immediately long term

Marchy-Coyle-Debrusk
JVR-Zacha-Pasta
Freddy-Geekie-Heinen
O'Brien-Boqvist-Lauko

Hanifin-McAvoy
Lindholm-Carlo
Middleton-Shatty
Wortherspoon

 

[bbfan419]

Trade Gryz + Merkulov + Steen to Arizona for 2024 2nd round pick (they have three) and a 2024 3rd round pick (they have three) + Liam O'Brien. Nets us about 3.7 million in space and gets us back some draft capital for 2024. Merkulov becomes a regular on their team and they can attempt to re-sign Gryz and he can play in a top 4 role for them and provide some leadership.

Derek Forbort + 2025 1st for Jake Middleton

Mason Lohrei +John Beecher for Noah Hanifin(25% retained) re-signs immediately long term

Marchy-Coyle-Debrusk
JVR-Zacha-Pasta
Freddy-Geekie-Heinen
O'Brien-Boqvist-Lauko

Hanifin-McAvoy
Lindholm-Carlo
Middleton-Shatty
Wortherspoon

Would not give up a 1st for Middleton, he is best suited as a 3rd pair D, also Hanifin, just wait and sign him as a UFA.

 

[Dizzay]

Would not give up a 1st for Middleton, he is best suited as a 3rd pair D, also Hanifin, just wait and sign him as a UFA.

With the Bruins gaining space next year, and being 1st overall in the NHL this season, you'd have to think that 1st in 2025 is really a 2nd. You overpay for Middleton because you get two playoff runs from him, at a very affordable cap hit, and he adds that element of nasty the backend has been missing. Its a lot but look at what you're getting

 

[bbfan419]

With the Bruins gaining space next year, and being 1st overall in the NHL this season, you'd have to think that 1st in 2025 is really a 2nd. You overpay for Middleton because you get two playoff runs from him, at a very affordable cap hit, and he adds that element of nasty the backend has been missing. Its a lot but look at what you're getting

The thing is though the Bruins have so little draft picks left, they can't afford to be dealing away more picks, unless part of a deal for a young star player they could somehow get, other than that, I would rather deal a roster player to rid some cap and add a prospect. if we could get Middleton and Duhaime for say one of Forbort or Gryz and then add in maybe Steen + Beecher , then I would do that, otherwise stay the course for this year.

 

[BruinDust]

Watch the video again. As Poitras is attempting to initiate the hit the opposing player is leaning downward towards his left. Poitras appears to attempt to check the opponent with the intent to continue to push him downward using his right side arm/shoulder while at the same time attempting to step around in front of him. Poitras appears to be little bit off balance during this possibly caused by the contact. The opponent drives upward with his left shoulder into Poitras right flank under his arm into his armpit at point of contact. It is a perfect storm for shoulder joint dislocation and thus connective tissue damage.

Granted prolonged or constant trauma to the shoulder could possibly result in micro- tears and inflammation somewhat weakening the area and potentially creating a heightened chance of more severe injury. However, there is equally the probability that considering the point of contact that this injury would has occurred in a structurally sound shoulder joint regardless.

Great post!

I think it also should be noted that when the contact is made, Durzi is a bit off-balance and up on one foot. It's not like he anticipated the contact, braced himself for the hit, and Poitras just hit a brick wall. Like you said it was a perfect storm.

Shoulders are amazingly easy parts of the body to injure. An awkward fall, hit the ice the wrong way, etc. It doesn't take very much sometimes from what I've seen over the years when it comes to hockey shoulder injuries. I've yet to encounter one where it was a result of multiple shoulder-to-shoulder hits causing wear-and-tear over time and eventually the dam broke. It's almost always been just something mild but awkward that caused it.