Boston Bruins 2023-24 Roster and Salary Cap Discussion V
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Dennis Bonvie
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The early part of his career his plus/minus numbers were good but he was portrayed by many here as a stiff that was just lucky in term of +/-. Not sure PDO was even kept then, surely no one here was using it.
Funny, those number pretty much reflect exactly what Miller's plus/minus numbers are.
2013-14 +20
2014-15 +20
2015-16 +15
2016-17 +1
2017-18 +16
2018-19 +8
2019-20 -1
Dennis Bonvie
Registered User
You're right, everything is wrong.
Team is too soft, too slow, doesn't show up too often, don't have each other's backs.
My only point was not showing up isn't one of the problems.
DKH
Worst Poster/Awful Takes
- Feb 27, 2002
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Yes 100%
He is tough
My concern is Marchand starts shit and scrum he gets tossed aside like a villain in a Marvel movie
I’d like 6th D like Bogosian or Schenn who are rugged and can drop em
CellyHard
Registered User
My biggest issue with the physicality of the team is the absence of an emotional response to a dirty play. It just doesn't make sense that those hits don't anger this team. They are just emotionless sometimes and I feel like they are roughing/tying someone up because they know they have to versus a genuine "I want a piece of that guy" sort of attitude.
Not only do they need to be initiating and dictating physical play more but their responses need to be more serious and my biggest concern is that since it's not natural that the team needs a shake-up. It's either you have that type of attitude or you don't. They need an infusion of more tough-minded guys, players who don't just accept those types of liberties and it needs to radiate throughout the lineup.
You know it's bad when you look for players this year who have demonstrated it and Heinen of all players last game comes to mind. You don't have to be the toughest guy on the ice but be fearless and unwavering.
Not only do they need to be initiating and dictating physical play more but their responses need to be more serious and my biggest concern is that since it's not natural that the team needs a shake-up. It's either you have that type of attitude or you don't. They need an infusion of more tough-minded guys, players who don't just accept those types of liberties and it needs to radiate throughout the lineup.
You know it's bad when you look for players this year who have demonstrated it and Heinen of all players last game comes to mind. You don't have to be the toughest guy on the ice but be fearless and unwavering.
Jorah Marshmont
Long may he reign
- May 10, 2012
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Good catch, guess he would slide in on the 4th line. I'd like a heavy banger for the 3rd pairing D too. Nick Seeler would be a good option for the 3rd pairing, plays a heavy game and isn't bad for his role.
Carl Hungus
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- Apr 20, 2022
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I'd have to imagine Toronto finds a way with Nylander. Would love him in Boston though
Ozzy Osbourne
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- Nov 14, 2023
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UncleRico
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- May 8, 2017
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It would depend on the quality of center they got in return. But for shits and giggles let’s say they get Elias Lindholm, I wouldn’t take any center out of the lineup. I’d move Zacha back to wing and heinen down to the 4th line with Beecher and Lauko.
So hypothetically
Marchand-Lindholm-pasta
Zacha-poitras-Debrusk
Jvr-Coyle-Frederic
Heinen-Beecher-lauko
UncleRico
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Short of buying out Tavares, which I don‘t know enough about, as to whether or not it would make sense…I can’t see how they can pay:
Matthews 11.6
Tavares 11
Marner 10.9
Rielly 7.5
and then Nylander whatever he’s worth…..likely 11 ish.
Even if he took 10, that’s like 50 million for 5 guys….leaving 30 million for the remaining 15/16.
Something has gotta give, you’d think.
Absolutely agree: You cannot teach or implore a player to be tough. 100% the best course is to draft for size, attitude and physicality.
I would only add that Sweeney is ultimately responsible for everything, and that includes a manifest failure to draft for the above.
Sweeney can do much about it. He has chosen -- chosen -- not to do jack.
As much as I loved the Lucic signing, and yes his presence would have made a difference, the idea that a single player with his attributes checks the physical box is nonsense. One guy -- Lucic or Frederic -- is not nearly enough.
Look at the Boston Bruins under Don Sweeney.
Look at the Boston Bruins under Peter Chiarelli, who never received the credit he deserved from this fan base.
Chiarelli built team toughness from the beginning of his tenure. It took about three years, tops.
Tell me Sweeney can't do much about it.
It's been EIGHT years.
Lack of team toughness is ENTIRELY on Don Sweeney.
He is congenitally unable and unwilling to address a very basic issue. So now we're left with, at best, a few minor additions through the trade market in season. Little can be done to thoroughly, properly remedy the lack "on the fly."
The whole thing pisses me off no end.
End rant. For now.
Sweeney was also a part of that management team with Chia, eventually becoming his right hand man.
I think there's been earnest efforts to infuse toughness into the lineup. I don't think it's been ignored like you suggest but they've had poor luck and/or scouting with the guys they brought in for that role. Rinaldo, Beleskey, Backes, Foligno, Lucic. In that era, the Bruins still had the likes of Chara, Miller, McQuaid and brought in guys who weren't fighters but played hard and tough as 4th liners like Wagner, Kuraly, Acciari. It's also a vastly different league and approach to team building then it was 10-15 years ago.
Oates2Neely
Registered User
Agree 100%. When I say there’s not much Sweeney can do, I mean NOW. If he wanted some truculence he would’ve had started drafting it 3-5 years ago. I don’t think that’s how he envisions the team. McAvoy Forbort Marchand have the mindset, not many more after that. Heck during the Chiarelli years even Tim Thomas was a badass
wintersej
Registered User
I mean Gabrielle, Zboril, Lauzon, Frederic, Lindgren, Lauko, Kuntar, Edwards and McAvoy, etc. He has drafted a guy with that mindset every single draft. Just a lot of them, like most draft picks, have not panned out.
Oates2Neely
Registered User
Whose fault is that? Lauzon looking like a player these days. Sweeney didn’t protect him. Why isn’t Lindgren here.
Big swings for finesse that never panned out.
Senyshyn (1st round)
JFK (2nd round)
Vaakaneinen (1st round)
Studnicka (2nd round)
Axel Anderson (2nd round)
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I understand and agree.
But this is not simply bad luck. The Bruins have not acquired nor drafted for toughness -- team toughness -- during Sweeney's tenure.
They let Acciari go, btw. Didn't think he was worth the raise.
If Sweeney truly prioritized team toughness and "pack mentality" we would have seen it a long time ago.
The fact that this is *still* an issue is all one need know.
DKH
Worst Poster/Awful Takes
- Feb 27, 2002
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I don’t like him - dumb as the day is long & makes to much
TobanWest
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- Jan 28, 2020
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The answer to this is hitting in my opinion. Finish checks is the main one. Also hitting hard with purpose. Not these sideways backwards fall into a guy kind of checks. Keeps defenders guessing and players on their toes. Creates turnovers. Creates a team identity of toughness that the Bruins preach and showed up last game. Don't necessarily need goons etc but players who play with a relentless forecheck and heavy hitting with purpose. Uncle Nick was good at it last year, Accari who also threw them was a good hitter as well. This year we have Charlie and that's about it. For me this is what it is. Having a Lucic is awesome but we all know that ships sailed. I feel caught in the middle of this topic as yes I want people who can cave players faces in but isn't much of a thing anymore. A team that won't back down, hits hard and always and sticks up for each other all the time is an identity if love to see. They preach it. Just need to see it more consistently.
TobanWest
Registered User
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This is how I feel most of the time. There winning most games so don't dare bring up thoughts on holes they may have. Do not discuss. Only praise
But, we just listed the players who have been drafted or acquired where toughness was part of their DNA as a player. Some of them didn't work out, some them priced out like Kuraly/Acciari. Some of them broke ( Backes, Foligno ) and one of them broke our hearts. I think some of it IS bad luck in that department.
I'd like a little more toughness too. But I think it's pretty short sighted to say they've done nothing to address the issue. A couple of other guys I didn't menton: Josh Brown, Jarrod Tinordi, two big guys who can drop the gloves but ultimately weren't good enough to be regulars and left as free agents.
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