Boston Bruins 2023-24 Roster and Salary Cap Discussion VI

[SwayHeyKid]

But it’s just not true. He’s 20. He’s learning. He’s not selfish and he’s not stubborn. He’s developing. This narrative is getting tired.

Is it still a narrative when his coach is calling him out for being selfish?

I would let him be him if it were me

His coach just called him out for not playing a team game.

Maybe he doesn't know much about the situation that's right under his nose (authority). But he felt the narrative was in need of addressing in public, suggesting internal efforts were not working.

Agreed how many players get called out like this? It’s obviously an issue unless someone in the seats knows better than the coach

 

[IveGotToBeMe]

If it were up to me, I'd give Lysell a shot with the big team. Let's see if there is anything there. Sometimes certain players need to "play up" to be motivated. It's not as though we couldn't sit Brown for a game or two to try it out. Let's face it, the scoring is not setting records right now. When 75% of your lineup is at less than .5 points per game you might want to take a couple of fliers and see if something works. If it doesn't you're no worse off and you can plan what you do with Lysell next.

 

[Mione134]

Brown is already not playing.

Shhhh. Don't give them any ideas

 

[BruinDust]

I don't know where to poke this so I'll post it here.

Last night, Jeremy Lauzon played 20 mins, posting one goal and nine hits.

After 29 games and almost 24 mins a night, Hampus Lindholm has one goal and nine hits.

 

[wintersej]

If they would like to employ Matt on the wing in a crunch, fine.

But he is a center if I ever saw one. They had better not mess with that.

In 2023/24 NHL hockey the forwards are position-less in the offensive zone. It doesn’t matter there, the wingers and centers are all over the place. He can go be “Marner-like” at wing or center in the offensive zone. 20 years ago, Marner would be a center, but now you can be a playmaking wing just as effectively.

It’s obvious that Poitras’ head is going to play well in the neutral zone and he is a center long term. He is obviously smart and has a good stick in passing lanes and pays attention to detail and all that. It’s also obvious that while he has done a good job with winning puck battles with raw effort and positioning that as we get later in the season and the physicality and effort ramps up that he is going to get dominated around the net on the D zone.

 

[JayMark]

I don't know where to poke this so I'll post it here.

Last night, Jeremy Lauzon played 20 mins, posting one goal and nine hits.

After 29 games and almost 24 mins a night, Hampus Lindholm has one goal and nine hits.

So should we trade Lindholm for Lauzon then?

 

[CellyHard]

Bruins should really consider putting Geekie on the top line. Zacha and Pasta are so good together they just need someone to do the dirty work, battle for loose pucks, play defensively, bang home rebounds, etc.

I feel like Marchand is drowned out up there. I would much rather see him have his own line versus competing with the Pasta show like we saw from last night. They both drive play, they should split them up.

Zacha Geekie Pastrnak
Marchand Coyle Debrusk
JVR Frederic Heinen
Lauko Beecher Steen

Give this a few weeks before Poitras comes back.

Lastly, Elias Lindholm would be dynamite here on the top line.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

So should we trade Lindholm for Lauzon then?

Yes, absolutely.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

So should we trade Lindholm for Lauzon then?

Why would they want Lindholm?

 

[dugg133]

Kinda flying under the radar, but Marchand has really been struggling at 5v5 so far. Like Debrusk is the coldest man alive right now, and even he has more 5v5 points then Marchand. Far and away our least efficient top 9 forward, less efficient then Beecher even. Idk what the solution is rn, I thought the easiest thing was for them to put him next to Poitras for a stretch and get him easier mathcups for a while, but can't do that anymore. If it were me, I try this:

Debrusk-Zacha-Pasta
JVR-Coyle-Freddy
Marchand-Geekie-Heinen

The Debrusk-Zacha-Pasta line has excellent numbers in like 50 min together, go back to it and hopefully get Debrusk feeling better about himself by racking up some assists at the very least. Coyle has like 2 points in his last 11 games, get him going by putting him by with guy you know he works well with. Then let Marchand be the man on a line that should get some easier matchups away from Pasta.

 

[TobanWest]

So should we trade Lindholm for Lauzon then?

Ya that's what he said
I personally would trade Lindholm and Gryz.
Lauzon would be nice addition to the third pairing and Hanifin to the first.

Hanifin McAvoy
Lohrei Carlo
Shatty/Forbort Lauzon

 

[BruinDust]

So should we trade Lindholm for Lauzon then?

Nope. But it displays a lack of physicality from a 6'4 224 lbs. D-man that is concerning. Maybe he's playing injured.

 

[JayMark]

Why would they want Lindholm?

Why do the Bruins want Lindholm is a better question?

 

[Sheppy]

I thought Lindholm was fantastic up until March last year and he hasn't been the same since.

 

[Number8]

Welllll I keep hearing this is great because he can get his confidence back????

So what's the point of him going again? Im confused.

If he stinks they send him back to Jrs when this Xmas tournament is over

He is here for the year. Juniors boat has sailed.

 

[GordonHowe]

In 2023/24 NHL hockey the forwards are position-less in the offensive zone. It doesn’t matter there, the wingers and centers are all over the place. He can go be “Marner-like” at wing or center in the offensive zone. 20 years ago, Marner would be a center, but now you can be a playmaking wing just as effectively.

It’s obvious that Poitras’ head is going to play well in the neutral zone and he is a center long term. He is obviously smart and has a good stick in passing lanes and pays attention to detail and all that. It’s also obvious that while he has done a good job with winning puck battles with raw effort and positioning that as we get later in the season and the physicality and effort ramps up that he is going to get dominated around the net on the D zone.

I don't know how prominent or lasting the "position-less in the offensive zone" thing will be. I haven't thought about it for a while but the prediction from some is that's where the NHL game is going.

FWIW, I wish they would bring back the red line.

Matt will learn a great deal about what it takes to stick in the NHL. It's a steep curve, but as you say, he's a bright guy.

Conor Ryan and Evan Marinofsky make the point that Poitras is learning about the grind, the travel, the physicality, the fatigue, etc., and that experience should prove invaluable in his development. He'll learn proper nutrition, training, rest, and all of that.

There's a lot to take in and this is just the beginning. World Junior's and "load management" should also prove helpful in that regard.

 

[Rydan]

They really need a defenseman who can take some of Forborts 80% D zone starts... its pretty telling how important he was.

 

[dugg133]

They really need a defenseman who can take some of Forborts 80% D zone starts... its pretty telling how important he was.

Forbort average 14 min a night at 5v5 on 29% ozone starts. Wotherspoon last night played 14 min at 5v5 with 25% ozone starts. He basically took Forbort's exact 5v5 deployment and won his match ups.

 

[wintersej]

I thought Lindholm was fantastic up until March last year and he hasn't been the same since.

Yeah he hasn’t been that guy that was as good as McAvoy, but his salary is closer to Carlo’s than McAvoy’s, too. As a Carlo with better but not amazing offensive skills he has performed in line with his contract. Will that be the case in a few years?

 

[dugg133]

Yeah he hasn’t been that guy that was as good as McAvoy, but his salary is closer to Carlo’s than McAvoy’s, too. As a Carlo with better but not amazing offensive skills he has performed in line with his contract. Will that be the case in a few years?

I think so. He's always been a guy that's been in crazy good shape, even during his draft combine he was lapping the field during VO2 testing. Add in that he's not an overly physical player and more relies on his skating and positioning to make good defensive plays, and I think he's gonna age very well. Just need to accept he might not be that true 1D he was last season ever again, but is still a very good #2.

That being said he's better offensively then he's shown this season, still need more then this.

 

[Rydan]

Forbort average 14 min a night at 5v5 on 29% ozone starts. Wotherspoon last night played 14 min at 5v5 with 25% ozone starts. He basically took Forbort's exact 5v5 deployment and won his match ups.

guess the defense is all good then.

 

[dugg133]

guess the defense is all good then.

i mean no, but the issue with the defense is that Gryz isn't playing like a top 4 defenseman right now, not that they desperately miss forbort.

 

[Sheppy]

i mean no, but the issue with the defense is that Gryz isn't playing like a top 4 defenseman right now, not that they desperately miss forbort.

Grzelcyk isn't a top 4 d-man anyway.

 

[dugg133]

Grzelcyk isn't a top 4 d-man anyway.

i don't feel like having this debate rn, but he's not elevating McAvoy like he has in prior years and that's a problem.

 

[IveGotToBeMe]

Brown is already not playing.

Understand that but he's next in line...