He or Carrier are the only guys that make sense to me. Maybe Cody Glass if Sweeney wants to role the dice on another young, former top 10 pick that's struggling, but even then where does he fit once Poitras is back?
Boston Bruins 2023-24 Roster and Salary Cap Discussion VI
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Mick Riddleton
Tariffs-With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemas
- Apr 24, 2017
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Fabbro has 2 goals, rather have Lauzon he is only 2 pts behind him and is tougher.
If anything maybe he means Forsberg, who was a player of interest in the summer. Ryan O'Reilly is 2nd on the team for pts at 27 and with 13 goals.
AngryMilkcrates
End of an Era
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UncleRico
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- May 8, 2017
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BigGoalBrad
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- Jun 3, 2012
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I remember being laughed at for thinking he had to be a better playoff option than Forbort, Cliffy, and Griz last spring. Those guys and Ullmark got us eliminated.
BigGoalBrad
Registered User
- Jun 3, 2012
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He’s not playing a game for us again.
His injury wasn’t healing as quick as expected and even if the off ice thing hadn’t happened we may have struggled to get 40 games from him.
I have to imagine we cut him loose in the summer quietly and he can see if another team wants to take a chance. These things typically end in charges being dropped but even they are the optics are terrible he’s just going to be a former player none of us talk about.
And it's not like he is 28 anymore. He is already on the tail end of the career. I'd be surprised if he plays again in the NHL, which might have been true anyway after this season aside from the personal stuff.
I'd prefer to see what happens with his family and court before rushing to judgement. If everything's dropped it may turn out to be a good move to keep him. Talk about the dangers of alcohol abuse and domestic violence. Public service announcements all over. Might help some folks realize if it can happen to a big tough guy like Looch it can happen to anyone.
Gonzothe7thDman
Registered User
wintersej
Registered User
Excuse the novel.
So let's talk the D. First let's start out by saying that in the last 20 years, the Bruins have allowed the fewest goals per game in hockey. Over the last 10 years, too. And over the last 5 years, too. Over the last season and a half, too. This year they are 5th. The expectations for D in this market are high.
In the Chara days the Bruins gave up the blue line, played big, and boxed out. They relied heavily on their centers on puck retrieval and getting the breakout going and many times would have to have the wingers sag lower to help on transition (or just dump it on out to center ice). They sacrificed offense for defense. They could struggle against fast skilled teams (which maybe we forget because of 2011) and as the league started to change they would see their goals allowed go from 2nd to 8th to 19th. It just wasn't working anymore. Part of it, of course, was the horses breaking down, but also teams were just getting too damn quick and attacking too efficiently as a 5 man unit and the Bruins style was going the way of the dodo.
As they transitioned to the McAvoy era they became a team that relied on quick ups to prevent them having to defend as much. "New age" defending. Transitioning quickly. Cutting off plays at the blue line and the red line. Best defending is not defending. Etc... Since McAvoy joined the team they have been a top 5 defensive unit every single year and, of course, have been the best team at preventing goals in the NHL in that time period. It led to the evil Matt Grzelcyk to have the third best +/- in the whole league since his rookie season in 2017-2018 at +124 (and McAvoy to be #1). That’s a big ass sample size.
But yeah, it's not working as well this season. Them being 5th in goals allowed is more about their goaltending (and PK when Forbort is in the lineup, at least). So why?
1. Patrice Bergeron
Guess what. The best defensive center in our lifetimes was doing something. He was amazing at being the third guy in and digging out the puck to gain possession when they played the big and slow style and he was amazing at disrupting plays in center ice to support the quicker more aggressive D in the new style of defending. They miss him. A lot.
2. Big physical aggressive forechecks are back in vogue.
Teams have kind of figured out that the best way to attack these teams that are so good at moving the puck is not to regroup but to double down on forechecking and force errors. This is especially true if the team doesn't have the firepower to make you pay for being overaggressive...
3. The Bruins forwards aren't good between the blue lines
Someone like Gryz has historically been great at getting back quick and getting it into the hands of the forwards. But, like a QB with shit receivers, if you are getting the puck up to guys who turn it over in center ice, it's not going to work (I'm not putting all of Gryz's struggles on the receivers, he has developed Mac Jones decision making this year, too. But, fair to question the chicken and the egg). Last year, the Bruins had a forward on each of the top three lines that was a menace between the blue lines. Bergeron defensively. Krejci and Hall in their ability to transition the puck. Now the team sucks between the blue lines. They are slow. They have to try to complete 42 little passes to get from one end of the ice to the other and they are much more rarely getting turnovers and quick counter attacks (oh how DeBrusk is missing those quick counterattacks). Not only are there more teams looking to play a heavy forechecking game, but the Bruins don't have players that can make you pay on the scoreboard for not getting back on D. I hate to go back to the football analogy, but the Bruins are like a team with shit receivers you know has to pass on 3rd and long. And teams just send allll the pressure.
So now what? Do you rebuild the forward group into one that plays dump and chase instead of trying to enter with control? Do you completely tear down the D like you did 10 years ago and rebuild it into a team that defends by defending instead of trying not to defend? Or do you keep the current philosophy and try to make some personnel tweaks? Maybe replace Gryz with someone who can still move the puck, but is more comfortable defending? Maybe get some more speed/skill in the forward lines and get better between the blue lines? And what og these things can happen before this years deadline and what will have to wait?
It’s going to be an interesting period next 15 months or so. Personally, I’m sympathetic to the lessons learned by getting beaten by Chicago and Tampa via skill more than the lessons learned from being beating by STL and Florida beating you with toughness. But, I do hear the toughness crowd that you can’t just rely on trying to out skill all your problems, especially when you don’t have nearly as much skill on the roster.
Personally, I would put the fixes in the following order if priority:
1. A 1st line play driver. If it’s a poor man’s Bergeron like Lindholm, fine. If it’s more of a speedy skill guy that can help them transition from blue line to blue line that works, too. Or even a true top six version of Coyle that can help pin the bad guys in their own zone. A center is preferred but it could be the right winger, too. Honestly, the style doesn’t matter as much as someone that can get them to defend less often and put them in a position to make the other team pay. This one is obvious and easier said than done.
2. If I told you that Marchand only has three more points than DeBrusk away from the powerplay would you be surprised? Both those guys need to get going. If fixing 1 doesn’t solve Marchand and DeBrusk’s woes, well then you need another top six forward. Would be awesome if it was a unicorn type that also could bring the hammer, but those goes are rare. If you get here it starts being fair to ask if the whole forward group needs to get blown up like the D was 10 years ago.
3. Move on from Gryz. Ideally we are talking about someone that can still move the puck, but has the size to actually defend when he has to as well. I’ve always been a Gryz guy, but with a less strong team around him you aren’t taking advantage of what he is good at as well and you are going to start magnifying his flaws. And he doesn’t have the game you want to invest in into his 30s. Maybe this is a Hanifin. Or maybe it’s someone with more nasty that is “good enough” for the top 4. Certainly very different angles here.
4. They need better crease clearers. Forbort, Carlo and Lindholm all play a similar defensive game. Positionally sound and hard to get around when you are carrying the puck. Lorhei’s upside is that kind of game, but it’s doubtful he will ever be as good as those guys at it. But, all these guys are inconsistent at clearing the crease and it has been not a small part of their issues with holding late leads and defending against teams with desperation. Maybe you can solve three and four together, but guys that are tough and nasty and good enough to either play with McAvoy or Carlo are hard to pry away.
It’s going to be an interesting time. We are lucky that even in the transition years we get to see playoff games. But, I think we will see more playoff games if this team starts playing the desperate underdog instead of playing as the favorite. Them being 3rd or 4th in the division would probably be better for that.
Problem is, all the other teams have problems, too, which I think we forget.
Edit: they also need some guys upfront that are more hammer than nail.
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quietbruinfan
Salt and light
Lauzon is clumsy and a turnover waiting to happen. HARD NO!
quietbruinfan
Salt and light
Carrier is young and too talented to be traded just yet imo. Read something to that effect recently too, but can't remember where. Can't find anything. ...If it's Barrie, Sweeney should be summarily fired. Glass, or any center, is a possibility at this point.
wintersej
Registered User
Those Detroit teams didn’t have a new core of Pasta/McAvoy/Swayman they had guys like Helm and Jimmy Howard as their “young guys”. Those Detroit teams were more like the Penguins or Caps.
It’s just as likely that it’s Barrie as Sweeney is secretly using Putin as his puppet to attack Ukraine. It’s not even worth mentioning it’s so insane.
CellyHard
Registered User
I think there are two glaring issues with the team right now. One being a lack of offensive talent and two being team toughness (especially defensively)
If you look at the forwards it’s pretty simple we have too many 3rd liners.
1st line caliber: Pastrnak
2nd line caliber: Marchand, Zacha, Coyle
3rd: Poitras, Heinen, JVR, Geekie, Frederic, Debrusk
We know Zacha works well with Pasta and can hack it up there but we still need a 1st line LW/C and a 2nd line RW (it really is a shame the year JD is having)
xxx Zacha Pastrnak
Marchand Coyle xxx
I’m not sure if they are banking on Poitras being that guy in the future or if Lysell can make a fast jump but however you want to paint it we need two top six players
If you look at the forwards it’s pretty simple we have too many 3rd liners.
1st line caliber: Pastrnak
2nd line caliber: Marchand, Zacha, Coyle
3rd: Poitras, Heinen, JVR, Geekie, Frederic, Debrusk
We know Zacha works well with Pasta and can hack it up there but we still need a 1st line LW/C and a 2nd line RW (it really is a shame the year JD is having)
xxx Zacha Pastrnak
Marchand Coyle xxx
I’m not sure if they are banking on Poitras being that guy in the future or if Lysell can make a fast jump but however you want to paint it we need two top six players
CellyHard
Registered User
Would anyone consider moving Debrusk for Kuzmenko? He makes 5.5 so there might need to be another small move to make. He’s also still on the hook for that next year
The shooting percentage he had last year is obviously unsustainable but he’s still a really special talent and appears to be available. People also think he’s a perimeter player but he eats in front of the net.
His biggest issue is his play without the puck…backchecking and being F1 on the forecheck. Im not sure if that’s coach able but playing with a guy like Marchand who’s great in that area might be a good compliment. I’m just ready to see anyone else in the top six rather than JD at this point
The shooting percentage he had last year is obviously unsustainable but he’s still a really special talent and appears to be available. People also think he’s a perimeter player but he eats in front of the net.
His biggest issue is his play without the puck…backchecking and being F1 on the forecheck. Im not sure if that’s coach able but playing with a guy like Marchand who’s great in that area might be a good compliment. I’m just ready to see anyone else in the top six rather than JD at this point
quietbruinfan
Salt and light
Coaching is also an issue, and while few of us are talking about it, it is becoming apparent to most of us....just sayin. You are right on otherwise.
Trenin and Lauzon for Debrusk plus someone.
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wintersej
Registered User
I would very much like Lauzon back
Trenin would be sweet too. Maybe Michael McCarron, former habs 1st rd is huge, plays tough, and has 5 goals on their 4th line
Trenin would be sweet too. Maybe Michael McCarron, former habs 1st rd is huge, plays tough, and has 5 goals on their 4th line
Shaun
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- Oct 12, 2010
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if hanifin is a lock that makes this season easier to swallow. just add him and a center.
Renaud Lavoie of TVA has written that many teams are shying away from dealing for the blueliner because it is well known Hanifin wants to come home and play for the Bruins.
“The thing with Hanifin is, he’s been on the market, if I’m not mistaken, for the last two years. But the problem is, everyone knows that he wants to play for the (Boston) Bruins. So, no one’s ready to make that move, because that connection with the Bruins is there. It kind of handcuffs everyone, because they all know that at one point he’ll sign with (Boston). So, it’s a tricky situation for him.”
Renaud Lavoie of TVA has written that many teams are shying away from dealing for the blueliner because it is well known Hanifin wants to come home and play for the Bruins.
“The thing with Hanifin is, he’s been on the market, if I’m not mistaken, for the last two years. But the problem is, everyone knows that he wants to play for the (Boston) Bruins. So, no one’s ready to make that move, because that connection with the Bruins is there. It kind of handcuffs everyone, because they all know that at one point he’ll sign with (Boston). So, it’s a tricky situation for him.”
Mick Riddleton
Tariffs-With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemas
- Apr 24, 2017
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Fabbro the guy a few here wanted over Mac in the draft has been very ordinary and soft as warm butter. Lohrei and Shatty have a better point-per-game total than him this year. Why bother with small sideways moves, that's not going to change anything.
Go big, Forsberg was talked about a lot in the summer and he would be a positive move. They need to get tougher and find a Bergeron replacement. Most likely it happens after this year when the cap is our friend. Hanifin will be available without giving anything up.
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wintersej
Registered User
If you look at Nashville I think it’s more likely you are looking at DeBrusk for Trenin and a D than Forsberg. They need more offensive forwards, not less. Gustav Nyqvist if their 2nd best offensive winger now.
The don godfather
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