Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread VII

[PlayMakers]

I would think there's another shoe to drop here. The Bruins didn't have to send Poitras down to put Geekie in the lineup.

They were both on the roster yesterday and we were $1.5m under the cap and heading towards $5.9m in deadline cap space. Sending Poitras down means we're now $2.4m under the cap.

So, are they trading for someone who makes $4.8m or less? Is there someone getting called up? Or are they trying to accrue more cap space (we're projecting $9m in deadline cap space now).

 

[LouJersey]

Shameful, that you did not appreciate the year he had last year. I might add he has been playing better the last few games, but let's not go there.

Was that the one goal in thirteen playoff games year?

 

[Aussie Bruin]

The plan is apparent. The division once again stinks. The goal is A2/A3, have 3-4 home play-off games added to your 41 sellouts and it's the Sinden era again

Merkulov is a PPG in Providence, but let go w Geekie. Lysell is an afterthought now with his injury (even if he's back they aren't calling him up) so lets go w Brazeau...and they sent one of their better playmakers down because Monty isn't happy with his "structure" and scratching him so they can go with Tyler ****ing Johnson.

It's called Bruins. Making playoffs every year is the primary goal and all else must be subservient to that. To give Sweeney credit, he's done a decent job turning over the list and transitioning from the 2010s core while keeping it at least vaguely competitive. There is obviously some long-term planning at work, in some tough circumstances. But all that is still compromised by the franchise's obsession with qualifying year in year out. Paucity of high draft picks and your prospect pool gets weaker and weaker, so then you're overpaying for external guys and JAGs and the challenge of staying competitive gets more difficult every season. The talented kids you do have get sacrificed or at least marginalised because you're always chasing points and there's limited room for development and growing pains.

Diminishing returns and an on-ice product that's becoming increasingly stale and staid. But here we are.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

Significantly worse? A complimentary player like Lindholm? No, his absence wouldn't make this team significantly worse. I'd say the same thing about Coyle. Your overrating Lindholm here. A slight downgrade in both cases. Neither guy make or break this team.

Last year your main 4 centers were Coyle-Zacha-Geekie-Beecher. Up to about a week ago 3 of the 4 were playing on the wing. Now Zacha has been put back in the middle and it's helped his game. Poitras just got sent down to Providence and that will open up another spot in the middle, probably Geekie.

I'm not over rating Lindholm. He's a solid 2C on any hockey team. You don't think so?
The problem is Bruins want him to be 1C and he's not that.

So you think the issue with this team is they are playing centers at the wing. Is that it? No offense, but I think that's absurd. The team is SLOW. That's the biggest problem.

 

[DiggityDog]

Honestly can’t decide which is more baffling

Poitras being sent down or Geekie being on the top line.

 

[Lord Ahriman]

I would think there's another shoe to drop here. The Bruins didn't have to send Poitras down to put Geekie in the lineup.

They were both on the roster yesterday and we were $1.5m under the cap and heading towards $5.9m in deadline cap space. Sending Poitras down means we're now $2.4m under the cap.

So, are they trading for someone who makes $4.8m or less? Is there someone getting called up? Or are they trying to accrue more cap space (we're projecting $9m in deadline cap space now).

Imo, they are working on something, therefore, squeezing some money by sending Potras down. I can't see other explanation because I can't recall they opting for just 12 forwards.

 

[Gee Wally]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/11/sports/bruins-power-play-charlie-mcavoy-hampus-lindholm/

In need of tapping into offensive mojo in a hurry, before no mojo morphs into no playoff invite, the Bruins Tuesday night in St. Louis will have Hampus Lindholm try to get the good vibrations going as the point man on the No. 1 power-play unit.

Delete Charlie McAvoy, the reluctant shooter, and insert Lindholm, who leads Bruins defensemen with three goals.

“I think he’s a person on our team who has some offensive confidence right now,” noted coach Jim Montgomery, his club 1-1-1 in the last three games and minus-12 in goal differential for the season. “Just want him to be direct. We find our power play’s been slow, so we just want him shooting puck or moving pucks quickly.”

The Lindholm-for-McAvoy swap occurred during Monday’s practice in Brighton, less than 48 hours after the Bruins went 0 for 2 on the power play in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Senators.

The loss at the Garden, in which the Bruins (7-7-2) did not land a shot in the third period, came on a night when McAvoy didn’t attempt a shot during his game-high ice time of 24:22 (including 3:27 on the man-advantage).

McAvoy, the club’s highest-paid (cap hit: $9.5 million) defenseman, paired with Mason Lohrei on PP2 Monday. Lindholm previously paired in the two-two-defensemen approach with Lohrei, but results across the board have been risible.

“I think he’s being a lot more assertive, with a shot-first mentality,” said Montgomery of Lindholm, who has already tied his goal output of last season. “In the other two zones [defensive and neutral] when he’s moving the puck, he’s moving it and joining [the play].”

In 179 regular-season games with the Bruins, Lindholm has scored twice on the power play.

He clicked 12 times with the Ducks, including a career-high in 2015-16. He does not fire a booming slapper, but has a knack for getting shots toward the net with quick-release wristers. Of late, he’s been more inclined to get involved down low, be it for shots, passes, or tips.

“I’m going to keep playing the way I’ve been playing — try to get pucks to the net, be a shooter, be a threat up there at the blue line, keep moving pucks quick,” said Lindholm.

 

[CellyHard]

Either a player like Frost change of scenery trade, or he could be part of deal added in.

I thought Frost would be a good swap but another guy I would take a look at is Jonatan Berggren in Detroit. He is awfully snakebitten right now but is getting chances and definitely has skill. He scored 15 goals in 22' season and tore up the AHL in the other seasons. He seems like a change of scenery type of guy.

Geekie gives them a center option on the 3rd line so Kasper can get reps on the wing (or time in the minors)

Maybe not the answer to all our problems but we could use more skill in our top six and I don't think he's going to get much of an opportunity doing that in Detorit, where he's been mostly used in the bottom six

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

Honestly can’t decide which is more baffling

Poitras being sent down or Geekie being on the top line.

They're going to tank

 

[Knight]

I would think there's another shoe to drop here. The Bruins didn't have to send Poitras down to put Geekie in the lineup.

They were both on the roster yesterday and we were $1.5m under the cap and heading towards $5.9m in deadline cap space. Sending Poitras down means we're now $2.4m under the cap.

So, are they trading for someone who makes $4.8m or less? Is there someone getting called up? Or are they trying to accrue more cap space (we're projecting $9m in deadline cap space now).

$9m in cap space will be perfect for taking on some ugly contracts when we're selling

 

[BruinDust]

I'm not over rating Lindholm. He's a solid 2C on any hockey team. You don't think so?
The problem is Bruins want him to be 1C and he's not that.

So you think the issue with this team is they are playing centers at the wing. Is that it? No offense, but I think that's absurd. The team is SLOW. That's the biggest problem.

I just don't think he pushes the needle one way or the other. Nice useful player to have in the line-up, complimentary guy, I like him. I don't think his absence changes the equation a whole lot, not a game-changing player.

I think the constant movement of guys to and from center hurts this team right now. You want familiarity down the middle of the line-up, especially if your incorporating new systems. It really hurts the D-men in the defensive zone not having familiarity with who the centers are on any given night. The 2 D and the C really have to be in sync in the defensive zone.

All that to say do I think that is the biggest problem? Not even close. You hit the nail on the head, the team overall is slow. Between the lack of speed and the lack of shooting ability, those are IMO the two biggest issues as far as roster composition goes. Bruins are just way to easy to defend. The other major issue is this team is still getting it's feet under them in terms of the systems they want to play. It's a work in progress.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Lindholm is like 1 of 4 offensively creative players on the team. He's been fine. He's a perfect block. He needs others like him around him.

 

[SPV]

I’d swap Koepke with Geekie, but otherwise I’m alright with the lineup. What I’d like to see is consistency in them though.

 

[HumBucker]

McAvoy is off PP1 and Coyle is back to 3C. Why aren't people happy?

 

[Aussie Bruin]

McAvoy is off PP1 and Coyle is back to 3C. Why aren't people happy?

Works for me. So does the proper 4th line being back together.

That top 9 still just looks so underwhelming. Really not much else that can be done about that though, barring some trades.

 

[The don godfather]

Will be fine no panic here.

 

[BruinDust]

Honestly can’t decide which is more baffling

Poitras being sent down or Geekie being on the top line.

I'm not sure why Geekie on the top line is such a shock to people. Numbers wise it was arguably their best line in last years playoffs. In 42 mins together 4 goals for, none against.

Guy had 40 pts. here last year. He's off to a slow start this year but you could say that about a number of guys.

Although you have to question the coach when he basically took anything that worked last year and said to hell with that, and tried to reinvent the wheel.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I just don't think he pushes the needle one way or the other. Nice useful player to have in the line-up, complimentary guy, I like him. I don't think his absence changes the equation a whole lot, not a game-changing player.

I think the constant movement of guys to and from center hurts this team right now. You want familiarity down the middle of the line-up, especially if your incorporating new systems. It really hurts the D-men in the defensive zone not having familiarity with who the centers are on any given night. The 2 D and the C really have to be in sync in the defensive zone.

All that to say do I think that is the biggest problem? Not even close. You hit the nail on the head, the team overall is slow. Between the lack of speed and the lack of shooting ability, those are IMO the two biggest issues as far as roster composition goes. Bruins are just way to easy to defend. The other major issue is this team is still getting it's feet under them in terms of the systems they want to play. It's a work in progress.

The amazing part to me is they seemingly made the moves they did to counter Florida. And it’s the exact opposite of how you do it. You need speed and skill and defensemen who can move the puck up the ice. The opted for Zadorov and any other player over 6’4 they could find - in Boston, Providence, and the draft.

 

[NeelyDan]

You only add to counter Florida’s style if you first are better than them at hockey - they’re not, lol

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

You only add to counter Florida’s style if you first are better than them at hockey - they’re not, lol

You also can’t counter rats. Everyone - including Bruins management - seems to think they’re the 2019 Blues. We just need to get bigger and tougher. But that’s not who they are. They’re fast, tall, skilled, and ratty. Theyre not “tough” in the traditional sense. Tough to play against? Mentally tough? Sure. But not tough the way people think of it.

But your point is 100% correct.

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

I’d swap Koepke with Geekie, but otherwise I’m alright with the lineup. What I’d like to see is consistency in them though.

Geekie is JAG/scrub. Invisible most nights.

Poitras needs to gain 25 lbs.

God, this team is weak.

Thanks, Donnie Harvard!

 

[BruinDust]

The amazing part to me is they seemingly made the moves they did to counter Florida. And it’s the exact opposite of how you do it. You need speed and skill and defensemen who can move the puck up the ice. The opted for Zadorov and any other player over 6’4 they could find - in Boston, Providence, and the draft.

The Lindholm signing I felt was partly a response to the Toronto series where outside of Game 1, they got destroyed in the face-off circle.

The rest of it, yup, done to counter/emulate Florida. Signings like Tufte and Jones. Even Koepke. Acquiring Kastelic. Drafting big Letouneau.

Zadorov was a direct response to Florida forecheckers and net front disturbers, in particular Bennett and Tkachuk. As if he is going to stop them.

You counter Florida by getting the puck out of the defensive zone quickly, and spending more time in the Panther zone so the Florida meat-grinder doesn't start to wear down your D-men and gain more and more momentum. Instead the Bruins lack of speed couldn't push back Florida D-men, and they had severe issues gaining the offensive zone. They couldn't get to dump-ins in time to get possession back. When they did gain the zone with possession Panthers took away their time and space.

 

[veganbruin]

No Charlie’s on the power play. There’s an easy coaching decision.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

I just don't think he pushes the needle one way or the other. Nice useful player to have in the line-up, complimentary guy, I like him. I don't think his absence changes the equation a whole lot, not a game-changing player.

I think the constant movement of guys to and from center hurts this team right now. You want familiarity down the middle of the line-up, especially if your incorporating new systems. It really hurts the D-men in the defensive zone not having familiarity with who the centers are on any given night. The 2 D and the C really have to be in sync in the defensive zone.

All that to say do I think that is the biggest problem? Not even close. You hit the nail on the head, the team overall is slow. Between the lack of speed and the lack of shooting ability, those are IMO the two biggest issues as far as roster composition goes. Bruins are just way to easy to defend. The other major issue is this team is still getting it's feet under them in terms of the systems they want to play. It's a work in progress.

I agree with everything except the "work in progress" part. This is Monty's 3rd year here and it's a veteran team. They should know what is expected and how to play his system. A few new guys (also veterans) shouldn't upset the entire framework.
I do think they ran a poor training camp and kind of went into the season just expecting to win games easily like last year and the year before but again, veterans should know better.
It's an unfortunate situation of many things going bad at the same time and many players either slumping or aging all at the same time as well. Offense has not been a strength for years and the league is just getting faster and faster. These teams filled with young guys are taking over.

 

[PlayMakers]

I agree with everything except the "work in progress" part. This is Monty's 3rd year here and it's a veteran team. They should know what is expected and how to play his system. A few new guys (also veterans) shouldn't upset the entire framework.
I do think they ran a poor training camp and kind of went into the season just expecting to win games easily like last year and the year before but again, veterans should know better.
It's an unfortunate situation of many things going bad at the same time and many players either slumping or aging all at the same time as well. Offense has not been a strength for years and the league is just getting faster and faster. These teams filled with young guys are taking over.

It did seem to me like they tried to change the Dzone system early on. There was so much confusion and guys were running around... it also seemed like things turned around (if you can call it that) when they went back to what they have always done. At least things settled down defensively. Still, there's an adjustment for Zadorov and Lindholm who came from more high pressure systems.

They definitely need some young guys. Young legs are huge in the regular season.