Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread VII

[wintersej]

I thought that with the team emphasizing size more it would at least be a more fun team to watch.

My brain questioned putting money into Zadorov instead of the forward group.

My heart was like "at least it will be fun!"

But now they are not fun or good.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

I think fans have wanted Frederic to be something he's not from Day 1. Well, maybe Day 2. That first year Frederic gave fans what they wanted, but I think Frederic used fighting to get into the league and then once here he focused on trying to become a good hockey player, a player like Coyle. I think he's done that and I think fans hate him for it.

At this point, you've got 1 year of the guy who goes after Wilson and 3 years of the guy who is trying to be a solid two-way player, who hits and isn't afraid to fight but also isn't a tone setter. Last year's playoffs he was the two-way player, not the tone-setter. I think the two-way player is who he is.

Fwiw, I would not sign Frederic. I've defended him and made this argument (Coyle 2.0) many times over the years but as a UFA I think he's going to get more than he's worth. 200 hit/15 goal guys bring big bucks, and despite the numbers he just doesn't have a big impact.

I respect your opinion and can see some validity to it but I have a tough time directly comparing Coyle and Fred. IMO, Coyle is a far superior player skill wise where as Fred has more physical capabilities. The closer Frederic models his game after Coyle, the more he’s getting away from where I think his long term role ultimately lies.

I do agree with you that fans (like myself) are still carrying the sour grapes that he didn’t turn into a consistent version of his earlier self. Touché.

 

[CDJ]

I thought that with the team emphasizing size more it would at least be a more fun team to watch.

My brain questioned putting money into Zadorov instead of the forward group.

My my heart was like "at least it will be fun!"

But now they are not fun or good.

Makes me think we got the wrong coach for the roster

 

[Hookslide]

I thought that with the team emphasizing size more it would at least be a more fun team to watch.

My brain questioned putting money into Zadorov instead of the forward group.

My my heart was like "at least it will be fun!"

But now they are not fun or good.

You are right, I thought the Garden would be rocking and fun to watch, major disappointment, Zadorov does not bother me, E. Lindholm does, money not well spent.

 

[wintersej]

Makes me think we got the wrong coach for the roster

I think its both.

They do need some more talent.

Barkov, Tkachuk, Reinhart, Verhaeghe, Bennett vs Pastrnak, Lindholm, Marchand, Zacha, Coyle

I count 4 guys on Florida that are 1st liners without a doubt. I count 1 on Boston.

I also don't think that Monty is the right guy for a team that is basically built to be about dirty goals more than shot quality pretty plays.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

I respect your opinion and can see some validity to it but I have a tough time directly comparing Coyle and Fred. IMO, Coyle is a far superior player skill wise where as Fred has more physical capabilities. The closer Frederic models his game after Coyle, the more he’s getting away from where I think his long term role ultimately lies.

I do agree with you that fans (like myself) are still carrying the sour grapes that he didn’t turn into a consistent version of his earlier self. Touché.

In what department is Coyle "far superior"?

Coyle is and has been one of the most overatted player in the league for a long time, especially in Boston. Before last year he's played on a third line for second line money.

He's the everyone likes the backup quaterback player since he's been here.

What is he good at really.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

f*** it, it’s different!

Horrific.

 

[TobanWest]

Maybe we are just witnessing a team decline. Not saying they can't get in the playoffs and make some noise but really they are all too comfortable. If they weren't then they'd be busting there asses and not coasting. Thinking Freddy, Geekie or Brazeau is a top six option is asinine, thinking Lindholm is a second line centre is tough. Marchand is showing his age, Pasta is a turnover machine and McAvoy is starting to look a bit overrated to me these days. A LOT of money spent and not a lot of return. At the moment and could change but good luck creating consistency and chemistry with a different linemate every four seconds.
All I'm looking for is consistent effort and I don't see it from 80% of them

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

In what department is Coyle "far superior"?

Coyle is and has been one of the most overatted player in the league for a long time, especially in Boston. Before last year he's played on a third line for second line money.

He's the everyone likes the backup quaterback player since he's been here.

What is he good at really.

Coyle is the 64th highest paid center in the league. When you take into account ELC guys (Bedard, etc) he’s not paid as a second line center.

 

[bp14]

What did Koepke do to deserve Coyle and Jones? One of the few guys who’s delivered and you kick him like that.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Coyle is the 64th highest paid center in the league. When you take into account ELC guys (Bedard, etc) he’s not paid as a second line center.

Up until reciently he sure was. 5.2 a year since 2020?

Last year he was very good, other than that third line quality of play.

This year he looks cooked. Wouldnt be shocked to see if they try to rid themselves of the last year of his deal come deadline.

 

[UConn126]

I'd officially sing Johnson and call up Lysell. Waive Geekie, Jones. Try some different lines, similar to what we saw in practice today but not as stupid.

Frederic-Zacha-Pasta
Johnson-Lindholm-Lysell
Marchand-Poitras-Coyle
Beecher-Kastelic-Brazeau
Koepke

Coyle's shelf life as a 2C seems like it's over after his career year last year. Marchy is a third liner at this point, plain and simple, and I'm not sure he's even a great one at that. Poitras gets a couple vets to play with, hopefully they don't hold him back.

Lindholm hasn't jived super well with anyone, at least not that I've seen, so give him two new wingers and see what happens.

Zacha and Pasta can work. Zacha serviceable as a C, though not ideal. Put Freddy there to see if he can find some offense.

4th line is solid and should contribute some goals.

Jones was a god awful signing. Completely useless and takes stupid penalties. Geekie sucks, too. Not a bad player, but not good at anything, either. Doesn't have a clear roll, and doesn't excel as a Swiss army knife the way Heinen could.

 

[The don godfather]

Horrific.

Panic time!

 

[Dr Hook]

Not sure if it's Leach or Sacco. They made Sacco an Associate Head Coach while Leach is an Assistant Coach.

If it were up to me and it was clear that the players aren't buying into Monty's systems and strategies then I'd clear house. All of the coaching staff would be gone and I'd get some fresh minds in who will look at this roster with critical eyes (as opposed to sympathetic eyes).

I've never understood why they didnt clean it all out at the NHL level when they sacked Clode, and didn't let Bruce pick his guys, and same again with Monty.

 

[HustleB]

I know in the past we got out of the gate fast but we weren’t built to win in the playoffs. I’m just wondering if slow starts aren’t common with teams built for the playoffs. Certainly Fla started slow two years ago. Anyone know if there are trends on larger playoff teams starting slow.

 

[Kazcram]

I know in the past we got out of the gate fast but we weren’t built to win in the playoffs. I’m just wondering if slow starts aren’t common with teams built for the playoffs. Certainly Fla started slow two years ago. Anyone know if there are trends on larger playoff teams starting slow.

 

[PlayMakers]

I know in the past we got out of the gate fast but we weren’t built to win in the playoffs. I’m just wondering if slow starts aren’t common with teams built for the playoffs. Certainly Fla started slow two years ago. Anyone know if there are trends on larger playoff teams starting slow.

There is definitely something to the idea that there are teams built for the regular season and there are teams built for the playoffs. In the regular season, youth is served. Young legs, speed energy... In the playoffs, heavy hockey, veteran smarts... I heard an interview with Dean Lombardi where he said you have to be careful because a team that's 'built purely for the playoffs' might not even make the postseason.

I also wonder if there's something to what Eliot Friedman wrote about how the Bruins were hoping to get a pound of flesh out of Florida at the start of the season, and when that didn't happen it really shook their confidence. They weren't able to settle any scores. Florida was able to dominate 5on5 so whatever changes in systems or personal that were made were ineffective, and we were unable to really drill Bennett or Tkachuk. Instead Tkachuk pulled his act, turtled and got a power play. So, long story short, they're feeling impotent.

Friedman would know what that looks like having been a Leafs fan and watched the Bruins and Leafs over the years.

 

[goldenblack]

With the amount of guys in contract years this year or next. I think something will give here soon.

I think my main issue with his group right now is the leadership group and their on ice play. Not good enough.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

In what department is Coyle "far superior"?

Coyle is and has been one of the most overatted player in the league for a long time, especially in Boston. Before last year he's played on a third line for second line money.

He's the everyone likes the backup quaterback player since he's been here.

What is he good at really.

He’s a skilled player who has never put it all together. In terms of “talent”, he is superior. In terms of production, that superiority is far less.

I said it earlier in the thread, but my opinion is that Coyle has always been skilled beyond what he’s able to put up in terms of numbers. (we can debate the reasons for that gap). Frederic, in my opinion, is the flip who has benefited from sporadic bursts of production and being played higher in the lineup than a player of his caliber normally is slotted.

They are both disappointing in different ways. But if we’re talking about pure talent, I really don’t see much argument that Coyle wins.

Horrific.

Ok glad someone else thinks so.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

I've never understood why they didnt clean it all out at the NHL level when they sacked Clode, and didn't let Bruce pick his guys, and same again with Monty.

I’ve never understood this. When you fire a HC, with few exceptions, the rest of the coaches should be gone or at the very least, on notice to be gone at the discretion of the HC. Making the head guy adapt to underlings and their strategies doesn’t make sense to me. It’s limiting the potential effect of a change.

 

[PlayMakers]

I'm hoping the power play, gets as big a shakeup as the lines. Fire a shot across a few bows, like taking McAvoy and Marchand off the 1st unit.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

I'm hoping the power play, gets as big a shakeup as the lines. Fire a shot across a few bows, like taking McAvoy and Marchand off the 1st unit.

Agreed. They have been active detriments to the power play. They need to shake it up until those guys get their heads out of their ass.

 

[PlayMakers]

Agreed. They have been active detriments to the power play. They need to shake it up until those guys get their heads out of their ass.

Honestly Pasta has been too, but I don't know how you take him off PP1.

He used to crush pucks when he one-timed them. Like Ovi crushes pucks. Lately it feels more like a Bergeron 1timer where he's just focused on the technical part, the motion and connecting. I want crush it Pasta back!

 

[Kegs]

Scoring on the power play would help them win some games. Let’s start there.

 

[wintersej]

Coyle is the 64th highest paid center in the league. When you take into account ELC guys (Bedard, etc) he’s not paid as a second line center.

I think one of the problems is that high end guys are underpaid. And ELC guys are underpaid. And the guys in the middle of the roster are generally overpaid for what they bring. Unfortunately, you can’t fill a lineup with stars and effective ELC guys (or if you can it’s just for a season or two). So you have to pick the right middle class guys. Picking a two way big bodied middle six C isn’t a bad bet.

But, right now, he ain’t that. On either end of the ice. I do think it’s more mental than physical, it often is with him, but he is also at that age where things can go sideways.

Honestly Pasta has been too, but I don't know how you take him off PP1.

He used to crush pucks when he one-timed them. Like Ovi crushes pucks. Lately it feels more like a Bergeron 1timer where he's just focused on the technical part, the motion and connecting. I want crush it Pasta back!

Often I wonder if he just has a case of “4 month old child-itis”