Last year they paid Pasta dude 102K a point and Coyle 87K. And Coyle did it without 1st power play duties. And he is our number 1 SH center. However, Coyle must elevate his performance level this season.
Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread VIII
- Thread starter Gee Wally
- Start date
Why you hoping for a top five pick come draft day ?Merkulov and Lysell have not earned playing time at the NHL level.
New toys are not always better toys . Everything in life .needs to be earned for it to be successful
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Merkulov is literally on the NHL roster right now... but he hasn't earned NHL playing time?
Also he's led Prov in scoring for 2 straight years and started this season with 11 points in 12 games, what more do you want to see from him before giving him an extended look? He's paid his dues.
I am well aware he is on the team at present (Merkulov ) . Do you feel he is NHL ready with how he has played in his two games since coming up ? I do not not. We all want our prospects to succeed ,but until they prove they are capable. They are not NHL ready . I suspect Merkulov to be back in the AHL within two weeks
I think he's looked good enough to earn a real extended look this time, and I think it's extremely self defeating to send down every prospect that isn't immediately great once they get called up.
I understand your point and it certainly has merit. I would say until he improves in some areas he is not ready . Being strong on the puck and winning puck battles being one. The Bruins being in the situation they are in has to, ice the team that they feel gives them the best chance to win each night. I feel he was one of the three poorest forwards last night
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The Bruins have been powerless on the man advantage. Joe Sacco has ideas to change that. - The Boston Globe
Entering Thursday night’s game against Utah, the Bruins ranked at the bottom of the league’s power-play standings, clicking at just 11.7 percent.
www.bostonglobe.com
The Bruins are looking to flip the power switch.
Among the myriad problems the club has endured this season is abysmal play with the man advantage.
Heading into Thursday night’s 1-0 win over the Utah Hockey Club at TD Garden, the Bruins ranked at the bottom of the league’s power-play standings, clicking at just 11.7 percent.
The Bruins went 1 for 7 against Utah, with Elias Lindholm clicking for his third goal (and first on the power play) of the season.
Clean entries into the offensive end have been a bugaboo as teams have often stacked the blue line, leaving little space to carry the puck in.
Joe Sacco outlined strategies to counter that scheme and get more zone time.
“It’s about finishing our routes as a group. I think when teams are stiff at the blue line, it is hard to come in with control of the puck,” the add new endinterim coach said following the morning skate. “So, we have plans where we’re trying to finish our routes, put the puck to a certain area where guys can retrieve it, and then we can get into our set from there.”
Holding onto the puck too long can be a problem, so sometimes dumping it deep is a better option than trying to fit a pass into a tight window.
“Sometimes it’s possession before position, so it doesn’t matter where you’re supposed to be on the unit once you set up,” said Sacco. “It’s about getting the possession first and then we can get into our spots from there.
“But it’s about not being stubborn with the puck. Sometimes you do have to put it behind them, and you have to go in and get it and finish your routes.”
A change Sacco implemented is positioning Brad Marchand closer to the net front. The captain had been operating on the elbow.
“Brad will see more of the goal line, try to run some more low plays and bound-it-in plays around the net front,” said Sacco. “We have to do a better job of not being so predictable with our power play. And I think if we can create some more traffic down low, some more opportunities to make some low plays around the goaltender, not be perimeter, get on the inside, I think that should help our power play and he’s going to see more goal-line action.”
Marchand’s quickness, toughness, and stickhandling ability should allow him to thrive in a role where split-second decisions are part of the deal.
“He’s always been a guy that can take it to the net pretty well. I know he is a smaller guy as far as being in front of the goalie, but from the goal line, getting it to the net, he’s quick off the goal line and he’s able to strike right away to the net and attack it,” said Sacco.
“So, we’re hoping that when he does that, that’ll create maybe some two-for-one rebound opportunities for guys that are converging on the elbows, but he seems to be pretty comfortable there right now.”
For Lindholm, who has been on the top power-play unit all season, a key to the turnaround is to stop forcing plays.
“I think you need patience out there and right now we’re not. We’re kind of forcing plays that are not there and we’re rushing too much out there,” he said. “I think obviously when things like this happen, you’ve got to regroup and I don’t think we get enough in front of the net, enough second chances and enough shots there.
"So, I think just simple things. Regroup and do the simple stuff, shoot the puck and win it back, and retrievals.”
Sacco said an area of emphasis for him will be restoring the club’s image of being hard to play against. It starts with clearing opponents out of the front of the net.
“I thought our layers were pretty good tonight. I mean we’re still, we have to get better, but I thought defending the rush through the neutral zone, our rush defense was pretty solid,” said Sacco. “Our D did a really good job of staying inside the dots and in forcing plays to the outside and then in our own defensive zone.
“We talked the other day about protecting our goaltender more and we did a good job. We played hard in front of our goal. We made it difficult on the opponent to get really inside quality slot looks.”
It’s a strategy Brandon Carlo is on board with.
“When you can let our goalie see the puck with how incredible they are, it’s obviously an advantage,” said the defenseman. “It becomes difficult at times. You don’t want to get too tied up with guys in front. There’s other bodies around too. There could be a three-on-two kind of situation at that net front.
“But definitely try and keep them off to the sides of the post as much as possible.”
TCB
Registered User
Well Utah did their best in trying to help it out.The Bruins have been powerless on the man advantage. Joe Sacco has ideas to change that. - The Boston Globe
Entering Thursday night’s game against Utah, the Bruins ranked at the bottom of the league’s power-play standings, clicking at just 11.7 percent.
The Bruins are looking to flip the power switch.
Among the myriad problems the club has endured this season is abysmal play with the man advantage.
Heading into Thursday night’s 1-0 win over the Utah Hockey Club at TD Garden, the Bruins ranked at the bottom of the league’s power-play standings, clicking at just 11.7 percent.
The Bruins went 1 for 7 against Utah, with Elias Lindholm clicking for his third goal (and first on the power play) of the season.
Clean entries into the offensive end have been a bugaboo as teams have often stacked the blue line, leaving little space to carry the puck in.
Joe Sacco outlined strategies to counter that scheme and get more zone time.
“It’s about finishing our routes as a group. I think when teams are stiff at the blue line, it is hard to come in with control of the puck,” the add new endinterim coach said following the morning skate. “So, we have plans where we’re trying to finish our routes, put the puck to a certain area where guys can retrieve it, and then we can get into our set from there.”
Holding onto the puck too long can be a problem, so sometimes dumping it deep is a better option than trying to fit a pass into a tight window.
“Sometimes it’s possession before position, so it doesn’t matter where you’re supposed to be on the unit once you set up,” said Sacco. “It’s about getting the possession first and then we can get into our spots from there.
“But it’s about not being stubborn with the puck. Sometimes you do have to put it behind them, and you have to go in and get it and finish your routes.”
A change Sacco implemented is positioning Brad Marchand closer to the net front. The captain had been operating on the elbow.
“Brad will see more of the goal line, try to run some more low plays and bound-it-in plays around the net front,” said Sacco. “We have to do a better job of not being so predictable with our power play. And I think if we can create some more traffic down low, some more opportunities to make some low plays around the goaltender, not be perimeter, get on the inside, I think that should help our power play and he’s going to see more goal-line action.”
Marchand’s quickness, toughness, and stickhandling ability should allow him to thrive in a role where split-second decisions are part of the deal.
“He’s always been a guy that can take it to the net pretty well. I know he is a smaller guy as far as being in front of the goalie, but from the goal line, getting it to the net, he’s quick off the goal line and he’s able to strike right away to the net and attack it,” said Sacco.
“So, we’re hoping that when he does that, that’ll create maybe some two-for-one rebound opportunities for guys that are converging on the elbows, but he seems to be pretty comfortable there right now.”
For Lindholm, who has been on the top power-play unit all season, a key to the turnaround is to stop forcing plays.
“I think you need patience out there and right now we’re not. We’re kind of forcing plays that are not there and we’re rushing too much out there,” he said. “I think obviously when things like this happen, you’ve got to regroup and I don’t think we get enough in front of the net, enough second chances and enough shots there.
"So, I think just simple things. Regroup and do the simple stuff, shoot the puck and win it back, and retrievals.”
Sacco said an area of emphasis for him will be restoring the club’s image of being hard to play against. It starts with clearing opponents out of the front of the net.
“I thought our layers were pretty good tonight. I mean we’re still, we have to get better, but I thought defending the rush through the neutral zone, our rush defense was pretty solid,” said Sacco. “Our D did a really good job of staying inside the dots and in forcing plays to the outside and then in our own defensive zone.
“We talked the other day about protecting our goaltender more and we did a good job. We played hard in front of our goal. We made it difficult on the opponent to get really inside quality slot looks.”
It’s a strategy Brandon Carlo is on board with.
“When you can let our goalie see the puck with how incredible they are, it’s obviously an advantage,” said the defenseman. “It becomes difficult at times. You don’t want to get too tied up with guys in front. There’s other bodies around too. There could be a three-on-two kind of situation at that net front.
“But definitely try and keep them off to the sides of the post as much as possible.”
goldenblack
Registered User
- Apr 15, 2024
- 1,166
- 2,761
The surprising thing about our roster is we are probably only 3 players away from being great. And I don't mean Drai level players. Just solid ones.
In the offseason we have so much cap flexibility and a rising cap. So it's not hard to imagine a world where next year, we're 1-2 players away.
I just think we have to be cool. Talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much. Don't let other fanbases see us sweat. I think we're gonna figure this out. If trades like the Linus one, we might be closer than we think.
If Sway-Korpi becomes Fort Knox in time, and you build out from there, we will get there.
In the offseason we have so much cap flexibility and a rising cap. So it's not hard to imagine a world where next year, we're 1-2 players away.
I just think we have to be cool. Talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much. Don't let other fanbases see us sweat. I think we're gonna figure this out. If trades like the Linus one, we might be closer than we think.
If Sway-Korpi becomes Fort Knox in time, and you build out from there, we will get there.
BruinDust
Registered User
- Aug 2, 2005
- 25,503
- 24,722
Shouldn't be surprising at all, you could make this same statement about 80% of the teams in the league. Adding 3 solid players in a cap system is not an inconsequential amount, you talking like 12-15% of your cap space.
FRyan4426
Registered User
One guy that was sill invisible last night was Frederic. His time is up here. Move on. Also just one time try a Zacha-Poitras-Pasta line.
Dennis Bonvie
Registered User
FRyan4426
Registered User
Yes I’m aware he would need to be called up. Should have clarified
FRyan4426
Registered User
Bruins need goal scorers. Neither Lysell or Poitras are lighting the lamp right now in Providence.
Going with the hot hand. He has 5 goals in last 5 games.
PlayMakers
Registered User
McLaughlin plays a lot like Craig Smith. Fast, gritty and a volume shooter.
Frederic-Coyle-McLaughlin could be good.
Frederic-Coyle-McLaughlin could be good.
Good honest hockey player, I hope that this sparks enough out of him to be able to keep putting the puck in the net and remain with the team.
Oates2Neely
Registered User
I still feel the team will snap out of the early season (1/4 season) malaise. At the same time I don’t see them as a real threat for a deep run.
Swayman will improve. Korpisalo seems adequate. The blue line should tighten up. Up front we saw some energy last night.
The roster still lacks a scoring option in the top 6. A hockey trade is due. Hoping after the holidays and not waiting for TDL. Keep your 1st round picks. Maybe dangle Lysell/ Frederic/ Poitras/ Lohrei + in a package. I like Poitras & Lohrei but they hold value. For a youngish forward I’d pull the trigger
Swayman will improve. Korpisalo seems adequate. The blue line should tighten up. Up front we saw some energy last night.
The roster still lacks a scoring option in the top 6. A hockey trade is due. Hoping after the holidays and not waiting for TDL. Keep your 1st round picks. Maybe dangle Lysell/ Frederic/ Poitras/ Lohrei + in a package. I like Poitras & Lohrei but they hold value. For a youngish forward I’d pull the trigger
PlayMakers
Registered User
UncleRico
Registered User
- May 8, 2017
- 9,380
- 12,235
The issue is that they are probably 2 top 6 players and a top 4 defender away from being great
