Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread XIV

[Greek_physique]

It's funny and crazy, that a team like Carolina acquired Guentzel and Raat without unloading a 1st....we can get creative here.

 

[22Brad Park]

It's funny and crazy, that a team like Carolina acquired Guentzel and Raat without unloading a 1st....we can get creative here.

The recent trade for Raat I get not including the 1st because they are sending good roster players like Necas back .But the Guentzel trade was something else.They also got Ty Smith included for Michael Bunting ,Ville Koivuunen,Cruz Lucius & a 2nd rd pick .They robbed Guentzel .I can't see Sweeney pulling that type deal off but it sure would be nice.

 

[Hookslide]

Statistically, yes it is easier. Simple probability. The Bruins had the same opportunity to build a dynasty too with Orr and Esposito. The fact that 3 teams were able to win that many Stanley cups in 12 years just supports the fact that it's easier for a single team to win it - they just happened to build better teams than the Bruins

You are forgetting that when that team was built hockey was going through expansion and also the WHA, robbed the cupboard. The 71 cup finals was on the players, and the sulking Harry Sinden, at home playing with his marbles.

 

[Hookslide]

I do think there is a leadership issue on this team, but I don't think Marchand is the main problem. I like both McAvoy and Pasta but they are not great leaders.

Marchand missed training camp because he was recovering from 3 surgeries, but when he did finally rejoin the team, Monty said it really raised the pace and intensity of the practices. So why was everyone taking it easy when he wasn't there?

When the team has an embarrassing loss, Marchand faces the music, but according to the media, the other two A's don't. Charlie Coyle is the guy who comes out to answer the tough questions.

Chara had Bergeron. Bergeron had Marchand. Who is the super intense, hard working second on this team?

It is easy to be a leader when everything is going well, a real leader needs to be there in the tough times.

It's funny and crazy, that a team like Carolina acquired Guentzel and Raat without unloading a 1st....we can get creative here.

You are spot on that teams can be creative, but when was the last time the Bruins made a creative move.

 

[EverettMike]

There's an absolutely ludicrous post in this thread for a very simple, very obvious reason, and it's both driving me insane and making me laugh.

 

[The don godfather]

Package Fred McAvoy for ep40.

 

[22Brad Park]

Package Fred McAvoy for ep40.

Tough spot Boston is in because parting with McAvoy is losing a guy that will play 23 mins a nite .

 

[NDiesel]

You are forgetting that when that team was built hockey was going through expansion and also the WHA, robbed the cupboard. The 71 cup finals was on the players, and the sulking Harry Sinden, at home playing with his marbles.

To be fair I didn't forget, I just wasn't born until 21 years after that

 

[PlayMakers]

It's funny and crazy, that a team like Carolina acquired Guentzel and Raat without unloading a 1st....we can get creative here.

I thought you were going to say it's crazy that a team like Carolina, who acquired Guentzel last year and then lost him to free agency, went back to the same well and acquired Rantanen this year. They said on Daily Faceoff that Rantanen is saying he won't sign.

 

[Greek_physique]

I thought you were going to say it's crazy that a team like Carolina, who acquired Guentzel last year and then lost him to free agency, went back to the same well and acquired Rantanen this year. They said on Daily Faceoff that Rantanen is saying he won't sign.

I get it, but they're trying to win and they greatly improved....I personally don't think either move was bad, and while daily faceoff is saying that, he has another Finnish friend in Aho, so I could seeing it work.

They have the cap space

 

[PlayMakers]

You named him earlier in the post, though perhaps super intense might not be the right descriptor. Yes, Charlie Coyle, who should be wearing the A. Maybe the club giving it to Pasta and Mac meant that Coyle's voice in the Brad absence was diminished? People shit all over Coyle here, and while I think he's not had a great season so far, and been pretty poor at times, he is a hard-working guy on the ice, and, like you said, always willing to own it for the media whatever the issue.

I think Coyle has 2 of the 3 qualities. He's accountable and I agree, he's one of their hardest and most consistent hard workers, but he's also always smiling. I don't think he's a guy who can stop practice and say, WTF is going on here! This isn't good enough, let's go!

Fwiw, I get why Pasta and McAvoy have letters. They're the guys who usually elevate their play. Pasta in particular has been carrying this team for two years now. But again, he's the guy everybody loves and gets a kick out of. He doesn't seem like the type of personality who can be intense and dress down his teammates for their work ethic. Carlo's not that guy...

Zadorov has that personality but he hasn't been here long enough and I don't know if he's competent enough. He wasn't in the first half. He's been better in the last 25, and really stepped up with McAvoy and Lindholm out so maybe that's a guy who could grow into a support leadership role.

 

[Dr Hook]

I think Coyle has 2 of the 3 qualities. He's accountable and I agree, he's one of their hardest and most consistent hard workers, but he's also always smiling. I don't think he's a guy who can stop practice and say, WTF is going on here! This isn't good enough, let's go!

Fwiw, I get why Pasta and McAvoy have letters. They're the guys who usually elevate their play. Pasta in particular has been carrying this team for two years now. But again, he's the guy everybody loves and gets a kick out of. He doesn't seem like the type of personality who can be intense and dress down his teammates for their work ethic. Carlo's not that guy...

Zadorov has that personality but he hasn't been here long enough and I don't know if he's competent enough. He wasn't in the first half. He's been better in the last 25, and really stepped up with McAvoy and Lindholm out so maybe that's a guy who could grow into a support leadership role.

Agree, Coyle is not intense and seems fairly relaxed most of the time. Carlo, too. Maybe the leadership style can be that, but so much depends on the player mix. Not to beat the dead horse but look at Vancouver. No doubt there are some players that can thrive with the asshole in-your-face type of leadership, or even the guy that comes on really strong (like Chara, maybe), then there are others for whom that is counter-productive. I am sure you know as well as I do that managing people is damn hard at the best of times with so many different personalities and temperaments, and backgrounds and life experiences.

It is interesting to think about who takes over when Brad retires, and it won't be too long now till that happens. Is it McAvoy? I don't really have a read on him as a leader outside of what he does on the ice. Pasta I don't think is it, he's too affable (though again, that could work well with the right team).

 

[The don godfather]

Tough spot Boston is in because parting with McAvoy is losing a guy that will play 23 mins a nite .

If Vancouver took that package I'll drive them both to the airport myself.

 

[Dr Hook]

There's an absolutely ludicrous post in this thread for a very simple, very obvious reason, and it's both driving me insane and making me laugh.

Now you have to share. Well, you don't have to, but it would be cool. I'd look harder myself, but for all I know it was a) one of mine or b) there are often so many to choose from

 

[Number8]

To be fair, Chara had also ducked out on some post game interviews after a loss. There was one in particular he was skewered for ( think it was against the Habs ) but he was sick and pissed off from the loss and probably the last thing he wanted to do was sit and talk about his feelings. IMO media obligations don't make or break a leader.

Agree completely. Answering inane media questions (we gotta start on time, move our feet, get pucks deep) is completely useless for everyone involved the vast majority of the time. Fans included.

An occasional Chara so pissed off at himself and the team that he blew off a media q&a sent a message to the players. You’re a Captain of a room of hockey players. Not Dupes, Felger, and other reporters who get pissy when they aren’t “respected” to the degree they want.

It’s pretty rare a post game interview captures my interest, let alone is significant to me. Not much of a measure of a good or bad captain imo.

 

[PlayMakers]

He is, so we have to asks some questions about this. Is Swayman worth his salary? Drafting and developing Swayman went very well but when it came time to pay there was a disruptive hold out and Swayman has been crap on a lot of nights this season. Practicing with a college team is not getting reps in camp with pros and has effected his play this year in my opinion. He got his money, did it have to drag on as long as it did? That's on the GM when dealing with the core as well.

Is McAvoy a core piece on a cup team? Is he overpaid? Mac is a top pair D, no question (I think they are asking to much from him most nights) but is he a true number 1 on a cup contender? His play this year has been inconsistent, is it just a bad year or is he starting to decline? Does he need a better partner than what he has been paired with? I like McAvoy a lot, I wish he was in a position to simplify his game and concentrate on defense, clearing the crease and moving the puck out of the D zone. An established power play producing defenseman could slot McAvoy where he needs to be. A Physical, skilled top pair D not expected to put up great offensive numbers. I really liked this D heading into the season, seeing a good mix of physical players and skilled (and Carlo). The overall play of the D has been average at best

I think the Swayman debacle is on the player too. Sweeney started at $6.5, that would have made him the 5th highest paid goalie in the league, and it's more than Logan Thompson just signed for, and Thompson has the same career save percent and is far and away the best goalie in the league this year. If the media is to be believed Swayman started at $10m. Ok, they met in the middle but it's on both of them for not getting a deal done on time.

Yes, I think McAvoy is a core piece on a cup team and is paid appropriately. He hasn't had a good year and I think folks tend to focus on that more than the body of work. The guy has been a top10 or even a top5 defenseman for most of his career. It seems like he's been playing through something this year. You don't have to be a PP QB to be a #1 defenseman, Pietrangelo isn't.

I do agree that the overall play of our D has been average at best. They started off slow, Lindholm got hurt, growing pains with Lohrei, Zadorov learning new systems, Carlo having a bad year without a puck moving partner (and for some reason doesn't play well with Lohrei)... It's been a mess.

 

[NDiesel]

Agree, Coyle is not intense and seems fairly relaxed most of the time. Carlo, too. Maybe the leadership style can be that, but so much depends on the player mix. Not to beat the dead horse but look at Vancouver. No doubt there are some players that can thrive with the asshole in-your-face type of leadership, or even the guy that comes on really strong (like Chara, maybe), then there are others for whom that is counter-productive. I am sure you know as well as I do that managing people is damn hard at the best of times with so many different personalities and temperaments, and backgrounds and life experiences.

It is interesting to think about who takes over when Brad retires, and it won't be too long now till that happens. Is it McAvoy? I don't really have a read on him as a leader outside of what he does on the ice. Pasta I don't think is it, he's too affable (though again, that could work well with the right team).

IMO the best leaders in hockey are the guys who know when to STFU and go out and show the team what to do instead of telling them. That's why Chara and Bergeron were so damn good

 

[TCB]

If Vancouver took that package I'll drive them both to the airport myself.

I honestly don't see it. i truly believe that what your seeing is what your getting. Sweeney biggest adds hasn't been game changers, Complementary players yes, and this Bruins team needs a whole lot more than a complimentary player, the Supporting cast offensively is very challenged to put the puck in the net.

Being up against the cap and empty cupboards I surely don't anticipate one coming now.

 

[PlayMakers]

It is interesting to think about who takes over when Brad retires, and it won't be too long now till that happens. Is it McAvoy? I don't really have a read on him as a leader outside of what he does on the ice. Pasta I don't think is it, he's too affable (though again, that could work well with the right team).

I don't want to see Marchand traded (if he's not coming back), but in a way, it could be a good thing for Pasta and McAvoy to see what life is like without Brad (and to a lesser extent Coyle). To feel the weight of that responsibility, to deal with that adversity, to be the one who's held accountable... It might help them grow as leaders.

 

[NDiesel]

Now you have to share. Well, you don't have to, but it would be cool. I'd look harder myself, but for all I know it was a) one of mine or b) there are often so many to choose from

Could be me, someone take my phone away plz

 

[Gee Wally]

 

[NDiesel]

I don't want to see Marchand traded (if he's not coming back), but in a way, it could be a good thing for Pasta and McAvoy to see what life is like without Brad (and to a lesser extent Coyle). To feel the weight of that responsibility, to deal with that adversity, to be the one who's held accountable... It might help them grow as leaders.

Could one argue that maybe Marchy never had to go through that same weight of responsibility here with Chara, Krejci and Bergeron always on the team? Wonder if it stunted his growth as a leader a bit, or if having those world class leaders around helped even more

 

[TCB]

Could one argue that maybe Marchy never had to go through that same weight of responsibility here with Chara, Krejci and Bergeron always on the team? Wonder if it stunted his growth as a leader a bit, or if having those world class leaders around helped even more

I know your young but you do remember when Marchy first entered the league, there's no question those guys helped in his maturity and growth as a person and a player.

 

[EverettMike]

I actually think Brad Marchand is a fantastic captain who always says and does the right thing and putting a single ounce of blame on him for this season (beyond his own play which is clearly related to an injury) is absurd.

 

[NDiesel]

I know your young but you do remember when Marchy first entered the league, there's no question those guys helped in his maturity and growth as a person and a player.

Oh absolutely, I wasn't THAT young when Marchy came in lol. I think a person's growth and maturity as a player and as a leader are two separate things though, which is why I posed the question.

I actually think Brad Marchand is a fantastic captain who always says and does the right thing and putting a single ounce of blame on him for this season (beyond his own play which is clearly related to an injury) is absurd.

Is anyone actually putting the blame on him? I agree if they are it is absurd