I don't know. Marchy went all last year without those guys around as leaders and they did pretty well. I do think he learned from them... but he was always fiery and intense, and a talker. Not everyone is built that way, or has to lead that way but IMO this particular team does lack a second guy like that, who will speak up, who will hold teammates accountable.
Id agree, which is where I was leading you towards with the question - I think having him around to mentor those guys as leaders could be more important than seeing how they do without him.
I definitely think that's true of the younger players. I think Poitras, and whoever else comes in here, whether it's Lysell or someone they trade for, they need to see that kind of leadership.
Personally, I would trade Coyle before Marchand. Coyle is a puck protecting procession center with limited offensive creativity. This team needs a creative play making center, swap Coyle for a center of about similar age, and contract but who can create offensively. I also think it would create more opportunities for the wings. Having a play making center would give Poitras further time to develop. Speaking of Poitras I think he is going to need at least 200 plus games played in this league before we begin to see what he really has to offer consistently.
My apologies, I think everyone has been around as long as I have been.
Problem is Sweeney doesn’t have the assets this time around he had in 2015 when he traded Lucic and Hamilton, but yea cap space is huge, that’s why the Bruins should start moving guys asap.
I don’t see Poitras as part of the core at this point. Looks like he needs more time in Providence this year.
Only 20 so he should be ok once he gets more experience and man strength.Far bigger worries then him at the moment..This is a train wreck they built.
They overachieved primarily because Swayman\Ullmark tandem top 5 goaltending, Zacha\Coyle top 6 centers producing like top 6 centers and Pastrnaks elite level play.
McAvoy has been propped up by Chara early in his career and Bergeron later in his career. The tell was when Bergeron tried to play through a career ending injury and couldn't do it effectively against Florida. McAvoy was outplayed by Brandon Montour in '23, with McAvoy playing poorly in G7. Last year e got outplayed by Montour but that was to be expected with the difference in talent if the teams.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.
Because I'm dumb and lazy. But good point. I will work on that. Hopefully he's traded soon ... take that stress off my list.
Chara & Bergeron were freaks as players though. Tough to measure up but even then only got 1 Cup and they choked away one in 2019.
