Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread XVIII ( if trades occur use specific trade thread)

[PlayMakers]

What about the other half of the roster?

The other half of the roster are supposed to be role players.

Sarge said he was sad because it looked to him like they were building a team of defensive specialists. I don't think that's the case. I think that's what Lindholm and Coyle have become, but when they built the team, they thought Lindholm was going to be a 60 point two-way forward. Coyle has scored like a top6 forward at even strength for 3 years. Geekie was intended to be a top6 shooting forward. Zacha was supposed to be a two-way top6 forward.

Yeah, they started the season one top6 forward short, and Lindholm failing put them down two. On top of that Coyle's offense dried up and along with it Frederic, but I don't think, going into the season, that anyone thought Coyle and Frederic would be subpar 3rd liners. Even Zadorov was supposed to be a two-way guy. He's never been a defensive specialist. He came to this team having scored 20 goals his previous 2 seasons, and added 4 more in the playoffs.

My point is, they didn't intend to build a team that was all defense and no offense. Bad choices? Sure, but not intentional.

But role players or not, you need some production out of your bottom two lines to have a legitimate change of success.

I agree they're not getting the job done. My only point was that they didn't intentionally build a team of defense-only players.

 

[bruinmann77]

So glad they gave Merk his two games up here way to go bruins

 

[PB37]

Main board seems to think the Kypreos rumor is bullshit. I'm leaning in that direction as well. It would be wild if it's true though.

 

[yazmybaby]

So glad they gave Merk his two games up here way to go bruins

What do you like about his game?
He looked terrible last night.
He had an opportunity to show something and did nothing. I don't think he even took the body once all game.
I counted at least 5 times he got easily knocked off the puck and fell down.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

Main board seems to think the Kypreos rumor is bullshit. I'm leaning in that direction as well. It would be wild if it's true though.

Let me guess, Colorado is sending Ryder, Halak, and a 2nd to Pitt for Crosby...

 

[Gee Wally]

The Kypreos quipped seems more speculative than anything solid.

Having said that Ive been told that both the Avs and Golden Knights “ want to be in the conversation “ if the Bruins decide to move Marchand.

fwiw

 

[The don godfather]

My only hope is that there are teams potentially interested in Tufte and Lettieri because yikes. There isn't a reason to send Merkulov down this early of the week so that he is eligible for AHL playoffs. The Bruins don't play on Friday. At this point they may as well trade him if they aren't going to give him a leash. Brazeau maybe on the move.

Gotta make it more crappy bench pasta.

 

[PlayMakers]

I don't disagree that Merkulov didn't do anything to make them say he has to be here... but I do think they are making a mistake sending him down. Lots of players stumble out of the gate. Even the great Brad Marchand didn't register a point for his first 20 games.

To me, Merkulov looked like a guy who, once he settled down, would start producing. He did some good things defensively stealing pucks and backchecking, and he had some chances, those will start to go in if he's given time.

Maybe there's some other reason for the swap? Like someone is interested in Tufte?

 

[BruinDust]

The other half of the roster are supposed to be role players.

Sarge said he was sad because it looked to him like they were building a team of defensive specialists. I don't think that's the case. I think that's what Lindholm and Coyle have become, but when they built the team, they thought Lindholm was going to be a 60 point two-way forward. Coyle has scored like a top6 forward at even strength for 3 years. Geekie was intended to be a top6 shooting forward. Zacha was supposed to be a two-way top6 forward.

Yeah, they started the season one top6 forward short, and Lindholm failing put them down two. On top of that Coyle's offense dried up and along with it Frederic, but I don't think, going into the season, that anyone thought Coyle and Frederic would be subpar 3rd liners. Even Zadorov was supposed to be a two-way guy. He's never been a defensive specialist. He came to this team having scored 20 goals his previous 2 seasons, and added 4 more in the playoffs.

My point is, they didn't intend to build a team that was all defense and no offense. Bad choices? Sure, but not intentional.


I agree they're not getting the job done. My only point was that they didn't intentionally build a team of defense-only players.

It wasn't defense only, it was defense first, and hope-for-the-best offensively. Neely pretty much admitted it prior to the start of the season. They weren't sure what the offence would be like, turned out to be crap. They thought they'd remain sound defensively. They weren't.

It's a team with one elite forward (Pasta), one more shooter (Geekie), an aging play driver (Marchand) another 20 million invested in two-way forwards (Coyle/Lindholm/Zacha) along with a dogs breakfast of grinders and non-established players. You call them role players, I say you need all 18 skaters to contribute something of substance. That didn't happen here. To use an old phrase around here, a big stinky pile of zero-zone forwards.

Jones and Frederic are gone. Wahlstrom demoted and likely non-tendered. Beecher, Koepke, Brazeau, Tufte, etc. need to be shown the door. There is a common denominator among all those 7 names, big forwards with minimal hockey IQ. At least Kastelic has worked out somewhat.

Hopefully they can find a taker for Coyle because they shouldn't continue to spend(waste) 20 million on Coyle/Lindholm/Zacha for another season.

 

[PlayMakers]

It wasn't defense only, it was defense first, and hope-for-the-best offensively. Neely pretty much admitted it prior to the start of the season. They weren't sure what the offence would be like, turned out to be crap. They thought they'd remain sound defensively. They weren't.

It's a team with one elite forward (Pasta), one more shooter (Geekie), an aging play driver (Marchand) another 20 million invested in two-way forwards (Coyle/Lindholm/Zacha) along with a dogs breakfast of grinders and non-established players. You call them role players, I say you need all 18 skaters to contribute something of substance. That didn't happen here. To use an old phrase around here, a big stinky pile of zero-zone forwards.

Jones and Frederic are gone. Wahlstrom demoted and likely non-tendered. Beecher, Koepke, Brazeau, Tufte, etc. need to be shown the door. There is a common denominator among all those 7 names, big forwards with minimal hockey IQ. At least Kastelic has worked out somewhat.

Hopefully they can find a taker for Coyle because they shouldn't continue to spend(waste) 20 million on Coyle/Lindholm/Zacha for another season.

That's what I'm saying.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

Gotta make it more crappy bench pasta.

Oh noes.....a sudden lacerated spleen.....

 

[Gee Wally]

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

That'll teach 'em!

 

[Carl Hungus]

My only hope is that there are teams potentially interested in Tufte and Lettieri because yikes. There isn't a reason to send Merkulov down this early of the week so that he is eligible for AHL playoffs. The Bruins don't play on Friday. At this point they may as well trade him if they aren't going to give him a leash. Brazeau maybe on the move.

Dear god that lineup.....

 

[DKH]

Let me guess, Colorado is sending Ryder, Halak, and a 2nd to Pitt for Crosby...

Bruins are getting Necas. Marchy needs to think of the children and go

 

[PB37]

He hurt the tank's chances with that goal. Bruins sending a message to the players

 

[Over the volcano]

Clearing out his contract and doing him a favor if he's not in their plans after this season? Maybe he gets picked up by a team in the hunt.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

Bruins are getting Necas. Marchy needs to think of the children and go

Marchand is the definition of high mileage. Go out now and and your career center hopping McDrai/McKinnon/Sid and come back for the jersey retirement and let the Bruins bank a second for the new GM.

Pasternak wearing the C for the new look Bruins.

 

[BamBamCam]

Clearing out his contract and doing him a favor if he's not in their plans after this season? Maybe he gets picked up by a team in the hunt.

Hopefully someone claims him or the Bruins bring him back up after the setting of the AHL playoff roster,
I believe he only needs 7 more games for his pension.

 

[zaYG]

I don't disagree that Merkulov didn't do anything to make them say he has to be here... but I do think they are making a mistake sending him down. Lots of players stumble out of the gate. Even the great Brad Marchand didn't register a point for his first 20 games.

To me, Merkulov looked like a guy who, once he settled down, would start producing. He did some good things defensively stealing pucks and backchecking, and he had some chances, those will start to go in if he's given time.

Maybe there's some other reason for the swap? Like someone is interested in Tufte?

He needs to be in the AHL on Friday to be eligible for the playoffs. They could send him down after the game Thursday but not if he got injured. My assumption is that they decided to send a few guys down now to solidify that roster as it doesn't really matter how we perform in Thursday's game now that the season is a loss.

On the other hand, I'm surprised Poitras hasn't been sent down too if that's their logic.

 

[The don godfather]

Pick up vrana whynot.

 

[NDiesel]

I don't disagree that Merkulov didn't do anything to make them say he has to be here... but I do think they are making a mistake sending him down. Lots of players stumble out of the gate. Even the great Brad Marchand didn't register a point for his first 20 games.

To me, Merkulov looked like a guy who, once he settled down, would start producing. He did some good things defensively stealing pucks and backchecking, and he had some chances, those will start to go in if he's given time.

Maybe there's some other reason for the swap? Like someone is interested in Tufte?

It's so damn frustrating. I don't care if Merk and Lysell are overrated or are likely to bust, give them 20 f***ing games already and figure out where they are at. Please just play these guys over Brown, Tufte, Wahlstrom, Viel and give us something to be interested in the rest of the season.

 

[GordonHowe]

The TANK is on!

I surely hope so. Where is Tom Johnson when you meet him?

He's way better than Smith who even in his prime wasn't much of a player IMO. Strictly a volume shooter. Never wanted him here, cringed when they signed him.

Is his shooting % sustainable? No. Fact is, in the past 40 games, he's scored 19 goals and 10 assists, and he only recently has found himself on the 1st PP unit.

He's a complimentary player, I don't expect 40 goals and 20 assists over a full season. But 25-30 goals is still a very useful player. You say his shot isn't accurate but he's the 2nd best shooter on this team by a country mile. It's a shooters league now, one reason why the Bruins this year suck, nowhere near enough shooting talent.

Only way I deal him is an severe overpayment by another team, or outlandish contract demands.

If someone knocked my socks off, I would listen .

Otherwise, I would keep the Geek.

Why send out a useful guy who can play up & down your roster, isn't overpriced, and has found chemistry with David?

If they trade him for another player who *may* provide the same value, what's the point?

Zacha, on the other hand..

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

I don't disagree that Merkulov didn't do anything to make them say he has to be here... but I do think they are making a mistake sending him down. Lots of players stumble out of the gate. Even the great Brad Marchand didn't register a point for his first 20 games.

To me, Merkulov looked like a guy who, once he settled down, would start producing. He did some good things defensively stealing pucks and backchecking, and he had some chances, those will start to go in if he's given time.

Maybe there's some other reason for the swap? Like someone is interested in Tufte?

Maybe, but I don't think watching Tufte skate out there for 6 minutes doing nothing will help his trade value.

 

[Sheppy]

Pick up vrana whynot.

Why?