Bruins old and slow? Check the stats!

[PaulD]

28’s aging for a winger. Not a lot of them maintain their peak past their late 20s.

This is also ignoring that they just shed a bunch of 30+ year olds over the summer, so obviously observations from the past won’t apply in the same way they used to.

The Bruins game seems to defy the aging of players the way Crosbys game defies personal aging.
How many seasons have opposing fans been calling for Bruins to crash.......and then the Black and Gold go out finish above those same teams by end of season.
2 years ago many TSN pundits picked Boston to miss the playoffs.....
The Bs went out and had the best season in NHL history. ha!
Amazing organization that drives us Habs (and Leaf fans) to pure envy.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The Bruins game seems to defy the aging of players the way Crosbys game defies personal aging.
How many seasons have opposing fans been calling for Bruins to crash.......and then the Black and Gold go out finish above those same teams by end of season.
2 years ago many TSN pundits picked Boston to miss the playoffs.....
The Bs went out and had the best season in NHL history. ha!
Amazing organization that drives us Habs (and Leaf fans) to pure envy.

So, you’re making the comparison to a Penguins team that missed the playoffs?

I get what you’re saying, but the reality is the Bruins are shedding talent year-over-year. Being young sounds great but unless that youth is replacing the talent level that departed, it means the team is taking a step back to reload.

To the premise of the thread, someone who said the Bruins were old at the end of last season was correct. It doesn’t make sense to come back after a bunch of 35 year olds drop off the roster over the summer and say those people were wrong. The reason the Bruins are so young right now is because they were so old 4 months ago.

 

[PaulD]

So, you’re making the comparison to a Penguins team that missed the playoffs?

I get what you’re saying, but the reality is the Bruins are shedding talent year-over-year. Being young sounds great but unless that youth is replacing the talent level that departed, it means the team is taking a step back to reload.

To the premise of the thread, someone who said the Bruins were old at the end of last season was correct. It doesn’t make sense to come back after a bunch of 35 year olds drop off the roster over the summer and say those people were wrong. The reason the Bruins are so young right now is because they were so old 4 months ago.

No it was as an analogy.
I never even mentioned the "Penguins team".

 

[PaulD]

So, you’re making the comparison to a Penguins team that missed the playoffs?

I get what you’re saying, but the reality is the Bruins are shedding talent year-over-year. Being young sounds great but unless that youth is replacing the talent level that departed, it means the team is taking a step back to reload.

To the premise of the thread, someone who said the Bruins were old at the end of last season was correct. It doesn’t make sense to come back after a bunch of 35 year olds drop off the roster over the summer and say those people were wrong. The reason the Bruins are so young right now is because they were so old 4 months ago.

Yes , everyone goes down eventually.
But it's worth a mention that the Bruins have gone on longer as a top team than all the experts predicted.
I'm a Habs fan and the Bruins were said to heading downward for atleast the last 5 years. I get what your saying .....hard not to when its rolled out on here every September.
Nobody ever reposts the inevitable Bruins demise predictions November thru April..... as they rip through the league yet again

 

[BTO]

I checked the stats

You checked last year’s stats. Bruins got a whole boatload of new players who are big, fast, nasty and mean. Personally I’d be happy with nasty and mean.

 

[Mattb124]

Why did you use how much they weigh and how tall they are as pieces of evidence for why they aren't slow?

Because of the total lack of evidence they aren’t slow to support the notion they aren’t slow.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Yes , everyone goes down eventually.
But it's worth a mention that the Bruins have gone on longer as a top team than all the experts predicted.
I'm a Habs fan and the Bruins were said to heading downward for atleast the last 5 years. I get what your saying .....hard not to when its rolled out on here every September.
Nobody ever reposts the inevitable Bruins demise predictions November thru April..... as they rip through the league yet again

Again, we were saying these exact same things about the Pens until we weren’t saying it anymore. And before that it was the Red Wings.

It’s not like the Bruins (or any team) sprinkle magic dust on their players. They were great for a long time because they hung their hat on players like Chara and Bergeron and Marchand who all have exceptional longevity as elite players, meaning the Bruins had a core of surefire HOF’ers for about 15 years.

That was the special secret sauce in Pittsburgh and Detroit well. The challenge is keeping it going — Detroit managed to bridge the Yzerman years to the Datsyuk years. Once upon a time, Boston went from Orr to Park to Bourque without a break. Pulling that kind of feat in a 32-team league is a major challenge. Currently, Boston has a couple of cornerstones in Pasta and McAvoy, but if there is a young future HOF’er on that roster they haven’t identified themselves yet. I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions that their current construction won’t require a deep rebuild in the near future.

 

[PaulD]

Again, we were saying these exact same things about the Pens until we weren’t saying it anymore. And before that it was the Red Wings.

It’s not like the Bruins (or any team) sprinkle magic dust on their players. They were great for a long time because they hung their hat on players like Chara and Bergeron and Marchand who all have exceptional longevity as elite players, meaning the Bruins had a core of surefire HOF’ers for about 15 years.

That was the special secret sauce in Pittsburgh and Detroit well. The challenge is keeping it going — Detroit managed to bridge the Yzerman years to the Datsyuk years. Once upon a time, Boston went from Orr to Park to Bourque without a break. Pulling that kind of feat in a 32-team league is a major challenge. Currently, Boston has a couple of cornerstones in Pasta and McAvoy, but if there is a young future HOF’er on that roster they haven’t identified themselves yet. I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions that their current construction won’t require a deep rebuild in the near future.

I know what the Bruins are. Why they did well. And why they are still doing well.
Again "the deep rebuild they may require in the near future" ....been hearing that every summer since 2019.
One of the years the annual predictions are bound to hit.
Bruins to be commended for not crash and burn after losing Rask, Chara, Krejci, Bergeron among others...while Marchand ages having surgery after surgery.....yet there they were going toe to toe with the Panthers again in 2024 play offs.
Damn those Bruins !

 

[The90]

Odd because a majority of posts are indeed calling out the Bruins for being aging, declining, and slow... have been for years. Let alone the criticism of the prospects (warranted unless Lysell, Poitras, and Lohrei succeed).

Nah, that’s just the narrative you’ve built in your head. It certainly was a thing when Krejci and Bergeron were still playing though

 

[Fatass]

Nah, that’s just the narrative you’ve built in your head. It certainly was a thing when Krejci and Bergeron were still playing though

Bruins dropped off 26 points last year from the previous. They didn’t add youth and speed with their big UFA signings. They need Swayman. Or they could have another big drop in points.

 

[crowi]

Boston is always expected to crumple, but they don't. Can Pastrnak solo the league, I think he could...

Swayman trouble, paying a goalie massive AAV isn't a good idea, so agreed about waiting it out.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I know what the Bruins are. Why they did well. And why they are still doing well.
Again "the deep rebuild they may require in the near future" ....been hearing that every summer since 2019.
One of the years the annual predictions are bound to hit.

And again, this is nothing new for people who’ve been around to see “forever competitive” teams take a downturn. 2019 was the year Patrnak blew up to a Richard winner and McAvoy blew up to a Norris contender. It extended their window. Unless some young guy on their roster is at that level, the extended window won’t last beyond Marchand dropping off the roster and Pastrnak slowing down, which should be a couple of years from now.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Nah, that’s just the narrative you’ve built in your head. It certainly was a thing when Krejci and Bergeron were still playing though

Not remotely true. In fact, I largely agreed with parts of it. Prospect pool had little quality to speak of, the Bruins were somewhat aging. Not too difficult to track the general consensus as there are rarely Boston topics on the main boards aside from the borderline plays by a Marchand.

 

[The90]

Not remotely true. In fact, I largely agreed with parts of it. Prospect pool had little quality to speak of, the Bruins were somewhat aging. Not too difficult to track the general consensus as there are rarely Boston topics on the main boards aside from the borderline plays by a Marchand.

Nah. It’s true

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

28’s aging for a winger. Not a lot of them maintain their peak past their late 20s.

Didn't Kucherov just put up a historic season last year at 31? Didn't Panarin finish 4th in scoring at age 32 with his best season? Considering the best wingers in the world are all late 20s/early 30s, I think its safe to say you have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[2014nyr]

this is exactly why i always say....don't do crack

 

[tarheelhockey]

Didn't Kucherov just put up a historic season last year at 31? Didn't Panarin finish 4th in scoring at age 32 with his best season? Considering the best wingers in the world are all late 20s/early 30s, I think its safe to say you have no idea what you are talking about.

I think it’s safe to say you’ll find otherwise if you don’t cherry pick examples.

 

[PaulD]

And again, this is nothing new for people who’ve been around to see “forever competitive” teams take a downturn. 2019 was the year Patrnak blew up to a Richard winner and McAvoy blew up to a Norris contender. It extended their window. Unless some young guy on their roster is at that level, the extended window won’t last beyond Marchand dropping off the roster and Pastrnak slowing down, which should be a couple of years from now.

Yep. And I'm giving them kudos because all the experts and insiders
said the same years ago when Chara was no longer a Norris trophy winner/ candidate. When Thomas left. When Rask left. When Bergevin left. When Krejci left, when Marchand got old. When they lost game 7 in the finals 5 years ago to the Blues. They are still contending all these years later. Of course it's because of their own players. Pasta and company. Duh. But not just Pasta and Mcavoy. The Bruins " team" is more than just their stars.
Yes they will slow down......as the Oil will when their stars age out, Aves when their stars age out, Rangers when their stars age out, Knights when their stars age out.....Bolts, Panthers and so on. The Leafs suck with star players IN their prime and will drop like a stone when "the core " ages out.......Of course it will happen to the Bruins eventually. Happened to the powerhouse Patriots.
But whats funny here is the Bs relentless critics are always shitting on Bruins coming seasons cause they can't their current seasons.Thats getting old.

*And Im a Habs fan who hoped the sky really was falling in Bruinsville.
Gotta give Cudos to that kinda management and leadership.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

McAvoy - 27
Pastrnak - 28
Swayman - 25

The only top player the old title remotely applies to is Marchand at 34

*36

 

[Aurinko]

After I have betted 5 years in a row of the Bruins dropping down I figured it's easier not ever bet against them.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Penguins are called old and are the oldest team. They also are coached to be slow. I guess if you lot meant "Boston is old and slow" you're right. Boston area coach has made the Penguins old and slow. But the Bruins?

I don't recall that being said about Boston at all.

 

[maroon 6]

Again, we were saying these exact same things about the Pens until we weren’t saying it anymore. And before that it was the Red Wings.

It’s not like the Bruins (or any team) sprinkle magic dust on their players. They were great for a long time because they hung their hat on players like Chara and Bergeron and Marchand who all have exceptional longevity as elite players, meaning the Bruins had a core of surefire HOF’ers for about 15 years.

That was the special secret sauce in Pittsburgh and Detroit well. The challenge is keeping it going — Detroit managed to bridge the Yzerman years to the Datsyuk years. Once upon a time, Boston went from Orr to Park to Bourque without a break. Pulling that kind of feat in a 32-team league is a major challenge. Currently, Boston has a couple of cornerstones in Pasta and McAvoy, but if there is a young future HOF’er on that roster they haven’t identified themselves yet. I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions that their current construction won’t require a deep rebuild in the near future.

I've never heard this about the Pens. The secret sauce for the Pens was being a crappy team at the right time,

Boston just manages to find gems left to right in all facets

Drafting guys like Bergeron, Krejci, Marchand, Lucic, Pastrnak, McAvoy and Swayman past the middle of the 1st round and beyond, to signing an undrafted former ECHL goalie Tim Thomas.

Signing a future Norris winner and perennial candidate in Zdeno Chara, to trading a Calder winner Raycroft for a prospect goalie in Tuuka Rask.

More recently, their amateur and pro scouting continues to be one of the best. Zacha, Coyle, Ullmark, Hampus Lindholm were all acquired through trading and free agency.

It remains to be seen, but I think drafting Lohrei (super bullish) and Poitras in the second round of their drafts will pay long term dividends.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

A team that is sneaky old and slow are the Leafs, to be honest. It will be a good first round tussle again, but neither team gets much further than that.

Defensively yes, but up front that's not entirely true.

Up front you got Knies, Robertson, Cowan, Greb, Mintinen either on the team or very close to cracking the roster, and I'll throw Holmberg in there too, because with all the rumours around Kampf and Jarnkork, if one of them could moved I think Holmberg steps in.

In net in depends on Woll, if he can stay healthy they could be set for a decade, if not they need to find somebody else.

On defense though, I agree, it's an old defense for sure.

Hopefully Danford can be a piece but even if he can he's years away.

Penguins are called old and are the oldest team. They also are coached to be slow. I guess if you lot meant "Boston is old and slow" you're right. Boston area coach has made the Penguins old and slow. But the Bruins?

I don't recall that being said about Boston at all.

They aren't coached to be slow, they are slow, you can't coach speed either you have it, or you don't, they don't

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Defensively yes, but up front that's not entirely true.

Up front you got Knies, Robertson, Cowan, Greb, Mintinen either on the team or very close to cracking the roster, and I'll throw Holmberg in there too, because with all the rumours around Kampf and Jarnkork, if one of them could moved I think Holmberg steps in.

In net in depends on Woll, if he can stay healthy they could be set for a decade, if not they need to find somebody else.

On defense though, I agree, it's an old defense for sure.

Hopefully Danford can be a piece but even if he can he's years away.



They aren't coached to be slow, they are slow, you can't coach speed either you have it, or you don't, they don't

You don't quite understand coaching and systems and how it can make a team look slower than it is. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Pasta being old and slow and past his peak is certainly a take.