Post-Game Talk: Bruins @ Senators - 7-5 Victory (Would have been 7-0 if Zaitsev played)

[PatrickEaves]

...and the advanced stats from last night back you up on that.

We don't owe Hamonic much - he's a veteran on an expiring contract who we picked up to carry us over for a while. Frankly, I'd rather see JBD here playing in his place for the second half of the year, if not sooner. (Say, tomorrow night, ;-) )

Move Brann up to his spot beside Sanderson. Holden-Hamonic is a survivable bottom pairing.

 

[yogibear]

Motte is fine imo
Just not on the PP
Not at 49 sec when Pinto gets 56 sec
PP choices should be in whatever order or position:

BT Stu Bath G Cat Norris Pinto Chabot Sanderson Branny

I would think that Formenton would be a better option if he was available.

 

[Alex1234]

I would think that Formenton would be a better option if he was available.

Oh for sure but...

 

[NyQuil]

Holden-Hamonic is a survivable bottom pairing.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I would think that Formenton would be a better option if he was available.

I think a playmaker would be the better choice considering the role is for the down-low option to make the pass to the net-front guy (Pinto).

Considering we're paying Joseph 3M a year, I thought he'd be getting some PP2 time. Seems like a better fit in that position that Motte at least.

 

[DaveMatthew]

Move Brann up to his spot beside Sanderson. Holden-Hamonic is a survivable bottom pairing.

Sanderson - Hamonic
Brannstrom - Holden

is a much better setup than

Sanderson - Brannstrom
Holden - Hamonic

You need a guy who can skate with the puck on each pairing. Ideally, if we're in the mix at the trade deadline, we end up with something like

Sanderson - XXX (Mayfield, Dumba, etc)
Brannstrom - Hamonic
Holden

 

[GCK]

Motte is new to the team also.

I'd like to give him a few more games to get comfortable before judging him.

Not judging on this year. He’s an absolutely great 4th liner based on his career.

 

[branch]

Funny thing is if the cap rises to 86.5mill and we get rid of Zaitsev, we can do all three and not have to even trade for said top 4RD.

That avatar is f***ed...don't know how to feel about it tbh

 

[Tragedy]

That's a bit of bad luck and a bit youth, we'll be locking things down like we did in the Martin days if we can keep the crew together into their prime, I think our centers combined age is less than Bergeron... That guys been around forever

Bergeron has 1220 career regular season games.
Our 4 centre's this game have 302 total.
This team will be nuts when they get a little more seasoned

 

[DaveMatthew]

I think a playmaker would be the better choice considering the role is for the down-low option to make the pass to the net-front guy (Pinto).

Considering we're paying Joseph 3M a year, I thought he'd be getting some PP2 time. Seems like a better fit in that position that Motte at least.

The good news is, even if Formenton is not back, a 3rd line winger is the easiest type of player to acquire mid-season, and we have an extra 2nd rounder in 2024 from Washington that could be flipped out.

A guy who I think would make a lot of sense (considering the amount of cap space we have) in Jan/Feb is Jonathan Toews, if he's willing to come here. He can play LW, adds a ton more experience, and can still be a solid contributor on a 3rd line (or 2nd if there are injuries).

 

[Ice-Tray]

Kelvin would free up Branstrom to play right side if he can still be effective defensively, though Kleven was doing reps on the right side last year to get him able to play both sides.

Then one of JBD or Tompson can step in with Sanderson. JBD would make the UND story complete, but we’ll see.

That’s a nice young well rounded D on paper.

 

[Micklebot]

...and the advanced stats from last night back you up on that.

We don't owe Hamonic much - he's a veteran on an expiring contract who we picked up to carry us over for a while. Frankly, I'd rather see JBD here playing in his place for the second half of the year, if not sooner. (Say, tomorrow night, ;-) )

I suppose that depends on which advance stats your going by. His xGF% was very good, for example,

This viz suggests he was a positive factor offensively and negative defensively, not sure I'd agree, but the point is the stats can probably back up whatever you'd like to say so long as you pick the right ones

 

[coladin]

I still don't understand what happened last night. Been to every home opener and I don't even recognize last night.

My son is 21, and he couldn't get over how many people like him were there. It was nuts. And they brought it. Never seen so much energy. Jerseys? Everywhere. I was almost uncomforble for not wearing one. I always lfelt my son's generation was going to change this fanbase, and the young guys, all around his age (hell, he had a beer with a couple of them at Happy Fish ffs), may just accelearate this growth.

They may have to revisit this new 16K arena thing...

 

[Senovision]

The Alfie puck dropping ceremony was so cool! Very classy and well done. I liked when they showed him in the dressing room just sitting there holding the puck. Very dramatic and emotional, almost like the intention was to create the feeling that he wants back with the team because he was in the dressing room like he is part of the team. Him coming out of the dressing room with his jersey on was a great idea! It was welcoming him back. Then he comes walking out. Beautiful Day was playing by U2. Nice touch.

 

[Loach]

A lot of folks were going to cut Brannstrom loose as well. That would have been a premature move. It takes a bit of time for young defenders to learn and adapt at a NHL level. Brainstorm's performance in relation to his salary (AAV) looks pretty good right now. I'm thinking the same could happen with JBD & Thomson.

Branny has played 119 games to JBD and Thomson 29(?) combined. They need more time to be ready, but Branny got ripped apart from the start. I hope he kills it this year.

 

[Alfie11]

Last night definitely felt like a rebirth of the franchise. The Alfie puck drop was perfect, connecting the current team to the successes of the past and the soul of the franchise in a way that wasn't overly long or cheesy.

The game was crazy which just added to the fun. So many goals and lots of back and forth. Definitely an entertaining product for people who may not have been to many games in the past.

I read they ran out of pizza as well as beer. Last night was just a big party and a re-introduction of the fans and the team.

Been listening to Sens content all day and can't wait for the next game!

 

[playasRus]

Branny has played 119 games to JBD and Thomson 29(?) combined. They need more time to be ready, but Branny got ripped apart from the start. I hope he kills it this year.

To his own disadvantage too. Branny was too good for the AHL going basically PPG as a defenseman, not quite good enough to stick in the NHL two seasons ago, and then barely passable at the start of last season before blooming after his injury.

So he was stuck in no man's land for development, and when he was slotted in as a 19 and 20 year old, you could see how skittish he was despite all that poise and skill we were advertised. Note that Sanderson is 20 and 4 months, to Brannstrom's 19 and 1 month his first season. Sanderson is obviously a notch higher in talent if you compare Brannstrom's 20 year old season last year to Sanderson's current start.

Meanwhile Thomson and JBD have largely been bad enough to be developed in the AHL, with the team having just enough depth to keep them down there. And note here, that JBD is 6 mo younger, given much more leash, and Thomson 1 year younger. Now imagine JBD in Brannstrom's role 1.5 years ago.

 

[Alfie11]

 

[bert]

...and the advanced stats from last night back you up on that.

We don't owe Hamonic much - he's a veteran on an expiring contract who we picked up to carry us over for a while. Frankly, I'd rather see JBD here playing in his place for the second half of the year, if not sooner. (Say, tomorrow night, ;-) )

No way... Hamonic was great last night. He started the play on the first goal. He's big he clears the net. They need his size.

 

[Micklebot]

No way... Hamonic was great last night. He started the play on the first goal. He's big he clears the net. They need his size.

He had some puck issues that really stood out that I think people latch onto. Its easy to spot whiffing on a pass, and that's what gets talked about.

I thought he was fine, idk if I'd go so far as to say great, but he played his role well and that's all you should ask

 

[bert]

I suppose that depends on which advance stats your going by. His xGF% was very good, for example,

This viz suggests he was a positive factor offensively and negative defensively, not sure I'd agree, but the point is the stats can probably back up whatever you'd like to say so long as you pick the right ones

That's why I have a hard time taking them seriously.

He had some puck issues that really stood out that I think people latch onto. Its easy to spot whiffing on a pass, and that's what gets talked about.

I thought he was fine, idk if I'd go so far as to say great, but he played his role well and that's all you should ask

Well the pass he made on the first goal was unreal. Almost a no looker on the tape and its what allowed them to attack with speed. He won alot of battles down low too.

 

[Loach]

To his own disadvantage too. Branny was too good for the AHL going basically PPG as a defenseman, not quite good enough to stick in the NHL two seasons ago, and then barely passable at the start of last season before blooming after his injury.

So he was stuck in no man's land for development, and when he was slotted in as a 19 and 20 year old, you could see how skittish he was despite all that poise and skill we were advertised. Note that Sanderson is 20 and 4 months, to Brannstrom's 19 and 1 month his first season. Sanderson is obviously a notch higher in talent if you compare Brannstrom's 20 year old season last year to Sanderson's current start.

Meanwhile Thomson and JBD have largely been bad enough to be developed in the AHL, with the team having just enough depth to keep them down there. And note here, that JBD is 6 mo younger, given much more leash, and Thomson 1 year younger. Now imagine JBD in Brannstrom's role 1.5 years ago.

Imagine if Brann was in the same program as Sanderson in NCAA.

 

[Korpse]

Well the pass he made on the first goal was unreal. Almost a no looker on the tape and its what allowed them to attack with speed. He won alot of battles down low too.

Yup. He makes plays like that which go unnoticed if people don't know what to look for. Pulls the puck off the boards and with two forecheckers and puts it on the tape. Probably the most important part of that sequence. He isn't a player who is going to make plays to open ice for himself but he has been more than capable of making difficult plays with the puck.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

He had some puck issues that really stood out that I think people latch onto. Its easy to spot whiffing on a pass, and that's what gets talked about.

I thought he was fine, idk if I'd go so far as to say great, but he played his role well and that's all you should ask

I think Hamonic has been just fine and will continue to be. It's proven to be a savvy pickup imo.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Yeah, that's not surprising. People crapped on the D against the leafs, but I was listening to a interview with DJ and he mentioned they had averaged something like 14 odd man rushes a game and we kept them to just three, I think we're putting an emphasis on reducing those types of chances and while we are giving the opposition room along the perimeter in the DZ it's not translating to high quality chances against but looks bad to same as they see the other team controlling possession.

The issue is the guys lose their man consistently when the other team has any possession in the Ozone.