Do the Bruins Make the Playoffs? (Pessimism Check)

[Pia8988]

He got stuck with Ryan Spooner as his center.

Great playmaker on the PP, not 5 on 5. Vatrano needs to be with a Krejci, but the rest of his game isn't good enough to be on that line.

 

[ODAAT]

Yes pretty much

What happened to my guy Vatrano?

not sure friend, I`m a Vatrano guy, like him alot but like many here, he`s struggling. There are just too many players on this team who are a) either playing poorly or b) playing as well as they can

Lack of depth and a D that is too slow = fighting for a playoff spot which was pretty much where most of us thought they would be at this time of year

 

[kdog82]

Sky isn't falling...

Teams are going to win and lose games they shouldn't down the stretch.

I still have faith the Bruins finish 3rd in the division.

This is one of the best times of the year. Hockey means something baseball is coming back and the weather is improving. Enjoy it folks in 2 weeks we will be gearing up for asterisks beside your name for going to the Montreal or Ottawa msg board

Sorry, Bruins not catching the Leafs. WC or nothing

 

[Oates2Neely]

Lack-of-depth

Backes ineffectiveness is hurting this team. Is there a particular reason he isn't centering the 3rd line? I believe Marchand Bergeron get the job done regardless of who is skating on their RW. Spooner is not a 5-on-5 centerman. Bring up DeBrusk put him on 3rd line with Backes & Beleskey and maybe you get a solid checking line at the very least. Will be better than what the current 3rd line is (isn't) delivering

 

[kdog82]

Lack-of-depth

Backes ineffectiveness is hurting this team. Is there a particular reason he isn't centering the 3rd line? I believe Marchand Bergeron get the job done regardless of who is skating on their RW. Spooner is not a 5-on-5 centerman. Bring up DeBrusk put him on 3rd line with Backes & Beleskey and maybe you get a solid checking line at the very least. Will be better than what the current 3rd line is (isn't) delivering

Back Aches is done. Too slow for this league. He will have a good game here and there but at 6 million per year for another 4 years is gonna be painful to watch.

Back Aches is a great guy and a big dog lover which is great but he needs to start earning his pay cheque and deliver the next 8 games.

 

[whatsbruin]

I have massive respect for Chara and Bergeron, but you have to wonder about
the locker room and team leadership.

Appears for the 3rd year in a row a end of season tank is happening.
Lack of effort, urgency, etc. Where is the leadership ? Backes brought in to
prevent this ?
Do they never have player only meetings anymore ? I have not heard of the
B's having them during any of the 3 melt downs.

 

[NightmanCometh]

They need to stop going into full scramble mode whenever there's a close shot or two on Rask. That's what's killing us. You can see goals coming ahead of time with this team, more so than any other... I blame the lack of a calming presence on D and the plethora of relatively inexperienced/young players.

 

[ODAAT]

They need to stop going into full scramble mode whenever there's a close shot or two on Rask. That's what's killing us. You can see goals coming ahead of time with this team, more so than any other... I blame the lack of a calming presence on D and the plethora of relatively inexperienced/young players.

on the flip side

first 7-10 games under Cassidy, Bruin players were all over opponents goalies, was barely a play where you didn`t see a minimum of 1 player causing fits in front of opponents goalies, I see that rarely now and I find that kind of approach is often pushed by confidence. When things going well, you do those things

Loads of video on Cassidy`s approach out there now, opponents have adjusted, Cassidy hasn`t and the lack of depth on the team has put them right where they are now IMO

 

[Hali33]

Leadership won't fill actual holes in the roster. You need leadership and they have that but someone being vocal in the room won't change the fact you've got a kid that can't handle the amount of responsibility he's got on defense and no secondary scoring. Overpaying for leadership in free agency and doing nothing so improve the obvious problems in the roster is a strategy we need to get away from.

 

[NDiesel]

They need to stop going into full scramble mode whenever there's a close shot or two on Rask. That's what's killing us. You can see goals coming ahead of time with this team, more so than any other... I blame the lack of a calming presence on D and the plethora of relatively inexperienced/young players.

At 3-3 when the Bolts were attacking I literally turned and said to my buddy "You can tell they are going to score very soon" 15 seconds later it's in the net.

 

[NightmanCometh]

on the flip side

first 7-10 games under Cassidy, Bruin players were all over opponents goalies, was barely a play where you didn`t see a minimum of 1 player causing fits in front of opponents goalies, I see that rarely now and I find that kind of approach is often pushed by confidence. When things going well, you do those things

Loads of video on Cassidy`s approach out there now, opponents have adjusted, Cassidy hasn`t and the lack of depth on the team has put them right where they are now IMO

I don't think it's a lack of effort on the part of the players, it's just a natural hesitancy that can take hold when you keep letting goals in and losing games. Ironically if they want to snap this skid they're going to have to play to their strengths, which means they have to be aggressive and constantly press for zone time. When they slow down too much and try to force the play they just end up making poor decisions, like ill-timed lateral passes that create odd man rushes.

 

[LSCII]

Great playmaker on the PP, not 5 on 5. Vatrano needs to be with a Krejci, but the rest of his game isn't good enough to be on that line.

Vatrano has been playing like **** for the entire month of March. Elevating him isn't the answer. Sitting him down for a game or two is. He and Stafford were so grossly out of position and out of the play on the 3rd goal by TB that it was infuriating. Vatrano lost the puck in the offensive zone and rather than reverse direction, he slowly looped around the net and didn't hustle to get back into the play.

 

[missingchicklet]

Vatrano has been playing like **** for the entire month of March. Elevating him isn't the answer. Sitting him down for a game or two is. He and Stafford were so grossly out of position and out of the play on the 3rd goal by TB that it was infuriating. Vatrano lost the puck in the offensive zone and rather than reverse direction, he slowly looped around the net and didn't hustle to get back into the play.

Vatrano has been hot garbage in all three zones for a while now. One of the worst performers on the team. If he is not scoring then he is completely useless. So many mistakes. So many boneheaded decisions. Too much lack of hustle that has resulted in goals. Just another ineffective player on this roster.

 

[Lobster57]

 

[Trap Jesus]

Criticizing starting Rask every game is crazy. Bruins didn't plummet by 40% in odds to make the playoffs over the last 3 games for no reason. They've all been unbelievably important games.

 

[Neely2005]

Here we go again...

 

[Oates2Neely]

Here we go again...

It's now 4 straight losses.

Hard to be optimistic at this point. New coach, same leaders, same collapse.

 

[BruinDust]

Criticizing starting Rask every game is crazy. Bruins didn't plummet by 40% in odds to make the playoffs over the last 3 games for no reason. They've all been unbelievably important games.

Yup, all the more reason to give your team the best chance to win and only play your starter in 2 of the 3 games to ensure you get the best performance out of both them.

Khudobin has won his last 4 starts and this squad didn't have a single back-2-back left to play after Tuesday. If you were going to give Khudobin even one more start this year, Monday or Tuesday was it.

Instead it seems like they intended to play Rask the final 12 consecutive games or until they had nothing left to play for, whichever came first.

 

[Coach Parker]

When friends, coworkers, neighbors, and others used to say garbage like this back in the 8000 days I took names

When 2008 came and they wanted me to get them tickets and players autographs I told 'nope' and actually only caved once but not without getting my shots in

I felt bad on a couple but I'm loyal and not fair weather

'True colours' ? Interesting insight into the Coach

DKH, I know where your heart lies and we've had this discussion all year. When they didn't pull the trigger on some moves to finally address the two holes I agreed to your logic and Sweeney's plan for the future and not the present.

The flip side of the coin is simple here; you cannot deny that not addressing those two holes creates the week we just saw. If keeping assets and planning for the future is the plan that means the plan also includes rolling out this product with its flaws and accepting the criticism. Would you not agree?

 

[BruinDust]

DKH, I know where your heart lies and we've had this discussion all year. When they didn't pull the trigger on some moves to finally address the two holes I agreed to your logic and Sweeney's plan for the future and not the present.

The flip side of the coin is simple here; you cannot deny that not addressing those two holes creates the week we just saw. If keeping assets and planning for the future is the plan that means the plan also includes rolling out this product with its flaws and accepting the criticism. Would you not agree?

Where was the cap space to bring in both Landeskog and Shattenkirk?

Fact is most teams have a flaw or two.

This should be a playoff team if managed and coach properly.

 

[Coach Parker]

Where was the cap space to bring in both Landeskog and Shattenkirk?

Fact is most teams have a flaw or two.

This should be a playoff team if managed and coach properly.

I would say Shattenkirk as a rental. We went over the cap a month ago BD and you and I made the cap work this year and next. Cap wasn't the issue. The price tag was.

Also, I'm not advocating for both coming in but rather pointing out to other people that two players were available that directly addressed the two holes in the Bruins system and management decided to pass on both and keep the status quo.

I firmly believe even one of these two additions would have turn this 0-4 streak to a 2-2 streak because of either the secondary scoring threat created on the Krejci line against Toronto and Ottawa OR the improved defenseman taking minutes from Chara-Carlo-McQuaid after goals or late in games.

No need for both (but it could have worked easily money-wise) because just one move to fix the Hamilton/Lucic holes would have been enough.

 

[BruinDust]

I would say Shattenkirk as a rental. We went over the cap a month ago BD and you and I made the cap work this year and next. Cap wasn't the issue. The price tag was.

Also, I'm not advocating for both coming in but rather pointing out to other people that two players were available that directly addressed the two holes in the Bruins system and management decided to pass on both and keep the status quo.

I firmly believe even one of these two additions would have turn this 0-4 streak to a 2-2 streak because of either the secondary scoring threat created on the Krejci line against Toronto and Ottawa OR the improved defenseman taking minutes from Chara-Carlo-McQuaid after goals or late in games.

No need for both (but it could have worked easily money-wise) because just one move to fix the Hamilton/Lucic holes would have been enough.

We probably did, my short-term memory isn't that good anymore Coach.

I have a hard time justifying Shattenkirk as a rental. But as a long-term option, while the price would be high, I would be OK with it. You can always move quality D-men. I think there was some overrating of this D-corps (myself included), and to me it s achilles heel of this team right now. They had a great start due to Carlo's emergence, but as he's regressed without his role changing whatsover, the D has become what we thought it was last off-season.

The kicker for me and Shattenkirk is I really believe he has his heart set on the Rangers, and unless they are completely off the mark on his asking price, that is where he will end up. Regardless of what him or his agent said, I think he was determined to get to July 1 and see what the Rangers are offering. And I didn't want to see Boston give up a similar package to St. L for Shattenkirk without an extension.

I hope if he gets to July 1, they talk to his camp. Moot point right now though.

 

[Coach Parker]

We probably did, my short-term memory isn't that good anymore Coach.

I have a hard time justifying Shattenkirk as a rental. But as a long-term option, while the price would be high, I would be OK with it. You can always move quality D-men. I think there was some overrating of this D-corps (myself included), and to me it s achilles heel of this team right now. They had a great start due to Carlo's emergence, but as he's regressed without his role changing whatsover, the D has become what we thought it was last off-season.

The kicker for me and Shattenkirk is I really believe he has his heart set on the Rangers, and unless they are completely off the mark on his asking price, that is where he will end up. Regardless of what him or his agent said, I think he was determined to get to July 1 and see what the Rangers are offering. And I didn't want to see Boston give up a similar package to St. L for Shattenkirk without an extension.

I hope if he gets to July 1, they talk to his camp. Moot point right now though.

Yeah, we looked the numbers and conceded then actually went back and looked at the numbers and made the cap work to our surprise for this year and next.

Personally, I would have given up picks for Shattenkirk and try to extend him simply because the Bruins have had a ton of first round and second round picks the last couple years to offset that loss in this years draft.

I was also on board seeing Carlo go for Landeskog but that was because I saw his ceiling as a #4 behind Shattenkirk now and McAvoy in the future. I have yet to see a projected lineup (other than the one the Bruins are icing now!) with Carlo as the top pairing Bruin RHD. I also see hope in Colin Miller being the #4 for the next year and beyond making Carlo a valuable asset.

 

[BruinDust]

Yeah, we looked the numbers and conceded then actually went back and looked at the numbers and made the cap work to our surprise for this year and next.

Personally, I would have given up picks for Shattenkirk and try to extend him simply because the Bruins have had a ton of first round and second round picks the last couple years to offset that loss in this years draft.

I was also on board seeing Carlo go for Landeskog but that was because I saw his ceiling as a #4 behind Shattenkirk now and McAvoy in the future. I have yet to see a projected lineup (other than the one the Bruins are icing now!) with Carlo as the top pairing Bruin RHD. I also see hope in Colin Miller being the #4 for the next year and beyond making Carlo a valuable asset.

I was firmly against Carlo for Landeskog, despite Carlo's struggles still am without re-opening that debate all over again. Everyone said their piece on that one.

I think giving up picks/prospects like the ones commanded by Shattenkirk made Sweeney gun-shy after essentially renting Eriksson the year prior and not dealing him at the deadline. But had the Bruins dealt for Shattenkirk as a rental, he was the one rental I wouldn't of cried about

Will be interesting to see this D evolve moving forward, Shattenkirk or no Shattenkirk.

 

[EverettMike]

I was firmly against Carlo for Landeskog, despite Carlo's struggles still am without re-opening that debate all over again. Everyone said their piece on that one.

I think giving up picks/prospects like the ones commanded by Shattenkirk made Sweeney gun-shy after essentially renting Eriksson the year prior and not dealing him at the deadline. But had the Bruins dealt for Shattenkirk as a rental, he was the one rental I wouldn't of cried about

Will be interesting to see this D evolve moving forward, Shattenkirk or no Shattenkirk.

If I never hear this dishonest phrase again I'll live a happy and content life.