Management Don Sweeney V

[BruinDust]

First, I wholeheartedly agree with the poster who says the 4th line is to provide energy and production is gravy (obviously to a point, not in the exaggeration of 11 goals in 82 games you gave).

To answer the bolded: The Bruins 4th line has produced 11 total goals in 37 games, so that point is not really applicable and is an exaggeration. Of course if they produced 11 over 82 games I would be upset.

The point of my post is that our 4th line is not producing much worse than some of the top teams in the league. I still fail to see how a 4th line who provides energy and is scoring slightly worse than other 4th lines is an issue.

We need either to improve our top 9, keep them intact and hope they start doing better, or be patient while our young guys continue to grow.

You haven't even defined what Boston's 4th line is. So it's a poor argument. Because we really don't know what Boston's 4th line is. There has been zero consistency in terms of personnel.

As forwards 10/11/12 go, my figures (11 goals) isn't an exaggeration at all. It's exactly what Boston's 10-11-12 forwards are on pace to score this season.

So basically your saying your cool with the 4th line but the 3rd line is what sucks?

I'll phrase it in a way you can understand.

If an NHL forward is scoring at a pace where he won't even get 5 goals in a full 82 games season, he doesn't belong on ANY line, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, I don't care how much of your precious "energy" he brings.

 

[BruinDust]

Why do you always ignore assists?

Well, Blidh is a 4th liner with 10 career games played and 1 goal. Moore has 8 goals. Nash plays a solid defensive game and is more of a passer than goal scorer. Hayes I don't think belongs on this team, but it is what it is and he's better than Acciari and Kuraly right now.

Because their is a big difference between a primary assist and a secondary one.

That and the NHL hands out assists now like candy.

Goal scoring is definitive.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

Thought it was cute in the other thread when I mentioned that Tampa was without Stamkos, Kucherov, Drouin, Callahan, Palat, Cobourn, Paquette AND Bishop. And the reply I got was "everyone gets injuries, we have injuries too".

Lol yes, talk to me when we lose Rask, Bergeron, Krejci, Marchand and Krug literally at the same time. And that's the light version of it

 

[JAD]

Acciari or Kuraly, 42 NHL games, ZERO NHL goals. Awesome. Just what this team needs.

I find it interesting the people (not necessarily you BruinDust) but people over the years have insisted that the rookies be allowed to break into the league by being given time on the fourth line. Yet people also complain when those same rookies don't produce like seasoned veterans.
People point to 2010 - 2011 4th line.
Shawn Thornton had already played in 79 nhl games before he became a Boston Bruin. Plus another 211 games before the 2010 - 11 season.

Yet these kids have only played 42 games. Yeah that is a fair judgment.

I remember when Marchand was drafted he was talked about as an energy guy, an agitator ... and when he was first called up he did absolutely nothing offensively on the fourth line. But as he matured his game matured and now he is a top winger.

We live in a world of instant gratification. Flip a switch and a light comes on. We expect things immediately. But how we need to view things is as a farmer. Plant the seed and let it grow. It takes time to get the harvest. You can't plant and then pick the next day.

People need to give these guys time.

 

[BruinDust]

I find it interesting the people (not necessarily you BruinDust) but people over the years have insisted that the rookies be allowed to break into the league by being given time on the fourth line. Yet people also complain when those same rookies don't produce like seasoned veterans.
People point to 2010 - 2011 4th line.
Shawn Thornton had already played in 79 nhl games before he became a Boston Bruin. Plus another 211 games before the 2010 - 11 season.

Yet these kids have only played 42 games. Yeah that is a fair judgment.

I remember when Marchand was drafted he was talked about as an energy guy, an agitator ... and when he was first called up he did absolutely nothing offensively on the fourth line. But as he matured his game matured and now he is a top winger.

We live in a world of instant gratification. Flip a switch and a light comes on. We expect things immediately. But how we need to view things is as a farmer. Plant the seed and let it grow. It takes time to get the harvest. You can't plant and then pick the next day.

People need to give these guys time.

And my comment was sort of harsh on these players. I like Acciari, I don't think he's an everyday player. If used right, especially being a right-handed shot, and can play wing or center, I think is an asset as a spare forward.

He's also 25 years old. Kuraly will be 24 in 3 weeks, and in a small sample size he still didn't get much done. Marchand was 21 when he broke in first time back in 2009. That being said given that both are 2nd and 1st year pros, one or both could be diamonds in the rough and late bloomers. Heck look at Schaller this year, at age 26. So who knows.

 

[NDiesel]

You haven't even defined what Boston's 4th line is. So it's a poor argument. Because we really don't know what Boston's 4th line is. There has been zero consistency in terms of personnel.

As forwards 10/11/12 go, my figures (11 goals) isn't an exaggeration at all. It's exactly what Boston's 10-11-12 forwards are on pace to score this season.

So basically your saying your cool with the 4th line but the 3rd line is what sucks?

I'll phrase it in a way you can understand.

If an NHL forward is scoring at a pace where he won't even get 5 goals in a full 82 games season, he doesn't belong on ANY line, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, I don't care how much of your precious "energy" he brings.

Okay first, don't talk down to me like I'm a child, it doesn't make your argument any stronger.

2nd: I literally posted what I considered the 4th line a few posts ago, but since you missed it:

Blidh-Moore-Nash
Blidh-Moore-Acciari
Blidh-Moore-Hayes

Clearly that is the 4th line, I'm not sure why you would pick the 3 worst goal totals (two of which aren't even in the lineup) and use that as the pace for our 4th line and all 3 of them have not been in the lineup at once since being healthy....

3rd: The 4th line already has 11 combined goals. How in the hell are you saying that they are on pace for only 11 goals? Moore 8 Goals + Blidh One goal + Hayes 2 Goals is 11 goals. Even if you only include the two normal 4th liners in Blidh and Moore they still have 9 goals, which is a pace of 20 goals.

Last thing: Your argument on ignoring assists is still ignorant. You aren't going to look at Nicklas Backstrom and use his goal totals to say he's terrible, nor are you going to look at Ovie's assist totals to say that he's terrible...so why would you look at a defensive forward (Nash), who is more of a passer than a shooter, and use goals as the defining factor on why he's awful?

Either way, I'm tired of running in circles, you clearly skim half of my posts and pick which points you want to read and which you want to ignore.

 

[Baddkarma]

I hate the team this GM is building. It totally ruins what Bruin hockey is.

 

[BruinDust]

Okay first, don't talk down to me like I'm a child, it doesn't make your argument any stronger.

2nd: I literally posted what I considered the 4th line a few posts ago, but since you missed it:

Blidh-Moore-Nash
Blidh-Moore-Acciari
Blidh-Moore-Hayes

Clearly that is the 4th line, I'm not sure why you would pick the 3 worst goal totals (two of which aren't even in the lineup) and use that as the pace for our 4th line and all 3 of them have not been in the lineup at once since being healthy....

3rd: The 4th line already has 11 combined goals. How in the hell are you saying that they are on pace for only 11 goals? Moore 8 Goals + Blidh One goal + Hayes 2 Goals is 11 goals. Even if you only include the two normal 4th liners in Blidh and Moore they still have 9 goals, which is a pace of 20 goals.

Last thing: Your argument on ignoring assists is still ignorant. You aren't going to look at Nicklas Backstrom and use his goal totals to say he's terrible, nor are you going to look at Ovie's assist totals to say that he's terrible...so why would you look at a defensive forward (Nash), who is more of a passer than a shooter, and use goals as the defining factor on why he's awful?

Either way, I'm tired of running in circles, you clearly skim half of my posts and pick which points you want to read and which you want to ignore.

Blidh and Moore have been on a line together for what, 5-6 games. I'm talking about the entire season production.

How many of Moore's point's did he get playing alongside Blidh exactly.

Bottom line, having a line, any line, made up of Blidh + Moore + one of Hayes/Acciari/Nash/Kuraly as a long-term line (long term as in the rest of this season) won't work as whichever one is the 3rd guy is a zero-zone player whose potential and probable scoring potential is too low to be in the NHL as a everyday forward. Simple.

Having one of Hayes/Acciari/Nash/Kuraly in the line-up along with Blidh is a mistake.

Having one and then another on a separate line is insane.

 

[ashnathan]

Said it in GDT. Sweeney should be head scout/player development etc, not the GM. The Bruins are neither here nor there, you have to be one or the other, rebuild, contend, you get stucj in between youre toast. If Management wants to win now then they hired the wrong guy as GM cos its clear hes looking 3/4 years doen the track.

 

[catsmasher]

Empty suit. "Do nothing Donny"

 

[Brucentric*]

Empty suit. "Do nothing Donny"

Till now this is true other then a few deals anyone could of done which have turned out ok so far and should get better. That said he has not added an NHL elite dman or a top 3 winger. They need both and have the chips. The trade deadline looms large for him. He needs to add to this team and be a buyer,

 

[chizzler]

Till now this is true other then a few deals anyone could of done which have turned out ok so far and should get better. That said he has not added an NHL elite dman or a top 3 winger. They need both and have the chips. The trade deadline looms large for him. He needs to add to this team and be a buyer,

I say sell.

 

[Coach Parker]

Dear Mr.Sweeney and Mr.Neely,

You team and product is neither tough to play against or entertaining for hardcore or casual fans. When the Lunatic Fringe start tuning out maybe it's time to address this issue.

Sincerely,

A Hardcore fan forced to become casual

 

[catsmasher]

Donny is still on the job training. He doesn't know how or when to remove the coach. The real problem is Cam who hired him as an insider when this organization needed to look outside. Nothing has improved in 3 years other than " improving the cap situation " which a monkey could have done. The returns for looch and dougie have been suspect at best by early estimations. Extensions of mcquaid and killer have been epic failures. The Hayes trade beyond horrendous. Getting nothing for Loui then still missing by the playoffs is horrific. the only good signing was DoMo but when you start 7-8 natural centers on any given night then how good was it. Will someone in a suit wake up already?

 

[Pia8988]

He doesn't know how? Doesn't just saying your fired get rid of him?

How has his drafting been?

 

[ap3lovr]

I turned off the game after the 1st period to paint the kids room. I was going to do it tomorrow, but it was more entertaining than the game. Bettman and the ownership group need to setup up next season because these boring chess matches are not going to grow the game. I love low scoring games when teams are trading chances and the game flows end to end. Games that do that and showcase skill are going to help this league appeal to the broader masses. This boring keep the puck to the outside, collapse the net crap, dump and change hockey is bad for the game.

I'm a fan of hockey before I'm a fan of Boston, I love this game. I dreamt of playing it growing up. My parents didn't have any money, so I never got the chance to play. Yet, I remember as a kid watching my heroes in Neely, Bourque, Oates, and Moog play every now and then on hockey night in Canada. I would watch on a little 9" black and white TV with rabbit ears trying to get a decent signal. I got excited every time there was a rush because there was a legit chance that there would be a goal.

I just can't imagine being that kid and watching the on ice product today. The product has changed, and not in a good way. The physicality has been toned down, the goalies have been beefed up, and the game has become more cerebral. It isn't just Bruins hockey either, even the high flying Montreal Canadians fall into a defensive shell and collapse on the net in front of a goalie that has a sofa strapped to his legs.

I don't know what the answer is, i'm tuning out more and more these days to do other things. I still look forward to every game, and read all the news I can on this team. Yet after about 15-20 minutes of watching, more nights I would rather be doing something else. I hope maybe in time, the VR experience will be available through center ice. That might bring a new perspective that could refresh the flame in this old fan. Otherwise they are in real danger of seeing me become a pink hat type of fan in the future.

 

[ODAAT]

I hate the team this GM is building. It totally ruins what Bruin hockey is.

and what`s that?

as far as the GM goes, I have a tendency to give a GM more than 1.5 years to work on putting together a lineup they envision will be competitive long term.

I actually think Cam isn`t the guy to be sitting up top, personally prefer a true hockey man in that position. Tallon would be my target, something tells me life in Florida ain`t all that sunny

I think a new voice behind the bench might be coming very soon but I also think that voice, outside of an initial jolt, won`t be able to pry much more out of this group which is average at best

 

[rocketdan9]

As long as the Bruins get back into the playoffs , everyones job will be safe

No playoffs - bye claude. Sweeney on the hot seat
No playoffs nex season - bye Sweeney and Neely

But you know the Jacobs dont want to do this to Sweeney or Neely. Long history with the franchise

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

I say sell.

To whom? Expansion and the Cap have made that option for this year practically non existent. Following the expansion draft and a team finally having some indication of what the cap situation will be for next year, the landscape will be much clearer for all teams. That situation will allow for deals to then take place and it should be busy. Wishing for something before then is just that.

 

[whatsbruin]

I think if he could trade Chara and Krecji, at the deadline, for young to mid 20's players that will be 1st line/pair players it can speed up the rebuild tremendously.
The problem with that is the B's past evaluation of NHL talent, for trades, has been
horrible.

Donnie's plan appears to be build through the draft, and that will take a few more
years before improvement is seen at the NHL level. With no significant moves, next years NHL product will be worse than this years, as there is further decline in Chara, and everyone else over 30.

 

[BruinDust]

Most regulation losses in the entire Eastern Conference, and Sweeney can't suffer up the guts to even waive and demote some of his dead weight.

Heck, his back-up goaltender has one win in half a season and he can't even make a move to try and fix that issue.

 

[kdog82]

Why do you always ignore assists?

Well, Blidh is a 4th liner with 10 career games played and 1 goal. Moore has 8 goals. Nash plays a solid defensive game and is more of a passer than goal scorer. Hayes I don't think belongs on this team, but it is what it is and he's better than Acciari and Kuraly right now.

Nash, Hayes, Schaller, Acciari, McQuaid, khudobin all do not belong on this team.

There are players in Providence that can replace all of the above easily and actually provide something.

Nash-Czarnik-Schaller is easily the worst 3rd line in hockey, perhaps in the last 100 years of this league.

 

[chizzler]

To whom? Expansion and the Cap have made that option for this year practically non existent. Following the expansion draft and a team finally having some indication of what the cap situation will be for next year, the landscape will be much clearer for all teams. That situation will allow for deals to then take place and it should be busy. Wishing for something before then is just that.

To anyone willing. TD coming up. Gm's go insane at this time. Or would you rather buy one guy and keep hoping to win the Stanley cup? Hate to tell you, but they need more than one guy.

 

[Duguay]

I think Sweeney is in a difficult spot.
Cam will probably have to offer up a couple of sacrifices if this team misses the playoffs for the 3rd straight season.
They don't look consistent enough right now to hold off a couple of better teams that are currently underachieving.

Will Cam survive?

He shouldn't in my opinion. I'd want a wholesale change personally.

 

[whatsbruin]

To anyone willing. TD coming up. Gm's go insane at this time. Or would you rather buy one guy and keep hoping to win the Stanley cup? Hate to tell you, but they need more than one guy.

This is why I propose to trade Chara and Krecji, pending their approval.
Target a projected top D'man and Winger.
The following year you can go Bergeron, Backes, Spooner down the middle, which
is still very strong. You get a future #1 or #2 D back for Chara, and a future top
winger for Krecji. The problem will be having B's mngmt figure out who to trade for.
The nhl players they have received in the past have not been wise choices.

Teams will pony up for Chara. Krecji, not so sure, but he has led the playoffs in
scoring twice so they have that selling point. I'd offer K. Miller, McQuaid as well.
They should have decent value at the deadline.

Does only trading Chara ,Krecji, K. Miller, McQuaid seem half azzed and still prolong the mediocrity ?