News Article: FLUTO: Bruins’ first line needed more support

[Fenway]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...ore-support/hvYG1WXU487uGYZk2xsbpJ/story.html

In the final seconds of Game 6, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand shuffled from the forwards’ side of the bench to where the defensemen sit. Bergeron and Marchand were up next, itching to spell fellow penalty killers Dominic Moore and Riley Nash, to help kill linemate David Pastrnak’s takedown of Clarke MacArthur.

They never got on the ice.

Click to read more...

 

[JOKER 192]

It's hard to score goals when the 1st line is the only one the opponents need to watch. This is the same issue that did the Habs in and if not Adressed it will continue to haunt the Bruins.

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

And in other news, a new study reveals that water is wet.

 

[bob27]

Absolutely, Bergeron line was carrying the team for pretty much the entire year.

 

[ReggieMoto]

Meanwhile, the Pastrnak and Marchand player threads are brimming with posts from unhappy fans castigating them for not doing enough and failing to perform. Yes, water is indeed wet.

 

[LouJersey]

Funny but I never remember the Joe Thornton line ever getting this love in the press when they were the whole team as well.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Nothing we didn't no.Sweeney has a ton of work to do with this team to make them a contending team.Defesively I think they will be fine,with the D that they have and there prospects,I think Lauzon could step in and play for them.But as far as there forward go ,so much work to do there.Not sure any of there prospects can step in and play on second or third line and score goals for them consistently.Im afraid we're a bubble team again next season and Maybee for awhile.Unfortunetly Bergeron and DK not getting any younger and not seeng there replacements comming anytime soon.Lets hope there prospects develop really fast,Kurlay was impressive his last couple of games,a diamond in the ruff Maybee.

 

[mikelvl]

This is where criticism of Sweeney is warranted somewhat. His moves to build up the second and third lines haven't panned out. Hayes is an abomination and Beleskey isn't far behind. Spooner's woes deserve and already have its own thread. Not Sweeney's fault that Chiarelli handed out $7.25m per year to Krecji who can't seem to stay healthy. Stafford was a nice short term pickup but he won't be back next year and it's not good that the short term rental was the most reliable forward in the 2nd/3rd lines.

 

[LouJersey]

scrubs (4-12 F) scored 1.04 goals per game WITH Krejci during the regular season. This play-off season the scrubs scored at 1.33 per game.

Top line was 1.15 goals per game regular season, .83 this play-offs.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

This is where criticism of Sweeney is warranted somewhat. His moves to build up the second and third lines haven't panned out. Hayes is an abomination and Beleskey isn't far behind. Spooner's woes deserve and already have its own thread. Not Sweeney's fault that Chiarelli handed out $7.25m per year to Krecji who can't seem to stay healthy. Stafford was a nice short term pickup but he won't be back next year and it's not good that the short term rental was the most reliable forward in the 2nd/3rd lines.

Yeah Stafford defensive liabilities out way the goals he might score for you,wouldn't bring him back next year.

 

[Concessionaire]

Should Sweeney resume trade talks this summer with Colorado for Landeskog or Duchene? Or should they wait to see how the coming wave of prospects pan out?

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Should Sweeney resume trade talks this summer with Colorado for Landeskog or Duchene? Or should they wait to see how the coming wave of prospects pan out?

Well not trading Carlo or Charlie,wouldn't move Lauzon either.Bruins have to be careful what they give away on D,there number one Defenceman is 40 yrs old.

 

[22Brad Park]

This is where criticism of Sweeney is warranted somewhat. His moves to build up the second and third lines haven't panned out. Hayes is an abomtination and Beleskey isn't far behind. Spooner's woes deserve and already have its own thread. Not Sweeney's fault that Chiarelli handed out $7.25m per year to Krecji who can't seem to stay healthy. Stafford was a nice short term pickup but he won't be back next year and it's not good that the short term rental was the most reliable forward in the 2nd/3rd lines.

Stafford should be offered a deal. He outplayed alot of that roster .He was a nice fit

 

[Estlin]

Should Sweeney resume trade talks this summer with Colorado for Landeskog or Duchene? Or should they wait to see how the coming wave of prospects pan out?

The Bruins should stay far away from Landeskog. He's trending down and not at all worth what Colorado would ask for him. Duchene would be interesting, but Colorado would want a top-four defenseman in return, among other things.

 

[mikelvl]

Stafford should be offered a deal. He outplayed alot of that roster .He was a nice fit

I don't have a problem with Stafford at all. He came as advertised, no surprises, including his shortcomings on defense. Worth a 6th round pick. I would offer him a one year deal, but not two. I think he may garner a two year deal from some team though, based on his play for the B's.

 

[JCRO]

And in other news, a new study reveals that water is wet.

Came here to say something similar.

Well said.

 

[JCRO]

I don't have a problem with Stafford at all. He came as advertised, no surprises, including his shortcomings on defense. Worth a 6th round pick. I would offer him a one year deal, but not two. I think he may garner a two year deal from some team though, based on his play for the B's.

Not to get picky.

But didn't it turn into a fourth rounder since he played in a playoff game? Or was that made up? Saw that here. Either way, he was a great pickup down the stretch and, for the right price, I wouldnt mind seeing him again. I know others on this board however thought he was a liability. I just didn't really notice him compared to others on this roster during the playoff run.

 

[BMC]

Funny but I never remember the Joe Thornton line ever getting this love in the press when they were the whole team as well.

OR when it was Oates-Neely-Insert Left Winger Name Here

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

Stafford should be offered a deal. He outplayed alot of that roster .He was a nice fit

I get people liked him in his role. BUT if this is where people's (and by people's, I mean management's) priorities are, then we are in trouble.

This is how we end up holding onto Chris Kelly's, Greg Campbell's, or Adam McQuaid's too long when we give up players like Boychuk or Seguin on the cheap. We stress (and pay) too much on role players when the core should be addressed. Stafford is nothing buy a role player here. We re-sign him if it's something reasonable AND we can lose the other excess fat on this team. Otherwise, it's a low priority issue. I'm more worried about ditching Hayes and Belesky. And the fact that our top 4 defense has had Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller in it for the last 2+ years. THAT is a bigger issue than Drew Stafford.

 

[Hali33]

I think both things can be true.

That they absolutely needed more support and were an easy target to shut down for Ottawa. It made things worse for them.

But also, both as a line and individuals they did not play well or have a good series.

 

[bob27]

Not to get picky.

But didn't it turn into a fourth rounder since he played in a playoff game? Or was that made up? Saw that here. Either way, he was a great pickup down the stretch and, for the right price, I wouldnt mind seeing him again. I know others on this board however thought he was a liability. I just didn't really notice him compared to others on this roster during the playoff run.

5th. Would've been 4th if they beat Ottawa.

 

[roflstomper]

Any team can take their three best forwards and put them together to make a top line in hockey. We were basically forced to do it but generally this indicates you do not have enough talent at forward to make at least 2 good lines. Really need to go back and try to get a top 6 like 2011-2014. Balanced. Keep Marchand and Bergeron together. Find a center that can play with Pastrnak. Then acquire a proven top 6 forward to plug in. Organizational fill will Bergeron line or cheap veteran who is solid. Move Backes down to third line center.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Maybe Fluto should switch jobs and give them back rubs in the locker room instead of writing this yellow journalism.

 

[LouJersey]

Maybe Fluto should switch jobs and give them back rubs in the locker room instead of writing this yellow journalism.

Yeah it's like club med playing hockey in Boston I guess. I mean I wouldn't want an article trying to run them out of town either, but come on.

 

[northeastern]

It's hard to score goals when the 1st line is the only one the opponents need to watch. This is the same issue that did the Habs in and if not Adressed it will continue to haunt the Bruins.

They're also the best shutdown line on the team...