News Article: Fluto - Bruins occupying middle ground

[Dr Quincy]

Sweeney went to Harvard, I doubt he'd have any trouble "handling" Felger and Mazz. He just doesn't want to, which I applaud. What's the sound of one hand clapping?

Neely, I don't think could outwit them. Last time he was on their show they hammered him and he got mad. Legit angry. Knowing what we know about Cam, he doesn't usually talk his way out of those situations, but he can't start beating them with their mic's, although I'd love to hear him repeatedly cuff Felger while saying, "Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself."

So at the end of the day, it's best he stay away.

Fwiw, I don't hear anyone else in the media complaining about their availability or access.

Other than NESN, which they co-own (to at least used to), they aren't partners with any other media entity, so thus they don't have a fiduciary obligation to be available to the Globe. Plus, most newspaper beat writers are about as cushy as it gets.

Fans want answers and information but it seems like they don't like reporters who try to get it. Like attorneys, interviewers are a job where being a total PITA is a plus.

 

[DKH]

I shelled out some good cash to take my son to a game in January and I don't even feel good about it..

Put them on exchange most of my buds have had good luck selling - should move because of Christmas

 

[DKH]

Other than NESN, which they co-own (to at least used to), they aren't partners with any other media entity, so thus they don't have a fiduciary obligation to be available to the Globe. Plus, most newspaper beat writers are about as cushy as it gets.

Fans want answers and information but it seems like they don't like reporters who try to get it. Like attorneys, interviewers are a job where being a total PITA is a plus.

If you listen to Kirk's podcast I found out he spoke to Sweeney & Langenbrunner that morning and got a lot of excellent information which he shared on the Podcast and would be using in the NEHJ coming up on prospects issue

The Senyshyn & Lauzon stuff was a grand slam

I get the Globe delivered but I don't really care where info comes from but I get it. Michael Felger or Kirk Leudeke on hockey? Hmmm

 

[Fenway]

Bruins TV ratings are sinking. This is a terrible number for a marquis game

 

[VanIsle]

You know what, every team in the existence of the NHL will suck at one point or another. The Bruins have been a lot better then most teams, and if they suck for another year or 2 while not being at the bottom of thee league it is something that we will all understand in the long run.

The problem as stated is this team is not good enough to be the good teams, and not bad enough to be the worst team in the league with Rask, Bergeron, Pasta, Marchand, Krejci, Chara.

The young guys will come up soon (McAvoy, Senyshyn, Gabrielle, Bjork, Zboril, Lauzon) and this team will be back where they rightfully belong, at the top of the league, at least I hope anyways, I just hop it isn't to late as the vets will be getting on in age.

 

[DKH]

Bruins TV ratings are sinking. This is a terrible number for a marquis game

Time to drop ticket prices bring back the Eddys mint ice cream waffle cone and the season ticket holder cookout

In a separate note Fenway, Celtics tickets are dirt cheap

 

[DKH]

You know what, every team in the existence of the NHL will suck at one point or another. The Bruins have been a lot better then most teams, and if they suck for another year or 2 while not being at the bottom of thee league it is something that we will all understand in the long run.

The problem as stated is this team is not good enough to be the good teams, and not bad enough to be the worst team in the league with Rask, Bergeron, Pasta, Marchand, Krejci, Chara.

The young guys will come up soon (McAvoy, Senyshyn, Gabrielle, Bjork, Zboril, Lauzon) and this team will be back where they rightfully belong, at the top of the league, at least I hope anyways, I just hop it isn't to late as the vets will be getting on in age.

Pretty much nailed it

 

[JAD]

I shelled out some good cash to take my son to a game in January and I don't even feel good about it..

Just go to the game with your son, I'm sure he will enjoy the experience. He doesn't have to get caught up in the politics and online want a be GM's. It will be what you make it, have a good time, win or lose. I'm sure your son will appreciate it.

 

[DKH]

Just go to the game with your son, I'm sure he will enjoy the experience. He doesn't have to get caught up in the politics and online want a be GM's. It will be what you make it, have a good time, win or lose. I'm sure your son will appreciate it.

I took my kids when the team stunk and we always had fun. Just being together and watching the different players on both teams, I'm sure win or lose it will be fun

There are many interesting players on Boston to watch and talk about

We went last night and had a blast and saw an entertaining game

The game last night blew away the recent Canes overtime win

We talked a lot about the Ducks 6 man D and watching them play and speculating Boston's future D

 

[jgatie]

Just go to the game with your son, I'm sure he will enjoy the experience. He doesn't have to get caught up in the politics and online want a be GM's. It will be what you make it, have a good time, win or lose. I'm sure your son will appreciate it.

100%! I couldn't tell you the score of any game I went to with my dad, but I damn sure remember I was there with my dad and had fun.

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

Good for Sweeney and Neely. **** Felger and Mazz. They're simpletons with a mic. It's a shame they have the influence they do. I wish more people would stand up to them and set them straight. They ask insulting questions to yes men like Haggerty and all have a big chuckle at the Bruins expense. I'd love to see them ask Laviolette or even better John Tortorella, all the questions they have about Julien, Sweeney and Neely and see what he says. He'd belittle, berate and embarrass them.

The Torts's reference made me chuckle as I thought about the famous exchange he had with, as he liked to call him, Brooksie! Classic Tort's.

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

If you listen to Kirk's podcast I found out he spoke to Sweeney & Langenbrunner that morning and got a lot of excellent information which he shared on the Podcast and would be using in the NEHJ coming up on prospects issue

The Senyshyn & Lauzon stuff was a grand slam

I get the Globe delivered but I don't really care where info comes from but I get it. Michael Felger or Kirk Leudeke on hockey? Hmmm

How or maybe where can you access his podcasts. Yes, I'm from a severely tech challenged era

 

[PlayMakers]

Other than NESN, which they co-own (to at least used to), they aren't partners with any other media entity, so thus they don't have a fiduciary obligation to be available to the Globe. Plus, most newspaper beat writers are about as cushy as it gets.

Fans want answers and information but it seems like they don't like reporters who try to get it. Like attorneys, interviewers are a job where being a total PITA is a plus.

It is a tough job. And as a fan, I want someone to ask tough questions. I just feel like Felger is a rat about it. He snaps at people, he laughs at people. How can you smirk and scoff your way through an interview with someone like Cam Neely and not expect him to get angry, or at the very least be offended. And why should Neely have to put up with that kind of unprofessionalism?

I don't know who the right guy is but there has to be someone in the media or working at 98.5 that is capable of asking hard questions without laughing at the answers.

 

[Fenway]

Sean McEndoe wrote yesterday

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/goes-brown-playoff-turnover-teams-can-hold-spots/

They'd be in: Boston Bruins

Where they are today: Sitting tied for second in the Atlantic, three points clear of the Lightning for one of the three Atlantic spots.

What's gone right?: Man, the Bruins are a weird team. They've won 16 and lost 15 and have a negative goals differential, and that's with Tuukka Rask playing out of his mind and David Pastrnak looking like Mike Bossy, so it's tempting to just chalk them up as an early-season pretender that will eventually yield its spot to the one of the better teams down below. But then you dive a little deeper, and the Bruins start to look like a sneaky-good team. They lead the NHL in 5v5 possession, and their PDO is actually one of the league's lowest thanks to an unsustainably poor shooting percentage. As big a surprise as they've been so far, it's at least possible that they're actually a very good team that's underperforming.

What could still go wrong?: They've missed the playoffs two straight years and few were picking them to break that streak this year, so maybe Rask comes back to Earth and we turn out to have been right all along. It's not like they've given themselves much margin for error, so even a short slump could cost them a spot.

Their odds of staying put: They still seem to be on shaky ground, but I like their odds better than Ottawa's.

We are grumbling here but it could be a lot worse. Look at some of the teams that would be out of the playoffs if the season ended now - Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars.

 

[Baddkarma]

Bruins TV ratings are sinking. This is a terrible number for a marquis game

Because the Bruins are not an entertaining team to watch. They now play a Carolina Hurricanes/Buffalo Sabres brand of hockey that is uninspiring.

Unless they plan on building the 1988 Edmonton Oilers the Bruins need to find their way back to a heavier game to increase both success and interest in the team.

 

[Fenway]

How or maybe where can you access his podcasts. Yes, I'm from a severely tech challenged era

https://scoutingpost.com/2016/12/15...lle-bs-prospects-and-the-legend-of-moe-lemay/

 

[Bearclaw]

I shelled out some good cash to take my son to a game in January and I don't even feel good about it..

Same here. My girlfriend and I are flying into Boston the weekend of January 20th (my birthday) to watch the B's play the Blackhawks. We have pretty great seats and spent a good amount of money for them. I just hope the team shows up but the home record has me kind of nervous...

 

[jgatie]

The Torts's reference made me chuckle as I thought about the famous exchange he had with, as he liked to call him, Brooksie! Classic Tort's.

"Then get the **** outta here, Brooksie!"

Have you ever fought?â€

“You were probably beat up on the bus stop most of the timeâ€.

 

[PlayMakers]

See but this is the type of thinking from a GM I really dislike. The job of a GM, to an extent, is to project successfully how an asset will perform. I mean if every money manager waited to see how his proposed portfolio performed before actually allocating to it, wouldn't that be a hell of a lot easier, and also a hell of a lot more expensive? Anybody can do that.

The trick is to make decisions based on prognostications that end up being more right than wrong. Don't get me wrong...I understand your point. Vatrano may play to the level it makes Sweeney's need a 2nd liner vs. a 3rd liner, for example. But he should be able to identify that now. That's supposed to be the expertise that comes with that job. Meanwhile games and points slip away, and those are key factors.

I hear what you're saying to a degree, you have certain projections for players... but how can you predict an injury? How can you predict how someone will react and recover from surgery?

And with regard specifically to Vatrano, is he going to play LW or RW? Where he ends up might change what you need.

 

[pierre gagnon*]

I also think folks are overstating their strong play a little bit. IMHO, they've both been good enough to be NHL regulars, I think they're legit 5/6 guys right now and could play every night, but I don't know that they represent an indisputable upgrade over Kevan or McQuaid. They're different in terms of skill set than 54/86 for sure, but the possession metrics actually say that when McQuaid is on the ice, the team generates more shots on goal and allows fewer shots on goal then when Morrow is on the ice. Colin Miller's possession metrics are very strong, but then he'll score on his own goalie from time to time.

Don't get me wrong I like them both, but IMO there is a degree of uncertainty as to who is going to help you win the next game. At least in my mind.

All things being equal then the other guys have a better future and need the experience and are a lot cheaper. Add up McQuaid, Kevan and Hayes salaries and you have 7.55 million. Thats more then Drew Doughty money but nowhere near the skill. Cut out the deadwood get some good players, stop treading water. Too many 4 quarters players dividing up a buck.

 

[finchster]

Sweeney went to Harvard, I doubt he'd have any trouble "handling" Felger and Mazz. He just doesn't want to, which I applaud. What's the sound of one hand clapping?.

Going to Harvard has very little to do with someones oratory or debating skills. There is a reason why Sweeney isn't a media guy, he isn't very good at talking to the media and doesn't like it. His interview would end worse than Neely's.

 

[bp13]

I hear what you're saying to a degree, you have certain projections for players... but how can you predict an injury? How can you predict how someone will react and recover from surgery?

And with regard specifically to Vatrano, is he going to play LW or RW? Where he ends up might change what you need.

If we are speaking specifically with regard to Vatrano, ultimately I'm not sure it matters. You are right when you suggest that it'll be hard to predict how effective he will be, and will be hard to see which wing he fits better on. But ultimately this is Frank Vatrano here. 8 goals in 39 games last year. I like the kid and I have high hopes too, but you aren't adding a stud. If your need was offense before, you will likely still need it. And making matters worse is that our supposedly stout offensive centers, who will be leaned on for his production, have been sub-par at best.

But overall it's not my point to pick on Vatrano. It's just the general mindset that steers a GM to wait until he's seen his healthy roster before making moves. Games go by and points are lost, and ultimately you should be able to predict roughly how your missing players will integrate. So I just think this becomes yet another excuse in the endless string of excuses we've provided for Sweeney to date. He's been hidden behind his coach, a poor trade market, then pending UFA's being dealt and signed before reaching UFA status, then "prices being too high", etc. etc. I just don't get how we've arrived at this point in time where every shortcoming has some excuse that isn't on him. He's getting too much rope, IMO.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

It is a tough job. And as a fan, I want someone to ask tough questions. I just feel like Felger is a rat about it. He snaps at people, he laughs at people. How can you smirk and scoff your way through an interview with someone like Cam Neely and not expect him to get angry, or at the very least be offended. And why should Neely have to put up with that kind of unprofessionalism?

I don't know who the right guy is but there has to be someone in the media or working at 98.5 that is capable of asking hard questions without laughing at the answers.

Too bad he wasn't around to "interview" Grapes or Harry.

 

[PlayMakers]

Sean McEndoe wrote yesterday

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/goes-brown-playoff-turnover-teams-can-hold-spots/

We are grumbling here but it could be a lot worse. Look at some of the teams that would be out of the playoffs if the season ended now - Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars.

I think a lot of the "yeah, but Tuukka can't do this all year" or "without Tuukka playing out of his mind" comments are off base.

He has a .930 sv pct. TWICE in his career he's posted a .930 or better save pct over 45+ games and he has multiple .929 save pct seasons where he played 20-30 games. His career average is .924, so I think what we're seeing this year is a lot closer to who he is than what we saw last year when he had a career worst .915.

This is why he gets paid $7m.

 

[TMac21]

I think a lot of the "yeah, but Tuukka can't do this all year" or "without Tuukka playing out of his mind" comments are off base.

He has a .930 sv pct. TWICE in his career he's posted a .930 or better save pct over 45+ games and he has multiple .929 save pct seasons where he played 20-30 games. His career average is .924, so I think what we're seeing this year is a lot closer to who he is than what we saw last year when he had a career worst .915.

This is why he gets paid $7m.

Exactly, if he was .960 or something this year it would be different, he is around his career average right now.