Hall and now Debrusk going has greatly hurt the speed and clean breakouts with this team ,that’s for sure.Marchand is killing this team, not because he is playing any worse than anyone else on this team, but because he is expected to be a big contributor like he has in the past. My honest opinion, Sweeney might be more to blame for this shit show than Monty or the players, and I am not letting them off the hook, but look to be honest I was always a DeBrusk guy, but I do think it was time for him to go, for the team and for him, but Sweeney never replaced him, and I do not want hear it was Lindhom who replaced him, that was just moving Zacha to wing, but they always needed a wing. I liked Sweeneys attempt this year to build off season, but and I am a big on having a strong defense, but moving DeBrusk, no replacement, and a good GM, should have been preparing for Marchands decline, I think Marchand can still help this team, but in a lesser role, and I know where that strip him of his captaincy comes from but that is just pure bullshit thing to do and only adds another distraction to this team. Sweeney misread a lot of what was happening this year and he should be held responsible.
Preparing for Marchand's decline ... you mean the same way they prepared for Bergeron and Krejci's retirements?Marchand is killing this team, not because he is playing any worse than anyone else on this team, but because he is expected to be a big contributor like he has in the past. My honest opinion, Sweeney might be more to blame for this shit show than Monty or the players, and I am not letting them off the hook, but look to be honest I was always a DeBrusk guy, but I do think it was time for him to go, for the team and for him, but Sweeney never replaced him, and I do not want hear it was Lindhom who replaced him, that was just moving Zacha to wing, but they always needed a wing. I liked Sweeneys attempt this year to build off season, but and I am a big on having a strong defense, but moving DeBrusk, no replacement, and a good GM, should have been preparing for Marchands decline, I think Marchand can still help this team, but in a lesser role, and I know where that strip him of his captaincy comes from but that is just pure bullshit thing to do and only adds another distraction to this team. Sweeney misread a lot of what was happening this year and he should be held responsible.
Are they really trying to make 23 shots for the whole game sound impressive? Thats a teams average total through 2 periods let alone an entire game....Some proper NESN propaganda right here...
"but their offense put 23 shots on net!"
I don't think the team can afford to keep the 4th line together, because even though they are playing great the Bs are not winning games.Issue I have is the 4th line (19-47-45) is 9-1 goals scored 5v5 Why not make it the 3rd line or at least keep it together?
I interpret that as the Chiarelli Gravy Train is approaching the end of the line. Only Marchand and Pasta left.Good point, I also think this team has had a large turnover, and contract distractions, and I put much it on Sweeney. That run to the cup when he went on to pickup 3 players at the TD and not one of them resigned, is catching up to him, and the loss of Bergey, Hall, Krecji, and DeBrusk has not helped the situation. The more I think of it AWFUL GM WORK !!!!
If it is a minority than I, am in it also.I interpret that as the Chiarelli Gravy Train is approaching the end of the line. Only Marchand and Pasta left.
But I think Sweeny should've been gone years ago, and I realize I'm in the minority.
Montgomery says he has no idea why Pasta/Lindholm hasn't worked, is breaking up the fourth line in hopes the three performing players make the others better, and feels they are thinking too much, which makes them predictable and slow.
I think it would take at least three consecutive years of not qualifying for the playoffs and under performing or maybe two years of being one of the worst teams in the league (bottom 2 or 3) for Sweeney to be replaced. Boston is historically slow to change upper management ... meaning not impulsive reactions.I interpret that as the Chiarelli Gravy Train is approaching the end of the line. Only Marchand and Pasta left.
But I think Sweeny should've been gone years ago, and I realize I'm in the minority.
I try to maintain a half dozen friends no matter how bad I’m doing I can look at their bleak situations and it picks me up and I feel better about myselfPeople need to chill out and look at it over the length of a season.
Right now we are projected out at:
74 Points
221 Goals For
279 Goals Against
-57 Goal Differential
Now, I grant you, on the surface that looks bad.
But those figures are better than the 23/24 results for the Sharks, the Ducks, and the Blackhawks in every category.
Those teams would give their left testicle for what we have going right now.
So stop being so f***ing ungrateful.
Yeah, way too much blame on the coach.
Not enough on the players.
I like establishing some new routine that turns into a habit each monthNot sure if anyone posted this yet but these were the lines at this morning's practice
View attachment 923946
What have you done for me latelyAgree with this. I won't say Monty is fault free, but look at how many guys have had career years with Monty behind the bench.
David Pastrnak
Pavel Zacha
Hampus Lindholm
Jake DeBrusk
Charlie Coyle
Trent Frederic
Morgan Geekie
Connor Clifton
Pastrnak maybe is one where you question it, but if you look at his career, Pastrank has 2 season with 100+ points.....both season were under Monty. Prior to Monty he had only broken 90+ points once in his 8yr career.
Montgomery says he has no idea why Pasta/Lindholm hasn't worked, is breaking up the fourth line in hopes the three performing players make the others better, and feels they are thinking too much, which makes them predictable and slow.
Let me play the devil's advocate ...Agree with this. I won't say Monty is fault free, but look at how many guys have had career years with Monty behind the bench.
David Pastrnak
Pavel Zacha
Hampus Lindholm
Jake DeBrusk
Charlie Coyle
Trent Frederic
Morgan Geekie
Connor Clifton
Pastrnak maybe is one where you question it, but if you look at his career, Pastrank has 2 season with 100+ points.....both season were under Monty. Prior to Monty he had only broken 90+ points once in his 8yr career.
What have you done for me lately
More times than not they play stale
Grades for 10 games
1. Florida - brutal/ ambushed
2. Montreal - good bit sloppy
3. Kings - outplayed but endured
4. Florida - undisciplined *
5. Colorado- good Bruins game
6. Utah- outskated Swayman best B
7. Nashville - dreadful shutout
8. Dallas - undisciplined *
9. Toronto - very strong effort
10. Philly- to peripheral/ not good enough
So
Toronto, Colorado, Montreal B+
Kings & Utah C/C- (Swayman gets them 3 points)
Five fails
Florida F’s
Leaders Marchand & Pastrnak 9 minors worth 18 penalties in the Florida & Dallas games here
Nashville & Philadelphia shut them out
I’m GM if they don’t play like their hair is on fire tomorrow I’m making a change
Not sure if anyone posted this yet but these were the lines at this morning's practice
View attachment 923946
Let me play the devil's advocate ...
Pastrnak and others on the team have had 'career' years offensively because Montgomery is not as adamant about defensive play as previous coaches.
Defense under Montgomery is secondary at best, priority is moving the puck up ice and players cheat along those lines.
Players take more chances (risk) offensively under Montgomery.
Over the past 2 years more and more offensive bad habits have crept into the team's play resulting in being caught up ice, out of position, and a greater number of odd man rushes against.
Many of those that knew how to play team positional defense have either left the team or retired over the past 2 years.
Resulting in opponents exploiting defensive gaps in missed assignments and positional play.
This team is not built to score 4, 5, 6 goals a game consistently, maybe more like 3 goals on the average.
Who other than Pastrnak do you think is capable of scoring a goal every other game or 3 on the average?
Most of this roster will average 1 goal every 4 - 8 games.
This roster is built from the goal and defensemen out to be a shutdown team, not a run and gun team.
They simply don't have the guns up front at the moment to play high offense out score you oppent game.
But they do have the personnel to play a tight checking defensive style game.
A recommitment to overall team defensive basics will go a long way to correcting many of the ills facing the team.
Offense will still come as the team defense improves.