Post-Game Talk: GAME 16 - Advantage Linus - Ottawa 3 BRUINS 2 OT

[analyser]

As bad as they have been, statistically, they are in a decent spot where this can be turned around . Does anyone care about home ice advantage in the playoffs? I don’t. Let’s give Montgomery 5 games to right the ship but yeah the clock is ticking.

I for one did not want either Zadorov or Elias. Somehow if they could have come up with about another mil I personally would have preferred Chandler Stepenson and Brandon Montour. Then we would have a true PP QB. I know Montour is a right handed shot but I am sure we could of managed to work things out.

Both of our signings are not worth what we paid

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Linus looks happy. Moving to Canada was smarter than he knew at the time he was traded.

At the end of the day , the Sens will be watching the Bruins in the playoffs. Ottawa won’t be there .

 

[Hookslide]

My favourite play was when he dumped the puck in from the blue line, skated in as far as the faceoff dot, then peeled-off cross ice for a change. If you’re going to dump it in and change then dump it in and change. Don’t skate halfway in and then decide to change. Waste of time and space.

If Tyler Johnson is your first line wing, that might be something that tells us all about the makeup of this team.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

I for one did not want either Zadorov or Elias. Somehow if they could have come up with about another mil I personally would have preferred Chandler Stepenson and Brandon Montour. Then we would have a true PP QB. I know Montour is a right handed shot but I am sure we could of managed to work things out.

Both of our signings are not worth what we paid

The only other team I watch closely is Toronto because I hate them so much , so I knew very little about either guy . Lindholm has been invisible and Zadarov is a defensive liability. But they are now on the roster, so where do we go from here?

 

[BruinDust]

And that's been the scouting report on him since the day Buffalo drafted him. It's amazing that 5 teams keep thinking they can fix a lack of hockey iq.

Would have been better off keeping Forbort . At least you could limit his minutes. It’s hard to do that ( although I would ) with Zadarov considering the money he is making .

Zadorov's hockey IQ has always been his fatal flaw. At least if they had kept their zone defending system you'd have a chance of him grasping the concepts as it's an easier system to play, especially for bigger guys.

But this hybrid set-up they've gone to has done him zero favors. He doesn't know when to stay in his position, or when to chase the play.

It still mystifies me that he got traded to Vancouver last year for a couple draft picks (3rd and 5th), and then somehow got 6 years and 5 million per as a UFA. If Boston loved him that much to give him that contract, why not make the deal last year to bring him in and see what the fit is like?

 

[Ladyfan]

At the end of the day , the Sens will be watching the Bruins in the playoffs. Ottawa won’t be there .

Not sure about that.

 

[LouJersey]

Gotta figure that Montgomery is let go about 1:05 right after kickoff no?

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Zadorov's hockey IQ has always been his fatal flaw. At least if they had kept their zone defending system you'd have a chance of him grasping the concepts as it's an easier system to play, especially for bigger guys.

But this hybrid set-up they've gone to has done him zero favors. He doesn't know when to stay in his position, or when to chase the play.

It still mystifies me that he got traded to Vancouver last year for a couple draft picks (3rd and 5th), and then somehow got 6 years and 5 million per as a UFA. If Boston loved him that much to give him that contract, why not make the deal last year to bring him in and see what the fit is like?

Montgomery has to realize Zadarov doesn’t skate well enough. Well , he does. He moves well for a big guy but it takes him a few strides to get moving. He doesn’t have quickness or acceleration in his own zone to close gaps.

 

[analyser]

The only other team I watch closely is Toronto because I hate them so much , so I knew very little about either guy . Lindholm has been invisible and Zadarov is a defensive liability. But they are now on the roster, so where do we go from here?

Well we are stuck for 5 and 7 years respectively with these 2. This will greatly limit our ability to upgrade the team. Nobody is going to be kind and take these 2 off our hands unless we pay like half their salaries or throw in a few 1st rounders.

Another big DS mistake.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Did I read we had zero shots in the third? Im no Monty fan but that's disgraceful if true on the players.

Soft weak minded roster. Blow it up make everyone available start with looking at Pasta's no trade list.

He's a clown show on the ice, has zero respect for the team game or his coaches. H Lindholm is playing better and now should be easy to move.

Not going to bother with Coyle he has zero value with that contract. Waive him maybe someone will claim him. Brickley will service and so will we.

Having this kid playing in a top six roll is lottery worthy.

McAvoy better get his act together soon or Im thinking he is damaged goods at this point because there is no explanation on his defensive game, I never considered him an offensive force.

The rest of the roster is a mess and looks lost

 

[BruinDust]

Montgomery has to realize Zadarov doesn’t skate well enough. Well , he does. He moves well for a big guy but it takes him a few strides to get moving. He doesn’t have quickness or acceleration in his own zone to close gaps.

Imagine Chara in a man-to-man or hybrid defensive system, chasing guys around. Even he would struggle with it. And Zadorov doesn't have 1/10th the hockey IQ that Chara had.

It crazy to me to build this big, rangy D-corps and then change the system away from zone.

Same as building a slow team of forwards and deciding to go heavier on the forecheck. They just can't get there in time.

 

[Number8]

From a business standpoint, you can be sure JJ is looking at assets 88, 28 and 73...wondering where the return on the $30M investment is. And man is he right.

Not having a go at you, but I could truly give no shits what JJ thinks or feels right now.

From a business standpoint JJ gets his return everytime someone shells out $$$$$$ on watered down beer or buys an 88 shirt at probably 100% margins.

He is rich, gets richer every day, and will continue to do so for the duration.

f*** him. I’m more worried about me and what I get in return for the investment of my time, attention, and interest.

 

[mjhfb]

Well if the new lineup is not getting it done then as we've seen teams do the the following things in order. First, change lines. If no difference then change players internally. If still no difference then change players externally via a trade. If still nothing then change coach. If still nothing then change GM.
Just wondering if step 3 or step 4 will be next.

 

[Hookslide]

After watching Tyler Johnson for three games . My question is why was he signed ? The only positive I can think of ,cheap contract .

Because Sweeney, boxed himself in with the cap, the last couple of years, losing players after trading for them at the TDL, contract signings this year, he had nothing left.

Well if the new lineup is not getting it done then as we've seen teams do the the following things in order. First, change lines. If no difference then change players internally. If still no difference then change players externally via a trade. If still nothing then change coach. If still nothing then change GM.
Just wondering if step 3 or step 4 will be next.

I must add one more option......ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!!!!

 

[DKH]

Like Bill Parcells always said "You are what your record says you are." They are tied with 3 other teams for 8th place in the conference. They are the definition of mediocre.

I probably wouldn't fire the coach at this point because I think it lets the players off the hook, but if things go south then sure, can Monty. But the bigger problems on this team are the roster, the long term salary structure and the lack of high end prospects.

Fire Monty and be 2 games above .500 I guess (maybe). But the 3 problems I named are all above his pay grade and need to be dealt with at some point.

Dave, 5:30 am

Let me guess - puppy ?

Gotta let Monty go they haven’t quit completely

Some games they are involved; some periods….

I like the roster

They are strong down the middle - they have 2 high end wingers

Two stud defenders

Top G

they need something and it’s a new voice

They are not listening

Obvious

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Imagine Chara in a man-to-man or hybrid defensive system, chasing guys around. Even he would struggle with it. And Zadorov doesn't have 1/10th the hockey IQ that Chara had.

It crazy to me to build this big, rangy D-corps and then change the system away from zone.

Same as building a slow team of forwards and deciding to go heavier on the forecheck. They just can't get there in time.

You are slowly convincing me that the coach needs to go . . Sure this roster is flawed but they still should be doing better than they are .

 

[TD Charlie]

Just looking, of the 6 teams that are .500, BOS has the worst goal differential. And of those teams, only UTA and NYI have fewer regulation wins, but they've played 1 fewer game than BOS.

I just don't think a coaching change fixes anything other than making people feel temporarily better.

That’s fair. Coaching change just feels like the simplest change for now

 

[BruinDust]

You are slowly convincing me that the coach needs to go . . Sure this roster is flawed but they still should be doing better than they are .

The question for me....is this Monty's vision, Sweeney/Neely's vision, or a combination of A and B.

I said before it's a roster built to trap up the neutral zone, protect the house in the defensive zone, and hopefully generate enough offense on neutral zone turnovers and special teams to win games. And even if they could accomplish that, it still lacks the talent to be a true contender.

Goaltending is the ONLY reason they aren't in the league's basement right now.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

The question for me....is this Monty's vision, Sweeney/Neely's vision, or a combination of A and B.

I said before it's a roster built to trap up the neutral zone, protect the house in the defensive zone, and hopefully generate enough offense on neutral zone turnovers and special teams to win games. And even if they could accomplish that, it still lacks the talent to be a true contender.

Goaltending is the ONLY reason they aren't in the league's basement right now.

Yeah , however even if they can’t be a true contender, let’s get in the playoffs and beat the Leafs . Small consolation, I know but never want to see those bastards do well .

 

[BruinDust]

Yeah , however even if they can’t be a true contender, let’s get in the playoffs and beat the Leafs . Small consolation, I know but never want to see those bastards do well .

These Bruins aren't beating this year's Leafs in a playoff series. Zero chance.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

These Bruins aren't beating this year's Leafs in a playoff series. Zero chance.

I don’t believe that. The Leafs don’t impress me . A lot can happen between now and April and there’s a lot of history that suggests the Leafs can implode in round 1.

 

[Dreghorn2]

When the players see that management will back them in changing coaches, it becomes easier for them to try it again.

 

[Clode]

Imagine Chara in a man-to-man or hybrid defensive system, chasing guys around. Even he would struggle with it. And Zadorov doesn't have 1/10th the hockey IQ that Chara had.

It crazy to me to build this big, rangy D-corps and then change the system away from zone.

Same as building a slow team of forwards and deciding to go heavier on the forecheck. They just can't get there in time.

There is a disconnect between how the coach wants to play and how the GM has constructed the team. We all know how that story ends. Also I would add that I don't think they have built a slow team. Kastelic, Lindholm and Koepke are all good skaters and even Zadorov has decent top end speed for being an aircraft carrier on skates .They just lack the dog on bone mentality as a group and that starts with leadership.

 

[Dr Quincy]

Dave, 5:30 am



They are strong down the middle -

Hu?

they have 2 high end wingers

Pasta is high end but playing with his head up his rear.
Marchand isn't what he was. He's good. He's not "high end" at this point.

Two stud defenders

Neither of whom can qb a pp

Top G

Yes though not playing as well as he can

they need something and it’s a new voice

Leave "the Voice" to Gwen Stefani. They need at least one more legit top 6 F more.

They are not listening

Some of this crew also wasn't listening to the last coach. I wonder what has stayed the same... oh yeah the players.

Obvious

You're right. It is obviously a problem of roster and cap construction.

 

[BruinDust]

There is a disconnect between how the coach wants to play and how the GM has constructed the team. We all know how that story ends. Also I would add that I don't think they have built a slow team. Kastelic, Lindholm and Koepke are all good skaters and even Zadorov has decent top end speed for being an aircraft carrier on skates .They just lack the dog on bone mentality as a group and that starts with leadership.

None of them are particularly fast either. Koepke stands out as the fastest in a straight line on the entire team. They have literally nobody up front who possesses the kind of speed that pushes back defenders. If you rated every skater on the team based on straight line speed on a scale of 1-5 (5 being top end), the whole team are 1s, 2s, and 3s with a lot of 2s and 3s. Maybe I'd put Koepke as a 4.

Leadership isn't the problem. Talent is the problem.