Post-Game Talk: GAME 20 - Columbus 5, SS Edmund Fitzgerald 1 - The sellout streak ended tonight at 628

[Gordoff]

never though in a 1000 years Pasta was going to be an instant regret when signing that huge deal but it appears we may have a very bad contract on our hands. what the hell has happened to this guy?

He got civilized.



He's got other "distractions" a wife, and a child, a LOT of money.
Complete security in every sense of the word.
Is he still playing because he "loves it?"
Would he still "play for free"
Naah, he grew up and he doesn't seem to get the same thrill.
Maybe if/when he gets a center and wing to play with that are up to his
level he'll get that back?

 

[RedSlider]

Hampus Lindholm & the fourth line really made this team look somewhat passable until they got hurt.

 

[Maine Fan]

Acquiring Zadarov and Lindholm hasn’t worked out for Sweeney but was he responsible for the epic collapse against Florida a couple of years ago ? Who was that on Montgomery or Sweeney ? The team should have won a Cup in 2019 . Was that game 7 loss on Sweeney ? It’s only my opinion but Sweeney deserves more of a pass than Montgomery does in recent years.

Montgomery should have never been hired. Sweeney was saving his ass by firing Cassidy and saying Cassidy didn't play the young guys. BS there weren't any young guys to play. Montgomery never played young guys over old guys. SWEENEY excuse then Monty cause us the Cup.

 

[Gordoff]

So you want Sullivan? Doesn’t seem like he’s an option right now anyway so the point is mute .Goodnight, gentlemen, I’m going to bed ! It is actually good for the soul coming here to rant after a painful loss .

He would be on my list. I'm leaning more toward Doms choice, Dale Hunter but yeah, an accomplished guy like Sullivan I could take. Problem is that Sweeney may feel threatened by someone as mentally astute as himself, and more accomplished then he's used to.
I could see Sullivan being a GM some day when he gets tired of being on the road and the pressures of coaching.

 

[Blitzkrug]

He would be on my list. I'm leaning more toward Doms choice, Dale Hunter but yeah, an accomplished guy like Sullivan I could take. Problem is that Sweeney may feel threatened by someone as mentally astute as himself, and more accomplished then he's used to.
I could see Sullivan being a GM some day when he gets tired of being on the road and the pressures of coaching.

Hunter's not happening. The London Knights are Dale and his brother Mark's baby. IIRC he only took over as interim for the Caps in 2012 as a favor to the org but at the same time made it explicitly clear he was taking his ass back to Ontario once the season was over. He hasn't been in consideration for an NHL job since.

 

[bobbyorr04]

A coaching change and some confidence and Pasta will get it back.

Looks like Monty isn't on the chopping block just yet

 

[JAD]

So you want Sullivan? Doesn’t seem like he’s an option right now anyway so the point is mute .Goodnight, gentlemen, I’m going to bed ! It is actually good for the soul coming here to rant after a painful loss .

If there is a change now, most likely it will be internal.
If it is end of the year, it opens the door wide.

 

[22Brad Park]

Looks like Monty isn't on the chopping block just yet

Sweeney hiding behind him

 

[NeelyOrr]

I’m paying for ESPN+ just so I can watch Bruins games, how does one get the center ice package?

I signed up thru my cable company. I'm paying around 90 bucks for the season.

 

[smithformeragent]

Five regulation wins in 20 games.

Goal differential of -21.

Only Pittsburgh at -25 is worse in the East.

 

[NeelyOrr]

I use a different setup now but when I was running through Bell cable they had a channel you could flip to and add that centre ice package.For a fee of course.

Nothings free except the air you breath, but somehow the powers that be will figure a way to charge you for that also.

 

[JAD]

Montgomery should have never been hired. Sweeney was saving his ass by firing Cassidy and saying Cassidy didn't play the young guys. BS there weren't any young guys to play. Montgomery never played young guys over old guys. SWEENEY excuse then Monty cause us the Cup.

I understand what you are you're saying ...
But here is something to consider:
Amongst other reasons for the coaching change then ...
It was sort of a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario.
If Cassidy remained coach I believe there is a very good chance that Krejci does not come back and play one last season.
Krejci was the key piece that was missing the year before.
No Krejci and the 22 - 23 team is not all time.
Unfortunately, the coach we had that year blew it in the playoffs.
There is no coming back from such mismanagement.
And this team today is still suffering from the incompetence.

 

[JAD]

Looks like Monty isn't on the chopping block just yet

It could have been an automated email.
Time will tell.

 

[Coach Parker]

Has to be something right...

I don't pay enough attention, is it normal to announce no practice right after a game? Or was it not announced and leaked? Either way, interesting.

Though I'm pretty sure if they fire Monty they'll have an interm guy take the reigns from inside the organization.

Special team coaches should be fired as well if Monty is getting the axe.

Knowing this team, they'll fire Monty and replace him with...

...the guy coaching the PP and special teams right now. I kid you not.

 

[GordonHowe]

Part of me wonders if they're waiting for the Penguins to blink and fire Sullivan.

I would take Mike Sullivan over Bruce Boudreau any day of the week.

Just once I’d like to see him lose it in a press conference and go John Tortorella mode . Show some passion ffs .

It may not be in his nature.

I'm sure Montgomery gets plenty mad about a good many things. But he is not John Tortorella.

He's not even Bruce Boudreau.

 

[22Brad Park]

Knowing this team, they'll fire Monty and replace him with...

...the guy coaching the PP and special teams right now. I kid you not.

Love to just fall flat rest the season and get a top 3 pick .Hagan is supposed # 1 then Martone who I like.After that Misa, but a player I really like is the Russian kid Ryabkin who I think is rated like 6th or 7th .He is dynamic.

 

[GordonHowe]

Friedman believes "the Bruins must focus on controlling or shifting the narrative surrounding the team. Internally, this could mean focusing on a more team-first mentality, which may have already begun after the team called a players-only meeting about “shutting out the noise.” Externally, the organization needs to improve communication and find a way to better handle public scrutiny."

What a bunch of word salad happy horseshit Friedman.

Perhaps. But he's not wrong.

 

[GordonHowe]

Acquiring Zadarov and Lindholm hasn’t worked out for Sweeney but was he responsible for the epic collapse against Florida a couple of years ago ? Who was that on Montgomery or Sweeney ? The team should have won a Cup in 2019 . Was that game 7 loss on Sweeney ? It’s only my opinion but Sweeney deserves more of a pass than Montgomery does in recent years.

I give Sweeney and Neely great credit for giving Montgomery a second chance.

However, it was they who fired Bruce Cassidy and hired Jim Montgomery. That is, Cam Neely instructed Don Sweeney (who apparently told Cassidy his job was safe).

They could have hired another head coach. Who, I don't know.

Sweeney and Neely do not deserve "a pass."

They deserve to be held accountable for poor management decisions over nearly a decade that led the Boston Bruins nowhere in the post season.

Again, If the parents fail to make the playoffs and forfeit the all-important playoff gate, for the first time in 10 years Sweeney and Neely will be called on the carpet.

That is very much as it should be.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

The Swayman situation didn’t help but it’s not on him solely . How do you explain Pasta , E Lindholm, McAvoy, Carlo sucking so bad ? Is Swayman responsible for them playing so badly ?

No, not solely, but I think it's the biggest reason.

It was mentioned that Florida broke them, and there's truth to that, but if Swayman was playing up to his contract I think there'd still be a sense of optimism. It was like well, we aren't as good as Florida but maybe if Swayman's superb you never know. A great goalie can take you far. Now it's like psychologically broken.

No question ALL the biggest contracts are not worth their money right now. Not even close.

 

[GordonHowe]

Yeah I'm done with this management team. I've never been their biggest fan to begin with.

I'm fine keeping Monty and staff around for the remainder of the season. Should ensure the highest draft pick possible.

Yes and no.

 

[BMC]

Blow it the f*** up. Top to bottom.

Then urinate.

At this point they’re not even worth pissing on

 

[GordonHowe]

Last year everyone was happy with the players Sweeney brought in.
This year Jones and Tuft haven't made the team and E. Lindholm, Zadorov, Koepke, and Johnson are currently playing, but far from the reason for the downfall.
Ullmark was traded for Kastelic and Korpisalo, both who have played better than expected.

The problem this year is the players who should be playing well are not; the problem is not on who was brought in.
Granted, this team currently needs a top six left wing.
But there is a much deeper problem here then simply changing players via call ups or trades.
This team should not be playing as poorly as it is; way too many team-wide fundamental breakdowns.

Maybe, and again - maybe, some of the players spent too much time this past summer wedding jumping and partying and never had a full summer of off season training.
If so, that's on them for not being in shape for camp.
20 games in it is clear conditioning is not the primary reason for poor play.

The breakdowns in team-wide structure and poor player performance are clearly a coaching issue.
It is the team-wide fundamental breakdowns that are causing so many problems from defensive coverage to lack of scoring to individual players underperforming.
For whatever multiple reasons, the current system and approach are not working.
The coach is responsible.
Change is inevitable.
That change begins with the coach.

Yes. And if they fail to make the playoffs, that change *begins" with the coach.

 

[BMC]

Swayman sure set the goalie market, If a sucky goaltending is getting paid like him what a good goalie worth?

Why do you think Sheshterkin reportedly turned down the Rangers’ offer of $ 11 million? That is now chump change for a good goalie thanks to Swayman

 

[KOZ37]

I can't imagine they will be afraid to shake things up with the start they have had. I doubt many guys would be considered safe either. Based on interest and contract though I could see if being Frederic being moved first.

 

[GordonHowe]

never though in a 1000 years Pasta was going to be an instant regret when signing that huge deal but it appears we may have a very bad contract on our hands. what the hell has happened to this guy?

I talk to people who want to trade him.

Clearly, Pastrnak has underperformed this season. He is hardly on an island in that regard.

There is almost no scenario in which ownership will accede to trading Pasta.

For all intents and purposes, he is the face of the franchise.

His merch, like Celtics superstar Jason Tatum, far outsells everyone else on the team.

Don't dismiss this as a factor. We are talking about Jeremy Jacobs.

Pastrnak is too valuable a marketable commodity to trade away, even for great return.

Would I deal David? Yes, I would.

But it would have to be a hell of a straight up "hockey trade" bringing back a considerable haul.

Look up and down the roster.

Do you see one superstar underperforming, or an entire team?

Is one blue chip player performing poorly, or are there others who fit that description?

Is it one line, a second, or all three that cannot find the back of the net?

There are a litney of by now obvious major issues.

Did one of the better clubs in the NHL suddenly forget how to play the game?

I don't think so.

I think a multitude of incomprehensibly incompetent, disastrous "coaching decisions" have brought us to this pass.

Not three, six or eight "mistakes."

Rather, at least a dozen coaching miscues, going back to the 2023 regular season juggernaut subsequently stunned and dispatched in the first round by the Florida Panthers.

Sorry to be a jerk, but the common denominator is Jim Montgomery..

Draw your own conclusions.