Post-Game Talk: Game #29 - Time to face facts - This is not a good hockey team - Leafs 4 BRUINS 1 F

[Fenway]

I'm a little lost as to what you're saying here. If they were to let Claude go you think that they'd be looking to replace him with Brian Burke? When was the last time he coached?

I think he was referring to Neely, BB could overlook this team

Yes - Burke would replace Cam as COO.

Can you imagine Felger and Burke on radio???? That would be epic

 

[BruinsFan1990]

Yes - Burke would replace Cam as COO.

Can you imagine Felger and Burke on radio???? That would be epic

Now that you mention it, Cam hasnt appeared on Felger&Mazz in quite some time

 

[Fonzerelli]

If I was Charlie I would contact Calgary and ask permission to talk to Brian Burke and offer him the keys.

No. No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no . No. NO. NO NO.

NO. NO. NO.

NO!

 

[Fenway]

Now that you mention it, Cam hasn't appeared on Felger&Mazz in quite some time

Claude has become the public face of the Bruins which is unfair to him.

Charlie is Albert Brooks on Broadcast News



Cam hasn't been on 98.5 since he swore on air at Felger last spring. Sweeney does as little radio/TV as possible. The Bruins are CLUELESS when it comes to PR and they need an outsider to come in.

I brought up Burke because he has New England roots, he knows the market.

But they need to do something and quickly.

 

[BruinsFan1990]

Claude has become the public face of the Bruins which is unfair to him.

Charlie is Albert Brooks on Broadcast News



Cam hasn't been on 98.5 since he swore on air at Felger last spring. Sweeney does as little radio/TV as possible. The Bruins are CLUELESS when it comes to PR and they need an outsider to come in.

I brought up Burke because he has New England roots, he knows the market.

But they need to do something and quickly.

I remember listening to that live on air. Just a glimpse of things to come for the Bruins.

I have no doubt that this team can be a contender in the next few years, but we need better management.

 

[Sheppy]

Don't worry guys, they'll trade for another #6-7 d-man and a depth forward for that playoff push in March.

I'm going to go back and watch my Stanley cup DVD, you know... when Boston was tough, skilled and teams hated playing against them.

Honestly, they make the Hurricanes look like the 70's Flyers right now. So god damn soft.

 

[Fenway]

I remember listening to that live on air. Just a glimpse of things to come for the Bruins.

I have no doubt that this team can be a contender in the next few years, but we need better management.

What bothers me the most about the Bruins is how soft they are at TD Garden and have been for years with the exception of 2011.

This year the B's have home morning skate at Warrior Arena in Brighton instead of TD Garden and I really think that it screwing up the players. Most of the players live near TD Garden and while Warrior Arena is adjacent to I-90, driving to it from Downtown or the North End is a hassle. Meanwhile the visiting team sets up their room and skates at TD before going back to their hotel on the bus.

Ponder this - There are 3 Canadian teams in the Atlantic Division and the Bruins have yet to secure even a single point losing 2 to Montreal and Toronto and one to Ottawa.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Now that you mention it, Cam hasnt appeared on Felger&Mazz in quite some time

They began asking Cam tougher questions and I don't think he was happy about it.

 

[Mount Kramer Cameras]

End the Krecji + Backes experiment, for the love of god. This team is going nowhere with ineffective second and third lines.

 

[ODAAT]

I totally agree with you. It's high time for a change!
Thank you Clode for getting us a championship in 2011.
But that championship had as much to do with Tim Thomas standing on his head and a couple of players getting red hot as it had to do with Clode's coaching, which was admittedly a factor.

Fact is that time has passed Clode by. And this team has suffered by staying stuck in the past. We shipped out guys like Seguin because he 'didnt fit in' with Clode's hockey vision. And he's only gone on to become a top 3 scorer in the entire NHL. Next career to be destroyed will be Ryan Spooner at this rate. Will Pasta be shipped out next as a scapegoat for Clode's failures?

Regardless of individual player losses the most damning is the results in the win losses column. We've missed playoffs 2 years in a row, look like will miss a 3rd year at this rate. AND we continue to be embarrassed by the freaking Canadiens! This team simply isn't good enough. Unless major sweeping changes are made, expect more of the same freaking mediocrity. Tired of excuses. Time for change!



You make my point for me. Dave Dombrowski has been GM of the Red Sox for how long? And what did they accomplish this past season and offseason? Answer: Make the playoffs and then acquire a 5x all-star pitcher who greatly improves their chances of winning next season.

While I understand and acknowledge that change will happen, when? No clue, I`m not anywhere convinced that until/unless the overall talent on the ice is drastically improved, Scotty Bowman couldn`t pull more out of this group

Average team at best

 

[Ladyfan]

I'd settle for playing with some personality. This team is starting to become Gil from The Simpsons.

I am alone here but I miss the passion and hits from Looch.

There are players who care on the team.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

Nice to see 90% of the board figure out we're bad. The real bummer about it is that it's an extremely hard fix now with the length of the deals in place and the $. I had said that I thought Sweeney set us back about 7 years, I think I'm still comfortable with that number. It can get worse depending on what he does at the deadline.

Of course Claude will be first to go, no surprise. And then after that they'll have no more protective blanket. They know that too, which is why they have to be very careful about when they fire Claude. They need to give themselves a shot at keeping their own jobs (lol).

 

[ODAAT]

I am alone here but I miss the passion and hits from Looch.

There are players who care on the team.

isn`t that whey they got Rinaldo

I think the boys care, I just think they aren`t that good. CJ will get axed at some point, fans here will rejoice. Then, once the new coach steps in for a while, they will see, if nothing changes, nothing changes, and if he inherits this same roster, little will change IMO

It might very well be time for a change behind the bench, if so, I would be first in line to thank CJ, one of the best coaches this fan has seen behind the bench, not perfect, but brought a stability.

I`d be open to discussion from fans about who they`d chose, what system that particular coach would bring in that would have this very lineup produce results?

Not saying there`s a coach out there that couldn`t but I`ve tried to figure out, what system changes could I employ if I were behind the bench (gawd forbid) with this lineup, drawing a blank

 

[BruinDust]

I am alone here but I miss the passion and hits from Looch.

There are players who care on the team.

No your not.

Letting Lucic go was a mistake.

I know the "power forwards decline faster" crowd disagrees, but it's the truth.

8 goals, 21 pts, 15th overall in hits, 2 fights (would be tied for 1st on this soft squad with Jimmy Hayes).

But Sweeney pulled a move straight out of the Sinden-MOC playbook.

Let the projected more expensive player go, with the belief that you can simply plug in another similar player (Belesky) at a fraction of the price and you'll get the same result. Sinden-MOC used to try pulling that sort of crap all the time in the mid 90s early 2000s. Doesn't work like that.

 

[Tim Vezina Thomas]

Would be ideal to trade Spooner+ for a winger to play with Krejci then drop Backes to 3rd line center.

Defense id have no problem waiting on. Carlo this year and Zboril, Lauzon, likely Macavoy next year. Stay the course with the D, go out and look for forwards.

 

[oreillyisgod]

This team is stuck on mediocrity for the foreseeable future. Coach isnt going anywhere. Neeney may decide to fire him if they think it will save their jobs but the Jacobses will overrule them and fire Nee and/or Ney instead. They will be content so long as people continue to pay whatever it costs for tickets/beer now (I stopped going to the games two seasons ago). After last night I may stop watching as well since it was virtually unwatchable.

Team has not really had an identity for past 2 or 3 seasons, there is no toughness/physical play (besides Acciari once or twice were there any hits last night?) and there is not enough talent to play a skill game. Chia left this team in a tough spot and it wont change anytime soon.

 

[smithformeragent]

Echoing the sentiments of many;

They don't have the horses.
They're playing about as well as can be expected, perhaps even overachieving.
Problem being, they'll get hot and win a few games and expectations rise.
However, dissecting many of these wins, the common denominator is typically Rask playing other worldly.

 

[BruinDust]

This team is stuck on mediocrity for the foreseeable future. Coach isnt going anywhere. Neeney may decide to fire him if they think it will save their jobs but the Jacobses will overrule them and fire Nee and/or Ney instead. They will be content so long as people continue to pay whatever it costs for tickets/beer now (I stopped going to the games two seasons ago). After last night I may stop watching as well since it was virtually unwatchable.

Team has not really had an identity for past 2 or 3 seasons, there is no toughness/physical play (besides Acciari once or twice were there any hits last night?) and there is not enough talent to play a skill game. Chia left this team in a tough spot and it wont change anytime soon.

Chia traded Lucic and Hamilton for futures and signed Matt Belesky to a 5-year deal?

 

[smithformeragent]

As Wally said last week "Lucic needs a new Lucic.".

He wasn't the same player during his last couple of seasons with Boston.

He often looked disinterested. (Not saying he was, just how it often looked with the eyeball test)
I agree about the Belesky deal, though. I loved Lucic, but they got a good return.
How they spent the freed up cap space is where I take issue.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

Chia also extended a broken and usless Quader, traded actual draft picks for Rinaldo, traded away Reilly Smith for lol Hayes, overpaid what will surely be an aging Backes, let Loui go for free, Made the lol Liles trade. Then signed lol Liles, and you can keep going.

It looks bad, man.

 

[chizzler]

Echoing the sentiments of many;

They don't have the horses.
They're playing about as well as can be expected, perhaps even overachieving.
Problem being, they'll get hot and win a few games and expectations rise.
However, dissecting many of these wins, the common denominator is typically Rask playing other worldly.

It'll be an up and down year. Been saying it. No horses.

 

[BruinDust]

Echoing the sentiments of many;

They don't have the horses.
They're playing about as well as can be expected, perhaps even overachieving.
Problem being, they'll get hot and win a few games and expectations rise.
However, dissecting many of these wins, the common denominator is typically Rask playing other worldly.

This is where I disagree with many.

The problem on this team in a nutshell is scoring goals. Team defense has been good overall, yes part of that is Rask but the overall Team defense has been better this year, much to the surprise of many including myself.

But up front, if I compare the top end of the forward group to most other teams, I don't see a massive gap. Sure there seems to be some regression (mostly due to injuries) in some of the veteran core of Bergeron, Krejci, Backes, and even Marchand (who I think is banged up), but meanwhile we've seen the emergence of an elite scoring talent in Pastrnak. I'd put Boston Top 5 forwards up against almost any team. Do you mean to tell me a squad that pumped the Avs last night for 10 goals has a group of Top 5 forwards massively better than Boston's?

The problem is three-fold.

1) The PP stinks, and the 1st unit is not only staled but gets too much PP time and shouldn't be starting every PP. And it's also killing the confidence of the forward group 5 on 5.

2) The forward configuration isn't working. For the love of god, end the Krejci + Backes pairing. It's NOT WORKING!

Part of the issue though I think is the Bergeron injury, which is to me, one reason why they've kept Pasta with Marchand, to give Marchand someone top end to play with, as they know Bergeron with his injury just isn't capable of being vintage Bergeron we're used to seeing. So it's even harder to spread out your offense. Backes since he came back from his elbow injury has been a shadow of the player I watched in last years playoffs just 6 months ago. I hope Vatrano can step in a help, I like Frankie big time, but realistically this injury set him back.

3) The secondary scoring, especially from the 3rd line, just isn't there.

Czarnik is a nice little player, but he's got no competition for that spot. I don't think he needs to go down but some to compete for that RW spot he's been sort of gifted wouldn't hurt.

Riley Nash is a better skating Joonas Kemppainen, a zero-zone player who brings very little to the table. And him centering the 3rd line is killing it.

Belesky has been good and bad before he got hurt, but your not getting anything out of a Matt Belesky, who can't create his own shot, if you don't have him playing with someone who can get him the puck in the soft areas of the ice to utilize his only asset, his shot. Riley Nash isn't that guy.

Ryan Spooner has been beat to death ad nausium around here, bottom line, regardless of his position or who he's playing with, the kid has been totally inconsistent this season. He played lights out when he saw his name in trade rumours, that wore off after one game and he's been lousy ever since.

The 4th line, when healthy, has actually been the best 4th line this team has had since 2013 IMO, so I don't see a major issue there.

Although if a more enforcer type was brought in to man that 4th line RW spot and compete with Acciari would be nice, even Tyler Randell, who scored 6 goals 27 games last season (and would be 5th on this squad right now believe it or not) but couldn't find a spot on this low-scoring squad. Claude and management prefer Acciari who may never score a goal at the NHL level from what I've seen. Julien complains about lack of scoring and finish, but yet prefers the guy who has ZERO goals in 32 games over the guy in Randell with SIX in 27.

And it's not even worth mentioning Jimmy Hayes at this point, there is nothing to say that hasn't already been said.

 

[Orrfourever]

Hmmm what do you say. First period was good Boy's held the Leafs to 2 shots,. Then the wheels fell off. Babcock made some adjustments for the second putting his youngsters together. made a difference. Freaking Nylander, WOW.

Nash was good

Miller was good

Tuukka was Tuukka.

Krug meh.

Schaller was it 3rd line was good.
Hayes was good. Or was he even dressed? ha ha

Get'em next time.

Next up Les Habitants.

 

[remer]

Hmmm what do you say. First period was good Boy's held the Leafs to 2 shots,. Then the wheels fell off. Babcock made some adjustments for the second putting his youngsters together. made a difference. Freaking Nylander, WOW. ( Clode Out coached once again)

Nash was good ( not really)

Miller was good ( ok)

Tuukka was Tuukka.

Krug meh. ( -2 on the night- shaky)

Schaller was it 3rd line was good. ( Created nothing - 0 shots on net)

Hayes was good. Or was he even dressed? ha ha ( agree)

Get'em next time. ( probably not)

Next up Les Habitants. ( Guaranteed loss)

 

[oreillyisgod]

Chia also extended a broken and usless Quader, traded actual draft picks for Rinaldo, traded away Reilly Smith for lol Hayes, overpaid what will surely be an aging Backes, let Loui go for free, Made the lol Liles trade. Then signed lol Liles, and you can keep going.

It looks bad, man.

Didnt say NeeNey was any better. But the drafting 08-12, and the Seguin trade, killed us.