Water finds its level. This team is what it is – middling. Not horrible, but far from great. Prone as ever to defensive lapses, competitive and fairly hard-working but lacking in total grit and commitment, very meek and under-talented offensively. If they fall behind, especially by 2 or more, they’re in serious trouble. Overall just ok.
Hockey fans, and Bruins ones in particular, are rather fond of looking towards the playoffs as a whole different ball game where ‘anything can happen’ as long as you make it. And there’s some fairly good reasons for that, I concede. But with this current Boston team, even supposing Swayman gets hot and the D gets Hampus back and finds a really good groove, both of which I would say are at least possible, nobody can look at me with a straight face and say with any honesty that they think this team has the offense to sustain a deep run. Right now they just don’t.
Realistically, can they get it? Looking at their cap and asset situation and the wider market, I really doubt it. We will see what Sweeney wants to do. The one thing I would like to say to Don is, if you’re going to give up another 1st and/or one of the few prospects we have with real potential, please please trade them for a player who’s under 30, proven, healthy and looking for term. Don’t waste quality assets on older guys or rentals. This group isn’t worth it and our futures cupboard is more than bare enough as it is.
In the shorter term I don’t have a good feeling about the Leafs game but we will see. They are the better team but still as prone to screwing up as anybody so you never know.