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BRUINS GDT GAME 52 7:08 PM - THE BEAR swims in the Niagara River - NESN, ESPN+, SN, MSG Buffalo, 98.5 WBZ-FM, WGR AM 550

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ON3M4N said:
I think this is one of the biggest reason for this teams struggles. The roster used to be loaded with leaders, form the top line to the 3rd pair. I mean think about it, we're talking about Pastrnak as the next captain of this team. He's been in the league for 11yrs, but he's only had an "A" on his sweater for 4 years. Its not like he's suddenly become a leader in the last 4 years either. He's been a leader for some time on this team, but there were so many other leaders that he didn't wear a letter.

I know it was a long time ago but I look back at those teams around the time we won the cup and you had guys like:

Chara
Bergeron
Krejci
Lucic
Seidenberg
Thornton
Ference
Recchi

and that's not even all the guys who were leaders.

I look at this team now and obviously I'm not in the room or at practices, but I see Marchand & Pastrnak. I like to think McAvoy is a good leader. He seems to say all the right things and well liked in the locker room, but again I'm not in there. Carlo is another guy that I like to think is a good leader. Maybe more of a quieter leader like a Krejci.
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To judge from Behind the B, Carlo is actually very talkative on the bench. He's louder and more extrovert than you might initially think. Otherwise I agree with your main point - this team clearly has less leadership than the Bruins teams of recent years past. Marchand takes it very seriously and I'd say overall does a good job, but he isn't Chara or Bergy - there are very few who are. Pasta has stepped up, but there are a couple of limitations there. McAvoy is a lovely guy who's very invested in his team, but I still question his leadership credentials. It takes more than simply being nice or having the right attitude to be a good leader. Impossible to say for sure, just a hunch on that one.

Beyond that there doesn't seem to be too much and overall it just feels like it's lacking a bit. Whatever exact path they chart going forwards and into next season, I'd really like to see management try to bring some more leadership into the room. Not so much to replace what we have, but to compliment and support it. Guys like Nick Foligno who can take on some of that load and share their wisdom and experience with zero ego.
 
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People used to scoff at acquiring players who were “good in the locker room” i.e., leaders, but we could use a few of those this season. I mean, i get it. It’s nice when they can be effective on the ice too. Maybe a guy like Kastelic, with a little more experience, can develop into one of those guys. Which is another reason to at least get into the playoffs: to give younger guys valuable playoff experience.
 
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Terrier said:
Let's go B's! Hope the B's fans at KeyBank go home happy.



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Mr. Conroy
 
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HumBucker said:
People used to scoff at acquiring players who were “good in the locker room” i.e., leaders, but we could use a few of those this season. I mean, i get it. It’s nice when they can be effective on the ice too. Maybe a guy like Kastelic, with a little more experience, can develop into one of those guys. Which is another reason to at least get into the playoffs: to give younger guys valuable playoff experience.
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You need guys who have both. I don't think you can be a truly effective locker room leader if you're not pitching in and setting an example on the ice as well. Big difference between Foligno's first season in Boston when he was limited by injury and his second where he could back up his talk and advice with on-ice results. Same, in reverse, goes for when Backes started out with the Bruins compared to his diminished end.

Those sort of players aren't dime-a-dozen, for sure, but they are out there, and they're valuable finds when you can get one or two.
 
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Mick Riddleton said:
Years and years ago I was playing summer here hockey in Niagara, Canada. I was on a team with some ex-Junior players. One guy played with some eventual Sabres and stayed good friends with them. This league had some local pros playing in it, just getting skates in over the summer.

I get a call one day as they are putting the team together. The guy on the phone says to me " I got some Sabres and its down to you and Miro Satan" I said "pardon". He came back "I need an answer soon as he can only play about 10 games. I told him " Well, his resume is a little better than mine, lol. I think I will pass this year". So yeah my story is I cut myself for Satan. I may need an exorcism!!
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Same thing happened with me and tom kurvers if anyone remembers the name
 
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