Pre-Game Talk: Game #56 2/9 7PM - Sharks at BRUINS - The Dawn of Butch Cassidy and the Zamboni Kids

[CDJ]

well it's gonna be a needed change of pace

Hopefully it goes well. I'm not expecting much

 

[Fonzerelli]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I want playoff hockey. To me there is nothing better. I don't give a rats ass about 2021. If Cassidy can get us on a win streak over the next 3 weeks and back into the hunt, then we should go out and buy him what he needs to keep it going through the playoffs. I liked being buyers last year. I was upset not because we were buyers but because we failed to make the playoffs despite being buyers. I hope if we are close we buy again. Just make make bigger and better buys and do whatever it takes to give us playoffs. I want playoff hockey and I want it now.

 

[Mpasta]

Win or lose, I'm happy changes are being made with the team. They were 100% needed.

 

[SPLBRUIN]

On his second day on the job, new coach Bruce Cassidy wanted his forwards to change their thinking. Instead of using the automatic up to the point, Cassidy’s message to his down-low puck carriers was to trust their one-on-one skills, attack the net, and strike a balance between initiating offense and being responsible with the puck.



Finally, I hated the cycle cycle cycle back to the point miss the net crap.

If this is the new Bruins I already like it.

This is the way to go, you have to attack the net, that's how you create " real " scoring chances and get power plays. With all of the young talent we have on the way, this is how we will get the best out of their skill set. Julien's system has run it's course with this team, the last 3 years have proved this.

 

[mislysBB]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I want playoff hockey. To me there is nothing better. I don't give a rats ass about 2021. If Cassidy can get us on a win streak over the next 3 weeks and back into the hunt, then we should go out and buy him what he needs to keep it going through the playoffs. I liked being buyers last year. I was upset not because we were buyers but because we failed to make the playoffs despite being buyers. I hope if we are close we buy again. Just make make bigger and better buys and do whatever it takes to give us playoffs. I want playoff hockey and I want it now.

I don't want playoff hockey and then getting spanked in round 1 by a much better team.

That is a cause I will never get behind.

 

[22Brad Park]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I want playoff hockey. To me there is nothing better. I don't give a rats ass about 2021. If Cassidy can get us on a win streak over the next 3 weeks and back into the hunt, then we should go out and buy him what he needs to keep it going through the playoffs. I liked being buyers last year. I was upset not because we were buyers but because we failed to make the playoffs despite being buyers. I hope if we are close we buy again. Just make make bigger and better buys and do whatever it takes to give us playoffs. I want playoff hockey and I want it now.

We all want playoff hockey.But do it right Get the pieces in place to challenge for Cups.This management group though might think the way you are at the moment and give u your wish while killing ours.We shall see.

 

[Fonzerelli]

We all want playoff hockey.But do it right Get the pieces in place to challenge for Cups.This management group though might think the way you are at the moment and give u your wish while killing ours.We shall see.

They can do both. Make the playoffs while building for the future.

 

[BruinDust]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I want playoff hockey. To me there is nothing better. I don't give a rats ass about 2021. If Cassidy can get us on a win streak over the next 3 weeks and back into the hunt, then we should go out and buy him what he needs to keep it going through the playoffs. I liked being buyers last year. I was upset not because we were buyers but because we failed to make the playoffs despite being buyers. I hope if we are close we buy again. Just make make bigger and better buys and do whatever it takes to give us playoffs. I want playoff hockey and I want it now.

I'm with you on wanting playoff hockey.

But I don't want to see them buy. Matter of fact, like we were saying in another thread, I wouldn't mind them selling a couple spare parts, bring up a kid or two from Providence. Take advantage of a sellers market.

The only shopping I would really support is a back-up goaltender, preferably one who could be here next season AND get the job done.

But playoff experience for the young players currently on this team would be invaluable.

And I think this franchise would be further ahead ending the season like they did in 2007-2008 than the way they ended the season in 2006-2007.

 

[BRUINS since 1995]

We all want playoff hockey.But do it right Get the pieces in place to challenge for Cups.This management group though might think the way you are at the moment and give u your wish while killing ours.We shall see.

Whats your wish? What is doing it right?
If you don't trust this management group, what makes you beleive they will do fine in summer, next year or at the draft and what makes you beleive Bruins will be closer to a playoff spot next year?

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

I personally hope to see no change in results. Claude wasn't the problem and I don't want management to use a slight change in results to sell to fans that we are contenders again.

 

[patty59]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I want playoff hockey. To me there is nothing better. I don't give a rats ass about 2021. If Cassidy can get us on a win streak over the next 3 weeks and back into the hunt, then we should go out and buy him what he needs to keep it going through the playoffs. I liked being buyers last year. I was upset not because we were buyers but because we failed to make the playoffs despite being buyers. I hope if we are close we buy again. Just make make bigger and better buys and do whatever it takes to give us playoffs. I want playoff hockey and I want it now.

Same. A couple pick ups like when they got seidenberg and recchi would be awesome. Those guys stuck around a while and weren't rentals. It can be done.

 

[Fonzerelli]

I don't want playoff hockey and then getting spanked in round 1 by a much better team.

That is a cause I will never get behind.

Why would you. I expect if we make the playoffs we go all the way. There is no other way to think, for players, management or fans. If we had beat Ottawa instead of lost in the season finale last year I think we could've gone deep and I do believe we had as good a chance to win as anybody. Same this year. There is no overwhelming favorite. Every team is beatable in a 7 game series. We just have to get on the dance floor and should be making it a priority to do so EVERY year.

 

[Fonzerelli]

I'm with you on wanting playoff hockey.

But I don't want to see them buy. Matter of fact, like we were saying in another thread, I wouldn't mind them selling a couple spare parts, bring up a kid or two from Providence. Take advantage of a sellers market.

The only shopping I would really support is a back-up goaltender, preferably one who could be here next season AND get the job done.

But playoff experience for the young players currently on this team would be invaluable.

And I think this franchise would be further ahead ending the season like they did in 2007-2008 than the way they ended the season in 2006-2007.

We can both sell and buy. Sell off spare parts and then fill whatever hole is left. Top 6 wing? Go after Landeskog. Offensive D-man? Try and land Ghost or Shattenkirk. But before we chase those guys, let's give Chelarik, Miller, DeBrusk and Gryzlik a look. This is not an all or nothing proposition one way or the other. At least, I don't see it that way. We should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

Step 1 is seeing if Cassidy can get more out of them

Step 2 is having a long look at any talent in the system that can potentially help now

Step 3 Get rid of as much as we can of the guys who arent in the plan moving forward. Do it as soon as possible

Step 4 Fill whatever hole we need to make the playoffs

Step 5 Enjoy!

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Well it's official.Backes with Bergeron &Marchand and Spooner back to centre
Bruins' new head coach Cassidy coming in with a plan, will alter lines
http://www.thescore.com/news/1204393
(via http://thesco.re/theScore_app[/ur ...Cassidy wants them to do ; work it down low .

 

[jgatie]

Has Butch even seen the 1-on-1 skills of this group? Aside from Marchand, Pasta, and Spooner (in maybe one shift a game), I wouldn't trust their 1-on-1 skills against a zone full of cones.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Why would you. I expect if we make the playoffs we go all the way. There is no other way to think, for players, management or fans. If we had beat Ottawa instead of lost in the season finale last year I think we could've gone deep and I do believe we had as good a chance to win as anybody. Same this year. There is no overwhelming favorite. Every team is beatable in a 7 game series. We just have to get on the dance floor and should be making it a priority to do so EVERY year.

I like the way you think . However , I am dubious that this team can maintain the kind of consistency that will be required to just make the playoffs let alone succeed in them since they haven't displayed any kind of consistency the last two plus years .

 

[BruinDust]

We can both sell and buy. Sell off spare parts and then fill whatever hole is left. Top 6 wing? Go after Landeskog. Offensive D-man? Try and land Ghost or Shattenkirk. But before we chase those guys, let's give Chelarik, Miller, DeBrusk and Gryzlik a look. This is not an all or nothing proposition one way or the other. At least, I don't see it that way. We should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

Step 1 is seeing if Cassidy can get more out of them

Step 2 is having a long look at any talent in the system that can potentially help now

Step 3 Get rid of as much as we can of the guys who arent in the plan moving forward. Do it as soon as possible

Step 4 Fill whatever hole we need to make the playoffs

Step 5 Enjoy!

Yeah your right though. But it has to be the right buy. No rentals. And not at the expense of trying out some of the younger guys.

 

[missingchicklet]

The way forward is for management to shed the dead weight it has brought in and quit wishing upon a fairy tale that crap players are going to bring good results. Do what it can to land a good winger and a good d-man. Don't give up good young assets in the process (try to move Krejci or one of the many bottom paring d-men instead and get something in return -- they can package something enticing). And for the love of all things don't bring in the likes of Hayes, Liles, Nash, etc etc. It's wasted money and it's a waste of roster space for young players to develop. You can rebuild while at least competing for the playoffs at the same time. There is enough core here that a total rebuild is not necessary a la Edmonton. Just make smarter moves and quit pissing around with mediocrity. This team with a decent backup goalie and some help on D and smarter roster moves before the season started could very well be in the thick of playoff contention.

Cassidy, or whoever the coach is, combined with the existing core, needs to be given half a chance to be successful. Fans need to be given something to cheer about. I don't want to get to the point to where the Bs are wasting valuable years of the existing core by tanking just so they can draft a higher pick that may or may not pan out 3 years down the road. That's not smart management. This team can definitely be righted, and can be better sooner rather than later. It's up to management to get it done. Will that happen? Based on what I've seen the past couple years, I'm not holding my breath. But it can be done. And we won't need to be debating whether or not we want to see the Bs lose so that they can draft higher.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

...

Here's my positive post for the day:

I like the new lines.

 

[mislysBB]

Why would you. I expect if we make the playoffs we go all the way. There is no other way to think, for players, management or fans. If we had beat Ottawa instead of lost in the season finale last year I think we could've gone deep and I do believe we had as good a chance to win as anybody. Same this year. There is no overwhelming favorite. Every team is beatable in a 7 game series. We just have to get on the dance floor and should be making it a priority to do so EVERY year.

We would have gone deep in the playoffs last year?

Yeah, no.

I agree with you in the sense that anything can happen in a 7 game series, but a weak roster or mental fragility won't get you through a playoff round, let alone the SCF.

If thinking that way makes me a pessimist, then so be it.

 

[Fenway]

We would have gone deep in the playoffs last year?

Yeah, no.

I agree with you in the sense that anything can happen in a 7 game series, but a weak roster or mental fragility won't get you through a playoff round, let alone the SCF.

If thinking that way makes me a pessimist, then so be it.

Crazy part of last year is the answer is maybe.

They would have drawn a crippled Tampa team in Round 1 and possibly have won that series. If they had they would have had home ice against Brooklyn a team they dominated all year. I doubt they would have beaten Pittsburgh in the ECF but the B's did sweep the Pens in the regular season.

If the Bruins somehow win the second WC it most likely means Washington in the first round If somehow they can finish third in the Atlantic it most likely mean Toronto in the first round a better option than Washington but not by much.

I am not going to even try to project the next 3 home games - I have to assume they will go with Rask in all three. For the sanity of the fanbase a win over Montreal Sunday would be nice.

 

[Fonzerelli]

Washington in the first round would be awesome. Being an underdog 8th seed playing pressure free with no expectations against a team notorious for choking in the playoffs? That would be awesome!

And as for last year, we had just as good a chance as anybody. Pittsburgh won it for Christ sake. Selling off because we are afraid of teams we have swept in the regular season? Talk about fear of competition. I don't understand that mentality. Competing is what it's all about. These guys that want to waive the white flag and not even try befuddle me. What kind of fan thinks like that?

 

[22Brad Park]

How many times have the Bruins shot from outside on the perimeter the last couple of years ? Too often to mention . It will be interesting to see as others have mentioned if they have the skill and grittiness to implement what Cassidy wants them to do ; work it down low .

I agree it will be interesting to see if they can. Just beat them scabs Sunday lol

 

[22Brad Park]

Whats your wish? What is doing it right?
If you don't trust this management group, what makes you beleive they will do fine in summer, next year or at the draft and what makes you beleive Bruins will be closer to a playoff spot next year?

I do not trust them.But what choice do I have but hope.I would like to think some of these prospects break through next year.Bruins bought more time changing coaches. But they need to be right from here on in.

 

[mislysBB]

Crazy part of last year is the answer is maybe.

They would have drawn a crippled Tampa team in Round 1 and possibly have won that series. If they had they would have had home ice against Brooklyn a team they dominated all year. I doubt they would have beaten Pittsburgh in the ECF but the B's did sweep the Pens in the regular season.

If the Bruins somehow win the second WC it most likely means Washington in the first round If somehow they can finish third in the Atlantic it most likely mean Toronto in the first round a better option than Washington but not by much.

I am not going to even try to project the next 3 home games - I have to assume they will go with Rask in all three. For the sanity of the fanbase a win over Montreal Sunday would be nice.

Yep. It just goes to show how weak the Atlantic division has become. Obviously we can speculate all we want now, but last years team just didn't have any "get up and go" that a good playoff team has.