Give Spooner 1 more year under Cassidy or Not?

[Ratty]

The question is, if Spooner is traded, as has been mentioned, who fills the third line center's spot? Many posters have suggested slotting Backes into that 3rd line role. Others feel Backes would be more effective on the RW.

Is JFK ready to take the reins on that line? Is Kuraly or Czarnik ready? I see a lot of Spooner in Czarnik. Or does Sweeney go outside the org. to acquire a center?

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Spooner needs to first have better wingers to play and i think the bruins should keep him from Lasvegas.If they can move him in a package then so be it.

with the cap... very few teams have better wingers for their third line.

spooner has had opportunities playing for krejci/bergeron during injuries. he impressed us when playing with pastrnak/lucic

but he wasnt nearly as good as bergeron/krejci

if we plays with good wingers he will score 50-60 points but thats not his problem. we all know he can score if hes on a top line with pp time

the problem is his defense game and compete level suck enough that he is a bubble player that might be a healthy scratch. when he was younger you played him and hoped for improvement. i havent seen improvement in 3 years.

hes not a winner the way he is today and weve lost faith that hes willing to improve

 

[Blowfish]

with the cap... very few teams have better wingers for their third line.

spooner has had opportunities playing for krejci/bergeron during injuries. he impressed us when playing with pastrnak/lucic

but he wasnt nearly as good as bergeron/krejci

if we plays with good wingers he will score 50-60 points but thats not his problem. we all know he can score if hes on a top line with pp time

the problem is his defense game and compete level suck enough that he is a bubble player that might be a healthy scratch. when he was younger you played him and hoped for improvement. i havent seen improvement in 3 years.

hes not a winner the way he is today and weve lost faith that hes willing to improve

Not sure any of us can ascertain he isn't a winner or is willing to improve. I highly doubt he's sitting back unwilling to play hard. Some have already mentioned the year end concussion and ongoing Unskilled players playing as his wingers impacting his games. Retain and trade or retain the kid has a unique skill set that's in demand. I find it difficult to truly assess spooner because of the suckage he had as linemates. I would like to see one more year or a good trade.

 

[KrejciMVP]

think he's had his run here, time to go in another direction

 

[PB37]

Hard swipe left on Ryan Spooner. The talent is there, but the will is too inconsistent. I hope he finds his groove with the new team that he goes to.

 

[LSCII]

with the cap... very few teams have better wingers for their third line.

spooner has had opportunities playing for krejci/bergeron during injuries. he impressed us when playing with pastrnak/lucic

but he wasnt nearly as good as bergeron/krejci

if we plays with good wingers he will score 50-60 points but thats not his problem. we all know he can score if hes on a top line with pp time

the problem is his defense game and compete level suck enough that he is a bubble player that might be a healthy scratch. when he was younger you played him and hoped for improvement. i havent seen improvement in 3 years.

hes not a winner the way he is today and weve lost faith that hes willing to improve

I'm beyond tired of this misnomer that everyone in the league needs to be a 200 foot player. They don't. In fact most teams work a mix of skills and attributes into their lineups and then coach around the holes. Not here though. 10 years of square pegs into round holes has disillusioned this fan base into thinking these fallacies are actually truisms. They're not. They aren't anywhere, well, except in the stark black and white world the previous coach here lived in. And even then, it wasn't really being a 200 foot player he wanted. It was a defensive minded, first, second, and third kind of player he insisted on. He's gone though, so let your myopic view of this game change. You may actually enjoy watching something that resembles offensive play instead of trapping.

 

[badbrewin]

Hard swipe left on Ryan Spooner. The talent is there, but the will is too inconsistent. I hope he finds his groove with the new team that he goes to.

Agreed. Leaves you scratching your head that he was unable to remain engaged or consistent in a contract year. Would hate to imagine what he'd be like with a long-term deal

 

[JEM28]

I like Spooner, and I have a slightly different take on him.

While many here see him as a very skilled player who may not be giving his all consistently, I see a somewhat skilled player who isn't quite as skilled as many perceive him to be. I think he is what he is...nicely skilled player who will never be a 200 ft player.

Personally I am ok with that...at the right price.

 

[ODAAT]

I'm beyond tired of this misnomer that everyone in the league needs to be a 200 foot player. They don't. In fact most teams work a mix of skills and attributes into their lineups and then coach around the holes. Not here though. 10 years of square pegs into round holes has disillusioned this fan base into thinking these fallacies are actually truisms. They're not. They aren't anywhere, well, except in the stark black and white world the previous coach here lived in. And even then, it wasn't really being a 200 foot player he wanted. It was a defensive minded, first, second, and third kind of player he insisted on. He's gone though, so let your myopic view of this game change. You may actually enjoy watching something that resembles offensive play instead of trapping.

I don`t have the expectation that he`d be a terrific 200ft player/Selke candidate. My problem with Spooner however is that there are games where he plays with a purpose, is assertive in all 3 zones and busts his arse, at the very least, attempting to engage along the wall to make plays.

But far too often, those efforts are preceded or followed by too many games in a row where he doesn`t/won`t or can`t play that way

My biggest "problem" is I don`t think he`s good enough to play wing full time, and he if he wants to play his natural position, I`m not confident he can win a faceoff with any consistency and he still isn`t where he should be as far as identifying where he needs to be when in his defensive zone, and showing even the slightest grit/heart that it takes to go to the dirty areas in his zone to make that play.

I look at a guy like Turris, not exactly a 6`5, 220lb wrecking ball but he`s a guy who, IMO, is willing to get a little dirty despite knowing that he ain`t going to win all those battles at his size.

It`s what frustrates me the most with Spoons, I know he can play a certain way when he wants to, problem is, or question is, does he want to?

 

[LSCII]

I don`t have the expectation that he`d be a terrific 200ft player/Selke candidate. My problem with Spooner however is that there are games where he plays with a purpose, is assertive in all 3 zones and busts his arse, at the very least, attempting to engage along the wall to make plays.

But far too often, those efforts are preceded or followed by too many games in a row where he doesn`t/won`t or can`t play that way

My biggest "problem" is I don`t think he`s good enough to play wing full time, and he if he wants to play his natural position, I`m not confident he can win a faceoff with any consistency and he still isn`t where he should be as far as identifying where he needs to be when in his defensive zone, and showing even the slightest grit/heart that it takes to go to the dirty areas in his zone to make that play.

I look at a guy like Turris, not exactly a 6`5, 220lb wrecking ball but he`s a guy who, IMO, is willing to get a little dirty despite knowing that he ain`t going to win all those battles at his size.

It`s what frustrates me the most with Spoons, I know he can play a certain way when he wants to, problem is, or question is, does he want to?

If you swapped out Spooner's name for David Krejci, this is exactly how I feel about him about his effort and compete level. It's even worse when you consider what he makes.

For the record, I'm not against them moving Spooner at all, just not for pennies on the dollar. I'm also fine if they keep him, provided his salary is reasonable. And I say that with a grain of salt, given that they have stiffs like Beleskey making $4mill per and being benched regularly. I'll take inconsistent play with the peaks and valleys over lack of ability every day of the week.

 

[Bmessy]

If he can be retained for 3 mil a year or less then I am fine with having him be in a 3rd line and PP role. He did have some injuries and a concussion last year so I think he's still pretty good. I definitely don't want him for 3.5+. If we purge Hayes and use that money for Spooner that's fine by me. Injuries happen throughout the year and depth is hard to come by. Unless Donny has some moves up his sleeves to improve our scoring depth elsewhere, I still think Spooner is a good asset. Although not as good as we were hoping for.

 

[bp13]

I'm beyond tired of this misnomer that everyone in the league needs to be a 200 foot player. They don't. In fact most teams work a mix of skills and attributes into their lineups and then coach around the holes. Not here though. 10 years of square pegs into round holes has disillusioned this fan base into thinking these fallacies are actually truisms. They're not. They aren't anywhere, well, except in the stark black and white world the previous coach here lived in. And even then, it wasn't really being a 200 foot player he wanted. It was a defensive minded, first, second, and third kind of player he insisted on. He's gone though, so let your myopic view of this game change. You may actually enjoy watching something that resembles offensive play instead of trapping.

He doesn't need to be a 200 foot player. I agree with you. That's not the right argument for moving Spooner.

The argument is that he's simply not that good offensively. We aren't talking about a guy who puts up 65+ points but occasionally kills you with his 200 foot game. That's the guy some people are painting him as, but that's not him. Not close in fact. He's a 50 point guy (at best) who frequently kills you in his own zone and basically sucks at the rest of the game.

 

[LSCII]

He doesn't need to be a 200 foot player. I agree with you. That's not the right argument for moving Spooner.

The argument is that he's simply not that good offensively. We aren't talking about a guy who puts up 65+ points but occasionally kills you with his 200 foot game. That's the guy some people are painting him as, but that's not him. Not close in fact. He's a 50 point guy (at best) who frequently kills you in his own zone and basically sucks at the rest of the game.

Exactly. The only hope is that since he's still relatively young and hasn't played very many games at this level, he could get better. If you don't think he can, you move him.

 

[remer]

He doesn't need to be a 200 foot player. I agree with you. That's not the right argument for moving Spooner.

The argument is that he's simply not that good offensively. We aren't talking about a guy who puts up 65+ points but occasionally kills you with his 200 foot game. That's the guy some people are painting him as, but that's not him. Not close in fact. He's a 50 point guy (at best) who frequently kills you in his own zone and basically sucks at the rest of the game.

You do realize that a 50 point player is fairly rare in the NHL. Approximately 100 players had fifty or more points last year. Spooner is a player that has value and I hope that he is resigned for reasonable money and see what he can do next year with some decent talent on his wings. But, it is likely he will be shipped off for next to nothing and will flourish in another organization similar to past Bruin players.

 

[bp13]

Exactly. The only hope is that since he's still relatively young and hasn't played very many games at this level, he could get better. If you don't think he can, you move him.

Which is where I am. I think he probably could put up more points playing top 6 on a weaker team who can afford to play a guy like him top 6, which is likely what will happen. But if you want to call yourself a contender, Ryan Spooner is not one of your top two centers. He's just not nearly good enough in any way.

I think he's got a lot more use for a weaker team in need of some offense with a sliver of upsider, and thus I'd be looking to move him. I just don't see how he fits on a top tier team, and if the Bruins intend to get there in the next few years you may as well move him now before that sliver of upside has vanished.

 

[ODAAT]

If you swapped out Spooner's name for David Krejci, this is exactly how I feel about him about his effort and compete level. It's even worse when you consider what he makes.

For the record, I'm not against them moving Spooner at all, just not for pennies on the dollar. I'm also fine if they keep him, provided his salary is reasonable. And I say that with a grain of salt, given that they have stiffs like Beleskey making $4mill per and being benched regularly. I'll take inconsistent play with the peaks and valleys over lack of ability every day of the week.

you know how I feel about DK, but moving him would be far more restrictive than Spoons, I could see DK doing the Mats Sundin, refusing to move

Trust me, if Dealin` Don can move a Beleskey or Hayes before Spooner, I do it 8 days a week, I don`t despise Spoons, I think I`m just disappointed in him. I`m not pounding the pavement looking to move Spooner but I`m also hesitant keeping him if he goes to arbitration and is rewarded handsomely