Player Discussion Justin Brazeau

[JCRO]

Im repeating myself but I am excited to see what else he can bring with a larger sample size. Cause the sample size we did get was very impressive.

Theres a chance he has even more to offer. Very excited.

 

[HustleB]

I like this kids determination and skill. However, unless he improves his skating drastically I prefer he remain a 12/13th forward who has the skill to play up occasionally. If he skated as well as JVR he would be a staple in the top 9.

 

[Over the volcano]

I like this kids determination and skill. However, unless he improves his skating drastically I prefer he remain a 12/13th forward who has the skill to play up occasionally. If he skated as well as JVR he would be a staple in the top 9.

 

[HustleB]

Well I should have known that clip was coming. How did you think he looked on the back check. I hadn’t seen a guy that far behind the play that often since playing Squirt hockey back in the 80’s.

 

[SwayHeyKid]

Well I should have known that clip was coming. How did you think he looked on the back check. I hadn’t seen a guy that far behind the play that often since playing Squirt hockey back in the 80’s.

It's amazing you can't bring up a valid point here or criticism without a fan getting offended

 

[HustleB]

It's amazing you can't bring up a valid point here or criticism without a fan getting offended

You think the post you quoted showed that I was offended? I was continuing the conversation by asking a question in response to the video clip. Can you tell me what I said that implied I took offense? Was it my tone?

 

[SwayHeyKid]

You think the post you quoted showed that I was offended? I was continuing the conversation by asking a question in response to the video clip. Can you tell me what I said that implied I took offense? Was it my tone?

No not at all. I took it as you making a very good point and new topic of discussion then a simple video post of a goal with no comments, kind of dismissing what I thought was a a valid concern and talking point

 

[HustleB]

No not at all. I took it as you making a very good point and new topic of discussion then a simple video post of a goal with no comments, kind of dismissing what I thought was a a valid concern and talking point

Okay. My misunderstanding.

However, I think the video post was also valid in the context of the conversation. I do wonder how the poster feels overall about Brazeau’s skating and whether or not it is a limitation?

 

[Over the volcano]

Well I should have known that clip was coming. How did you think he looked on the back check. I hadn’t seen a guy that far behind the play that often since playing Squirt hockey back in the 80’s.

I thought you were criticizing his skating- but apparently it's his backchecking that's the issue for you. I thought he was better than advertised all around. Made a great impression with the time he had in Boston. Looking forward to more.

Okay. My misunderstanding.

However, I think the video post was also valid in the context of the conversation. I do wonder how the poster feels overall about Brazeau’s skating and whether or not it is a limitation?

The reports were that skating would be an issue. But when he made the jump skating wasn't an issue.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Well I should have known that clip was coming. How did you think he looked on the back check. I hadn’t seen a guy that far behind the play that often since playing Squirt hockey back in the 80’s.

Perhaps you were watching Maroon instead?

Brazeau skates well enough for the size and was actually close enough to the play to finish hits on the forehead. Heavy hits.

Maroon was the player decades behind the puck.

 

[HustleB]

I thought you were criticizing his skating- but apparently it's his backchecking that's the issue for you. I thought he was better than advertised all around. Made a great impression with the time he had in Boston. Looking forward to more.

I am criticizing his skating. I believe that clip was an outlier in that it showed the best case scenario for Brazeau. Straight line speed is not great but his speed moving laterally is atrocious. Add to that he beat out a defenseman who had been gassed on the shift.

I mean I don’t think his back check is bad due to effort ala Kessel in his Bruin days. I think he gets caught behind because he can’t keep up with nhl pace. It’s the skating.

 

[Over the volcano]

I am criticizing his skating. I believe that clip was an outlier in that it showed the best case scenario for Brazeau. Straight line speed is not great but his speed moving laterally is atrocious. Add to that he beat out a defenseman who had been gassed on the shift.

I mean I don’t think his back check is bad due to effort ala Kessel in his Bruin days. I think he gets caught behind because he can’t keep up with nhl pace. It’s the skating.

Disagree that anything in his game was "atrocious" in Boston last year. For a guy seeing his first NHL action he sure didn't look like he was "struggling to keep up" to me. JVR and Maroon were another story.

 

[ORRMAN]

Disagree that anything in his game was "atrocious" in Boston last year. For a guy seeing his first NHL action he sure didn't look like he was "struggling to keep up" to me. JVR and Maroon were another story.

I agree. He was impressive; showed great hands; good hockey sense; and decent speed for a guy his size. I'd like to see what he can do on the second line (prefer him to Geekie). I like Geekie on the third line.

 

[PB37]

His skating and speed were much better than advertised. He's got a great power stride.

 

[neelynugs]

curious about others' thoughts on brazeau. this is just MO, but seems like he's struggling with the speed of early season hockey. there's a lot of chaos right now, kind of way more frenetic than in say
december/later when the rink gets a bit smaller. he impressed me down the stretch last year and is a RH forward with good hands and a huge body. i'd be patient with him. guys like jones, tufte, etc...they can go if we need room for johnson or a providence guy with talent.

 

[NDiesel]

curious about others' thoughts on brazeau. this is just MO, but seems like he's struggling with the speed of early season hockey. there's a lot of chaos right now, kind of way more frenetic than in say
december/later when the rink gets a bit smaller. he impressed me down the stretch last year and is a RH forward with good hands and a huge body. i'd be patient with him. guys like jones, tufte, etc...they can go if we need room for johnson or a providence guy with talent.

I liked him a lot last year, and I don't think you take this small sample early on too seriously since the entire team has looked bad, but on the other end of it there is a real possibility that last year was a flash in the pan.

I still believe he can be a late bloomer, 20 goal guy with his hands and willingness to park in front of the net

 

[BMC]

I'm still on the Brazeau train. His willingness to park in front of the net is priceless on a team struggling to score & who have a bad tendency to shoot from 15-20 feet away into the goalie's chest, blocker or glove.

 

[goldenblack]

Second on the team in goals now with 4. In the top 6.

What else do you want for 775k?

Young man is playing himself into a nice raise. He gonna score 25? More?

 

[PB37]

9 goals / 12 points in 30 career NHL games. Comes out to 25 goals / 33 points over a full season.

Very intriguing player to see how he progresses.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Second on the team in goals now with 4. In the top 6.

What else do you want for 775k?

Young man is playing himself into a nice raise. He gonna score 25? More?

And I don't think it's much of a stretch to say he actually is the 2nd best goal scorer on the team right now.

All 4 of his goals have been "goal scorers" goals. Great tip-in yesterday, Saturday a bullet on a one-timer. Thrives in the dirty areas. Makes heady plays. Hoping he stays healthy as he's not exactly an elusive skater.

 

[goldenblack]

And I don't think it's much of a stretch to say he actually is the 2nd best goal scorer on the team right now.

All 4 of his goals have been "goal scorers" goals. Great tip-in yesterday, Saturday a bullet on a one-timer. Thrives in the dirty areas. Makes heady plays. Hoping he stays healthy as he's not exactly an elusive skater.

He's just 26. I guess him and his agent have no real incentive to rush a deal. But I'd be pretty excited to do a 4-5 year 3.25M contract fast. Doubt they do.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

He's just 26. I guess him and his agent have no real incentive to rush a deal. But I'd be pretty excited to do a 4-5 year 3.25M contract fast. Doubt they do.

Brazeau would probably be excited to sign a 4-5 year deal at any price.

 

[goldenblack]

Brazeau would probably be excited to sign a 4-5 year deal at any price.

If that was so, I think we'd be seeing it happen now

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

If that was so, I think we'd be seeing it happen now

His agent is probably a little less eager.

 

[Dr Hook]

Let's say he finishes with ~20 goals and/or ~40 points. What kind of deal do YOU as a GM give him? He's clearly getting a raise unless he falls of a cliff. 2/2? 3/3? For the record I like the player and hope he continues to get better and play well, but not sure I'd throw a checkbook at him (relatively speaking). A bridge deal to see if he's a fluke or not seems reasonable.