Player Discussion Matthew Poitras II

[Bruin4]

I hope they keep Poitras around and don't trade him away in an attempt of a quick fix so to speak. (someone over 30)

 

[ODAAT]

kid still very much in development mode, gonna have stretches in the game (first two periods as an example) where he disappears, then can change a game as he helped do in the 3rd

He`s the exact type of young player the B`s need to keep , not move on from

 

[wintersej]

His speed bringing the puck up the ice on the 1st goal was nice to see and clearly something this team has lacked. I hope he continues to bring speed and make plays for the team!

I both agree with this and want to point out that Poitras has pretty average speed and slower than you want at his size. But he sure looks fast on this team!

 

[Blowfish]

I hope they keep Poitras around and don't trade him away in an attempt of a quick fix so to speak. (someone over 30)

straight from Dom s head.

 

[Hookslide]

straight from Dom s head.

many players work hard, and you pull for that type of player, but that does not mean they NHL players, or as valuable as many might think.

 

[DominicT]

many players work hard, and you pull for that type of player, but that does not mean they NHL players, or as valuable as many might think.

You'd be surprised how many don't put in the effort to improve their games.

There are several on this team.

 

[Hookslide]

You'd be surprised how many don't put in the effort to improve their games.

There are several on this team.

You see that on all levels, and that is why later on the kids with the talent, get passed by the ones who put the time and work in.

 

[goldenblack]

You'd be surprised how many don't put in the effort to improve their games.

There are several on this team.

hmm, prospects you mean, or established guys? I feel like guessing

 

[DominicT]

hmm, prospects you mean, or established guys? I feel like guessing

Established

 

[Kegs]

Established

Can I get a list of players that don’t put in the work to get better?

 

[Dr Hook]

Can I get a list of players that don’t put in the work to get better?

Brazaeau is one.

 

[Kegs]

Brazaeau is one.

Trade him then.

 

[LouJersey]

You'd be surprised how many don't put in the effort to improve their games.

There are several on this team.

Man you gotta spill it now!!!

Something is definitely amiss with this group. I have some of my own thoughts who those players may be.

That being said they are starting to get some big points.

 

[Mione134]

You'd be surprised how many don't put in the effort to improve their games.

There are several on this team.

If this season is any indication of that, it shows.

 

[particularuncensored]

I'm feeling like Frederic isn't improving his game, which surprises me as you'd think that the coaching staff would give him advice on what he needs to do. Not sure why he looks so slow out there (slow speed skating and slow to react and go where he should be going)

 

[DominicT]

Man you gotta spill it now!!!

Something is definitely amiss with this group. I have some of my own thoughts who those players may be.

That being said they are starting to get some big points.

Brazeau is one. I first talked about it in 2015-2016 when he was draft eligible.

I have all the respect in the world for him because he made it to the show. Now, if he had done what Milan Lucic or Kevan Miller or David Backes had done and hired a pro skating coach for an offseason or two, there is no telling what he could do. But the effort just wasn't there.

Zadorov for different reasons. He has skills and caan skate, but again, going back to junior, not much has changed. Zero effort to work on what needs work or to improve on the things he already does well.

I can include Max Jones in that as well.

Nothing new really, I wrote about their lack of efforts to put in the work in all of their draft years.

I would also add Charlie Coyle, Cole Koepke and Parker Wotherspoon onto the list.

Not everyone can be Bergeron and pick something new to work on every summer which made Bergeron into Bergeron. But man, work on something.

Honest question: in the amount of time Charlie Coyle has been with Boston, what one skill have you seen an improvement on?

 

[DiggityDog]

Brazeau is one. I first talked about it in 2015-2016 when he was draft eligible.

I have all the respect in the world for him because he made it to the show. Now, if he had done what Milan Lucic or Kevan Miller or David Backes had done and hired a pro skating coach for an offseason or two, there is no telling what he could do. But the effort just wasn't there.

Zadorov for different reasons. He has skills and caan skate, but again, going back to junior, not much has changed. Zero effort to work on what needs work or to improve on the things he already does well.

I can include Max Jones in that as well.

Nothing new really, I wrote about their lack of efforts to put in the work in all of their draft years.

I would also add Charlie Coyle, Cole Koepke and Parker Wotherspoon onto the list.

Not everyone can be Bergeron and pick something new to work on every summer which made Bergeron into Bergeron. But man, work on something.

Honest question: in the amount of time Charlie Coyle has been with Boston, what one skill have you seen an improvement on?

I listened to the show this morning and it clicked for me with regards to Brazeau. At the end of last season I felt that if he could work with a skating coach to improve his skating he could be a really effective player. Now I know why he didn’t. Really disheartening.

my question for you, and this is your opinion, do you think this is a symptom of this generation of player to not be willing to do the work?

I guess I mean to ask if this is becoming more common, or has this always been the case throughout the league?

 

[Dr Hook]

I guess I mean to ask if this is becoming more common, or has this always been the case throughout the league?

There was a time in the past where guys smoked cigarettes between periods in the locker room so I would guess it’s always been that way.

 

[DominicT]

I listened to the show this morning and it clicked for me with regards to Brazeau. At the end of last season I felt that if he could work with a skating coach to improve his skating he could be a really effective player. Now I know why he didn’t. Really disheartening.

my question for you, and this is your opinion, do you think this is a symptom of this generation of player to not be willing to do the work?

I guess I mean to ask if this is becoming more common, or has this always been the case throughout the league?

I don't think so. The vast majority of kids today work their tails off in the offseason. I spoke many of times of walking in and seeing Matt Poitras work out in the offseason and said then don't sleep on him making the team out of camp a couple of summers ago. But he takes it to another level.

I mentioned Bergeron. But what about Crosby? Arguably the best player in the game in his generation often spoke about picking one skill and working to improve on it in the offseason.

Defencemen now constantly work on walking the blue line and getting shots through fake bodies in front of the net, even in the offseason.

On last nights pod, even the last couple of weeks, I showed highlights of Ty Gallagher, Frederic Brunet, Mason Langenbrunner and Loke Johansson doing it in game. No slappers, just writers from the point and getting it through for deflection and rebound goals. These guys know that's how goals are scored and they work on it.

Sometimes it's just the little things. But there are many little things and I will always bet on the guys that put in the work.

 

[LouJersey]

Brazeau is one. I first talked about it in 2015-2016 when he was draft eligible.

I have all the respect in the world for him because he made it to the show. Now, if he had done what Milan Lucic or Kevan Miller or David Backes had done and hired a pro skating coach for an offseason or two, there is no telling what he could do. But the effort just wasn't there.

Zadorov for different reasons. He has skills and caan skate, but again, going back to junior, not much has changed. Zero effort to work on what needs work or to improve on the things he already does well.

I can include Max Jones in that as well.

Nothing new really, I wrote about their lack of efforts to put in the work in all of their draft years.

I would also add Charlie Coyle, Cole Koepke and Parker Wotherspoon onto the list.

Not everyone can be Bergeron and pick something new to work on every summer which made Bergeron into Bergeron. But man, work on something.

Honest question: in the amount of time Charlie Coyle has been with Boston, what one skill have you seen an improvement on?

Never been a huge Coyle fan.

What are your impressions of Charlie McAvoy's career arc?

 

[KillerMillerTime]

This guy with 20 lbs more weight is gonna be an interesting player...

At 5:11, I don't want him to be 15-20 lbs heavier. I would say 10 is about as much as you want.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Brazeau is one. I first talked about it in 2015-2016 when he was draft eligible.

I have all the respect in the world for him because he made it to the show. Now, if he had done what Milan Lucic or Kevan Miller or David Backes had done and hired a pro skating coach for an offseason or two, there is no telling what he could do. But the effort just wasn't there.

Zadorov for different reasons. He has skills and caan skate, but again, going back to junior, not much has changed. Zero effort to work on what needs work or to improve on the things he already does well.

I can include Max Jones in that as well.

Nothing new really, I wrote about their lack of efforts to put in the work in all of their draft years.

I would also add Charlie Coyle, Cole Koepke and Parker Wotherspoon onto the list.

Not everyone can be Bergeron and pick something new to work on every summer which made Bergeron into Bergeron. But man, work on something.

Honest question: in the amount of time Charlie Coyle has been with Boston, what one skill have you seen an improvement on?

None. Coyle strikes me as one of those guys who already has it all and lacks that little bit of extra competitiveness or ambition to keep striving. Beautiful wife, child, dogs, house on the Cape, plays for his local team, naturally talented, oodles of money and security thanks to Sweeney's very generous contract. He is the very definition of comfortable. Of course you could have said much the same about Bergeron but some guys keep that inner drive no matter what and some just don't. I am sure Charlie would like a Cup and I am sure he wants to play well and be a good support to his teammates, but end of the day hockey is a job and then he goes home, and when he retires he'll be happy and move straight on to whatever else in life with few if any regrets.

I don't begrudge him any of that. He is who he is and what he has earned has not come easy. If there is a problem I would say one must rather look mostly to the GM who seems to hire too many players who either lack that pure fire-breathing competitiveness and work rate or are simply too much of the same type. There is a lot that Sweeney gets right. But it seems to me he has a few blind spots or partial ones that tend to create some roster deficiencies that could have been avoided with a little more rounded vision.

 

[DiggityDog]

There was a time in the past where guys smoked cigarettes between periods in the locker room so I would guess it’s always been that way.

Sure but you can have vices and still work to improve your craft.

 

[DominicT]

Never been a huge Coyle fan.

What are your impressions of Charlie McAvoy's career arc?

For the most part, fine. There are some things he is very predictable at like circling the opposition net instead of going to the net like Hampus does, and then he loses it. It's as predictable as Santa at Christmas. Then the wind up for the big shot that misses the net. Sometimes a writer off the hip on target is all that's needed. You should really watch last night's pod and you will see what I'm talking about.

C-Macs biggest issue IMO is the lack of willingness to adjust.

 

[Fingertools]

None. Coyle strikes me as one of those guys who already has it all and lacks that little bit of extra competitiveness or ambition to keep striving. Beautiful wife, child, dogs, house on the Cape, plays for his local team, naturally talented, oodles of money and security thanks to Sweeney's very generous contract. He is the very definition of comfortable. Of course you could have said much the same about Bergeron but some guys keep that inner drive no matter what and some just don't. I am sure Charlie would like a Cup and I am sure he wants to play well and be a good support to his teammates, but end of the day hockey is a job and then he goes home, and when he retires he'll be happy and move straight on to whatever else in life with few if any regrets.

I don't begrudge him any of that. He is who he is and what he has earned has not come easy. If there is a problem I would say one must rather look mostly to the GM who seems to hire too many players who either lack that pure fire-breathing competitiveness and work rate or are simply too much of the same type. There is a lot that Sweeney gets right. But it seems to me he has a few blind spots or partial ones that tend to create some roster deficiencies that could have been avoided with a little more rounded vision.

I don't know ... I see a guy who works hard every shift, is reliable, plays tough minutes, has played EVERY game the Bruins have played in the last 4 years - scored 25 goals last year and had 60 points, doesn't that show he has improved his offensive skills? I'd say he has improved his puck possession on the cycle as well. Yes he isn't producing this year and isn't the offensive player we'd like him to be but there are way worse examples of "non improving" players on the Bruins to pick on IMO