The Bruins aren’t only a mediocre hockey team, they’re becoming something far worse

[Fenway]

Eric Wilbur just unloaded on Boston.com

http://www.boston.com/sports/boston...ckey-team-theyre-becoming-something-far-worse

The time is coming, sooner than later, when the Boston Bruins will no longer possess the benefit of flying under the general radar of the Boston sports opinion.

The Patriots have at most 19 days at the forefront of the conscious everyday talk, with the AFC Championship game set for Sunday in Foxborough with a trip to Houston on the line. The Celtics might be a contender in the East — more likely they’re not — but at least definitively can now call Isiah Thomas an emerging NBA superstar. The Red Sox, whenever they’re not busy with their incessant winter campaign of selling Pablo Sandoval via Instagram, don’t begin spring training for another month.

Which all means that those not paying as close attention as the Bruins’ increasingly-beleaguered diehards will soon realize what Bruins fans have begun to understand.

The Bruins aren’t only a mediocre NHL hockey team. They’re beginning to mature into something far worse.

Click to read more...

 

[Colt.45Orr]

Monday’s laugher did cost one coach his job. It just so happened to be Islanders coach Jack Capuano who got canned after his team’s 17th win of the season. This coming after back-to-back 100-point seasons for the Islanders, and a second-round loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning last spring.

Yet, Julien remains following back-to-back late-season chokes the last two seasons, and in the midst of what looks to be a growing malaise on the Bruins bench.

 

[AlpineLager]

Monday’s laugher did cost one coach his job. It just so happened to be Islanders coach Jack Capuano who got canned after his team’s 17th win of the season. This coming after back-to-back 100-point seasons for the Islanders, and a second-round loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning last spring.

Yet, Julien remains following back-to-back late-season chokes the last two seasons, and in the midst of what looks to be a growing malaise on the Bruins bench.

The Bruins had 86 points with 13 games remaining last year - that's ****ing ridiculous. Not sure how Clode survived it. Not that he's at fault, but jesus, that's gotta be one of the worst choke jobs to end a season of all time. We'll be lucky to end up with 86 points this year the way things are going.

 

[robinsonp16]

Love it and can't wait until the pressure fully shifts to that teams problems. I'm tired of the "Just give them time" and "stay the coarse" opinions. This is a middle of the road team trending in the wrong direction.

 

[itsablurr]

What's even funnier is that Claude admittedly doesn't even have a clue as to what's wrong... zero. nada. zilch. ...let alone a hint of an idea as to how to fix it. For 2+ years.


"Our teams are prepared the same way on the road as they are at home, so there's got to be something that's got to be better and we're certainly working on trying to make our team better at home. Because somehow, the preparation is the same but the results aren't the same."

 

[Dr Hook]

Can't find much to argue with in that to be honest. It is clear that something needs to be done to change the culture that is developing around the team.

 

[neelynugs]

who is eric wilbur?

 

[Fenway]

who is eric wilbur?

Longtime columnist with Boston.com

 

[Midship]

Can't find much to argue with in that to be honest. It is clear that something needs to be done to change the culture that is developing around the team.

It's been clear since the loss to Montreal in 2014. I've grown beyond tired of it.

 

[Sevren]

The Bruins had 86 points with 13 games remaining last year - that's ****ing ridiculous. Not sure how Clode survived it. Not that he's at fault

You answered your own question

 

[Barnum]

Longtime columnist with Boston.com

Longtime Patriots and football specialist columnist. FIFY

Wilbur might be right, but really it's just another Boston sports writer hit piece of negativity and whining. No fixes, no suggestions, just a redheaded b%#ch Shaughnessy-like smackdown. He can go back to the Pats anytime.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Longtime Patriots and football specialist columnist. FIFY

Wilbur might be right, but really it's just another Boston sports writer hit piece of negativity and whining. No fixes, no suggestions, just a redheaded b%#ch Shaughnessy-like smackdown. He can go back to the Pats anytime.

Agree, who cares what he thinks

 

[EverettMike]

Longtime Patriots and football specialist columnist. FIFY

Wilbur might be right, but really it's just another Boston sports writer hit piece of negativity and whining. No fixes, no suggestions, just a redheaded b%#ch Shaughnessy-like smackdown. He can go back to the Pats anytime.

Who gives a ****? Sometimes a column is just an observation designed to highlight a current situation.

Why does he need to offer solutions for his opinion to have merit? If I go to a restaurant and the meal stinks, do I need to be able to tell the chef how to do his job to call out how much this chicken sucks?

 

[Seidenbergy]

Scary that we hold columnists to a higher standard than the coaches of the freaking team.

 

[Therick67]

Scary that we hold columnists to a higher standard than the coaches of the freaking team.

Some fans just can't handle any criticism toward the team they root for. How dare anyone criticism the juggernaut that is the Boston Bruins. Doesn't he know they won the cup in 2011?

 

[LSCII]

who is eric wilbur?

If he was a 4th line stiff with zero offensive upside we'd all know him because we'd see him for 24 minutes per night, including the PP...

 

[LSCII]

Scary that we hold columnists to a higher standard than the coaches of the freaking team.

Maybe they'd like it better if Wilbur offered up great insights like it's hard to play back to back games, or compressed schedules are difficult, or players are banged up right now, or we ran into another hot backup goalie???

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

What's even funnier is that Claude admittedly doesn't even have a clue as to what's wrong... zero. nada. zilch. ...let alone a hint of an idea as to how to fix it. For 2+ years.


"Our teams are prepared the same way on the road as they are at home, so there's got to be something that's got to be better and we're certainly working on trying to make our team better at home. Because somehow, the preparation is the same but the results aren't the same."

Why is that funny? You make it sound like there is a logical explanation and only Clode doesn't see it.

 

[Dr Hook]

If he was a 4th line stiff with zero offensive upside we'd all know him because we'd see him for 24 minutes per night, including the PP...

that is awesome

 

[22Brad Park]

What's even funnier is that Claude admittedly doesn't even have a clue as to what's wrong... zero. nada. zilch. ...let alone a hint of an idea as to how to fix it. For 2+ years.


"Our teams are prepared the same way on the road as they are at home, so there's got to be something that's got to be better and we're certainly working on trying to make our team better at home. Because somehow, the preparation is the same but the results aren't the same."

Claude knows what's wrong.He knows this team is not a good one.But will not throw players under the bus or management..You can put lipstick on a pig and dress it up but it's still a pig at end of the day. STAY CLASSY CLAUDE.BEST BRUINS COACH EVER.

 

[Dr Hook]

Claude knows what's wrong.He knows this team is not a good one.But will not throw players under the bus or management. STAY CLASSY CLAUDE.BEST BRUINS COACH EVER.

Ryan Spooner says hello

 

[22Brad Park]

Ryan Spooner says hello

Yea .No coach could win with what he is given.He has been waiting near 3 full years for management to get him a top pair D man.Management knows they fire him they get exposed quicker.

 

[Therick67]

The backup goalie got thrown under the bus and has been the only one in this organization held accountable for not getting the job done.

 

[Dr Hook]

Yea .No coach could win with what he is given.He has been waiting near 3 full years for management to get him a top pair D man.Management knows they fire him they get exposed quicker.

Claude has taken his pot shots at management of late- indirect fire to be sure, but you don't have to read too hard between the lines when he talks about personnel issues as a reason for the team's mediocrity.

Look, I think Claude is a good coach, and whatever team has him behind the bench next will likely get an improved performance. But let's not sugarcoat him either: he calls out players publicly according some internal logic that is unclear- Dobby as TheRick said, Spooner, Colin Miller are three that I can name off the top of my head that Claude has singled out.

 

[22Brad Park]

Claude has taken his pot shots at management of late- indirect fire to be sure, but you don't have to read too hard between the lines when he talks about personnel issues as a reason for the team's mediocrity.

Look, I think Claude is a good coach, and whatever team has him behind the bench next will likely get an improved performance. But let's not sugarcoat him either: he calls out players publicly according some internal logic that is unclear- Dobby as TheRick said, Spooner, Colin Miller are three that I can name off the top of my head that Claude has singled out.

I am ok with it.Then it's open season once new coach does squat with this group. The problem with Boston is no top pair D man and lack a top 6 winger who can score.I know where real problem lies and it's upstairs.