Where do you rank them.
- Thread starter Ryan77
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smithformeragent
Moderator
I am happy because:
1. Under Cassidy, the offense was tops in the NHL, and they had the best record.
2. We were not exactly healthy thru 81 games since Krug and Krejci had lingering recoveries, Bergeron had a hernia all season and Tuukka had a nagging groin issue.
3. Youngsters are blooming, see Carlo, Pastranak, McAvoy, McIntyre, BeDrusk, Senyshen, Heinen, Ogara, Gryzlek, JFK.....Bjork if that works out
4. Providence has not been this exciting with young talent in years.
5. The trash will get taken out after the expansion draft and I am willing to bet Hayes is no more, Belesky is a monster next year, Liles, Moore and Nash all find new homes
6. I am a Bruins fan and will support and celebrate any success I can because I bleed Black and gold dammit
1. Under Cassidy, the offense was tops in the NHL, and they had the best record.
2. We were not exactly healthy thru 81 games since Krug and Krejci had lingering recoveries, Bergeron had a hernia all season and Tuukka had a nagging groin issue.
3. Youngsters are blooming, see Carlo, Pastranak, McAvoy, McIntyre, BeDrusk, Senyshen, Heinen, Ogara, Gryzlek, JFK.....Bjork if that works out
4. Providence has not been this exciting with young talent in years.
5. The trash will get taken out after the expansion draft and I am willing to bet Hayes is no more, Belesky is a monster next year, Liles, Moore and Nash all find new homes
6. I am a Bruins fan and will support and celebrate any success I can because I bleed Black and gold dammit
- Jan 29, 2003
- 26,427
- 23,170
I'll bite.
First reason for optimism; off season is coming and there's always room for optimism because of that.
Second reason; McAvoy and potentially other young players should be coming in to replace deadweight like Hayes and possibly improve upon Nash or MCQuaid. Maybe 3-4 guys emerge for the B's and become what they are fully capable of? Maybe Vatrano makes the leap from inconsistent to consistent. Maybe DeBrusk becomes an 18-20 goal guy and/or Kuraly, Lauzon or Zboril stick and prove to be effective.
Third reason; Maybe one or two of Montreal, NYR, Ottawa, or Pittsburgh takes a step back? Maybe it's Toronto, who doesn't sneak up on anyone next year. A lot of young teams don't always make the jump the second year. (I think people expected Buffalo to improve this year, for instance)
Jorah Marshmont
Long may he reign
- May 10, 2012
- 4,700
- 3,127
I am happy because:
1. Under Cassidy, the offense was tops in the NHL, and they had the best record.
2. We were not exactly healthy thru 81 games since Krug and Krejci had lingering recoveries, Bergeron had a hernia all season and Tuukka had a nagging groin issue.
3. Youngsters are blooming, see Carlo, Pastranak, McAvoy, McIntyre, BeDrusk, Senyshen, Heinen, Ogara, Gryzlek, JFK.....Bjork if that works out
4. Providence has not been this exciting with young talent in years.
5. The trash will get taken out after the expansion draft and I am willing to bet Hayes is no more, Belesky is a monster next year, Liles, Moore and Nash all find new homes
6. I am a Bruins fan and will support and celebrate any success I can because I bleed Black and gold dammit
I'd say this is the most important answer. I'm not going to waste time crying because they don't win the Cup every year. I didn't think they were going to make the playoffs this season, my natural reaction when something exceeds my expectations is to be happy about it.
GloryDaze4877
Barely Irrelevant
You talk as if what you say is fact, when it's a lot of opinion and speculation, plain and simple.
OTT deeper? TB and FLA locks if healthy? TOR guaranteed better (when I believe they were amongst the healthiest NHL teams this year)? No speed? No toughness? No identity? The wrong players?
Your glass isn't just half empty, it's cracked and leaking heavily.
You talk as if what you say is fact, when it's a lot of opinion and speculation, plain and simple.
OTT deeper? TB and FLA locks if healthy? TOR guaranteed better (when I believe they were amongst the healthiest NHL teams this year)? No speed? No toughness? No identity? The wrong players?
Your glass isn't just half empty, it's cracked and leaking heavily.
crimsonace
Registered User
Tampa Bay was a playoff team with Stamkos. Florida was a train wreck this year. No chance.
Turned out to be the Bruins, Sens, Leafs, Isles & Lightning battling for 3 spots. All things being equal, Tampa probably underachieved & Ottawa overachieved. Bruins & Leafs were on the fence and could've gone either way. Both made it.
Turned out to be the Bruins, Sens, Leafs, Isles & Lightning battling for 3 spots. All things being equal, Tampa probably underachieved & Ottawa overachieved. Bruins & Leafs were on the fence and could've gone either way. Both made it.
I'm happiest that the mood at the boards changed for whatever reason, this place is much nicer to read through now.
The D is clearly a bright spot moving forward, we already have a lot of young guys on it and their are a number in the organization to solidify the D for years. The offense is more of an issue as I've only seen it get worse for years. I think the team overreacted to an injury plagued season and took that as the mark for tearing at the foundation to create a mini rebuild and I am starting to worry that the timelines will not line up. This team is not far from being a competitive team now and into the future, but Sweeney needs to upgrade the offense and not just trade a skilled player away for a cheaper guy that is either bigger or more physical.
BruinLVGA
Next: CZ SP-01 Tactical!
You talk as if what you say is fact, when it's a lot of opinion and speculation, plain and simple.
OTT deeper? TB and FLA locks if healthy? TOR guaranteed better (when I believe they were amongst the healthiest NHL teams this year)? No speed? No toughness? No identity? The wrong players?
Your glass isn't just half empty, it's cracked and leaking heavily.
It's the "the Cup or I will pout" mentality. The neighbor's grass is always greener, obviously. I stopped reading at Ottawa is deeper, tbh.
ODAAT
Registered User
I would say most, if not all fans here had this team, prior to puck drop at the beginning of the year as being a team who was fighting for one of the last spots for the playoffs, or missing outright with many of those fans saying "lottery team"
I`m never happy with a 1st round exit, and this team isn`t a Cup contender but I`m less "happy" and more optimistic about the future of this club. Do I like the roster? Not all of them. Do I like all of DS`s moves? Nope. Never seen a year where every decision a Bruins GM has made I`ve been on board with, not even the cup winning year.
I`m not sure they have an identity either but I think they are trying to create that through the draft when you look at the on ice qualities it appears DS and his crew are valuing. Up front, skill combined with speed, on the back, much of the same, mobility. This team is moving in the direction of wanting to play up tempo, not easy to do now with some of the players on the current roster but changes are coming
So I`m not happy with the season, but I am optimistic, very optimistic and I would wager if you asked 29 GM`s out there which team has the strongest pool of prospects coming many would have the B`s right there near the top
I haven`t read fans here acting content with this season, I see some fans wishing we could have iced a healthy team vs the Sens as I believe they would have beaten them, didn`t happen.
What your saying about the Leafs SHOULD be true, they should be better next year, but are you saying you`ve never seen a young team take a step back before improving after surprising everyone (Hello Calgary a few years ago)? I have and that Leaf team was full of rookies, let`s see how they react next year when every team now knows what to expect, I`m not penciling them in for a 110 pt season, they barely had any injuries this year while teams like the Bolts/Panthers killed with them, that won`t happen 2 years in a row
I say breathe, look to the future (kind of the name of this board) saw some nice steps from younger players in the organization, next year will be a full year of McAvoy, maybe a prospect or two also jumps into action in the NHL. Sweeney has a plan (I know some don`t think so), problem is, that plan takes time, you know, something too many don`t like...........patience
For me I am happier than the last couple of seasons because I can see the transition that the team is starting to make. Chiarelli really screwed the team up with his unbelievably bad drafting in all but his last season. Sweeney already has more drafted impact players in the lineup(Carlo and McAvoy) than Chiarelli had in his entire Bruins career(Pastrnak).
I can see the direction of the team emerging and a plan in place and that is why I am excited about this team. There is still a lot of work to do but depending on which route they go, they either are not far away from being a good team or they have the pieces to move to gain more high end youth.
I feel like I have just seen the Bruins reverse their decline and that alone is fantastic, now we have the climb and there may be bumps in the road and who knows how high they can climb but either way it is better than watching them free fall for a few years.
You should be able to see how this team is being built from the back end out. That is usually how good teams are built. There is a plan and I can see it being put into place and I like it.
LouJersey
Registered User
Nashville was the worst team to qualify for the play-offs. How are they doing?
Other than Pittsburgh, the Bruins could win a series vs anyone else in this conference.
Bruins seem to be modeling their forward group after the Penguins with kids mixed with core veterans. The Bruins seem to be modeling their defense after Nashville, skaters that can push the puck and the play.
Bruins top five of Bergeron, Backes, Marchand, Pasta and Krejci are near the top of the conference. Only Washington and Pittsburgh have them beat there, and Washington won't after they are gutted this offseason.
Congrats though on maybe the most pessimistic post I've ever seen here, and that's realllllllllllly saying something.
Bruinfanatic
Registered User
There was definetly am improvement over last year,think there defence is starting to look good ,with Carlo .Miller,Macavoy and the much improved play of K.Miller.There forwards worry me ,they definetly have to make a lot of improvements there.They have some promising players in the system ,but they may not be ready to step in and contribute .Bruins need more size and speed or they won't compete with Toronto and Ottawa.Its gonna be a dog fight again next season,and I expect Tampa and Florida to be better next season.
You sound like you want us to go out and add all-star players and that does not work when you say we have the wrong guys,what players should we add? In today's game it is not as easy getting players as one has to give up way too much. Letting the rookies mature and get better is the way to go and yes it was a good year for the Bruins. I think the reffing was horrid and get rid of the coach's challenge. The league wants more scoring to entice fans but when they take goals away and the refs make bad calls it only makes fans turn their heads.
Ottawa has an older team then us and their prospect pool is very shallow after White and Chabot, nowhere even close to our prospect pool list. They also have a frugal owner, this BS run they are on now is as good as it will get for them. Toronto had a surprisingly good year, let's see how they do next year with expectations greatly raised. Florida is Florida, never expect too much out of them, TB is the wild card, they should be the best team in the division.
As for the Bruins, the 2nd wave is coming, McAvoy had his coming out party in the playoffs and there are lots more on the way, this team will be getting younger bigger and faster before you know it, have a bit of patience, the future is bright.
Dennis Bonvie
Registered User
Going into next season, who will the B's be clearly better than in their division?
Detroit. Buffalo. Maybe Florida?
Detroit. Buffalo. Maybe Florida?
I am happy because:
1. Under Cassidy, the offense was tops in the NHL, and they had the best record.
2. We were not exactly healthy thru 81 games since Krug and Krejci had lingering recoveries, Bergeron had a hernia all season and Tuukka had a nagging groin issue.
3. Youngsters are blooming, see Carlo, Pastranak, McAvoy, McIntyre, BeDrusk, Senyshen, Heinen, Ogara, Gryzlek, JFK.....Bjork if that works out
4. Providence has not been this exciting with young talent in years.
5. The trash will get taken out after the expansion draft and I am willing to bet Hayes is no more, Belesky is a monster next year, Liles, Moore and Nash all find new homes
6. I am a Bruins fan and will support and celebrate any success I can because I bleed Black and gold dammit
I love your black and gold colored glasses! Always have your team's back. Live and die with a black and gold spoked B tattoed on my heart.
I'm not blind to the team's needs and don't have hyperboled expectations - just honest undying support for my Bruins through good times and bad.
Agree whole heartedly with #6 and support the encouragement of the rest of your post. An attitude of gratitude, thank you, we need more positive uplifting posts.
With all due respect it will be a new season and anything can happen. Florida may rebound, Toronto may pull a Colorado? Montreal may struggle to win one goal games. No on knows what injuries will cripple which teams. All just speculation.
But I suspect Boston will be in the thick of it for the playoffs. Call it blind faith.
LouJersey
Registered User
Impossible to say. What you can say though without any hesitation is no team in the division is clearly better than Boston.
I'll wait to see how the final rosters shake out five months from now.
A lot of next seasons success or failure will depend on what DS does this summer. They NEED to get better at their pro scouting. If their pro scouting does a better job and IF they can get rid of dead weight and IF they can develop a couple more rookies and IF they get Bjork to leave school they can have a very special year.
IF not I still think that they can grow and have a positive year but those changes above are imperative to having a hugely improved team coming into 2017/'18.
PS: They also NEED to find a backup for Tuukka who can carry the team for 20-25 games IMO.
IF not I still think that they can grow and have a positive year but those changes above are imperative to having a hugely improved team coming into 2017/'18.
PS: They also NEED to find a backup for Tuukka who can carry the team for 20-25 games IMO.
hoss75
Registered User
I agree with much of what the OP says. However, summer is coming and I don't want to be PO'd through the off-season.
The team definitely needs improvement in a number of areas, but there are silver linings and I think the ship is heading in the right direction.
The team definitely needs improvement in a number of areas, but there are silver linings and I think the ship is heading in the right direction.
ODAAT
Registered User
you left out a big one, the Caps, a team who will be torn apart win or lose at the end of this year, and the Habs, not exactly a powerhouse
LSCII
Cup driven
I find the OP of this thread to be filled with suppositions to an alarming extent. People always assume the positives only when talking about sports, to a fault. Toronto will only be better. Only? That's the only possible outcome? Other teams will only get healthier. Only good health? Really? Are you sure?
In reality, some good and some bad things happen to every team over the course of the season. Why project only one side? Why not wait to see what actually happens before saying the sky is falling? We have an entire off season, a draft, and a fully stocked prospect pool. Why not wait to see what Sweeney does, how the young guys do in camp, and what the roster looks like before making a sweeping generalization that the team is going to be a bottom feeder?
You can say that the Bruins were the worst playoff team, yet they pushed the Senators in every game. All while missing a ton of impact players for most if not all of the series. If Krug, Carlo and Krejci are healthy and playing, do really think they couldn't have won that series? It was right there for the taking. The irony is that you're willing to attribute health as the reason for Tampa and Florida not surpassing the Bruins, but you seemingly dismiss it when looking at the series with the Sens.
In reality, some good and some bad things happen to every team over the course of the season. Why project only one side? Why not wait to see what actually happens before saying the sky is falling? We have an entire off season, a draft, and a fully stocked prospect pool. Why not wait to see what Sweeney does, how the young guys do in camp, and what the roster looks like before making a sweeping generalization that the team is going to be a bottom feeder?
You can say that the Bruins were the worst playoff team, yet they pushed the Senators in every game. All while missing a ton of impact players for most if not all of the series. If Krug, Carlo and Krejci are healthy and playing, do really think they couldn't have won that series? It was right there for the taking. The irony is that you're willing to attribute health as the reason for Tampa and Florida not surpassing the Bruins, but you seemingly dismiss it when looking at the series with the Sens.
