Where do you rank them.

[Dellstrom]

I don't like to "celebrate" after a first round exit but this year was a relief to me.

I agree they don't have all "the right guys" to do it. Guys like Beleskey and Backes who I expected to be key depth players who were monsters in the playoffs and leaders a la Kelly/Thornton/etc. have not done that. There's still time for Backes and I think he's great (contract aside) but Beleskey was a dud.

As for wasting core years, that's a sunk cost. We won a Cup with this core, and we had a lot of good years. They're not done, we still have quite a few years of Bergeron/Marchand/etc, but they're also done a great job mentoring young talent and will continue to do so. Pastrnak has evolved into a near-elite player, no doubt guys like 37 and 63 helped him along the way. McAvoy has Chara, and all of our prospects will look up to these guys. It's definitely frustrating to watch the years go by for someone as great as Bergeron, but he's done his job perfectly and he'll hopefully see the fruits of that soon.

We have a lot of work to do, but for the first time, I'm confident we can get it done. Instead of more or less needing a complete retool/rebuild, we have most of our key pieces today, and a whole lot of key pieces moving forward. Some immediate holes need to be filled this summer, like a top-6 wing, some grit in the bottom-6, and better role players, but it's all achievable. As for how we'll rank, the Atlantic division is going to be the best division in hockey very, very soon. Nothing is guaranteed.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

I don't like to "celebrate" after a first round exit but this year was a relief to me.

I agree they don't have all "the right guys" to do it. Guys like Beleskey and Backes who I expected to be key depth players who were monsters in the playoffs and leaders a la Kelly/Thornton/etc. have not done that. There's still time for Backes and I think he's great (contract aside) but Beleskey was a dud.

As for wasting core years, that's a sunk cost. We won a Cup with this core, and we had a lot of good years. They're not done, we still have quite a few years of Bergeron/Marchand/etc, but they're also done a great job mentoring young talent and will continue to do so. Pastrnak has evolved into a near-elite player, no doubt guys like 37 and 63 helped him along the way. McAvoy has Chara, and all of our prospects will look up to these guys. It's definitely frustrating to watch the years go by for someone as great as Bergeron, but he's done his job perfectly and he'll hopefully see the fruits of that soon.

We have a lot of work to do, but for the first time, I'm confident we can get it done. Instead of more or less needing a complete retool/rebuild, we have most of our key pieces today, and a whole lot of key pieces moving forward. Some immediate holes need to be filled this summer, like a top-6 wing, some grit in the bottom-6, and better role players, but it's all achievable. As for how we'll rank, the Atlantic division is going to be the best division in hockey very, very soon. Nothing is guaranteed.

Just pointing out that Backes had 4 pts in 6 playoff games and was tied with Pasta, Bergeron, and Marchand as the B's point leaders. Eyeball test, he was one of the best players in several of the games and showed his versatility by taking draws and playing C as well as wing. I'm not thrilled with the contact, but that's what happens with FA's and why you should develop from within whenever possible.

I think the B's are on the upswing. Over the next couple of years they will need to make the right moves to make themselves legit contenders, but I love their prospects.

 

[NDiesel]

I don't agree that Toronto will automatically get better because they are young. I see some of the same deficiencies in them as the Avs team who overachieved, made the playoffs and then went straight back to the bottom.

Teams aren't going to underestimate them next year and their weak D could get exposed. If there is one team in the East playoffs this year who misses next year, my vote is the Leafs unless they improve their D.

 

[bruins repeat time]

The bruins honestly could go either way the next few years as could most teams . The leafs are however basically a slam dunk and it pains me to say that . Could they take a step back next year ---yes it is possible . However it would basically take a miracle to stop this team long term . I am not even saying they will win a cup although I think they will but in the years to come Edmonton with our so called ex lousy gm who has really built a defense there and Toronto are going to be contenders and power houses.

Edmonton had two of their top 3 d-man out last game and destroyed the ducks . Pitt beat Washington with out Crosby than lost 2 in a row with him. I think considering how mcavoy stepped up and morrow played like he never has before that the bruins loss of their defenseman wasn't as huge as it could've been . I basically feel despite the fact we got screwed by the refs and had a lot of injuries the ever so slightly better team won. Lets face it they held us to 0 shots in a period in a game we won , 14 minutes another time . We scored 13 goals in 6 games and lots of overtime against Ottawa and I don't really think Anderson played very good or even as good as rask. All this said the two teams were obviously very very close .

 

[Ryan77]

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.

Every post on this board is opionin.. every trade purposely.. every he should do this or that is opinion. Unless you work for the organization it's all opinion

In my opinion

TB makes playoff if healthy
Florida makes playoffs if healthy.. people forget barkov and huberdeau missed significant time at the beginning. People also seem to not understand when you miss that much time at the start you play catch up all year.

Ottawa is just as deep in the talent pool as we are.. there prospects look fantastic and Chabot is as good as mcavoy

And yes no toughness we were manhandled by the Sens.

It's all opinion though

 

[LouJersey]

Every post on this board is opionin.. every trade purposely.. every he should do this or that is opinion. Unless you work for the organization it's all opinion

In my opinion

TB makes playoff if healthy
Florida makes playoffs if healthy.. people forget barkov and huberdeau missed significant time at the beginning. People also seem to not understand when you miss that much time at the start you play catch up all year.

Ottawa is just as deep in the talent pool as we are.. there prospects look fantastic and Chabot is as good as mcavoy

And yes no toughness we were manhandled by the Sens.

It's all opinion though

How much better does Boston do if Krejci and Krug were healthy to start the season, and Bergeron and Rask weren't playing with injuries that required off season surgery? How about the playoffs vs Ottawa?

Funny how you love to play the "what if" game. I can slant it too.

You think the Bruins trade McAvoy straight up for Chabot?

I know the Sens would. (see opinion doesn't make it right, right?)

This whole place is built on opinion. Makes it great. There are some miserable, pessimistic by nature opinions, and some "things are looking pretty good" opinions.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Every post on this board is opionin.. every trade purposely.. every he should do this or that is opinion. Unless you work for the organization it's all opinion

In my opinion

TB makes playoff if healthy
Florida makes playoffs if healthy.. people forget barkov and huberdeau missed significant time at the beginning. People also seem to not understand when you miss that much time at the start you play catch up all year.

Ottawa is just as deep in the talent pool as we are.. there prospects look fantastic and Chabot is as good as mcavoy

And yes no toughness we were manhandled by the Sens.

It's all opinion though

A lot of stuff here is opinion, which isn't an issue, unless you treat that opinion as fact and try to make factual statements based purely on those opinions...

Like you did in your initial post.

You know, stuff like the Sens have a deeper prospect pool (now it's as deep, tomorrow it will be almost as deep).

Opinions like that.

 

[ksp1957]

A lot of stuff here is opinion, which isn't an issue, unless you treat that opinion as fact and try to make factual statements based purely on those opinions...

Like you did in your initial post.

You know, stuff like the Sens have a deeper prospect pool (now it's as deep, tomorrow it will be almost as deep).

Opinions like that.

I just dislike the pessimistic clothed in objective garb...

It is possible to be objective without being objectionable.

IN MY OPINION, the Bruins were far more watchable once Cassidy took over. Going forward, we'll see what a full season with Cassidy coaching will bring to the table. I'm a lot more optimistic coming into next season than I was last year at this time.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

I just dislike the pessimistic clothed in objective garb...

It is possible to be objective without being objectionable.

IN MY OPINION, the Bruins were far more watchable once Cassidy took over. Going forward, we'll see what a full season with Cassidy coaching will bring to the table. I'm a lot more optimistic coming into next season than I was last year at this time.

Same here.

B's have some issues for sure and without some major work, they won't be contenders next season, but at the same time, how many people had the 8th seed Preds in the WCF's after dominating CHI or the Sens in the ECF's?

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Same here.

B's have some issues for sure and without some major work, they won't be contenders next season, but at the same time, how many people had the 8th seed Preds in the WCF's after dominating CHI or the Sens in the ECF's?

If you get in the playoffs, you've got a chance to do some real damage. There really is no home ice advantage in the playoffs anymore. Goalies get hot at the right time. Lots of injuries.

Unfortunately, B's have not been a sure thing to get in lately.

 

[ODAAT]

If you get in the playoffs, you've got a chance to do some real damage. There really is no home ice advantage in the playoffs anymore. Goalies get hot at the right time. Lots of injuries.

Unfortunately, B's have not been a sure thing to get in lately.

agreed, and I find in the playoffs, especially when things get to round 2, most teams have very solid road records and playing on the road isn`t much of a big deal

I`m far from a Pens fans but I think the feel good story of the playoffs has been Fleury. Always seemed like a great guy, well liked and I`ve never heard one word/complaint from him as he watched Murray take over. Seems like he just kept working hard and he got his chance to take the crease this playoff and has run with it