Bruins 2016-1017 Thread

[Deus Irae]

Colin Miller should really be paired with Chara, but unfortunately there isn't a Seidenberg-in-his-prime Defenceman to pair with Carlo, unless one counts Liles, which I most certainly do not.
If this organization had any forward thinking at all, it would bite the bullet and pair Morrow with Colin Miller in the meantime, and use Game-Killer Kevin Miller as the 7th Dman and Liles as the 8th.

I really, Really, REALLY hope that SweeNeely doesn't throw away even more precious high-round draft capital for old, tired, useless crap like they did at the last trade deadline in a vain effort to address the need for a legit #3 LH Dman, a scoring RW and a legit #2 Goaltender, because those players will not be available at the deadline (which should be moved up the calendar by at least 2 weeks, IMO).

I think we're seeing what we're going to see, at least until the trade deadline. Miller/Miller will be pair #3, and Colin will see his minutes fluctuate based upon the opponent and situation. I think it's just the reality of the current defensive personnel. It makes sense as the team transitions into next year, absent a trade, and assuming the next pup decides to sign (list not in any order):

Chara
Carlo
Krug
C. Miller
McAvoy
Miller/McQuaid/Other

 

[captain stone]

I'd add Midget Matt Grzelcyk to that list, but I shudder to think of a Defence group that includes both him & Krug on the left side.

 

[Deus Irae]

Congrats to Tuuka, who finally made a legit non-positional save. We need to see more of that.

 

[captain stone]

I'm ok with the Bs' minimal activity yesterday. They almost always get the worse of the deal, and the cost of acquiring what was really needed to make them worthy of being taken seriously (a legit #3 LH Dman, who can climb up to #2 at least temporarily; a scoring RW to complete the top 9; and a legit #2 Goaltender to give Rask much-needed rest before the POs) was probably too prohibitive.

I'd give Stafford a shot with the outstanding Bergeron-Marchand line; I could then keep the Double-Czech line together with Cehlarik, and give a combination of Vatrano-Spooner-Backes a long look. Vatrano is the young shooter, Spooner the young passer, and Backes the playoff-experienced vet to cover the kids' physical and defensive lapses. Backes is also capable of taking defensive-zone FOs if Butch doesn't trust Spooner to get the job done.

The 4th line, with Moore at Centre, should now be an open competition at both LW (Beleskey & Schaller) and RW (Hayes & Nash). I'm not sure how much PK time Beleskey has seen, so Schaller might have the advantage there, although Beleskey, when healthy, stands the better chance of providing more consistent point production. Regarding RW, I wouldn't give you a nickel for both of them, combined; whichever of them is playing less sucky, then sit down the other one…or sit both and try an all-lefty line of Beleskey-Moore-Schaller.

 

[captain stone]

Nice debut by Stafford; he assisted on the game-winner by Spooner, and should've had a PP goal in the 2nd period, but it was stolen by either the head zebra or by the idiots in Toronto. That was one of the worst reversals
I have ever seen. Goaltender interference my ***.

 

[captain stone]

The Bs' PO chances are now realistically over, thanks to the awful goal that Tuuka They Should've Kept Martin Jones Instead of Rask allowed almost immediately.

Edit: I just read on Rotoworld that Spooner suffered a concussion during the 3rd period and is out indefinitely, meaning until he passes the protocol.
Double suck.

 

[captain stone]

All that good feeling the Bs had built came to a screetching halt last night
in Edmonton, thanks to the absolutely putrid goaltending from Rask and Khoudobin. Even lazy Lucic scored an undeserved goal. Feck the ChiaPet forever for killing this franchise just to luck into a situation tailor-made for success for whoever was hired to be the Oilers' GM.

I hope that Matt Beleskey will be OK. That was a nice goal he had vs Calgary, so of course he get hit on the head (hopefully not directly on the ear) the very next game.

 

[captain insano]

the annual bruins chokeathon is on. get your popcorn.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

the annual bruins chokeathon is on. get your popcorn.

Whatever infects this team is doing it on a consistent basis. This time of year, the spring, is when hockey teams gear up and hunker down for the most crucial games of their lives, when they're playing their best in pursuit of a shot at the Cup...

...and the Bruins do the exact opposite. There is an astounding lack of leadership, focus, determination and fight. The team is wandering around aimlessly.

Management should find and acquire grinding, experienced, hungry, character guys to go along with the talent they already have...three and four years ago, they got rid of several without ever replacing them. Success is no accident, and neither is failure.

 

[captain stone]

Management should also find and acquire non-choke-artist goaltending, Sunday's win vs the below-average Islanders notwithstanding.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Management should also find and acquire non-choke-artist goaltending, Sunday's win vs the below-average Islanders notwithstanding.

I have to say, I always liked Tuukka. We stole him from the Leafs, and he's been mostly great, with a couple of playoff runs ('10, '13) which came up just short. He's only 30 and I think has at least another couple in him. There's no substitute for experience.

He'd be very tough to replace at this point; and the team should focus on making the improvements we mentioned above.

Let's see what happens tonight...

 

[meatface]

Management should also find and acquire non-choke-artist goaltending, Sunday's win vs the below-average Islanders notwithstanding.

The Bruins defense isn't what it was when they won the cup and you shouldn't blame Rask for that decline. Bruins management just keeps putting out a worse team each year and expects their core guys to makeup the difference

 

[captain insano]

rask blows. he's david price in goalie pads. both soft as a sneaker full of puppy poo.

 

[meatface]

rask blows. he's david price in goalie pads. both soft as a sneaker full of puppy poo.

why do you say that?

 

[captain stone]

To be fair, Rask has played well the past 2 games. He'll need to continue to play well if the Bs want to hang on to the 8 seed. As long as their only remaining loss is to the Blackhawks (because there's no way in hell they're beating them in Chicago), then they should be able to do it.

And what's with Butch stratching Colin Miller in favor of that useless old turd Liles? I thought we were done with that stupid sh!t when the Clod was fired.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

To be fair, Rask has played well the past 2 games. He'll need to continue to play well if the Bs want to hang on to the 8 seed. As long as their only remaining loss is to the Blackhawks (because there's no way in hell they're beating them in Chicago), then they should be able to do it.

And what's with Butch stratching Colin Miller in favor of that useless old turd Liles? I thought we were done with that stupid sh!t when the Clod was fired.

I dunno. We can't know everything that's going on over there.

For me, I want the Cup. It's not impossible, and we do have the goaltending to get there. But are there enough tough guys and grinders to do it? I miss Boychuk.

 

[captain insano]

just when i thought they were done. they pull me back in. huge win for the bruins and their playoff chances.

 

[captain insano]

I dunno. We can't know everything that's going on over there.

For me, I want the Cup. It's not impossible, and we do have the goaltending to get there. But are there enough tough guys and grinders to do it? I miss Boychuk.

letting boychuk go was a huge mistake. Hopefully charlie mcAvoy is the next great bruins defensemen.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

just when i thought they were done. they pull me back in. huge win for the bruins and their playoff chances.

Yeah, it's been a positive environment with Butch. First order of business is to clinch a spot.

Then, keep our big guys healthy as best we can. We're going to need them.

There's still a lot of leadership and experience in that locker room.

And we're certainly not worn out from playing too many playoff games the last couple years!

 

[captain insano]

Yeah, it's been a positive environment with Butch. First order of business is to clinch a spot.

Then, keep our big guys healthy as best we can. We're going to need them.

There's still a lot of leadership and experience in that locker room.

And we're certainly not worn out from playing too many playoff games the last couple years!

that was an early start on a back to back on the rd against the best team in hockey. i need some playoff hockey bad. hopefully Rask doesn't get the ****s when the team needs him most.