On the plus side I have yet to finalize my season ticket decision that opened up a few weeks ago. Looks like I can kick that down another year now.
Or if the Bruins did not screw up that line change in Montreal. The Bruins also had the misfortune of going up against a couple of super dynasties in their prime.But Ray always got paid. Always.
IMO Harry would be viewed far differently today if Wesley puts that fucking backhander in the net in OT.
We're getting far afield now. Although Harry in his prime was doing a helluva lot better job assembling the Bruins than Cam and Donny are.
Sweeney: "Kevan brings incredible character. His signing provides us with the necessary depth that all teams need."But Ray always got paid. Always.
IMO Harry would be viewed far differently today if Wesley puts that fucking backhander in the net in OT.
We're getting far afield now. Although Harry in his prime was doing a helluva lot better job assembling the Bruins than Cam and Donny are.
Harry knew who had talent and who didn't. He had more player evaluation skill by the time he was 30 then these two shit heads have put together. He was a cheap SOB but he put together 4 teams that went to the finals on pretty modest budgets.But Ray always got paid. Always.
IMO Harry would be viewed far differently today if Wesley puts that fucking backhander in the net in OT.
We're getting far afield now. Although Harry in his prime was doing a helluva lot better job assembling the Bruins than Cam and Donny are.
Right, since last summer showed that Cam and Sweeney were so competent.I don't love this deal, particularly the term, but I'm willing to wait and see what the rest of the summer holds.
Boychuk basically did it in his age 27/28 seasons. I don't think it will happen here, but it's not unprecedented either.Between this and their "he still has room to grow" comments, and I really have to question their ability to properly asses NHL talent. He's 29. Defensemen tend to develop slower than forwards, but I can't think of a single defenseman that took a leap from bottom pairing/healthy scratch territory to top 4 material at that age. He is what he is.
Not really...his numbers went up (a little) based mostly on increased playing time. His big leap came in the A during his age 24-25 season. He had three straight seasons of averaging ~30 points then dropped a 65 pointer in Providence. He was up pretty much for good the next season and was consistent.Boychuk basically did it in his age 27/28 seasons. I don't think it will happen here, but it's not unprecedented either.
The 2009-2010 Bruins did have Chara, Seidenberg, Wideman, and Ference as their top 4, and all 4 were in their prime at that time. And they also had Derek Morris until he was traded in March. So Boychuck was competing with Matt Hunwick and even McQuaid for mostly bottom pairing minutes that season.Again, not saying it will happen here (or defending any part of this deal). Was just addressing cshea's point, although DummyHoy makes a good rejoinder. He was a scratch/bottom pairing guy though until 2011, for whatever reason.
First, that must be great for Torey to hear: well, agree to our deal, or we'll go to arbitration with the goal of pointing out that you're and undersized, overprotected defenseman worth only $2 million AAV. Second, what spots are Miller, Grzelcyk, and O'Gara suppsed to push for if they're also looking for a PMD? They'd already have 6 defensemen locked up, so you're just hoping to be the guy that has to hope someone else gets hurt while withering on the 9th floor.Elsewhere, Sweeney reiterated he’ll be looking to add a defenseman who can transition the puck. He expects to come to terms with restricted free agent Torey Krug, though he didn’t say whether that will be through a negotiated deal or arbitration. He also hopes some of the prospects like Colin Miller, Matt Grzelcykand Rob O’Gara can push for spots.
Anyone who writes something like this should basically lose their keyboard privileges.Haggerty says the following:
http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/some-questions-and-answers-when-it-comes-miller-contract
"The one facet of the four-year Miller contract that might make it okay for some Bruins fans: the tacit connection to the Jimmy Vesey sweepstakes. According to several sources around the league, the Bruins taking care of Miller now will very likely have a positive impact on their chances of landing Vesey when he becomes a free agent on Aug. 15, and makes them the front-runner for the Harvard standout’s services. Both Miller and Vesey are represented by the same agent in Peter Fish, and those are the kinds of behind-the-scenes connections that many times factor into free agent signings and trades around the NHL.
So many, this humble hockey writer included, may owe Sweeney a slight apology if paying a $10 million premium for a bottom-pairing defenseman in Miller now pays dividends in landing a stud forward like Vesey that’s drawing interest all around the league."
I find it ridiculous that people keep harping on the "they have the same agent" line with players in any sports. What does Jimmy Vesey care about whether his agent is getting a sweet commission from someone else's deal? If agents truly operated that way, they would be sued by their clients for violating their fiduciary duties. "Hey, I'm going to steer you to the Bruins because they gave some other guy a deal. Don't worry that Team X is offering more money."
He should have lost his keyboard privileges after this.Anyone who writes something like this should basically lose their keyboard privileges.
Both the Kelly signings and Seidenberg ones are defensible if they don't get hurt. I think Seids was likely to get hurt so it makes his signing more questionable, but I'll defend the Kelly signing and Kelly as a player to this day. I don't think it's a coincidence that the team has lost its way from a leadership perspective the last 2 seasons when he has been hurt. I think him and Thornton brought more to the table there than we all realized.Third, I think we discussed this back when Chiarelli was fired, but it's not things like the Iginla deal that got him run out of town, but rather needless extensions for fairly replaceable guys like Kelly and Seidenberg, holding on to the 2011 team for way longer than necessary. Little moves that ate away at the extra cap space necessary to keep Boychuk, re-sign Hamilton, etc. As much as we all love Loui, extending him without moving some of the stupid money out the door means the process will only repeat itself next year when Marchand and, possibly, Pastrnak walk out the door since JAGs like McQuaid and Kevan Miller take up nearly 10% of the cap between them. For all the talk of how Chiarelli put them in a bad spot, Sweeney and Neely are doing an awfully good job of not only not fixing it, but maintaining their cap woes. They truly have no plan beyond what looks good to them today.
Right there with you on Kelly but I think do think his larger point stands. What ended up hurting was giving players like the merlot line raises on their extensions. It doesn't look bad because it's only a few million here a few million there (Toucher has been making this argument since the Miller signing), but it adds up quickly and makes the difference in being able to sign/re-sign top end guys.Both the Kelly signings and Seidenberg ones are defensible if they don't get hurt. I think Seids was likely to get hurt so it makes his signing more questionable, but I'll defend the Kelly signing and Kelly as a player to this day. I don't think it's a coincidence that the team has lost its way from a leadership perspective the last 2 seasons when he has been hurt. I think him and Thornton brought more to the table there than we all realized.
The Chris Kelly extension was not and is not the problem with this team.
Name 1 other GM that would give Kevan Miller that contract without having to give up an asset and be ok with it.If any of the kids develop quickly and Miller stays at his current level, it won't be hard to move him for something..
This is fair and I don't disgree about Kelly. However, what does it say about this team and the "character' guys they want in the room if one guy getting hurt makes it all go to shit. SO is Kelly the only one of their "character" guys who actually has any?Both the Kelly signings and Seidenberg ones are defensible if they don't get hurt. I think Seids was likely to get hurt so it makes his signing more questionable, but I'll defend the Kelly signing and Kelly as a player to this day. I don't think it's a coincidence that the team has lost its way from a leadership perspective the last 2 seasons when he has been hurt. I think him and Thornton brought more to the table there than we all realized.
The Chris Kelly extension was not and is not the problem with this team.
Does the back of your own net qualify as your own zone or is that a separate entity? Because if it doesn't, Miller is awesome at getting the puck out of his own zone quickly and cleanly.I can't see how you say you want to be better in transition and move the puck up ice and then turn around and sign this deal. It doesn't compute. Maybe I'm wrong, but to my eye Miller's zone exits are either icing the puck or chipping it out off the glass. He's not mobile nor does he have vision and ability to execute a good breakout pass.
Between this and their "he still has room to grow" comments, and I really have to question their ability to properly asses NHL talent. He's 29. Defensemen tend to develop slower than forwards, but I can't think of a single defenseman that took a leap from bottom pairing/healthy scratch territory to top 4 material at that age. He is what he is.
I get all your other criticisms of Chiarelli/Sweeney/Neely on this. But the bolded is a bit of a stretch. Sweeney chose not to say how Krug will be brought back, which seems prudent given that it's a pending (or currently active) negotiation. !1 rule in contract negotiations is to never negotiate through the press. It was Fluto that brought up arbitration and crafted the corresponding sentence. Also, Krug and his agent know the score and what it means to be an arb eligible RFA.First, that must be great for Torey to hear: well, agree to our deal, or we'll go to arbitration with the goal of pointing out that you're and undersized, overprotected defenseman worth only $2 million AAV. Second, what spots are Miller, Grzelcyk, and O'Gara suppsed to push for if they're also looking for a PMD? They'd already have 6 defensemen locked up, so you're just hoping to be the guy that has to hope someone else gets hurt while withering on the 9th floor.
Third, I think we discussed this back when Chiarelli was fired, but it's not things like the Iginla deal that got him run out of town, but rather needless extensions for fairly replaceable guys like Kelly and Seidenberg, holding on to the 2011 team for way longer than necessary. Little moves that ate away at the extra cap space necessary to keep Boychuk, re-sign Hamilton, etc. As much as we all love Loui, extending him without moving some of the stupid money out the door means the process will only repeat itself next year when Marchand and, possibly, Pastrnak walk out the door since JAGs like McQuaid and Kevan Miller take up nearly 10% of the cap between them. For all the talk of how Chiarelli put them in a bad spot, Sweeney and Neely are doing an awfully good job of not only not fixing it, but maintaining their cap woes. They truly have no plan beyond what looks good to them today.
I'm sorry, but what's the point of that post? How about you name one that wouldn't give up a 6th round pick for Miller? You can't, just like I can't. You can only assume.Name 1 other GM that would give Kevan Miller that contract without having to give up an asset and be ok with it.
Now try and convince us that that GM would instead PAY for that contract.
This is wrong.I'm sorry, but what's the point of that post? How about you name one that wouldn't give up a 6th round pick for Miller? You can't, just like I can't. You can only assume.
I guarantee Miller would have gotten a better contract if he went to FA.
I am totallyI think "guarantee" is a strong statement. No one is disagreeing that his AAV is market value, but it's a terrible decision for this team.
We're definitely on the same page here, and I think we're right.However, just because it is not a gross overpay doesn't mean it's a deal Bruins should've signed.
Good points here, and likely what they were thinking, which makes the deal more defensible. That said, if they don't move Seids and/or McQuaid and get in some more PMD or at least find out what they have in C Miller and some of the youngsters, then this deal sucks balls, even given that they didn't want to lose K Miller and his useful game.Playing devil's advocate for a bit, the alternative was losing their 3rd best defenseman. That in and of itself is a huge problem, but Miller is not a replacement level player. He's a good bottom pair defenseman right now. He's better than McQuaid, Seidenberg, Morrow, Trotman, and anyone else they have lower in the system other than Colin Miller. And very likely better than anyone they're going to sign for a cheaper deal. Ideally they wouldn't be in a position where this deal made sense, but they kind of are. This deal is a symptom of the fact that their defense is awful, but it's not crippling, and the alternative makes their awful defense more awful.
Hopefully this signing, combined with their talk of getting better PMD means that Seidenberg and McQuaid are gone. Hopefully.
What does he mean by transitional defenseman? Is that the new school term for Puck-Moving-Defenseman?According to General Fanager's buyout calculator, a Seidenberg buyout be a cap charge of:
16/17: $1.16mm
17/18: $2.16
18/19: $1.16
19/20: $1.16
I would probably do it if there are no trade possibilities. He does have an NTC, but has said in the past that if he's not wanted here anymore he would waive. Their best bet trade wise for him is sending him team like Arizona that needs to add salary to get to the cap floor.
Anywho, on the Miller conference call this week, Sweeney basically said they're going to sign Krug and look to add a "transitional defenseman" from outside the organization. I can't see them bringing back 5/6 of the regular D they iced a year ago and calling it an offseason, so I assume there has to be a shoe to drop somewhere between McQuaid and Seidenberg.