96 replies to this topic

[TheShynessClinic]

So with the lockout ending - lets start discussing the fun stuff.

Who makes the team this year? How do the lines shake out?

I heard yesterday Caron has an injury and will be out a couple of weeks.

Hamilton was relatively unimpressive in the World Juniors.

So RMPS - what say ye?

[SoxScout]

As of two days ago it sounded like McQuaid, while making improvements, won't be ready for a while, March-ish? Does that lock up a starting spot for Aaron Johnson?

[cshea]

Yeah, Caron got hurt this weekend and is supposedly out 3 weeks. The only other injury is McQuaid's blood clot. I'm not sure if he'll be ready to go right off the bat. I believe he's been skating with the group of guys over at BU, but I don't know if he's ready for contact yet. We were fortunate with none of the players in Europe getting dinged up. LA lost Kopitar yesterday.

Anywho,

Lucic - Krejci - Horton
Marchand - Bergeron - Seguin
XXX - Kelly - Peverley
Paille - Campbell - Thornton

Chara - Hamilton
Boychuk - Seidenberg
Ference - McQuaid

Rask
Khuodobin

Chris Bourque and Christian Hanson are probably the 2 leading candidates to battle it out for 3rd line LW. Spooner has been good for the Baby B's, but I feel like they'll want to keep him in Providence getting top minutes. Bourque probably has the inside track on the final forward spot. Leading scorer in Providence, NHL experience, Chiarelli spoke glowingly of him when we traded for him, and brings a bit more offense to the table than Hanson. Hanson is more of a grinder.

As for the defense, Dougie will be here. The 7th defenseman battle will be interesting. Aaron Johnson probably has the inside track, but they may bring up a guy like Warsofsky or Krug to battle it out in camp. Maybe Zach Trotman.

[ajml]

7th D probably depends on McQuaid's status. I would think If McQuaid is out it would be difficult to move Krug into the lineup with Hamilton still being a bit green. I'd think in that case it would definitely be Johnson.

[Spaulding Smails]

I guess Horton was ready to roll in October but one positive of the lockout was that he got a few extra months to recover.

That Chara-Hamilton pairing is giving me a chub.

[TheShynessClinic]

If what TFP is reporting in the Lockout thread is true (all conference games until the SCF), I wonder if Lane MacDermaid gets a shot at the 3rd line wing position.

There's been a lot of toughness imported to the East this past off season, it might not hurt to have him up.

[ForceAtHome]

Hamilton getting first line minutes? He looked bad against teenagers this week. I can't imagine that even Chara will be able to hide his flaws over 20+ minutes a night against top pairs. That seems like rushing him.

[cshea]

Hamilton getting first line minutes? He looked bad against teenagers this week. I can't imagine that even Chara will be able to hide his flaws over 20+ minutes a night against top pairs. That seems like rushing him.

I think they'll move him around, but he will get time with Chara. Not 20 minutes, but 15 or so with Seidenberg and Boychuk rotating in depending on situation. Late 3rd protecting a lead, defense zone draw, etc. he won't see the ice.

[Outsider]

Am I crazy for wondering exactly why we traded Benoit Pouliot away when third line LW was this wide open? Pouliot wasn't great, but he was solid depth and he absolutely earned a starting role last year for his play down the stretch.

I think Chia's banking a bit too much on a guy like Jordan Caron being able to come through, and you never, ever give yourself just one young player as your option for a roster spot. Given my druthers I'd have had Pouliot AND Caron AND Bourque AND a veteran wing available and let the winner take all. The nature of the season is such that you're absolutely going to have situations where any or all of the above might be playing at the same time.

As for the D -- how has Torey Krug looked for those who've gotten a chance to see him? I can definitely see the FO using the McQuaid injury as a blessing in disguise to see what they have there. Krug looked good in limited time last year, and another guy who can skate and move the puck would be a nice addition to our D -- which isn't as bad as it used to be, but is still pretty stagnant offensively.

Edited by Outsider, 06 January 2013 - 10:42 AM.

[erfus]

Hamilton getting first line minutes? He looked bad against teenagers this week. I can't imagine that even Chara will be able to hide his flaws over 20+ minutes a night against top pairs. That seems like rushing him.

I think Hamilton would be fine as the #6 but to me the real question is if in this new CBA is it worth burning a year of his ELC for that? He's having another very good year in junior, so it's debatable if sending him back there would do anything positive for his development.

Caron was laying an egg with Providence so I don't really see any drawbacks to leaving him down there until he's fully healthy.

I believe there are still a good number of UFAs out there. I'm not sure who's signed in Europe (irrevocably) but guys like Rolston, Knuble, Sturm...you know, the mid- to upper-30s veterans who will take a 1-yr deal could easily be plugged into the 3rd line for low dollars. Same goes for the 6th D spot to compete with Aaron Johnson. Filling around the margins should be a straightforward thing.

[Outsider]

I think they'll move him around, but he will get time with Chara. Not 20 minutes, but 15 or so with Seidenberg and Boychuk rotating in depending on situation. Late 3rd protecting a lead, defense zone draw, etc. he won't see the ice.

Chara plays with Boychuk or Seidenberg. You need that defensive rock playing 25 minutes a night if you want to win hockey games.

If someone draws Hamilton duty, it's probably going to be Seids, with Ference and Krug on the bottom pairing.

Chara-Boychuk
Seids-Hamilton
Ference-Krug

Kinda soft. And kinda small, especially that bottom pairing. Which is why you really, really, REALLY need that defensive rock of a top pairing.

But if that D is firing on all cylinders we'll see the transition game working better than we've seen it since the Bourque era ended.

Edited by Outsider, 06 January 2013 - 10:47 AM.

[MiracleOfO2704]

I think Hamilton would be fine as the #6 but to me the real question is if in this new CBA is it worth burning a year of his ELC for that? He's having another very good year in junior, so it's debatable if sending him back there would do anything positive for his development.

That last sentence is the whole of the decision for Hamilton. Seguin was the same way after 2010: sending him back to the OHL is a wasted year where bad habits can creep in. It's better to get him up to Boston to learn from professionals and refining his game.

[ngruz25]

I hate drawing conclusions about a guy's play from the couple weeks he spent playing with a bunch of guys he doesn't play with often. I realize that the talent level in the WJC is why that performance is being noted, but how has Hamilton looked in juniors this season? 41 points in 32 games (top scoring D despite not playing a full season), +24, and a powerplay presence. Any scouting reports on his defense this season?

[TheRealness]

I think Hamilton would be fine as the #6 but to me the real question is if in this new CBA is it worth burning a year of his ELC for that? He's having another very good year in junior, so it's debatable if sending him back there would do anything positive for his development.

Caron was laying an egg with Providence so I don't really see any drawbacks to leaving him down there until he's fully healthy.

I believe there are still a good number of UFAs out there. I'm not sure who's signed in Europe (irrevocably) but guys like Rolston, Knuble, Sturm...you know, the mid- to upper-30s veterans who will take a 1-yr deal could easily be plugged into the 3rd line for low dollars. Same goes for the 6th D spot to compete with Aaron Johnson. Filling around the margins should be a straightforward thing.

They don't really have any other palatable options to fill out the d-corps. Hamilton has nothing else to prove and little to gain in juniors other than saving a year of his ELC. I don't think it's really a legitimate choice to keep him down in junior. They will need him with McQuaid out, plus the experience for him will be more valuable than stashing him in juniors.

Caron has been really bad, and the injury is just another excuse to keep him down there. I think the options are really just Bourque and Spooner and I don't think they would hesitate to put Spooner out there initially.

But, really, we are only talking about one open defensive spot with McQuaid out and the open 3rd line LW spot. I have to think those spots are Hamilton's and Bourque's given the short training camp.

[The Four Peters]

But, really, we are only talking about one open defensive spot with McQuaid out and the open 3rd line LW spot. I have to think those spots are Hamilton's and Bourque's given the short training camp.

With McQuaid out, there's really 2 spots open unless you're already considering Johnson or Krug to be in the lineup. But they only have 4 D ready to play from last year; Chara, Seids, Boychuk, Ference.

[TheRealness]

With McQuaid out, there's really 2 spots open unless you're already considering Johnson or Krug to be in the lineup. But they only have 4 D ready to play from last year; Chara, Seids, Boychuk, Ference.

True. I'm too elated to focus on details.

That being said, anybody for Tommy Cross? From what I understand he's been their best defenseman over the past few weeks after struggling and being sent to the ECHL earlier in the year.

[j44thor]

With McQuaid out, there's really 2 spots open unless you're already considering Johnson or Krug to be in the lineup. But they only have 4 D ready to play from last year; Chara, Seids, Boychuk, Ference.

That is a pretty thin back-end. Really can't afford any injuries to that core 4, at least until McQuaid is back.

It will be interesting to see if Claude changes from his typical rookie approach and uses Dougie on the PP. That might be the only area that Dougie can really help the team this year but Claude typically doesn't give rookies PP time until they prove they can handle themselves in both ends of the rink.

[kenneycb]

They also have Exelby down in Providence if they want to replace the toughness and size aspect of McQuaid.

[OldSaintJohn]

Everyone is ready to leave Dougie in Niagara because he had one average span of 10 days? Nonsense. He's going to help the Bruins win games this year. Kirk Leudeke has been pretty effusive in praising Dougie's attitude and play at the OHL level this year. I'm certainly not ready to hand the last spot to Zach Trotman or Aaron Johnson because Dougie did just OK in Russia. MacKinnon had 1 point in 6 games, is he all of a sudden a mid-first rounder?

Holy fuck am I excited that we're even having this discussion

[Outsider]

They also have Exelby down in Providence if they want to replace the toughness and size aspect of McQuaid.

Bringing in Exelby to replace McQuaid would be like bringing in Colton Orr to replace Shawn Thornton. It works superficially, and that only if you analyze core function, but the player you're replacing is good at a lot more than toughness.

Besides being an excellent fighter, Adam McQuaid is a very, very solid stay at homer who could earn his daily bread in the NHL easily if he never dropped the gloves again. A bit flighty under pressure which makes him prone to bad decisions when he tries to hurry up a play, otherwise, just as a defensive defenseman McQuaid's solid as-is with significant room to improve.

With his size, strength, positional savvy, and mean streak, I could see McQuaid anchoring a middle pairing at some point in his career, and maybe even serving as a #1B.

Edited by Outsider, 06 January 2013 - 12:27 PM.

[kenneycb]

Bringing in Exelby to replace McQuaid would be like bringing in Colton Orr to replace Shawn Thornton. It works superficially, and that only if you analyze core function, but the player you're replacing is good at a lot more than toughness.

Besides being an excellent fighter, Adam McQuaid is a very, very solid stay at homer who could earn his daily bread in the NHL easily if he never dropped the gloves again.

Well no shit. But when the options are poop, crap and some other stuff that may be shit but may turn out to be gold, you're not exactly choosing from a position of strength. Just basically throwing every option against the wall and I honestly have no idea which one will stick.

Edited by kenneycb, 06 January 2013 - 12:34 PM.

[Outsider]

I would prefer Mike Mottau to either of Johnson and Exelby.

I would prefer Shane Hnidy to Exelby in particular.

[The Napkin]

You know, PK Subban still doesn't have a contract. Just sayin'...

[TheShynessClinic]

You know, PK Subban still doesn't have a contract. Just sayin'...

I'd sign him in a cocaine heartbeat.

[Outsider]

Absolutely. PK Subban, come on down!

Can you imagine him playing with Chara?

Edited by Outsider, 06 January 2013 - 01:30 PM.

[Dick Pole Upside]

Johnson, Exelby, Mottau seem to be what's out there. May also be able to scoop up a serviceable short-term vet who is a cap casualty this week as well if Sherelly doesn't want to bring up a second kid (Krug, Warsovsky) to ride the pine...

[The Four Peters]

Well hopefully this helps shed some light on the goalie situation.

@TSNBobMcKenzie: As of now, subject to usual "could change mind later" qualifiers, TIm Thomas is not interested in ending his self-imposed hockey exile.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Well hopefully this helps shed some light on the goalie situation.

Yup, it sheds light on the fact that he's still a douchebag. Oh well.

[SoxScout]

If he doesn't come back / doesn't want to come back are we going to have to amnesty him next summer? (ie his $ is still tied up until he plays another season?)

It is so fucked that he can do this and we are strapped with his cap number.

Edited by SoxScout, 06 January 2013 - 04:10 PM.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

If he doesn't come back / doesn't want to come back are we going to have to amnesty him next summer? (ie his $ is still tied up until he plays another season?)

It is so fucked that he can do this and we are strapped with his cap number.

I thought it was this season where we had to deal with his cap money.

[cshea]

If he doesn't come back / doesn't want to come back are we going to have to amnesty him next summer? (ie his $ is still tied up until he plays another season?)

It is so fucked that he can do this and we are strapped with his cap number.

No. Contract expires after the season, we just have to deal with him this year.

[Dick Pole Upside]

I think if the season was canceled his salary would be tolled forward... question is whether this is still the case now (pro-rated?).

[Salem's Lot]

His contract is expiring at the end of this season. They could retain his rights if they toll his contract for next year because he didn't report this year. The cap hit would be on the books next year if they toll the contract, so there's 0 shot that they do that. They'll let his contract expire and be done with him.

[Outsider]

Would the cap hit be on the books next year? Not doubting your word, but that makes no sense considering it was on the book this ear whether he plays or not. Smacks of double jeapordy.

Edited by Outsider, 07 January 2013 - 09:02 AM.

[ajml]

I believe they get to choose assuming he just stays home all year. They can elect to retain his rights at this seasons contract but they also of course take the cap hit. They also have the option of just counting this year as his final season and letting him go as a free agent.

[AMcGhie]

As I understand it, the cap hit is on the books this year because its a 35+ contract. Then, at the end of the year, because he did not report, the Bruins will have the option of rolling his contract over to next year. They will decline that. If they roll it over, he will be on the books for next year, whether he plays or not.

[RIFan]

3rd Line wing is Bourque's to lose. He's a left hand shot to compliment Pev's. He's played well in Prov and has the speed to skate with Peverly and Kelly. Macdermid should be is a candidate for the extra F. He can slot in on the 4th line and move Paille up if someone goes down. If they're playing a lot of 2 games in 2 nights and a compressed schedule, they'll definitely want to carry an extra forward and extra D. Johnson should have the inside track on the 7th D, but I couldn't find anything on him playing overseas so conditioning may be an issue. Exelby hasn't looked great, but I think they'll go with experience. I think Bartkowski would be behind him and not Trotman or Krug. More experience in the system would help him. They may need to carry an 8th D to cover McQuaid, so cap hit may end up being the deciding point for some players.

[AMcGhie]

How set is Khudobin as the #2? Could Svedberg or someone else from Providence steal the job?

[TheRealness]

How set is Khudobin as the #2? Could Svedberg or someone else from Providence steal the job?

I doubt Svedberg is going to be removed from the #1 spot in Providence. He has been sensational down there, and with Khudobin being on a one-way deal this year (iirc), it's a lock Svedberg will stay down there barring injury. Khudobin is a better fit as a backup, considering they will want to continue to develop Svedberg as a potential #1.

[Outsider]

How set is Khudobin as the #2? Could Svedberg or someone else from Providence steal the job?

Everything I've seen from the two tells me Kudo is better than Svedberg.

That said, it'll be nice having a guy doing as well as Svedberg is doing in the A, to come up when Rask gets hurt. Again.

Edited by Outsider, 07 January 2013 - 12:50 PM.

[cshea]

According to Cassidy, the B's are bringing Spooner, Bourque, MacDermid, Tardif, Bartkowski and Warsofsky up from Providence for camp.

[RoyalOrange]

Bring on Lane. I need someone with my namesake on the squad.

[The Four Peters]

Wow no Krug? I'm pulling for Warsofsky to take McQuaid's place, especially after Bartkowski's past adventures.

[cshea]

Yeah, I have no idea what they see in Bartkowski. He's looked awful in his brief cups of coffee in the NHL, and nothing jumps out at me from his time in Providence that makes me think he's a serviceable NHL defenseman. They love him though.

[Soup dogg]

Ryan spooner definitely deserves a spot. I know Caron is injured but even if he was healthy he still isn't better than spooner.Caron has around 5 points in 30 games this year in the ahl. Compared to Ryan spooners 20 points in 26 games

[RIFan]

Ryan spooner definitely deserves a spot. I know Caron is injured but even if he was healthy he still isn't better than spooner.Caron has around 5 points in 30 games this year in the ahl. Compared to Ryan spooners 20 points in 26 games

Spooner needs to put on 10+ pounds. He'd be exposed as a 3rd line winger. He's much better off getting 1st line minutes as a center in the AHL (especially since Bourque will probably get the initial nod making Spooner a healthy scratch). I don't think he projects the same way as Seguin, who can slide over to wing because he has a superior shot. I think Spooner can be a core player in the NHL, but not yet.

I'd love to see Warsofsky take McQuaid's spot. He'd add some speed to the back line. Problem is what pairing he'd need to be on. Pairing him and Ference makes for a small pairing.

[Outsider]

I'm shocked at no Krug. Warsofsky is a guy I can understand calling up, I just can't understand simultaneously NOT calling Krug up.

I'd love to see Warsofsky take McQuaid's spot. He'd add some speed to the back line. Problem is what pairing he'd need to be on. Pairing him and Ference makes for a small pairing.

Which side does Warsofsky favor, left or right? It really makes a difference here because it affects whether you might want to play him with Boychuk, or if your only realistic option is Seidenberg.

Edited by Outsider, 10 January 2013 - 12:23 PM.

[TheRealness]

Spooner needs to put on 10+ pounds. He'd be exposed as a 3rd line winger. He's much better off getting 1st line minutes as a center in the AHL (especially since Bourque will probably get the initial nod making Spooner a healthy scratch). I don't think he projects the same way as Seguin, who can slide over to wing because he has a superior shot. I think Spooner can be a core player in the NHL, but not yet.

I think Spooner definitely has a shot. He's the closest 'big' prospect not named "Dougie" to landing a full time NHL job. He's got tremendous speed and quickness, but his physical game is certainly lacking. However, given his current competition is Chris Bourque, who is small himself, I think he's got a reasonable chance if he can show a defensive awareness that he hasn't shown previously. His +/- figures in Providence have gotten a lot better lately from what I understand, and feel his game is improving, so I think he's got a solid shot.

Still, you have to think Bourque will get the first shot at that LW spot on the 3rd line given the limited training camp.

[RIFan]

Which side does Warsofsky favor, left or right? It really makes a difference here because it affects whether you might want to play him with Boychuk, or if your only realistic option is Seidenberg.

I only recall seeing him on the left side. Boychuk would be the pairing I think I'd favor.

[SoxScout]

kluedeke29: For those wondering about why no Sauve, Krug, Knight, etc. at BOS camp- told it's more about injuries & getting them healthy than anything