2019-2020 Bruins

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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Halak is off from last year for sure, Quality start % is .550 (.595 last year). GSAA is way down from last year. Rask is .667 QS% so it's not the defense.

For comparison, Khudobin this year as a QS% of .688 and a higher GSAA too, although that may be due to DAL's defensive system. In any case Halak hasn't been nearly as sharp this year compared to last.
 

cshea

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Tampa is on a tear right now that is probably unsustainable, and they’ve only gained a grand total of 3 points on the Bruins over the last 10 games.

The larger issue is blowing leads. The third goal was on Halak, it happens, he’s been a good backup for them. The 4th and 5th goals were an obviously injured Grzelcyk losing a physical battle in front of the net. That’s the stuff that can’t happen in the playoffs. They shouldn’t have dressed him if he was too banged up to handle the front of the net.
The 5th goal was more than just Grzelyck. Bruce lit them up after the game for that shift. Halak started it with relatively weak rebound control. Carlo goes in and loses a battle with a one handed wave, then Grzelyck did the same thing, and the result was 2 chances on Halak from the doorstep with unchecked guys because Marchand and Coyle were dicking around. Marchand was flying the zone, Coyle lazily gliding around not doing anything. I don’t think Marchand ever made it below the tops of the circles during the whole sequence.

I can live with the 3rd and 4th goals, but that 5th goal was inexcusable from all 5 players on the ice.
 

TFP

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The 5th goal was more than just Grzelyck. Bruce lit them up after the game for that shift. Halak started it with relatively weak rebound control. Carlo goes in and loses a battle with a one handed wave, then Grzelyck did the same thing, and the result was 2 chances on Halak from the doorstep with unchecked guys because Marchand and Coyle were dicking around. Marchand was flying the zone, Coyle lazily gliding around not doing anything. I don’t think Marchand ever made it below the tops of the circles during the whole sequence.

I can live with the 3rd and 4th goals, but that 5th goal was inexcusable from all 5 players on the ice.
4 players, it was 4 on 4. Otherwise I completely agree. Coyle had a horrendously lazy backcheck/defense on the zone entry to start it all too. Just an atrocious shift.
 

cshea

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I was including Halak for the sloppy rebound to start the sequence. Maybe I’m misremembering though. He was hung out to dry on the goal though.
 

j44thor

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He can walk on the roofs of the cars from the practice facility to Logan.
I mean Ritchie was exactly what Ritchie is. Have a hard time calling a guy out because a GM signed him thinking maybe he was something that he wasn't. He wasn't lazy or soft, he just doesn't have the skill or speed for the NHL.
He won't be missed but I don't harbor any ill will towards him either.
 

LogansDad

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I mean Ritchie was exactly what Ritchie is. Have a hard time calling a guy out because a GM signed him thinking maybe he was something that he wasn't. He wasn't lazy or soft, he just doesn't have the skill or speed for the NHL.
He won't be missed but I don't harbor any ill will towards him either.
This is pretty much how I feel outside of last night. He had to know that he was the guy on the roster that was best able to clean up after what happened to Rask, especially since the refs (and since, the NHL) clearly weren't going to do it.

Instead the whole team played soft the rest of the game and got their asses handed to them.

I'm not sad he's gone.
 

PedroSpecialK

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I would only quibble with one bit - that for a 6'4 'power forward' who is supposed to make his living in the corners, he is extraordinarily soft, not unlike a forward version of Hal Gill.

Even Gill and other gentle giants like Andrew Alberts would answer the bell when needed. Ritchie didn't seem willing or able to do so
 

Salem's Lot

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Per Mark Divver’s (former Providence Journal, now covering the Providence Bruins as a freelancer) Twitter Legace and Frederic are at practice for the P-Bruins. He doesn’t see Kuhlman or Dan Vlader.

Edit: CShea beat me too it.
 

cshea

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I’m a little surprised they went with Vladar, Lagace is cheaper and has NHL experience, but Vladar does have a .935 in 12 games this season. The Bruins have a 10-day break coming up after the game on 1/21, so hopefully Halak can handle it and Vladar just needs to open the door on the bench for 3 games.

Kuhlman had 2-1=3in what was essentially a 4 game rehab assignment. He’ll probably go in the lineup on the 3rd line.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Bjork
Heinen - Coyle - Kuhlman
Nordstrom - Kuraly - Wagner/Backes
 

Salem's Lot

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FWIW in his last 9 AHL appearances since December 1st, Vlader is 5-4 with a .943 SV% and 1.667 GAA. He had a bad game on October 13th (allowed 5 goals on 28 shots) that drags is overall numbers down a bit.
 

Salem's Lot

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Assuming Rask can’t get back before the break, they have 3 games left. If they’re planning on giving him a start, tonight might be the night. It probably wouldn’t be the best thing for a 22 year old rookie to start on the road in a national TV game in the afternoon on Sunday, and waiting until Tuesday to start him really doesn’t give Halak a break either.
 

TFP

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If Tuukka is on IR for the ASG, does that nullify any suspension for missing it?
 

joe dokes

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I’m a little surprised they went with Vladar, Lagace is cheaper and has NHL experience, but Vladar does have a .935 in 12 games this season. The Bruins have a 10-day break coming up after the game on 1/21, so hopefully Halak can handle it and Vladar just needs to open the door on the bench for 3 games.
Given that Halak is in a bit of a slump, I dont mind having the better/hotter goalie around behind him.
 

cshea

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Blidh is on season opening IR since he got hurt during training camp. They sent him down on a conditioning/rehab stint last weekend but that has ended. He’s still on IR with the Bruins. They don’t have a roster spot with Kuhlman here so he isn’t being activated yet. He needs waivers to go down so that’ll likely happen at some point, I don’t think they have the room to keep him around.
 

cshea

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Also, Krejci, Backes and Kampfer are not on the ice for morning skate. Backes is a little interesting. He’s been scratched in 5 of 6 and the only game he played in was because of the moms trip. He’s probably sick or something but thought it was a bit notable.
 

cshea

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Ritchie cleared.

Backes had a “maintenance” day. I’ll take that at face value, but given he hasn’t played recently it seems a bit curious.
 

NYCSox

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It has been a shaky couple of games for him with multiple softies, but I love Halak.
The Oilers were about to throw Mike Smith into the tar sands outside Edmonton but he's come up huge for them the last 10 days. You just never know when a goalie can get on a roll.
 

cshea

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Here’s Cassidy on the Rask incident and lack of response:

View: https://twitter.com/conorryan_93/status/1217864233792233472?s=21


Specific to the Rask incident, he said nobody really knew what happened until the first intermission*. Then Nordstrom and Carlo tried to engage Bemstrom later in the game, but Bemsteom said no and that’s that, citing the Kassian suspension.

He thinks they all have each other’s back, but that they’ve moved in a speed and skill direction with the roster. He acknowledges that they aren’t the toughest team in the league, but doesn’t think they are in the bottom either. Basically Chara usually handles things, Backes used to but they concerned about his long term health and don’t want him fighting. They miss Miller in this area, and Clifton too.

* The “we didn’t know until intermission” is BS to me. They have iPads on the bench and a video staff on the lookout for challenges.
 

kenneycb

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<Lobel>Why can't we get players like that?!</Lobel>
Halak was the same, if not better, than Khudobin last year and slightly cheaper. And was doing a bang up job until a couple weeks ago. So of all the things that can be re-litigated, this is basically at the bottom of the list IMO.
 

Maximus

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Halak was the same, if not better, than Khudobin last year and slightly cheaper. And was doing a bang up job until a couple weeks ago. So of all the things that can be re-litigated, this is basically at the bottom of the list IMO.
I agree, Halak is more than fine.
 

InstantKarmma

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Halak was the same, if not better, than Khudobin last year and slightly cheaper. And was doing a bang up job until a couple weeks ago. So of all the things that can be re-litigated, this is basically at the bottom of the list IMO.
I forgot to include the sarcasm tag. (That's assuming @stepson_and_toe, who you were responding to, was being sarcastic). I agree with you. I like Halak.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

Throw Momma From the Train
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Halak was the same, if not better, than Khudobin last year and slightly cheaper. And was doing a bang up job until a couple weeks ago. So of all the things that can be re-litigated, this is basically at the bottom of the list IMO.
His cap hit is 2.75 while Dobby gets 2.5. Halak got more of his money up front. Not to harsh on your larger point but he's more expensive, although not enough to make any sort of real impact on the salary cap.
 

cshea

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It shouldn't surprise me, but just seeing that is startling. How much money will that add to the Bruins' cap space available for trade purposes?

Edit: Answered my own quesion. @Bruinscapspace says the move saves the Bruins just over $1 million.
~$1.075 million cleared.

I feel bad for Backes, but they needed to do this. By all accounts he’s a great guy but the game has passed him by.

Guessing this ends in a buyout after the year. Curious to see if he reports and plays in Providence.
 

Maximus

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~$1.075 million cleared.

I feel bad for Backes, but they needed to do this. By all accounts he’s a great guy but the game has passed him by.

Guessing this ends in a buyout after the year. Curious to see if he reports and plays in Providence.
Good dude but this did need to be done. I understood why Donnie did the deal originally but the term agreed to was ridiculous.
 

cshea

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The Bruins owe him a little more than $4 million in real money. He’s made $55 million in his career, not sure if That’s enough to forgive the $4 million and call it quits. He did contemplate retirement after the Sabourin incident but got reassurance from an independent neurologist that he could continue to play. I don’t know if this will change things for him but I can’t imagine he would want this to be the end.

He’s somewhat useful as a 4th liner these days. Which is fine except the Bruins have a ton of those players already and it doesn’t justify the $6 million cap hit. If they buy him out after the year, they’d get charged $4 million on next years cap and $1 million on ‘21-‘22. Hefty dead cap space for next year but a $2 million savings for them, and he’d be a UFA could try to latch on somewhere else on a more reasonable deal. The issue here would be if he reports to Providence, plays, and then gets injured. He can’t be bought out if he’s hurt. Tough needle to thread. Keeping him happy (if he wants to report and play) and minimizing the injury risk that would threaten a buyout.