2022-23 Bruins Season

joe dokes

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They have settled on the 6 D in Boston and Zboril can't crack the lineup (although Forbort is still bad but I've given up that battle) so I don't think Stralman is in any immediate plans. My guess is Reilly still probably goes at the deadline as salary filler and Stralman comes back and is the emergency 8th guy but we'll see. Obviously a lot of cap considerations at play.
Forbort gets huge PK minutes and the PK really dropped off when he was out. Is he some sort of PK marvel who's struggling otherwise?
 

cshea

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Forbort gets huge PK minutes and the PK really dropped off when he was out. Is he some sort of PK marvel who's struggling otherwise?
He's not a PK marvel in my opinion. When he is on the ice on the PK they give up more attempts, shots, scoring chances and expected goals against than any other Bruin defenseman. He's big and sometimes gets in the way but he cannot get the puck and get it out. I think the blocked shots reputation Forbort has is a little overblown. He's 5th among Bruin defensemen in blocked shots per game. It's the same story at even strength, he's basically got the worst defensive metrics of all the defensemen. I will say I think Monty is aware, Forbort is getting more o zone starts than he has in the past. It's almost 50/50 now. That in and of itself is not good either because he's always been horrific offensively.

It is what it is, they're 32-4-4 and they clearly value him. If I had my druthers I'd be rotating him and Zboril.
 

joe dokes

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He's not a PK marvel in my opinion. When he is on the ice on the PK they give up more attempts, shots, scoring chances and expected goals against than any other Bruin defenseman. He's big and sometimes gets in the way but he cannot get the puck and get it out. I think the blocked shots reputation Forbort has is a little overblown. He's 5th among Bruin defensemen in blocked shots per game. It's the same story at even strength, he's basically got the worst defensive metrics of all the defensemen. I will say I think Monty is aware, Forbort is getting more o zone starts than he has in the past. It's almost 50/50 now. That in and of itself is not good either because he's always been horrific offensively.

It is what it is, they're 32-4-4 and they clearly value him. If I had my druthers I'd be rotating him and Zboril.
I dont get it either. It's just that I agree that Montgomery *has* to be aware of all this, yet here we are, and I'm just trying to reverse engineer it.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Cassidy's offensive approach is quantity over quality, Montgomery is the opposite. Under Cassidy there was a lot of cycling and moving the puck from low to high, the D getting a shot through and then the forwards getting to the "dirty area" for tips and rebounds. Montgomery encourages more creativity and doesn't want them shooting just for the sake of shooting. Over the summer Fluto interviewed him and he basically said he didn't want them taking a shot unless it had a greater than 5% change of going in. I think stylistically the most noticeable stuff is they don't go low to high as often and you'll see them try to create more off the rush than in years past. They don't have as meny extended, cycling shifts in the ozone. They do more off the rush.

This basically shows up in a lot of the stats. Last season at 5x5 the Bruins averaged 36.44 shots per 60 minutes, the 2nd highest mark in the league, but the were middling by scoring chances (12th) and high danger chances (15th). The shots were coming from futher away and less dangerous. This season they are shooting less, only 32.85 shots per 60 (still near the top-5th) but the scoring chances and high danger chances are up significantly and are also both 5th highest in the league. They are generating roughly 3 more scoring and high danger chances per 60 minutes than last year and overall they are 5th in both categories. Over the summer Montgomery said he didn't want a shot taken unless it had more than a 5% chance of going in.

I'm not sure there's really a right or wrong way or if one style is more conducive to playoff success. A lot of it depends on the personel and the opponent. The old school hockey men will tell you that grit and scoring dirty goals win playoff games. The Bolts and Avs of the past 3/4 years are more high octane, possession and chance generation teams and have had great success. Probably need a blend of both.
My read on all this is purely anecdotal (and, I suppose, results-based) but the increased movement combined with the higher standards for shot selection seems like it is more likely to result in dirty area goals anyway than the 'stand in front of the net while defenders try to sneak wristers through 5 bodies' method of shot creation.

I am a basketball guy so for me excess movement is always going to trump being stationary, even if the stationary guys are ostensibly in dangerous areas. Movement is how you move a defense around, make defenders uncomfortable, and get people out of position to where YOU want them.

Things always tighten up come playoff time but after the last three years of unceremonious playoff exits, I know which style I prefer.
 

joe dokes

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My read on all this is purely anecdotal (and, I suppose, results-based) but the increased movement combined with the higher standards for shot selection seems like it is more likely to result in dirty area goals anyway than the 'stand in front of the net while defenders try to sneak wristers through 5 bodies' method of shot creation.

I am a basketball guy so for me excess movement is always going to trump being stationary, even if the stationary guys are ostensibly in dangerous areas. Movement is how you move a defense around, make defenders uncomfortable, and get people out of position to where YOU want them.

Things always tighten up come playoff time but after the last three years of unceremonious playoff exits, I know which style I prefer.
And the movement doesn't always have to be the ice capades. Brickley always points out that a d-man moving just a few feet laterally along the blue line with the puck can cause the entire defense to shift and create openings that weren't there a second or two previous.
 

Ferm Sheller

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I have visions of Sweeney catching him in the tunnel, Bic pen extended, as he headed to the locker room.
 

The Mort Report

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I look at this as Krejci's replacement. I can see(hope) Bergy returning next year, but this absolutely feels like Krejci's last ride. It's a little higher than I'd want to spend on Zacha, but if this also stops the team from giving marginal vet 2-3 mil a year it's a positive
 

Chainsaw318

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I was critical of Zacha earlier in the year. I felt that he doesn’t convert scoring opportunities at a good enough rate to play a top 6 role.

The wiser heads here opined that he’s a center playing out of position, and his offense is of decent quality given he’s getting points from primary assists.

I could use more convincing, especially after a couple more good looks last night, and beforeI had heard about the extension.

I can buy he may be a good distributor. However, If Zacha is going to play with high-skill players moving forward, like Pastrnak or Hall, is he going to provide the scoring on his own to capitalize on the gravity and opportunities those players provide?
 

Chainsaw318

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I was critical of Zacha earlier in the year. I felt that he doesn’t convert scoring opportunities at a good enough rate to play a top 6 role.

The wiser heads here opined that he’s a center playing out of position, and his offense is of decent quality given he’s getting points from primary assists.

I could use more convincing, especially after a couple more good looks last night, and beforeI had heard about the extension.

I can buy he may be a good distributor. However, If Zacha is going to play with high-skill players moving forward, like Pastrnak or Hall, is he going to provide the scoring on his own to capitalize on the gravity and opportunities those players provide?
I either have to take back this question, or question Zacha before each game, if we are going to get that result.

Played very involved all over the ice and converted a pass into a dart of a one-timer goal. Happy to be immediately made to look dumb.

I look forward to Pavel’s 20 goal second half.
 

The B’s Knees

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cshea

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Not a crazy update but on the 32 Thoughts podcast from Monday Friedman reports that he's hearing the Bruins and Pastrnak have made progress. He qualifies it and uses a football analogy saying they aren't at the 1 or even in the red zone but they are driving toward. He said he checked on it and got a bunch of 'no comments' which isn't a denial (like Pastrnak's agent after Keefe's report).

He thinks the Bruins are trying to get some long-term work done now before the deadline, like they just did with Zacha.
 

RedOctober3829

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What would a potential Bo Horvat trade look like? CapFriendly has them having $3.5 million in deadline cap space. Horvat will cost a prorated $5.5 million plus likely a long-term deal. Could use Craig Smith and Mike Reilly for salary purposes plus picks and prospects.
 

Dummy Hoy

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Horvat would be such a perfect fit here IMO, but I'd rather just wait until the offseason and try to sign him as a FA.
The advantage of getting him now is he learns that Boston is an awesome place for him to play and he resigns. But I don't know that they NEED him for this run (good C depth) and it would require emptying their meager prospects/picks pool.
 

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Horvat would be such a perfect fit here IMO, but I'd rather just wait until the offseason and try to sign him as a FA.
The advantage of getting him now is he learns that Boston is an awesome place for him to play and he resigns. But I don't know that they NEED him for this run (good C depth) and it would require emptying their meager prospects/picks pool.
On that note, the Athletic ranking of the top 154 U23 players and prospects has (checks notes) not a single Bruin.

https://theathletic.com/4046339/2023/01/17/nhl-players-prospects-ranking-young/
 

cshea

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Horvat would be such a perfect fit here IMO, but I'd rather just wait until the offseason and try to sign him as a FA.
The advantage of getting him now is he learns that Boston is an awesome place for him to play and he resigns. But I don't know that they NEED him for this run (good C depth) and it would require emptying their meager prospects/picks pool.
There's no single over-the-top move in hockey but if I'm the Bruins, fuck it. I don't want to just shrug and hope this is enough. They did that in 2014 when they declined on a cheap Vanek and just added Meszaros. Nothing is a guarantee (see Iginla, Pittsburgh) but I'd do everything I can to make this team as much of a wagon as I could. Load 'er up. Horvat would be an impact player to help to the current team get as close to over the top as possible while also potentially being a huge piece of the Bergeron/Krejci succession plan. If it isn't him, bring me O'Reilly, Kane, Toews, Tarasenko or someone else. I just don't think they should sit on their hands and bring in the next Nick Holden and Tommy Wingles for a 5th and 6th and call it a day. The time is now.

On the cap front I would just note that the $3.25 million in deadline cap space that Cap Friendly is showing isn't entirely accurate. The space is due to DeBrusk's LTIR but he's set to return well before the deadline. They are basically right at the cap when DeBrusk is activated so it'll be dollar in dollar out. They do have Smith and Reilly they could use to match salaries, thouh easier said than done.
 

NYCSox

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There's no single over-the-top move in hockey but if I'm the Bruins, fuck it. I don't want to just shrug and hope this is enough. They did that in 2014 when they declined on a cheap Vanek and just added Meszaros. Nothing is a guarantee (see Iginla, Pittsburgh) but I'd do everything I can to make this team as much of a wagon as I could. Load 'er up. Horvat would be an impact player to help to the current team get as close to over the top as possible while also potentially being a huge piece of the Bergeron/Krejci succession plan. If it isn't him, bring me O'Reilly, Kane, Toews, Tarasenko or someone else. I just don't think they should sit on their hands and bring in the next Nick Holden and Tommy Wingles for a 5th and 6th and call it a day. The time is now.

On the cap front I would just note that the $3.25 million in deadline cap space that Cap Friendly is showing isn't entirely accurate. The space is due to DeBrusk's LTIR but he's set to return well before the deadline. They are basically right at the cap when DeBrusk is activated so it'll be dollar in dollar out. They do have Smith and Reilly they could use to match salaries, thouh easier said than done.
The same Vanek who then proceeded to score four times for Montreal in that godawful series loss in 2014. :mad:
 

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There's no single over-the-top move in hockey but if I'm the Bruins, fuck it. I don't want to just shrug and hope this is enough. They did that in 2014 when they declined on a cheap Vanek and just added Meszaros. Nothing is a guarantee (see Iginla, Pittsburgh) but I'd do everything I can to make this team as much of a wagon as I could. Load 'er up. Horvat would be an impact player to help to the current team get as close to over the top as possible while also potentially being a huge piece of the Bergeron/Krejci succession plan. If it isn't him, bring me O'Reilly, Kane, Toews, Tarasenko or someone else. I just don't think they should sit on their hands and bring in the next Nick Holden and Tommy Wingles for a 5th and 6th and call it a day. The time is now.

On the cap front I would just note that the $3.25 million in deadline cap space that Cap Friendly is showing isn't entirely accurate. The space is due to DeBrusk's LTIR but he's set to return well before the deadline. They are basically right at the cap when DeBrusk is activated so it'll be dollar in dollar out. They do have Smith and Reilly they could use to match salaries, thouh easier said than done.
I'm with you. I'm ok with blowing up the next 5 years if it means a Cup this season. With the pending retirements of Bergeron and Krejci - the FO owes it to them to do whatever they can to get the team over the finish line.

Horvat and Kane would be my biggest wish list items. If you really want to swing for the fences, Elias Pettersson wants out of VAN.
 

NYCSox

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I'm with you. I'm ok with blowing up the next 5 years if it means a Cup this season. With the pending retirements of Bergeron and Krejci - the FO owes it to them to do whatever they can to get the team over the finish line.

Horvat and Kane would be my biggest wish list items. If you really want to swing for the fences, Elias Pettersson wants out of VAN.
With very little in the way of top prospects, Petterson is most likely out of reach for the Bruins. I could maybe see Horvat but there's going to be a good market for him and someone like NJ has the prospect pool to get the Canucks very interested.
 

RedOctober3829

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There's no single over-the-top move in hockey but if I'm the Bruins, fuck it. I don't want to just shrug and hope this is enough. They did that in 2014 when they declined on a cheap Vanek and just added Meszaros. Nothing is a guarantee (see Iginla, Pittsburgh) but I'd do everything I can to make this team as much of a wagon as I could. Load 'er up. Horvat would be an impact player to help to the current team get as close to over the top as possible while also potentially being a huge piece of the Bergeron/Krejci succession plan. If it isn't him, bring me O'Reilly, Kane, Toews, Tarasenko or someone else. I just don't think they should sit on their hands and bring in the next Nick Holden and Tommy Wingles for a 5th and 6th and call it a day. The time is now.

On the cap front I would just note that the $3.25 million in deadline cap space that Cap Friendly is showing isn't entirely accurate. The space is due to DeBrusk's LTIR but he's set to return well before the deadline. They are basically right at the cap when DeBrusk is activated so it'll be dollar in dollar out. They do have Smith and Reilly they could use to match salaries, thouh easier said than done.
With Horvat, he's a long-term need as well so I think it's a win now move combined with getting a top 6 center signed long-term.
 

Salem's Lot

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With very little in the way of top prospects, Petterson is most likely out of reach for the Bruins. I could maybe see Horvat but there's going to be a good market for him and someone like NJ has the prospect pool to get the Canucks very interested.
New Jersey also has two young, elite, top 6 centers on their roster. It would probably be better for them to spend prospects to address other needs.
 

cshea

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I don't think Pettersson gets moved, especially at the deadline. That seems like an offseason one to me.

Horvat obviously goes because of his pending free agency and the teams acknowledgement that they can't sign him. The acquisition cost probably depnds on if the Canucks allow teams to talk extension with him or if they sell him as a pure rental. I don't think the price will be crazy exorbanent. The closest comp I can come up with was when the Sens traded Matt Duchene. Duchene was a 28-year old top-6 center, pending free agent. The traded netted Ottawa a 1st round pick, 2 mid-level prospects and an conditional 1st if Duchene signed with Columbus.

I think ultimately if the Bruins are involved the package would be something similar to the Lindholm deal. 1st, 2nd, 2nd, roster player (Vaak), cap dump (Moore). The Bruins obviously don't have those 2 picks anymore so probably have to swap in prospects or ruther out picks.
 

joe dokes

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There's no single over-the-top move in hockey but if I'm the Bruins, fuck it. I don't want to just shrug and hope this is enough. They did that in 2014 when they declined on a cheap Vanek and just added Meszaros. Nothing is a guarantee (see Iginla, Pittsburgh) but I'd do everything I can to make this team as much of a wagon as I could. Load 'er up. Horvat would be an impact player to help to the current team get as close to over the top as possible while also potentially being a huge piece of the Bergeron/Krejci succession plan. If it isn't him, bring me O'Reilly, Kane, Toews, Tarasenko or someone else. I just don't think they should sit on their hands and bring in the next Nick Holden and Tommy Wingles for a 5th and 6th and call it a day. The time is now.

On the cap front I would just note that the $3.25 million in deadline cap space that Cap Friendly is showing isn't entirely accurate. The space is due to DeBrusk's LTIR but he's set to return well before the deadline. They are basically right at the cap when DeBrusk is activated so it'll be dollar in dollar out. They do have Smith and Reilly they could use to match salaries, thouh easier said than done.
I think this is right. They should not be in the market for "insurance" type players that will help keep things afloat "just in case." They should be going after *increasing* their league-leading goal differential.
That said, it's nice that they've kept on rolling so that Debrusk's return is more akin to a quality, late-season top-6 pickup than to just hanging on by their fingernails until he returns.
 

cshea

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FWIW, did some playing around on Cap Friendly and it's kind of difficult to fit a Horvat extension in next season. I set a flat cap, $82.5 million. I dropped Bergy's AAV down to $1.5 million, assumed Krejci retires, gave Pastrnak $11 million and Horvat at $8.5 million AAV. I was over the cap before trying to deal with Frederic and Swayman or figure out a 4th line. That also doesn't even include the bonus overages they'll have to deal with.

Even if the cap goes up $3-4 million it appears to be more of a problem than I originally envisioned.
 

The B’s Knees

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If Pettersson got moved there’d be rioting in the streets in Vancouver.
Oh wait, that already happened ;)
Good times.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Same boat - I see no way they fit Horvat without:

- a sub-$11m Pastrnak deal
- a sub-$9m Horvat deal
- finding a taker for Reilly + a pick downgrade
- moving Coyle (only 8 team no trade list)
- moving Carlo (they love him it seems, but he stinks and this will get uglier 5 years left)
- Bergeron back at $1m base or retired
- $2m and $3m AAV bridges for Frederic & Swayman respectively
- sub-$4m bonus overage


MBP ($18.125)
Hall - Horvat - DeBrusk ($19)
Frederic - Zacha - Lysell ($7.5)
Koppanen - Beecher - Steen (eesh) ($2.5)
Flotsam ($0.8)

Lindholm - McAvoy ($16)
Grzelcyk - Forbort ($6.7)
Zboril - RHD on vet min ($2)
Jetsam ($0.8)

Ullmark - Swayman ($8)

Total inc $4 overage: ~$85.5

Carlo, Coyle, Reilly, and more need to move out with a lot of other aspects breaking right on re-signings. But if you can add Horvat without weakening this roster, fuck it, deal with what may come in the summer. You’re never getting a better shot.
 

IdiotKicker

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Yeah you go for it. If you have Pasta, McAvoy, Lindholm, Horvat to build around for the next 6-8 years, you can make that work even if you have to gut things around them for a year or two. That’s a good core and you’ll have another run even if things get dodgy for a bit.
 

MiracleOfO2704

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I can’t speak to what Pronman has to say about it (I had to axe my Athletic sub), but he did have two very bad no-good WJCs 5 months apart. Considering that list includes a couple draft classes ahead of his ‘22, it could just be that the bloom is off the rose for Pronman.

Do keep in mind that both he and Scott Wheeler, the other prospects guy at the Athletic, have historically been pretty down on all things Bruins in the past, so who knows.
 
Dec 30, 2022
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Same boat - I see no way they fit Horvat without:

- a sub-$11m Pastrnak deal
- a sub-$9m Horvat deal
- finding a taker for Reilly + a pick downgrade
- moving Coyle (only 8 team no trade list)
- moving Carlo (they love him it seems, but he stinks and this will get uglier 5 years left)
- Bergeron back at $1m base or retired
- $2m and $3m AAV bridges for Frederic & Swayman respectively
- sub-$4m bonus overage


MBP ($18.125)
Hall - Horvat - DeBrusk ($19)
Frederic - Zacha - Lysell ($7.5)
Koppanen - Beecher - Steen (eesh) ($2.5)
Flotsam ($0.8)

Lindholm - McAvoy ($16)
Grzelcyk - Forbort ($6.7)
Zboril - RHD on vet min ($2)
Jetsam ($0.8)

Ullmark - Swayman ($8)

Total inc $4 overage: ~$85.5

Carlo, Coyle, Reilly, and more need to move out with a lot of other aspects breaking right on re-signings. But if you can add Horvat without weakening this roster, fuck it, deal with what may come in the summer. You’re never getting a better shot.
That looks pretty solid, though I would rather see Lauko on that fourth line. And maybe you can get Vancouver to add Luke Schenn in that trade for Carlo and whatever else it takes - and therein lies the rub. I don't think they are going to want the stuff we want them to take and I don't think the B's are going to want to part with the stuff they are going to want.
 

cshea

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I can’t speak to what Pronman has to say about it (I had to axe my Athletic sub), but he did have two very bad no-good WJCs 5 months apart. Considering that list includes a couple draft classes ahead of his ‘22, it could just be that the bloom is off the rose for Pronman.

Do keep in mind that both he and Scott Wheeler, the other prospects guy at the Athletic, have historically been pretty down on all things Bruins in the past, so who knows.
FWIW, there’s a bit of a disagreement around Lysell’s most recent WJC. The eye test guys think not good (0 points in 7 games), the analytic guys think he was a lot better and victimized by poor finishing from his teammates.

View: https://twitter.com/lassialanen/status/1611433931982704645?s=46&t=kuDTLBLav2cdubXu_RS-Ww
 

lexrageorge

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I can’t speak to what Pronman has to say about it (I had to axe my Athletic sub), but he did have two very bad no-good WJCs 5 months apart. Considering that list includes a couple draft classes ahead of his ‘22, it could just be that the bloom is off the rose for Pronman.

Do keep in mind that both he and Scott Wheeler, the other prospects guy at the Athletic, have historically been pretty down on all things Bruins in the past, so who knows.
Lysell had 6 points in 7 games in his first WJC appearance, so not sure what people would expect. He indeed struggled with 0 points in the latest tourney, but not sure how much to read into that. Sample size is too small to make any conclusions, IMO.

But I don't think Carlo is all that bad at the blue line, and I don't play a hockey player on TV nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn last night, so YMMV.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Carlo is fine for a Forbortian contract, he’s not gonna be good value at 2x the length and nearly 2x the AAV. Glad he’s stayed healthy for his sake but if they can move him IMO they should.
Glad for Clifton that he’ll cash in, also glad it probably won’t be here
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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According to HFBoards (I know) - Rutherford in a recent presser said that they are targeting young players with upside that may have underperformed or underwhelmed during their ELC. He says he prefers this over draft picks whom would carry the same risk of busting.

That...doesn't really make Boston an ideal trading partner - if true. Steen? McLaughlin? Ahcan? The rights to Lauko? If you squint and don't think about it too much they may meet the criteria, but eh.

Vancouver does have a dearth of talent in both the NHL and the AHL for goalies though, which the Bruins actually have some pretty impressive depth at. Ullmark you've got through 24/25 - and Swayman is an RFA after this year. If Vancouver values some of the Bruins G depth - they could make a deal there and not hurt the team for the future.
 

cshea

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The Athletic updated their trade board yesterday. Horvat is #1 and the Bruins are a potential landing spot (source is league executives and agents). They also mention Carolina and Colorado as landing spots.

https://theathletic.com/3995956/2023/01/18/nhl-trade-deadline-board-2022-23/

We'll see how it all shakes out. I think cheaper, veteran, grit guys like Toews and O'Reilly are more in the Bruins wheelhouse than Horvat but maybe they look at 35-5-4 and decide to really go all in.
 

cshea

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Also, Carlo is kind of the same guy he has always been. Useless offensively, and in transition, among the better defensive defensemen in hockey. There are 179 defensemen who have played 400 or more minutes this season. Carlo ranks:

18th in fewest shot attempts against/60
9th in fewest shots against/60
17th in fewest scoring chances against/60
36th in fewest high danger chances against/60
4th in fewest actual goals against/60
16 in fewest expected goals against/60

They seem to have settled on Lindholm - Carlo as a pairing which has been excellent. Actual goals are 16-8 Bruins, expected are ~15-11 (57%).

He does that getting heavey d zone draws and playing tougher matchups. Defensively, he's basically a top 10ish defender strictly in defensive terms.

I think his contract is reasonable though I'm not sure I wished the Bruins were the one that gave it to him and the concussions are worrisome.
 

joe dokes

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Also, Carlo is kind of the same guy he has always been. Useless offensively, and in transition, among the better defensive defensemen in hockey. There are 179 defensemen who have played 400 or more minutes this season. Carlo ranks:

18th in fewest shot attempts against/60
9th in fewest shots against/60
17th in fewest scoring chances against/60
36th in fewest high danger chances against/60
4th in fewest actual goals against/60
16 in fewest expected goals against/60

They seem to have settled on Lindholm - Carlo as a pairing which has been excellent. Actual goals are 16-8 Bruins, expected are ~15-11 (57%).

He does that getting heavey d zone draws and playing tougher matchups. Defensively, he's basically a top 10ish defender strictly in defensive terms.

I think his contract is reasonable though I'm not sure I wished the Bruins were the one that gave it to him and the concussions are worrisome.
Thanks for the numbers. My eyes have been saying "he hasn't sucked" for a few weeks now.

[I've always like Carlo alert] It's interesting about his offense (to me, anyway). He isn't very good at it, but he appears to be getting involved just like the "good at offense" D-men. Just his pinching or (as he did last night), jumping up on a wing messes with opposing defense/opens up opportunities for the Bs offense. The converse, I suppose, is a wing who is "bad at defense." Some at least make the effort, some dont. Or among defensemen, Krug, who tried like hell on defense, but was often overmatched by size. Carlo is making the effort on offense, and it doesn't seem to be affecting his defense (as it might have been earlier in the season under the new regime.) [/I've always liked Carlo]

I could see the Bruins trading him in the offseason. But I think he's too integral to what's going on now to deal him mid-season to make salaries work.
 

Frisbetarian

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Dec 3, 2003
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Off the beaten track
I was going to ask why the Carlo hate this morning, and am glad to see some posts on this. I fully admit I have not followed the Bruins fervently this year as I'm spending time traveling the west coast of Mexico playing in the waves, but I do still have access to advanced data and it says that Brandon Carlo is first in the NHL in XPG% among defensemen with over 300 5 on 5 minutes (194 players), and he is 3rd in actual 5 on 5 goal on ice percentage, as well. He has done this with the 7th lowest OZ start % among those 194 defensemen, which makes it pretty remarkable.

The team has been exceptional with him on the ice this year.
 

FL4WL3SS

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SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
14,913
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
I was going to ask why the Carlo hate this morning, and am glad to see some posts on this. I fully admit I have not followed the Bruins fervently this year as I'm spending time traveling the west coast of Mexico playing in the waves, but I do still have access to advanced data and it says that Brandon Carlo is first in the NHL in XPG% among defensemen with over 300 5 on 5 minutes (194 players), and he is 3rd in actual 5 on 5 goal on ice percentage, as well. He has done this with the 7th lowest OZ start % among those 194 defensemen, which makes it pretty remarkable.

The team has been exceptional with him on the ice this year.
I'm a huge Carlo fan, so this is pretty great.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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I was going to ask why the Carlo hate this morning, and am glad to see some posts on this. I fully admit I have not followed the Bruins fervently this year as I'm spending time traveling the west coast of Mexico playing in the waves, but I do still have access to advanced data and it says that Brandon Carlo is first in the NHL in XPG% among defensemen with over 300 5 on 5 minutes (194 players), and he is 3rd in actual 5 on 5 goal on ice percentage, as well. He has done this with the 7th lowest OZ start % among those 194 defensemen, which makes it pretty remarkable.

The team has been exceptional with him on the ice this year.
Curious, what's XPG? Is that shorthand for expected goals, or something else?