23-24 Bruins Season Thread
- Thread starter cshea
- Start date
Some other notes:
Boqvist has settled in nicely as the 4C. Since his 1/6 recall he's got 7 points in 20 games, averaging a little more than 10 minutes per game and only getting 37% OZone starts. When Boqvist is on the ice, the Bruins are up 12-4. His expected goal share is 53% on the year, pretty good for his usage. Definitely has nudged ahead of Beecher for 4C.
2 good games for Brazeau. Another 3 SOG last night, 8 total so far. Too early to declare if he's anything more than a Byron Bitz type guy but the size is good and if can consistently get to the front of the net he'll stick.
Lohrei got dummied again despite the 3 assists. He was on the ice for 39 shot attempts against at 5x5, exactly half of Edmonton's shot attempt total for the game at 5x5. First game back and unexpectedly thrown into the fire on the top pair against McDavid and Draisaitl a ton after the Grzelyck injury but still bears some watching. We know the offense is there but we'll see if this recall shows advancement in his own end. He's probably here for the next few weeks minimum with Lindholm out and his role is only going to expand in the short term if Grzelyck misses time.
As for Grzelyck, Monty declared him day-to-day. I'd imagine he can't play tonight so it's going to be a MASH unit back there. They only have $57,500 in cap space so there would need to be maneuvering to get another body up if this ends up being a more than one game issue. Lindholm to LTI being the most likely. I suspect tonight they'll just put Shattenkirk in.
Lohrei - McAvoy
Forbort - Carlo (yikes)
Wotherspoon - Shattenkirk (woof)
Boqvist has settled in nicely as the 4C. Since his 1/6 recall he's got 7 points in 20 games, averaging a little more than 10 minutes per game and only getting 37% OZone starts. When Boqvist is on the ice, the Bruins are up 12-4. His expected goal share is 53% on the year, pretty good for his usage. Definitely has nudged ahead of Beecher for 4C.
2 good games for Brazeau. Another 3 SOG last night, 8 total so far. Too early to declare if he's anything more than a Byron Bitz type guy but the size is good and if can consistently get to the front of the net he'll stick.
Lohrei got dummied again despite the 3 assists. He was on the ice for 39 shot attempts against at 5x5, exactly half of Edmonton's shot attempt total for the game at 5x5. First game back and unexpectedly thrown into the fire on the top pair against McDavid and Draisaitl a ton after the Grzelyck injury but still bears some watching. We know the offense is there but we'll see if this recall shows advancement in his own end. He's probably here for the next few weeks minimum with Lindholm out and his role is only going to expand in the short term if Grzelyck misses time.
As for Grzelyck, Monty declared him day-to-day. I'd imagine he can't play tonight so it's going to be a MASH unit back there. They only have $57,500 in cap space so there would need to be maneuvering to get another body up if this ends up being a more than one game issue. Lindholm to LTI being the most likely. I suspect tonight they'll just put Shattenkirk in.
Lohrei - McAvoy
Forbort - Carlo (yikes)
Wotherspoon - Shattenkirk (woof)
Rick Middleton's Pron 'Stache: Bruins Forum: Fire Clode - and a place where Byron Bitz's name is still thrown around.
Haha, Bitz was the best comp I could think of. Both are big, right shot wingers. Bitz was drafted while Brazeau's been a undrafted journeyman but similar profiles.
etoh is my guess. Reminds me of my dad in a lot of ways.
I am certainly not diagnosing, nor casting disparaging notes. And not saying he is impaired while broadcasting. But long term use can cause "wet brain", and those issues tend to pop up later in the day when fatigue sets in (from my experience with my dad) - so he can pass a "Man Woman Camera TV Me" type test easy at 10AM, but not at 8PM
I hate to sound unsympathetic and I sincerely hope there truly is no underlying medical issue, but I think he needs to be off air until he figures it out.
I definitely felt for him and appreciated the article as context for everything. It's good to hear it from him directly.
But then the quote at the end lost me again. This makes me so furious because it's absolutely ruined the product this season.
I wasn't implying heavy. But over a span of lets say 50 years, there can be plenty of damage done. But I apologize for the diversion, and hope to move our focus back to on the ice, as to above it.
Given how FSG has been operating, and their 80% ownership of NESN, I’m sure Jack will stay employed until his contract situation is such that it will be cheaper to bring someone else in.
I may be alone in this, but I do think there has been some improvement with Jack the last few weeks or so. The low point seemed to be around the holidays and then leading into when he was off for a few days. The problem is the improvement is not near enough for them to commit to him for next season. I'm glad he used the injury analogy, because it really is similar to a player having to walk away because they can't perform at the required level. I really hope there are underlying physical issues and he can live his life as he wants but absent any massive improvement they are going to have to make a difficult call to move on.
You’re entitled to your opinion. I’m basing mine on the quality of the broadcast over the past several years. Jack’s play by play issues are a distant third behind the audio and video issues that seem to pop up continuously when I’m watching Bruins games on NESN. I can only assume that they operate on a shoestring budget.
Is it?
Didn't NESN hire Jack to begin with because Arnold would only do home games and they didn't want to hire two broadcasters?
That doesn’t prove anything outside of they thought (rightfully so IMO) a team should have one announcing team for all games.
I’m not talking about Edwards sucking and needing to be replaced, I’m talking about your implication that he won’t get replaced because FSG is cheap etc. It’s just a dumb take carried over from other threads that obviously is not applicable here.
What is stupid and forced about it? NESN has made numerous stingy decisions over the years that affect the product. It’s also pretty terribly run more generally. Why is the point so obviously inapplicable?
Well, it doesn’t actually prove either of those things. It could be evidence of one just as easily as the other, though.
NESN has been rumored to be run on the cheap for many, many years. Saying they don't want to retire Jack and bring in Faust because they'd then have to pay two broadcasters is an entirely reasonable take.
I don't know how many teams have multiple PBP guys but I guess it's very few. That and you shouldn't bow to the demands of Dale fucking Arnold.
NESN has a reputation of being cheap. I remember there was fan outrage when everyone learned that Jack and Brick had to pay their way to Vancouver in 2011 for Game 7. There was more when they dumped Orsillo for O'Brien.
I think there is just general FSG bashing fatigue, even if it's fair criticism.
I think there is just general FSG bashing fatigue, even if it's fair criticism.
I do not believe NESN’s decision around keeping Jack Edwards in place will have anything to do with whether or not FSG needs to wait out his estimated $1m per year contract. The poster implied that due to FSG’s ownership of NESN and their cheapness around free agency with the Red Sox would be the driving factor on whether they make a change in the coming years. It felt stupid and forced to me. Perhaps, they are just showing empathy to a guy who has been there for 20 years.
To be clear, Edwards sucks in general and is almost unlistenable at this point for me. They should make a change. I don’t think they hold off on making a change because of how FSG has been “operating” the last few years.
I absolutely believe that's the case. I would NESN itself instead of FSG as my target because NESN has been cheap since before FSG owned them. I know people who have worked there and they confirmed it as well.
Must be pretty stressful for Jack. Not that "you have a somewhat serious neurological impairment" is ever good news, the uncertainty/mystery must really suck.
Just you wait until they replace Jack with the best west coast broadcaster.
You will pine for the Edwards' days
You will pine for the Edwards' days
Wait a minute. NESN pays Jack, or really any announcer, $1M a year? I had no idea it was that high. I would have been stunned at half of that.
What do they pay DO’B?
What do they pay DO’B?
This is where I am. They’ll replace him with some Syracuse-trained robot like Dave O’Brien with no personality or depth.
Be careful what you wish for.
I was originally worried about Drew Carter, a Syracuse grad who sounds like he was made in a lab, taking over for Gorman, but he's been awesome, and really growing into the gig. Sure he has to unlearn some of what he was taught since local broadcasts need at least a little bias, but he's really coming along. I'd rather them go that route, younger and a clean slate, and let he/she learn from Brick since he still brings it.
I love Jack, but he's just not capable of delivering as an announcer anymore. The guy that filled in for him was pretty generic and it was an infinitely better broadcast
I could be wrong but I don't think he gets to free agency. I did not hear what McBride said but the reporting on Hanifin has just been that he wants to return to America. Friedman said Hanifin would extend in Boston but also lumps Florida and Tampa in there among others. Additionally, as a UFA they can only offer him a 7-year contract while whoever owns his rights can offer 8-years. At his likely price point, it'd be very diffucult for them to match the guarantee in an 8-year deal in only 7-years. If he gets offered $60 million (roughly what he's been turning down from Calgary), that's a $7.5 million AAV over 8 years and $8.57 million over 7-years.
If they decide he's their guy, I think they need to move on it now. If not, plan B.
If they decide he's their guy, I think they need to move on it now. If not, plan B.
While I love the idea of adding Hanafin - I'm not really sure what the Bruins could offer that Calgary would want that I wouldn't immediately hate giving up.
I don't think any of us viewed this year as much more than a transition year, especially after going all in last season. The teams performance this season has been better than even our wildest hopes, but recent performance may be an indicator that they were playing above their talent level.
I don't think they should again be emptying an already depleted cubbard for this season.
If Calgary is interested in like...DeBrusk and some pupu platter of prospects not named Poitras/Lohrei/Lysell/Merkulov - then sure, make the deal.
But anything more than that, or in the 1st or 2nd round of picks...I'd be reluctant to part with.
I don't think any of us viewed this year as much more than a transition year, especially after going all in last season. The teams performance this season has been better than even our wildest hopes, but recent performance may be an indicator that they were playing above their talent level.
I don't think they should again be emptying an already depleted cubbard for this season.
If Calgary is interested in like...DeBrusk and some pupu platter of prospects not named Poitras/Lohrei/Lysell/Merkulov - then sure, make the deal.
But anything more than that, or in the 1st or 2nd round of picks...I'd be reluctant to part with.
Where I disagree is I don't view acquring Hanifin as a go-for-it-now move. It's a long term investment, any benefit to this year is a bonus. I'm assuming he comes with an extension, so you'd get potentially 9 playoff runs with him. The only LHD the Bruins have under contact next season are Lindholm and Lohrei. It's a clear need for the future.
I would obviously prefer to wait until free agency but as I've stated earlier, I don't think he makes it.
I'm probably in the minority but I'd probably give up Poitras to do it. The Bruins have Coyle, Zacha and Geekie under control for 2+ seasons each. Frederic is also under control and can play center. Merkulov is promising, and they have Farinacci playing well in Providence. Plus the 4th liners like Boqvist (RFA) and Beecher. I don't think center is as dire as it's made out to be and they could potentially sell high on Poitras. There's also more C available on the UFA market than LHD.
I would obviously prefer to wait until free agency but as I've stated earlier, I don't think he makes it.
I'm probably in the minority but I'd probably give up Poitras to do it. The Bruins have Coyle, Zacha and Geekie under control for 2+ seasons each. Frederic is also under control and can play center. Merkulov is promising, and they have Farinacci playing well in Providence. Plus the 4th liners like Boqvist (RFA) and Beecher. I don't think center is as dire as it's made out to be and they could potentially sell high on Poitras. There's also more C available on the UFA market than LHD.
Lohrei as a cost controlled positional replacement with projectability and NHL experience is great starting point. Agreed it is now or some other American team steps in during offseason with a crazy contract.
Fill it out with Lysell. If Poitras is more desirable than Lohrei, OK. Maybe they also take Gryz to offset salary for rest of the year.
While scoring goals seemed to be the Bruins weakness to start the year, defense/goals allowed has been the bigger issue. Good goaltending has helped, but both goalies’ dips are likely defense issues and recent shot differential is problematic.
Fill it out with Lysell. If Poitras is more desirable than Lohrei, OK. Maybe they also take Gryz to offset salary for rest of the year.
While scoring goals seemed to be the Bruins weakness to start the year, defense/goals allowed has been the bigger issue. Good goaltending has helped, but both goalies’ dips are likely defense issues and recent shot differential is problematic.
I don’t think they would give up Lohrei & Lysell or Poitras unless they had a contract in hand with Hanifin. Or at least a situation like what happened with Hampus Lindholm where they had a handshake deal on an extension, but it didn’t become official for a couple of weeks.
I think everyone here is posting under the assumption that this will be the case. Obviously I wouldn’t trade this for a rental but the ability to offer 8 years (plus a willing player) makes it close to a slam dunk that he’d re-sign.