Little ball o' substitution patterns?Let Marchand player/coach for a few games
I would greatly enjoy mic'ed up coach Marchand.
Little ball o' substitution patterns?Let Marchand player/coach for a few games
He would not be the first....Little ball o' substitution patterns?
I would greatly enjoy mic'ed up coach Marchand.
Lester Patrick, 1928
Known as one of the league’s most influential coaches of all time (he introduced the blue line, forward pass, and the playoff system to the NHL to list just a few of his laurels), Lester Patrick only played a single game in the NHL and he did so as a player-coach. The 44-year old, who was in his first year as New York Rangers head coach, substituted himself into a Stanley Cup Final game after starting netminder Lorne Chabot suffered an eye injury from a high shot. Back then, teams did not have backup goaltenders. The opposing coach, Eddie Gerard of the Montreal Maroons, refused to allow either of the two professional goalies in the crowd (Alec Connell, star goalie for the Ottawa Senators, and minor-leaguer Hugh McCormick) substitute for the Rangers, leading Patrick to get in front of the net himself. Odie Cleghorn, who was coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates at the time, was in the stands and allowed to substitute for Patrick on the bench. Cleghorn told the Rangers to play a hard checking game the rest of the night, which kept the Maroons from getting shots close on net. Patrick made 18 saves on 19 shots, leading to the Rangers’ victory.
One of the first things Sacco said about him is that he’s added strength. And Poitras’s first comment about going down was about playing more minutes.Well there goes my “they’re keeping him in Providence for the year so he can hit the weights hard during the week” theory.
He had a wrist brace when I saw him at practice yesterday but skated the whole time. I think that was also reported on before the Panthers game. I noticed he was taping it a couple weeks ago (I’m a rock climber and that’s a common injury/tape job).I wonder what McAvoy is dealing with. It would explain some of his recent play. Maybe the shoulder again?
Thanks for the insight, I have often wondered about this. Does anyone know if they will be practicing on this Sunday the 19th? They are @Ottawa on the 18th and then home for a 1pm matinee versus the Sharks on the 20th. So I’m guessing, if anything, it would be an optional skate. I don’t live in the area anymore, but will be in town because my son has a youth hockey tournament. Can anyone help me figure out if there will be practice and if so, at what time it would be? Thank you in advance!By the way, insanely easy to go see practice. You just park and walk in, though I get not everybody can go on a random weekday. Have to check the calendar the day of to make sure it’s still on, but there’s no tickets or even a person at the door. Really cool experience.
https://warrior.finnlyconnect.com/schedule/72Thanks for the insight, I have often wondered about this. Does anyone know if they will be practicing on this Sunday the 19th? They are @Ottawa on the 18th and then home for a 1pm matinee versus the Sharks on the 20th. So I’m guessing, if anything, it would be an optional skate. I don’t live in the area anymore, but will be in town because my son has a youth hockey tournament. Can anyone help me figure out if there will be practice and if so, at what time it would be? Thank you in advance!
As of now yes but it is subject to chance.Thanks for the insight, I have often wondered about this. Does anyone know if they will be practicing on this Sunday the 19th? They are @Ottawa on the 18th and then home for a 1pm matinee versus the Sharks on the 20th. So I’m guessing, if anything, it would be an optional skate. I don’t live in the area anymore, but will be in town because my son has a youth hockey tournament. Can anyone help me figure out if there will be practice and if so, at what time it would be? Thank you in advance!
Makes sense. Wrists are tricky injuries.He had a wrist brace when I saw him at practice yesterday but skated the whole time. I think that was also reported on before the Panthers game. I noticed he was taping it a couple weeks ago (I’m a rock climber and that’s a common injury/tape job).
By the way, insanely easy to go see practice. You just park and walk in, though I get not everybody can go on a random weekday. Have to check the calendar the day of to make sure it’s still on, but there’s no tickets or even a person at the door. Really cool experience.
It seems like he started to turn the corner right before the holidays with those two games where they ratcheted up the D and didnt allow many SOG. Even during the losing streak that followed he had three solid games with save %'s above the .920 mark, one less than average game and one bad game. Followed by these two excellent games. If I had to bet he'll be the Sway from the last couple years going forward, though with each bad game we will collectively (and rightfully so) be a bit triggered.Swayman had his second excellent game in a row last night. 1.02 GSAE. He may have finally rounded into form. He is still at -1.8 GSAE for the season but that's an improvement from earlier.
Kasty and Koepke are two of our fastest forwards, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a little Lysell while they’re out.FWIW, Lysell may or may not be coming back. He was listed on the official NHL roster as a healthy scratch last night. There's no word of his recall either from the team or on AHL transactions so it could've just been an error. However, Divver said Lysell had a post-practice conversation with McQuaid and Mougenel yesterday. Providence is in Syracuse tonight so we'll see if he's there.
It could be that they intended to call him up but plans changed with the injuries to Kastelic, McAvoy and Coyle's illness forcing them in a different direction. Koepke is probably out for a bit now so maybe the door is open again, though McLaughlin probably makes more sense as a Koepke replacement for the 4th line.
To be fair the whole team got caved in. They've gotten results the past 2 games but they are probably playing worse than the previous 6 that they lost.Kasty and Koepke are two of our fastest forwards, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a little Lysell while they’re out.
On the other hand, I think Wahlstrom was sat more because the org needed to play the people they just called up. They seem to really value treating prospects and fringe guys the right way like that.
People talk about him this way but Poitras has well below average speed. And I’m rooting for the kid but he did not look good after the first shift. 3rd line got caved after having been a strength the past several games.
That’s fine, he’s a 20yo. But it was a reminder he still has a ways to go.
Dom Longlastname just wrote today in his 16 Stats column that since the holiday break Sway leads the league in Goals Saved Above Expected. SSS and all, but it really does look like he turned the corner. Probably too little too late, but nice to see.Swayman had his second excellent game in a row last night. 1.02 GSAE. He may have finally rounded into form. He is still at -1.8 GSAE for the season but that's an improvement from earlier.
Though he's probably correct, that's a modest goal that won't really serve Jacobs's Stanley cup comment. Unless Swayman stands on his head *and* some offense suddenly appears, I dont see how this team wins more than one playoff series, and even that's only if they're matched up right. Though i understand the "gotta get in the tournament to win the tournament" logic, I think that in order to build a team that can advance further, they have to take a shot at risking the present. (though I have no clue what that looks like).He thinks there's a playoff team in there somewhere
Yes and no.Though he's probably correct, that's a modest goal that won't really serve Jacobs's Stanley cup comment. Unless Swayman stands on his head *and* some offense suddenly appears, I dont see how this team wins more than one playoff series, and even that's only if they're matched up right. Though i understand the "gotta get in the tournament to win the tournament" logic, I think that in order to build a team that can advance further, they have to take a shot at risking the present. (though I have no clue what that looks like).
The Bruins in particular have not traditionally been an underdog team making unexpected deep playoff runs. That is in part due to their finishes in their recent history, which has mostly been very good. The Bruins have more than once been on the receiving end of historical upsets (most notably in 2023), but the last year I can remember a Bruins team making a deep run that belied their regular season results was 1992. The Bruins were 7th overall in points in 2011, and though they beat a couple of higher ranked teams along the way, they certainly were not a "just squeak into the playoffs and anything can happen" team. They were a wagon.Yes and no.
The roster isn't great, particularly the forwards, no doubt. However, I think the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in sports and a lot of that is because the playoffs are a crapshoot. A chip and chair applies more to the Stanley Cup playoffs than the playoffs in other sports. There's a reason the President's Trophy winner hardly ever wins the Cup. Having good players isn't always enough. Teams need everything coming together at the right time plus a heavy dose of luck. And sometimes the later two can carry the day. So there is value in sqeaking in and just having a chance. They have the types of cornerstone players that can carry teams deep. A goalie, a superstar scorer and a top 10 defenseman. Maybe, for whatever reason, they get in and it all comes together. The stars elevate, the complimentary players elevate, who knows. I don't think it's likely but you never know.
Hockey lends itself to teams sneaking in and making deep runs. Goalie gets hot, you get a good matchup, an OT game or 2 goes your way, and you're onto the next round. I think the Bruins could be one of those teams if Swayman ends up rounding into shape.Yes and no.
The roster isn't great, particularly the forwards, no doubt. However, I think the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in sports and a lot of that is because the playoffs are a crapshoot. A chip and chair applies more to the Stanley Cup playoffs than the playoffs in other sports. There's a reason the President's Trophy winner hardly ever wins the Cup. Having good players isn't always enough. Teams need everything coming together at the right time plus a heavy dose of luck. And sometimes the later two can carry the day. So there is value in sqeaking in and just having a chance. They have the types of cornerstone players that can carry teams deep. A goalie, a superstar scorer and a top 10 defenseman. Maybe, for whatever reason, they get in and it all comes together. The stars elevate, the complimentary players elevate, who knows. I don't think it's likely but you never know.
As I mentioned above, the Bruins have never really been that sort of team in their history. They make deep playoff runs from strong regular seasons. When they sneak in to the postseason, they generally go out of the postseason very quickly.Hockey lends itself to teams sneaking in and making deep runs. Goalie gets hot, you get a good matchup, an OT game or 2 goes your way, and you're onto the next round. I think the Bruins could be one of those teams if Swayman ends up rounding into shape.
1991-92 is the one exception that comes to mind. They reached the conference finals after going just 36-32-12. Of course they didn't have Neely for all but nine games.As I mentioned above, the Bruins have never really been that sort of team in their history. They make deep playoff runs from strong regular seasons. When they sneak in to the postseason, they generally go out of the postseason very quickly.
Just one of those franchise quirks.
Their vision/plan is to make the playoffs every year and thus compete for a Cup. I think they've been pretty clear about that and it comes through in the quotes from last night.Not buyers, but not sellers. What's the direction of the org? Sounds like we're stuck in mediocrity here.
I haven't really understood the overall vision/plan for some time, probably a me issue, but this certainly doesn't help.
Yup, I mentioned 1992 above. It's the last time they made an unexpected deep playoff run knocking out teams above their station. The swept the Canadiens and Pat Burns along the way.1991-92 is the one exception that comes to mind. They reached the conference finals after going just 36-32-12. Of course they didn't have Neely for all but nine games.
Too soon.They were the 7 seed in 2010.
*ducks*
Correction: 6th. They faced the 3rd-seeded Sabres in Round 1, a playoffs that saw all the lower seeds advance out of the East.They were the 7 seed in 2010.
*ducks*
(Per Scott McLaughlin) Lines at Friday's Bruins practice:
Geekie-Zacha-Pastrnak
Marchand-Lindholm-Lettieri
Frederic-Poitras-Coyle
Brazeau-Beecher-Kastelic
Wahlstrom
Zadorov-Carlo
Wotherspoon-Peeke
Lohrei-Oesterle
Lindholm (no contact)-Callahan
Swayman
Korpisalo
No McAvoy or Koepke.
All-in for Bergeron and Krejci’s last season in 2023. Fill needs around core of Pasta-McAvoy-Swayman as deals and cap space become available. Do this while being a solid playoff team, though not a favoriteNot buyers, but not sellers. What's the direction of the org? Sounds like we're stuck in mediocrity here.
I haven't really understood the overall vision/plan for some time, probably a me issue, but this certainly doesn't help.
It depends what they know about injuries. I really struggle with this in following hockey compared to baseball, because of the asymmetry between what the team knows vs. what we find out about. For example, Pasta was obviously hampered with something until recently, but now he's looking better and better.We'll see how they do going forward. I don't think they'll ever sell. I know Cam threw out "retool" but I don't think that's a real option. Both he and ownership indicated they'd like to make the playoffs. I think if anything an in-season "retool" for them will mean doing nothing. In the decade under Sweeney, the Bruins have never executed a trade in-season that could be classified as a "sell" or "retool."
I think there is some hope. Pastrnak seems back. Geekie has 20 points in his last 32 games and that line seems to be rolling. Maybe Poitras gives them a boost. Swayman's game is on the rise. Hampus Lindholm is back at practice and they should get him and McAvoy back in the lineup sometime soon. We'll see.
Elias Lindholm did miss about 2 weeks of training camp with some sort of injury. No idea what it was or if that's impacting anything. Shooting percentage is notoriously fickle. Pasta went through a similar thing early. Shooting percentage was down, now it's rebounding. Is it because he's healthier or is it just because the worm started to turn? Who knows. Limdholm's shot volume aren't crazy out of line with other years in his career. Probably have to dive into where the shots are coming from.It depends what they know about injuries. I really struggle with this in following hockey compared to baseball, because of the asymmetry between what the team knows vs. what we find out about. For example, Pasta was obviously hampered with something until recently, but now he's looking better and better.
I want to start a thread about stats/analytics when I have time, but some questions I have are:
Throw in Koepke and Kastelic, and it seems like health is the biggest factor here.
- Is Elias dealing with something? His shoot % on unblocked shots is at a career low and, in particular, missing the net on those shots at an alarming rate. Like his career net miss above expected is -0.375%; this year, it's 11.7%. Will he get better?
- What's the recovery timeline for McAvoy and does he get to 100% after Four Nations? (Also, do they keep him on the IR to sit him for the tourney?)
- What's the recovery timeline for Hampus?
I think Neely was pretty straightforward in what he said. So many teams are in the mix and there's not a lot of clarity yet as to what's out there. For the Bruins, I think the biggest X-factor is health. Obviously they know how bad their goal differential is compared to their record.
Fortnite claims another........McAvoy had a pretty solid splint / cast on his right wrist at a STH event last night.
Yeah this was kind of my question, about what stats are understood to normalize and how quickly. Just by the eye test, Elias has looked hesitant to shoot at times, especially earlier in the season, even when he had open looks. His passing, handle, and shooting all look like he can't quite put his blade where he wants it.Elias Lindholm did miss about 2 weeks of training camp with some sort of injury. No idea what it was or if that's impacting anything. Shooting percentage is notoriously fickle. Pasta went through a similar thing early. Shooting percentage was down, now it's rebounding. Is it because he's healthier or is it just because the worm started to turn? Who knows. Limdholm's shot volume aren't crazy out of line with other years in his career. Probably have to dive into where the shots are coming from.
He's been practicing with a no-contact jersey since last week. For example, in this video.Hampus Lindholm is probably a week to 10 days away from returning. Maybe less. He's been skating since the Florida swing. Next step is practice and taking contact. A wrench here is they won't be practicing because of the game schedule. Off today, games Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. I wouldn't be surprised if he's with the team at morning skate tomorrow with the full group. They could practice Friday but it is unlikely and even if they do it'll probably be an optional. So getting through the contact phase might take a bit longer. I would expect he'll be back before the Four Nations.
I posted about seeing him with a wrist brace when I went to practice last week.Hard to guage on McAvoy. It's something upper body/arm, and he hasn't stopped skating so he was never shut down entirely. The team/Sacco made it seem like he just needed a few games off. Makes me think he'll be back this week but if not then the Four Nations becomes a question mark. Personally, I'd hold him out but it's hard to get players to agree to miss these tournaments.
Yeah, they're guys to replace the 4th liners.My guess is Jones replaces some of the physical stuff they're losing with Kastelic going out.
Brown is the 13th forward. Frederic missed yeseterday's game with an illness. It's probably going through the room and they need a body in case someone can't go tomorrow or Thursday.
It doesn't really impact the cap too much. They did the cap gymnastics last week before they placed him on LTIR They called up Lettieri, Callahan to play and Lysell as a paper transaction. The Lysell part of the transaction was to get them as close to the cap as possible before putting Lindholm on LTIR. The idea is to get as close to the cap as possible before putting the player on LTIR so they can use his full salary.Yeah, they're guys to replace the 4th liners.
I don't have a firm handle on how the math works out, but doesn't this also maximize the cap space you get out of Hampus on the LTIR? Puckpedia has them at $3.9m for deadline cap space.
Gotcha. So those transactions allow them to cycle through multiple guys while Hampus is still on the LTIR? But Jones and Brown will have to go on waivers to go back down, right?It doesn't really impact the cap too much. They did the cap gymnastics last week before they placed him on LTIR They called up Lettieri, Callahan to play and Lysell as a paper transaction. The Lysell part of the transaction was to get them as close to the cap as possible before putting Lindholm on LTIR. The idea is to get as close to the cap as possible before putting the player on LTIR so they can use his full salary.
I don't think it really has much bearing on the cap for the trade dealine. Unless something goes really wrong, Lindholm should be back well before the deadline so they'll lose the LTIR and will even need to make some moves prior to activating him.
Yeah. When they are ready to activate Lindholm they will need to get their LTIR pool above $6.5 million. To do that they'll need to make transactions. Be it through waivers, demotions or trades.Gotcha. So those transactions allow them to cycle through multiple guys while Hampus is still on the LTIR? But Jones and Brown will have to go on waivers to go back down, right?
That's interesting, thanks! Another reason why Kastelic is hard to play against.I went through NHL Edge and compiled skating speed and speed burst data for the Bruins who have played more than a handful of games.
NHL Edge lists skating speed percentile for above the 50th percentile. Every else is listed as "below 50th percentile." Speed bursts are measured in number so I just used percentiles here.
FORWARDS -- TOP SKATING SPEED
Kastelic: 23.03 (89th percentile)
Beecher: 22.81 (82nd percentile)
Koepke: 22.78 (81st percentile)
Pastrnak: 22.37 (63rd percentile)
Zacha: 22.17 (50th percentile)
LEAGUE AVERAGE FORWARDS: 22.09
Frederic: 22.09
Coyle: 22.04
Marchand: 22.06
McLaughlin: 21.95
Lindholm, E.: 21.58
Brazeau: 21.29
Poitras: 21.21
Geekie: 20.99
FORWARDS -- SPEED BURSTS OVER 20 MPH
Kastelic: 94th percentile
Beecher: 89th percentile
Koepke: 80th percentile
Pastrnak: 74th percentile
Zacha: 65th percentile
Coyle: 62nd percentile
Frederic: 62nd percentile
Marchand: 60th percentile
Lindholm: 51st percentile
Geekie: below 50th percentile
Poitras: below 50th percentile
Brazeau: below 50th percentile
McLaughlin: below 50th percentile
DEFENSEMEN -- TOP SKATING SPEED
Zadorov: 23.15 (95th percentile)
Lohrei: 22.50 (87th percentile)
McAvoy: 21.58 (53rd percentile)
Lindholm, H: 21.56 (52nd percentile)
LEAGUE AVERAGE DEFENSEMEN: 21.49
Wotherspoon: 21.20
Peeke: 21.19
Carlo: 20.85
Oesterle: 20.01
DEFENSEMEN -- SPEED BURSTS OVER 20 MPH
Zadorov: 85th percentile
McAvoy: 77th percentile
Lohrei: 69th percentile
Oesterle: below 50th percentile
Peeke: below 50th percentile
Lindholm, H: below 50th percentile
Wotherspoon: below 50th percentile
Carlo: below 50th percentile
Good stuff. I am surprised at the relative speeds of Oesterle and Zadorov (based solely on TV viewing.....)I went through NHL Edge and compiled skating speed and speed burst data for the Bruins who have played more than a handful of games.
NHL Edge lists skating speed percentile for above the 50th percentile. Every else is listed as "below 50th percentile." Speed bursts are measured in number so I just used percentiles here.
FORWARDS -- TOP SKATING SPEED
Kastelic: 23.03 (89th percentile)
Beecher: 22.81 (82nd percentile)
Koepke: 22.78 (81st percentile)
Pastrnak: 22.37 (63rd percentile)
Zacha: 22.17 (50th percentile)
LEAGUE AVERAGE FORWARDS: 22.09
Frederic: 22.09
Coyle: 22.04
Marchand: 22.06
McLaughlin: 21.95
Lindholm, E.: 21.58
Brazeau: 21.29
Poitras: 21.21
Geekie: 20.99
FORWARDS -- SPEED BURSTS OVER 20 MPH
Kastelic: 94th percentile
Beecher: 89th percentile
Koepke: 80th percentile
Pastrnak: 74th percentile
Zacha: 65th percentile
Coyle: 62nd percentile
Frederic: 62nd percentile
Marchand: 60th percentile
Lindholm: 51st percentile
Geekie: below 50th percentile
Poitras: below 50th percentile
Brazeau: below 50th percentile
McLaughlin: below 50th percentile
DEFENSEMEN -- TOP SKATING SPEED
Zadorov: 23.15 (95th percentile)
Lohrei: 22.50 (87th percentile)
McAvoy: 21.58 (53rd percentile)
Lindholm, H: 21.56 (52nd percentile)
LEAGUE AVERAGE DEFENSEMEN: 21.49
Wotherspoon: 21.20
Peeke: 21.19
Carlo: 20.85
Oesterle: 20.01
DEFENSEMEN -- SPEED BURSTS OVER 20 MPH
Zadorov: 85th percentile
McAvoy: 77th percentile
Lohrei: 69th percentile
Oesterle: below 50th percentile
Peeke: below 50th percentile
Lindholm, H: below 50th percentile
Wotherspoon: below 50th percentile
Carlo: below 50th percentile
Zadorov is big and a pretty smooth skater so it's a little deceptive, but you rarely see him get beat back to a puck or back to our zone.Good stuff. I am surprised at the relative speeds of Oesterle and Zadorov (based solely on TV viewing.....)