'24-'25 Bruins Regular Season

[cshea]

Which is what Monty should have been doing instead of focusing solely on getting the offense going. When it was clear that the offense was going to continue to struggle, the only path forward here was to double down on defense. It should have a knock-on effect to both goaltending and even the offense. If the team is giving up less goals, that will release the pressure from the offense and we should start to see some improvement there.

They kind of were already doubling down on defense at the time Monty was fired. They're a little tighter now but they were really good leading up to Monty's dismissal. Frankly, the biggest difference between Monty and Sacco is Sacco is getting more saves. That was always going to happen.

The personnel is definitely better suited to be elite defensively but I don't think it is a sustainable way to play. They are generating the 3rd fewest xGF/60 at 5x5 in the league. The power play is more middling but the results are awful. This is where Sacco has some heavy lifting to do. They need to maintain the defensive structure while trying to coax this group to like a league average offense.

We'll see .

 

[joe dokes]

Toss in a Pastrnak slump and decreasing confidence and it's really hard for them to A) generage quality looks and B) bury them.

Put him with Marchand for a period or 2 to loosen him up? (The next 6 have been dreck anyway)

 

[Myt1]

Put him with Marchand for a period or 2 to loosen him up? (The next 6 have been dreck anyway)

I was thinking the same thing

 

[joe dokes]

I was thinking the same thing

Well, it's working out for 63!

 

[cshea]

Pasta's in a shooting slump and it's resulted in him being hesitant to shoot. He's holding on to the puck too long at times and is looking to pass first at others. He made a nice play on the OT goal against Detroit to send the puck over to Zacha but I also thought that normal Pasta would've just ripped the shot instead of passing. He's also had a few 2 on 1's wher he's looked to pass instead of shoot. Despite the obvious confidence and hesitancy issues, he is contributing and making an impact, he's got 1-8=9 in the 8 games since Sacco took over. He's a career 13.7% shooter and this year he's at 8% so the goals should come at some point, and they've started to dig themselves out of the early season hole without him going on a goal scoring bender.

 

[cshea]

Also, touched on it a bit in the game thread, but want to give Justin Brazeau a hat tip. I've always thought he'd be a guy that had some early flashes but eventually would fade out of the league in short order. Big guy who doesn't skate well, goes to the front of the net...would have a few pucks go in off his ass but eventually would be exposed. Kinda like a Byron Bitz. Brazeau just keeps on making an impact. 3rd on the team in points. Has excellent hands around the net and he's recently flashed some play making ability.

Nice story all around. Undrafted, signed an AHL deal with the Toronto Marlies. Got cut by the Marlies and spent his first pro season in the ECHL. His 2nd year he only appeard in 21 games for the Marlies. He then signed his next AHL deal with Providence and his first season in Providence was split between Providence and the ECHL. He finally stuck in the AHL in 22-23 and midway through last season he earned his first NHL contract and here he is carving out an NHL career. Good for him.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Pasta's in a shooting slump and it's resulted in him being hesitant to shoot. He's holding on to the puck too long at times and is looking to pass first at others. He made a nice play on the OT goal against Detroit to send the puck over to Zacha but I also thought that normal Pasta would've just ripped the shot instead of passing. He's also had a few 2 on 1's wher he's looked to pass instead of shoot. Despite the obvious confidence and hesitancy issues, he is contributing and making an impact, he's got 1-8=9 in the 8 games since Sacco took over. He's a career 13.7% shooter and this year he's at 8% so the goals should come at some point, and they've started to dig themselves out of the early season hole without him going on a goal scoring bender.

The 2-on-1 vs. Detroit where he skated in with a wobbling puck and just stopped moving his legs / glided towards the half wall was the most out-of-character play I've ever seen him make. Hoping racking up some points will get him moving again at least

 

[cshea]

The 2-on-1 vs. Detroit where he skated in with a wobbling puck and just stopped moving his legs / glided towards the half wall was the most out-of-character play I've ever seen him make. Hoping racking up some points will get him moving again at least

Yeah that one was brutal. Then there was 2 on 1 last night where Marchand was carrying the puck and the defender was clearly playing pass. Marchand tried to pass it to Pasta which was inevitably broken up. It was 100% a "let me try to get him a goal" pass from Brad.

I know Pasta got one against Montreal but I was hoping he could get an ENG last night to maybe settle him down. But Chicago put 7 guys on the ice and alas they never got to face the empty net.

 

[cshea]

Minor news but the Bruins lost Alec Regula on waivers to the Oilers today.

Regula was hurt during training camp and thus had to remain on the NHL roster untiil medically ready to return. He might've gotten through had they been able to waive him earlier.

 

[cshea]

B’s claimed Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers from the Islanders.

24, $1 million AAV, RFA at the end of the season. Ostensibly a scorer but hasn’t done much of the scoring thing.

He’s the kid who did the spin-o-rama on mini-one-on-one when he was like 12.

View: https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1868008502389813401?s=46&t=23orJRFkAhpzRtm4p3-oEw

 

[cshea]

View: https://youtu.be/6TxGVSw6Ayw?si=lp_DkK2bDLyxkYq9

 

[Dummy Hoy]

That was great because so often the kid a start at 12 never ends up really going anywhere. I think some of us, maybe a bunch of us, follow him up through college and into the pros. Pretty cool for a kid from Maine to make it to the show.

 

[katnado]

View: https://youtu.be/6TxGVSw6Ayw?si=lp_DkK2bDLyxkYq9

And now I feel old as shit. Hahahaha

 

[cshea]

The best part is the WTF from the goalie

 

[Salem's Lot]

And now I feel old as shit. Hahahaha

I really feel old. I was at the game the first time they showed that in the building

 

[cshea]

Wahlstrom working in on the 3rd line at practice.

Marchand - Lindholm - Brazeau
Geekie - Zacha - Pastrnak
Frederic - Coyle - Kastelic/Wahlstrom
Koepke - Beecher - McLaughlin/Johnson

Zadorov - McAvoy
Oesterle - Carlo
Lohrei - Peeke

His biggest attribute is his shot. Just have to get him the puck in dangerous areas. Might work with Coyle and Frederic's strength along the boards and with the puck. Worth a flier.

I suspect Johnson's days are numbered.

 

[Cotillion]

Wahlstrom working in on the 3rd line at practice.

Marchand - Lindholm - Brazeau
Geekie - Zacha - Pastrnak
Frederic - Coyle - Kastelic/Wahlstrom
Koepke - Beecher - McLaughlin/Johnson

Zadorov - McAvoy
Oesterle - Carlo
Lohrei - Peeke

His biggest attribute is his shot. Just have to get him the puck in dangerous areas. Might work with Coyle and Frederic's strength along the boards and with the puck. Worth a flier.

I suspect Johnson's days are numbered.

I think you're right. Coyle seems like a really good potential combination with him in that regard.

 

[joe dokes]

I really dont want to see Kastelic get bumped from the lineup by McLaughlin or Johnson.

 

[FelixMantilla]

I really feel old. I was at the game the first time they showed that in the building

You want to feel old? I remember Chris Bourque skating as a kid during the Bruins Christmas party. He's now 38 years old and has been out of hockey since 2021-2022.

 

[cshea]

I really dont want to see Kastelic get bumped from the lineup by McLaughlin or Johnson.

If Wahlstrom plays my guess is McLaughlin sits. Kastelic goes back with 19/45.

 

[The B’s Knees]

This article goes into some detail about Walstrom's history and development.

https://thehockeywriters.com/what-went-wrong-with-oliver-wahlstrom-and-the-islanders/

Some parts of the report don't paint a great picture...

Since returning from the injury, Wahlstrom has not regained his skillset. Even before the injury, he struggled with skating, recording a top speed of just 21.34 miles per hour (MPH) and 43 bursts over 20 MPH, both well below the league average, according to NHL Edge. Last season, these metrics declined further, with his top speed falling to 21.21 MPH and only nine bursts over 20 MPH. Across key skating categories, Wahlstrom ranks well below league average, and the eye test supports these numbers. As well, coaches have seen this issue, resulting in his limited ice time.

In addition to skating struggles, Wahlstrom’s offensive and defensive production has regressed. During the 2020-21 season, he posted 0.64 goals per 60 minutes (G/60), a career-high 0.85 expected goals per 60 minutes (xG/60), and 1.27 points per 60 minutes. These were strong numbers for a 20-year-old, but his production has declined each season since, reaching lows this season of 0.50 G/60, 0.42 xG/60, and 0.75 P/60, all among the lowest on the Islanders. Additionally, this season he holds the seventh-lowest even strength goals percentage (25%) and 12th-lowest expected goals percentage (38.3%) in the entire NHL, with only Joel Armia and Robby Fabbri sustaining worse metrics in each category.

Maybe a change of scenery will help. We'll see, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[jbupstate]

Where can you find the top speed metrics and burst metrics? I’m interested in Brazeau and Frederic.

Brazeau because there is some production but he looks so slow. Frederic as a compare to last year… is he playing with an injury that’s killing his production (or is it Coyle)

 

[The B’s Knees]

Where can you find the top speed metrics and burst metrics? I’m interested in Brazeau and Frederic.

Brazeau because there is some production but he looks so slow. Frederic as a compare to last year… is he playing with an injury that’s killing his production (or is it Coyle)

I think you can find some of that info here
https://edge.nhl.com/en/home

 

[cshea]

Tyler Johnson on unconditional waivers for contract termination.

Signing him never made sense to begin with,

View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1869821543582445946

 

[barclay]

As far as I know, Lindholm has been out for about 5 weeks (the narrative being it would be 6 weeks). I cannot find anything on his status. Anybody know who has better computer skills than me?

 

[Salem's Lot]

As far as I know, Lindholm has been out for about 5 weeks (the narrative being it would be 6 weeks). I cannot find anything on his status. Anybody know who has better computer skills than me?

Nobody is saying anything but judging by the fact that it was from a blocked shot just below the knee, he’s probably got a broken lower leg bone. That usually means 4-6 weeks if they don’t have to do surgery, and 8-12 weeks if they did. So if we don’t see him next week, he’s probably out until after the 4 Nations. The fact that he’s not on the Swedish roster tells me it’s probably the longer time frame.

 

[barclay]

Nobody is saying anything but judging by the fact that it was from a blocked shot just below the knee, he’s probably got a broken lower leg bone. That usually means 4-6 weeks if they don’t have to do surgery, and 8-12 weeks if they did. So if we don’t see him next week, he’s probably out until after the 4 Nations. The fact that he’s not on the Swedish roster tells me it’s probably the longer time frame.

Lets hope its just a few weeks and not the season

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Moneypuck now has Swayman at -2.08 Wins Above Replacement. That is 86th out of 86 goalies who qualify.

They also have him at -12.5 Goals Saved above expected. That is also 86th out of 86 goalies who qualify.

At this point there is zero justification to ever start him two games in a row. He's killing the team.

 

[cshea]

I think there is really 2 issues. The first is Swayman's under performance. The other is they can't score. For the year they have 88 goals for on 107 expected goals for generated. If they level out the expected then they're on to something. They played a fantastic game last night but end up losing. Sure, Swayman should've stopped the first one and maybe the 2nd. But at the same time their inability to finish and extend the lead to 3 or 4 left them in the position where he had no margin for error. "Allow the Oilers 1 goal" is a tough ask for any goalie.

As I've said before, the crux of Swayman's issues is the high danger shots. For whatever reason he can't stop them. He's not giving up an abundance of softies. They happen but they do for every goalie. His high danger save percentage has cratered, particularly on the penalty kill. Maybe he's slow in reacting or his quick twitch isn't as quick or something, I've got no idea. Goalie Bob has his work cut out for him.

The offense feels like a talent problem. Pasta should get some positive regression from his 8.8% shooting percentage. I think he's getting close, he's looked more and more dangerous out there the past few weeks. But beyond "Pasta will go on a binge at some point" I'm not sure I see where else the offense inproves. They are playing Geekie and Brazeau in the top 6 and that's just not going to get it done against quality opponents.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Low scoring wouldn't be an issue if Swayman weren't pulling a mean Vinne Riendeau impersonation. He's literally been the worst goalie in the entire league.

I'm so disgusted with him. He got his money and then has peaced out. I can't possibly see how the org can continue to run him out there as the number 1. If it were possible I'd bench his ass or send him to Providence, but I know that's not know the league works. At the very least I'd start giving Korpisalo 60% of the starts until Swayman either his his shit together or gets so bad he gets relegated to the press box. They can't keep rolling him out there.

 

[NYCSox]

There is also often high variability in goalie performance especially over smaller samples.

I'm not worried about Swayman ... yet.

 

[tims4wins]

There is also often high variability in goalie performance especially over smaller samples.

I'm not worried about Swayman ... yet.

Back in 2022-2023, didn't Bobrovski get benched down the stretch, only to come back during the playoffs and go on a pretty good run? He wasn't very good vs. the Bruins (4, 6, 5, and 3 goals allowed) but after that series he rolled for a while.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

It's been 24 games. He's been consistently shit. Ullmark got off to a slow start in Ottawa and has turned his season around. Swayman remains shit. He's even way behind Korpisalo, who no one thinks is a good goalie.

It's offensive, honestly. He held out to get his huge deal and promptly stinks up the joint. We traded Ullmark to pay him and this is how he plays? Cam must be throwing water bottles left and right.

 

[NYCSox]

It's been 24 games. He's been consistently shit. Ullmark got off to a slow start in Ottawa and has turned his season around. Swayman remains shit. He's even way behind Korpisalo, who no one thinks is a good goalie.

It's offensive, honestly. He held out to get his huge deal and promptly stinks up the joint. We traded Ullmark to pay him and this is how he plays? Cam must be throwing water bottles left and right.

And it's also very possible in February that Ullmark will be playing like shit and Swayman will be on a tear. That's the nature of goaltending.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

And it's also very possible in February that Ullmark will be playing like shit and Swayman will be on a tear. That's the nature of goaltending.

The nature of goaltending you asset might work if Swayman had had any good stretches this year. He has not. He has consistently been shit.

He got paid and is sinking the Bruins' season. I can't understand why he isn't catching more shit about this from, well, everyone. He's been GHASTLY. Even on the winner last night, the initial shot was not hard and Swayman left the rebound right in front of him. In contrast, just seconds earlier Skinner down the other end had a similar shot and was able to direct the rebound to the corner. It's garbage.

 

[Over Guapo Grande]

It's been 24 games. He's been consistently shit. Ullmark got off to a slow start in Ottawa and has turned his season around. Swayman remains shit. He's even way behind Korpisalo, who no one thinks is a good goalie.

It's offensive, honestly. He held out to get his huge deal and promptly stinks up the joint. We traded Ullmark to pay him and this is how he plays? Cam must be throwing water bottles left and right.

But if you take out all of his bad games, he has been pretty good. </EV>

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

The upcoming schedule has an interesting mix of terrible teams and very good ones: BUF, WAS, @CLB, CLB, @WAS, @NYR, @TOR, NYI. Sacco has a big challenge ahead of him trying to figure out who will be in net. Do you give Swayman the cupcake games in hopes that he can get some work in? If so you risk dropping points to teams you should beat because Swayman can't stop a beachball. But on the other hand, if you give those games to Korpisalo and start Swayman against WAS and TOR, you risk Swayman being completely noncompetitive against the good teams.

 

[Salem's Lot]

The upcoming schedule has an interesting mix of terrible teams and very good ones: BUF, WAS, @CLB, CLB, @WAS, @NYR, @TOR, NYI. Sacco has a big challenge ahead of him trying to figure out who will be in net. Do you give Swayman the cupcake games in hopes that he can get some work in? If so you risk dropping points to teams you should beat because Swayman can't stop a beachball. But on the other hand, if you give those games to Korpisalo and start Swayman against WAS and TOR, you risk Swayman being completely noncompetitive against the good teams.

If I were Sacco I would go with the every other game rotation that was so successful with Swayman for the last two seasons. I know they’re paying him to be a “franchise goalie” but working him like this is just compounding a mistake at this point.

 

[cshea]

My guess:

BUF - Korpisalo - This is a tough spot, first game back home after a long road trip out west with only 1 day off. Swayman played 4 of 5 on the road trip, my guess is he'll get tomorrow off.
WAS - Swayman
@ CBJ - Swayman
CBJ - Korpisalo - These two are back to back so they'll split them. Generally teams play their better goalie on the front end, but the order could be flipped. It's after the Christmas break so they could give Swayman an extra day and start him on the second leg.
@ WAS - Swayman
@ NYR - Swayman
@ TOR - Swayman
NYI - Korpisalo - Another back-to-back

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Sure, Swayman should've stopped the first one and maybe the 2nd.

I don't disagree here but IIRC Kastelic just blindly tried to get the puck out of the zone, it went right to an Oiler player who blasted it by Swayman. Yes Swayman probably should've anticipated the shot once he saw that it squirted out of a scrum, but I put that more on the Bruins player. It was a dumb defensive play.

 

[cshea]

I don't disagree here but IIRC Kastelic just blindly tried to get the puck out of the zone, it went right to an Oiler player who blasted it by Swayman. Yes Swayman probably should've anticipated the shot once he saw that it squirted out of a scrum, but I put that more on the Bruins player. It was a dumb defensive play.

Yeah the puck got rimmed around and bounced out at the halfboards to Hyman who spun and shot quickly. The shot came from a bad angle and Swayman had a clean look at it but I think it caught him by surprise.

Can't recall who it was that sent the puck around the boards but perhaps there was a different play to be made.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

So Swayman has not been good over the course of this year, but it's absurd to suggest he hasn't improved (still not good enough to justify the money right now though). Since Monty has left he's given up 1,1,2,3,2,3,8,1,3,3 goals. Not good enough but there's one clear outlier in there. Even if you take that out there's no doubt he's not up to the expected standard but he's MUCH better than he started the year. And it's completely his fault for not being ready to start the year- he gets no slack on that (though he was not alone in that category). Not good enough, but showing improvement.

I realize this will just invite screaming from those who have just decided that Swayman is their new punching bag, but it's true. It's also a longer term deal and the actual value that he produces needs to be judged on that, not 20 games. I'm once again grateful that the FO isn't as reactionary as the fans.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

So Swayman has not been good over the course of this year, but it's absurd to suggest he hasn't improved (still not good enough to justify the money right now though). Since Monty has left he's given up 1,1,2,3,2,3,8,1,3,3 goals. Not good enough but there's one clear outlier in there. Even if you take that out there's no doubt he's not up to the expected standard but he's MUCH better than he started the year. And it's completely his fault for not being ready to start the year- he gets no slack on that (though he was not alone in that category). Not good enough, but showing improvement.

I realize this will just invite screaming from those who have just decided that Swayman is their new punching bag, but it's true. It's also a longer term deal and the actual value that he produces needs to be judged on that, not 20 games. I'm once again grateful that the FO isn't as reactionary as the fans.

Those games you cite come with an .892 save %. His save percentage before the stretch you cite was .884. The defense has in fact limited the shots he's faced somewhat.

He's not much better than how he started the year. He's "improved" from diarrhea to loose, watery stools. It's still shit. He's still horrible. And he's killing the team.

 

[cshea]

They are a ghastly 6-3-1 over those 10 games.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

They are a ghastly 6-3-1 over those 10 games.

Yes. Again, though, Swayman has been garbage in those 10 games. They won in spite of him. He went 3-0-0 against MON, CHI, and PHI despite a .895% in those games. And those teams are terrible.

That is unsustainable.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

They are a ghastly 6-3-1 over those 10 games.

You must be new around here

 

[TFP]

You must be new around here

I'm impressed you guys even still bother.

 

[cshea]

This is my take.

• Swayman hasn't performed up to expectation this year. Probably because he skipped training camp.
• I don't think the team mishandled the goalies in the offseason, nor do I think Swayman is on a bad contract. We'll figure out the latter as we go on.
• Swayman has been better over the past 10 games than he was early on. The 8 goals against in Winnipeg is an outlier in a smaller sample.
• Swayman and Korpisalo are not the sole reason the team has struggled this season. I think the goal scoring is just as much if not more of an issue than the goaltending.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Is sit Swayman for a week+ and make him go work with goalie Bob.

 

[Jordu]

Bruins are 28th in shot percentage, 31st in power play percentage, 27th in goals per game.

The league median shot percentage is 10.6 and the Bruins are at 9.2.

They just don’t have enough talented forwards, and @cshea sums it up when he points out Brazeau and Geekie are in their top six.

May as well recall Poitras, who can finish.