Blue Jackets @ Bruins

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Krug and Krejci are in, McAvoy is a game time decision. Lauzon was sent down so that would lead me to believe McAvoy’s prognosis is good. Kampfer is up but he was injured in the Devils game. Backes and Ritchie are healthy scratches up front. Coyle to wing.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Coyle
Bjork - Kuraly - Heinen
Nordstrom - Lindholm - Wagner

Chara - McAvoy
Krug - Carlo
Moore - Grzelyck

Rask
 

Trotski

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Jul 15, 2005
251
Chicago, IL
Man, that second line. Has there been a position in Boston sports over the last few years or so that's just been such a black hole as Bruins 2RW? I need Coyle at 3C. Also...win.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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Jul 15, 2005
14,461
Gallows Hill
Man, that second line. Has there been a position in Boston sports over the last few years or so that's just been such a black hole as Bruins 2RW? I need Coyle at 3C. Also...win.
The easiest way to solve the 2RW problem could be to keep Coyle there and promote Studnicka. He’s killing it in Providence, currently 4th in the AHL in rookie scoring. I know the plan was to keep him down there all year, but he’s making that it difficult to stick to that.
 
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The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
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Jul 13, 2002
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right here
Man, that second line. Has there been a position in Boston sports over the last few years or so that's just been such a black hole as Bruins 2RW? I need Coyle at 3C. Also...win.
Timely article by Fluto...
https://theathletic.com/1502108/2020/01/02/don-sweeney-right-wings/
The year before Don Sweeney became general manager, it did not appear that right wing would be among the Bruins’ primary concerns. Then-coach Claude Julien had options, among them Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, David Pastrnak and Brett Connolly, to play right wing in 2014-15.
Since then, reinforcing the right side has been Sweeney’s most significant challenge. Sweeney, who became GM on May 20, 2015, has signed or acquired 12 right wings — one of them twice (Lee Stempniak). Of the 12 acquisitions, only Noel Acciari and Chris Wagner, both fourth-liners, have exceeded Sweeney’s expectations.
 

Trotski

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SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
251
Chicago, IL
The easiest way to solve the 2RW problem could be to keep Coyle there and promote Studnicka. He’s killing it in Providence. I know the plan was to keep him down there all year, but he’s making that it difficult to stick to that.
I love having a prospect that's forcing their hand. Getting Coyle some consistency would be nice as well. Put him in a slot and just leave him there.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Timely article by Fluto...
https://theathletic.com/1502108/2020/01/02/don-sweeney-right-wings/
The year before Don Sweeney became general manager, it did not appear that right wing would be among the Bruins’ primary concerns. Then-coach Claude Julien had options, among them Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, David Pastrnak and Brett Connolly, to play right wing in 2014-15.
Since then, reinforcing the right side has been Sweeney’s most significant challenge. Sweeney, who became GM on May 20, 2015, has signed or acquired 12 right wings — one of them twice (Lee Stempniak). Of the 12 acquisitions, only Noel Acciari and Chris Wagner, both fourth-liners, have exceeded Sweeney’s expectations.
Backes is the biggest whiff due to the size of the contract, but I think Connolly’s the one that got away. The Bruins non-QO’d him, and he signed a cheap $850,000 deal with Washington, then re-upped for 2-years, $1.5 million AAV. He was a slow development, but once he got there, he became pretty much exactly what they’re currently looking for. Dependable right shot that can score a little, particularly at even strength.

I think they’re better with Coyle at center than right wing. They may give Studnicka a look, but I think they’ll trade for a RW. Kreider, Toffoli, maybe Palmieri if he becomes available. They’ll get someone in here.
 

veritas

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Jan 13, 2009
3,151
Somerville, MA
I think they’re better with Coyle at center than right wing. They may give Studnicka a look, but I think they’ll trade for a RW. Kreider, Toffoli, maybe Palmieri if he becomes available. They’ll get someone in here.
Agree 100%. If they can get a RW for the second line and have a 3rd line of Bjork-Coyle-Heinen, that's great depth to go with the best line in the league. Studnicka isn't the answer at center yet, and moving Coyle to RW is just re-arranging the deck chairs.

Short-term, I wouldn't mind giving Studnicka a whirl at 2RW though. He's a right shot, can't be worse than Backes/Ritchie, and maybe you just need someone to give that line a spark until Kuhlman comes back. It's a perfect spot to give him NHL minutes, as Krejci's line is actually the most sheltered.
 

Maximus

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Jul 18, 2005
5,774
Backes is the biggest whiff due to the size of the contract, but I think Connolly’s the one that got away. The Bruins non-QO’d him, and he signed a cheap $850,000 deal with Washington, then re-upped for 2-years, $1.5 million AAV. He was a slow development, but once he got there, he became pretty much exactly what they’re currently looking for. Dependable right shot that can score a little, particularly at even strength.

I think they’re better with Coyle at center than right wing. They may give Studnicka a look, but I think they’ll trade for a RW. Kreider, Toffoli, maybe Palmieri if he becomes available. They’ll get someone in here.
Agree with cshea and veritas. I like Coyle at C and with Heinen and Bjork as his wings. Get a RW2 out of the group that cshea mentioned (Kreider, Taffoli, Palmieri if available), in essence an impact winger to pair with Krejci and Debrusk. Where and when to integrate Studnicka is a very good question. And shoot Ritchie to the moon. Kuraly is my only must have on the 4th line.
 

LogansDad

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Nov 15, 2006
29,050
Alamogordo
Agreed. Coyle, Bjork and Heinen is a dreamy third line. And Kuraly, Wags, Kuhlman is a pretty dreamy 4th, too.

The question is how to make it happen. I'm down with trying Studnicka at 2RW for sure.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
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Apr 11, 2006
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Also, hat-tip to NESN showing the behind-the-goal cam during play. Was really neat to see the horizontal motion across the ice and the shift before the goal.
 

Maximus

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Jul 18, 2005
5,774
Agreed. Coyle, Bjork and Heinen is a dreamy third line. And Kuraly, Wags, Kuhlman is a pretty dreamy 4th, too.

The question is how to make it happen. I'm down with trying Studnicka at 2RW for sure.
I like the idea of Kuhlman on the 3rd line with Kuraly & Wagner.