Keep him. If they can keep Spooner and acquire a winger, they can kick Spooner down to 3C and Nash to the 4th line RW. Acciari would lose his spot.
The B’s in the Second Half
- Thread starter cshea
- Start date
I'm not looking to deal Spooner or anyone or any picks. I'd do it, for the right offer, but no way I'm shopping them and no way I feel compelled to make a move. I like where they are right now.
Spooner is on my list of guys to deal in the offseason. I think there's be more of a seller's market for him then.
I agree with keeping Spooner. I think acquiring a winger still leaves them thin down the middle. I don't love the idea of Krejci/Spooner being the 2C/3C. Both of them should be a little bit sheltered and you can't really do that with both of them at the same time. Ideally I think a possession driving 2C would instantly turn the Bruins into cup favorites (ignoring other teams making moves). That would let them move Krejci's line to the 3rd, and have a monster top 2 with Pastrnak on the 2nd line. Something like:
Marchand-Bergeron-Backes
Heinen-(Staal/Backlund/etc)-Pastrnak
Debrusk-Krejci-Spooner
Schaller-Kuraly-Nash
Agreed, but I don’t see a those guys being available. Maybe they could pry someone like Brassard away from Ottawa, but I don’t really see many appealing C options from the sellers. Things could change over the next 3 weeks though.
I think a high end LHD like McDonagh or OEL would have the same effect and make them the favorite, but I think it’ll be too pricy for the Bruins taste to get one of those guys.
I think a high end LHD like McDonagh or OEL would have the same effect and make them the favorite, but I think it’ll be too pricy for the Bruins taste to get one of those guys.
Friedman has Grabner as a possible Bruins target.
UFA, $1.65 million cap hit. NYR uses him in a defensive role. Has speed and can shoot, 27 goals last year and 21 this year. Mostly all done at even strength or short handed, he gets almost no PP ice time. Inflated a bit by ENG’s, but is sound enough defensively to be trusted in those situations. May make more sense than Nash. Probably lower acquisition cost, similar value. They could probably plop him down in Acciari’s spot and then bump him up the lineup if needed.
UFA, $1.65 million cap hit. NYR uses him in a defensive role. Has speed and can shoot, 27 goals last year and 21 this year. Mostly all done at even strength or short handed, he gets almost no PP ice time. Inflated a bit by ENG’s, but is sound enough defensively to be trusted in those situations. May make more sense than Nash. Probably lower acquisition cost, similar value. They could probably plop him down in Acciari’s spot and then bump him up the lineup if needed.
Grabner is 4th in the NHL in even strength goals this year. He'd be a great addition.
This can probably be filed away under “good problem to have” but Austin Czarnik is essentially 1 game away from losing his waiver exemption. He’s played 58 NHL games, when he plays 60 he’ll lose the exemption and will require waivers if the team wants to demote him to Providence.
I think he has acquitted himself well in this recent call up and wouldn’t mind seeing him get a longer look on that 4th line with Schaller and Kuraly. The team might need to send him down though to maintain roster flexibility for the next 2 weeks, as the only waiver exempt players on the roster besides him are guys they won’t want to send down (McAvoy, DeBrusk, Heinen, Grzelcyk, Carlo). Curious to see what they do. If he gets to that 60 game mark he’ll basically be here to stay as I don’t think he’d clear waivers.
I think he has acquitted himself well in this recent call up and wouldn’t mind seeing him get a longer look on that 4th line with Schaller and Kuraly. The team might need to send him down though to maintain roster flexibility for the next 2 weeks, as the only waiver exempt players on the roster besides him are guys they won’t want to send down (McAvoy, DeBrusk, Heinen, Grzelcyk, Carlo). Curious to see what they do. If he gets to that 60 game mark he’ll basically be here to stay as I don’t think he’d clear waivers.
Slightly more than a casual Bruins follower - I don't watch too many games but every day they have a game I check the results. And every day they just keep winning or - at worst - picking up a point. How did they get so good so fast? Seems not long ago that they were pretty awful. Is Cassidy that much better than Julien? Or is their roster just better? Or is Cassidy just playing to their strengths better?
I mean, this team is kicking ass.
I mean, this team is kicking ass.
There are a lot of factors. Some good fortune, sound defensive play and young players adding something previous teams didn't have. I think Cassidy's system really suits their forwards. They forecheck so much harder and their D activate in the offensive zone. Using all 5 guys in a cycle keeps the defense and the goaltender moving. The young guys are playing great and the goaltenders have both been excellent. This is the most exciting to watch team that I can remember.
Leading the league in GAA is helpful. Rask has bounced back in a big way this year with better usage patterns and better defensive play by the team and Khudobin has been great as well. All lines are contributing, there is a faucet pouring out young forwards to swap in when necessary. They showed a stat on the broadcast last night that the Bruins lead the league in points by rookies as well.
If they need to they could waive Postma and keep him and Vatrano as the extra forwards and keep 7 defensemen instead of 8. Although if Vatrano is out until the deadline it's a moot point anyway. If I was Vatrano I'd take my time and not risk getting waived getting healthy before the deadline.
Another key factor going into the playoffs is Rask has only played 35 games. They have a big lead and Khudobin is playing well so they could evenly split the next 30 and Rask would be fresh going into the playoffs having only played 50 games.
How much of a push will they make to get the best record in the East? Would you rather face a Metro wild card team or Toronto?
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Both goalies are playing well so split the time and keep Tuukka rested for the playoffs. And they players are going to want to keep playing well because they know there's a lot of talent in Providence and potentially signing out of college that could take their spot if they aren't producing. Organizational depth is a great motivator.
It is, but I was just wondering if they'd play Rask a bit more than an even split if getting the best record was that important to them. They are playing so well that a President's Trophy is right there for the taking and guarantees home ice throughout. But as you say if both goalies are playing at such a high level then it shouldn't affect the level of play on the ice.
I value team health and freshness overall so I wouldn’t over extend to get the 1 seed, but I think it is valuable. Not necessarily for the opponent, but for home ice. For a team like the Bruins with the Bergeron line, having last change where you can easily match up is an advantage.
I think the coaching change was great for the Bruins, though I don’t think it is as simple as “Cassidy good, Claude bad”. I think Claude’s approach wasn’t as well suited to the current team as Cassidy’s, and 9 years is a long tenure for any NHL coach.
I also think this year’s Bruins are more talented than last year’s. Start with Charlie McAvoy. Then there are several other rookies: Heinen, Debrusk, Kuraly, Grzelcyk, Björk. Spooner may be having his best year. Scoring from the middle 6 has been more than good enough, allowing them to put their best 3 forwards on line 1.
In addition, Backes and Spooner — two key players — are having significantly more impact this year than they did last year.
Backes has never and will never put up a mess of points, but he plays big minutes, adds a physical presence, and has the smarts to make good things happen. Cassidy has encouraged Spooner to use his speed, and Spooner has responded well.
Backes has never and will never put up a mess of points, but he plays big minutes, adds a physical presence, and has the smarts to make good things happen. Cassidy has encouraged Spooner to use his speed, and Spooner has responded well.
I agree. This team embarrassed the leafs last Saturday and I have a hard time not thinking they'd blow the doors off the isles, flyers, blue jackets or hurricanes, who are all in the wild card discussion. All of those teams have negative goal differentials. There is still a lot of time left and injuries and a lower level of play could creep in but if they played any of those teams right now, they'd have some time to rest before they play Tampa.
Fun fact I read somewhere else.
Bergeron has 91 points in his last 92 games since Cassidy took over.
Bergeron has 91 points in his last 92 games since Cassidy took over.
Zone starts.
He was 41-44% o zone starts from 07/08 to 15/16. Last year he got up to 55%, this year he is at 61%.
He was 41-44% o zone starts from 07/08 to 15/16. Last year he got up to 55%, this year he is at 61%.
I'm assuming that is a product of Cassidy trusting the rest of his team to take draws in the D-zone, rather than actively pursuing more points and offense for the Bergy line, yeah?
To be fair, Bergeron’s deployment shift started before Cassidy took over. My guess is it came from the front office/analytics team. He’s a possession monster, makes sense to have him start in the o zone and cut down on having to retrieve the puck and lug up ice. He is awesome at that, but when starts off in the o zone, he’s even better.
It's been an unbelievable turn around. Great to have meaningful sports to watch after last weekend. If they add Grabner (or someone of his caliber) at the DL, I think they are the odds-on favorite in the East. Not exactly a hot take but I'm still getting used to them being so good so quickly!
They remind of the 2013 Red Sox. They have their stars performing every night but then it's a different guy chipping in each night to contribute the extra parts that are needed. There's a youth infusion and they are lots of fun to watch. Hopefully it ends the same way as it did for that team.
Yeah, a big part of Bergeron and Marchand's defensive value is winning pucks back in the offensive zone. And once they put Pastrnak on that line, it made even more sense to start deploying them in the offensive zone.
A lot of forwards are playing a lot better this season, and I think the defense (esp McAvoy) and Cassidy deserve some credit for that.
I've caught most games but often at work and not able to watch as focused as I would like, but everything I've seen this year leads me to a few observations (I'm sure of which have been stated or echoed here already).
1. Defense is a whole different world from last couple seasons. They do remind me of the years they made deep runs. I think if they add one more top two/three D with some offensive game it can be a monster blue line.
2. All four lines playing hard and making contributions. Seems to be good balance.
3. Rask turnaround is big but above average play from both goalies is a difference maker.
I'm of the opinion go ahead and try to land the best D they can find and have no problem ponying up the assets to make it happen. Try to avoid touching the core of this team, and aim for a top 9 veteran winger for depth and to shore up the squad for the playoffs.
1. Defense is a whole different world from last couple seasons. They do remind me of the years they made deep runs. I think if they add one more top two/three D with some offensive game it can be a monster blue line.
2. All four lines playing hard and making contributions. Seems to be good balance.
3. Rask turnaround is big but above average play from both goalies is a difference maker.
I'm of the opinion go ahead and try to land the best D they can find and have no problem ponying up the assets to make it happen. Try to avoid touching the core of this team, and aim for a top 9 veteran winger for depth and to shore up the squad for the playoffs.
A bit concerned how the remaining schedule looks - Bruins have 11 home games and 16 away games left, whereas Tampa Bay has 16 home (including an 8 game home stand) and 9 away.... Toronto has played more games and has a more even 12 home and 11 away...
At least for the Bruins they are road trips of 5, 4, 4 and 3 games, so not a huge amount of back and forth to home in between, I guess (trying to find some silver lining).
Hopefully will not matter as well as they are playing - of note, they are not only tied for fewest losses in the league, they also have the fewest road losses...
At least for the Bruins they are road trips of 5, 4, 4 and 3 games, so not a huge amount of back and forth to home in between, I guess (trying to find some silver lining).
Hopefully will not matter as well as they are playing - of note, they are not only tied for fewest losses in the league, they also have the fewest road losses...
They also lead the league in +/-. Tampa is the only team that's even close, and they've played 2 more games. That should be a pretty good indication on where they stand in relation to the rest of the league.
After this next stretch in Vancouver / Calgary / Edmonton / Toronto / Buffalo they’re back at 11 each home/away the rest of the way.
I’d really like to see guys like JFK, Cehlarik, O’Gara, etc called up to spell Z, Bergeron, Marchand, etc in the packed March schedule.
I’d really like to see guys like JFK, Cehlarik, O’Gara, etc called up to spell Z, Bergeron, Marchand, etc in the packed March schedule.
They have this road trip and then they come home for a 6 game homestand. After that though, they have a stretch where they play 8 of 9 on the road. Two 4 game road trips sandwiched by one home game. Weird stretch really.