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Post by SeaBass on May 15, 2019 13:51:04 GMT -5
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Post by KSJ08 on May 15, 2019 16:53:57 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on May 16, 2019 6:48:00 GMT -5
A snippet from Steve Dangle's book
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Post by kjc2 on May 16, 2019 7:46:58 GMT -5
A snippet from Steve Dangle's book I love that, partly because I hate Steve Dangle but mostly because that was the perfect call coming from Seguin.
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Post by orym on May 16, 2019 9:24:01 GMT -5
A snippet from Steve Dangle's book That's awesome!
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Post by SeaBass on May 16, 2019 10:12:29 GMT -5
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Arizona Coyotes, owners of Connor Clifton’s draft rights, liked the seven goals and 21 assists the defenseman scored as a Quinnipiac junior in 2015-16. Their offer did not reflect a corresponding degree of approval.
“They wanted him to sign and bring him out. But it was a mediocre offer,” said Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold. “He wan’t feeling it. He came back his senior year, and they gave him another mediocre offer.”
By the time Clifton concluded his college career, the writing wasn’t just on the wall with Arizona. There was a wall, period.
So Clifton, the Coyotes’ 2013 fifth-round pick, planned to exercise his right to become an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15, 2017. The trouble came in the endurance required to complete the journey from Point A to Point B.
On March 17, 2017, Clifton closed out his NCAA career in Quinnipiac’s 4-1 loss to Harvard in the ECAC Tournament. Between then and mid-August, he was forbidden to speak with any suitor. While some of his classmates started post-college employment, Clifton had to wait five months before even being allowed to consider a job offer. For an anxious 22-year-old, that’s time counted in dog years.
“Long summer,” Clifton said. “Yeah, long summer.”
On Aug. 17, 2017, the Bruins signed Clifton. Now, the defenseman once dismissed by the fledgling Coyotes is roaring in the Eastern Conference final on the No. 3 pairing.
“We have confidence in Connor because, A, he’s competitive. He’s not shying away from the moment,” said Bruce Cassidy. “When he’s moving his feet, which we do have to remind him — get the motor running — he can separate and make good plays.”
Pecknold believes even better things are coming. He cites Clifton’s strengths: skating, physicality, competitiveness and coachability.
Given those assets, it is not surprising that Clifton has room to grow. The surprise is how 30 teams failed to see it.
Controlled substance During his first year at Quinnipiac, Clifton piled up 106 penalty minutes in 36 games. It is an ugly number for any collegian, especially a freshman. Such abandon likely raised red flags among NHL scouts. Pecknold didn’t care for it either.
“Freshman and sophomore year, his mindset was to go out and smash people,” Pecknold said. “All he did was hit. We really had to teach him that to be a great hockey player, we can’t have you in the box all game.”
Clifton’s friskiness was one reason Pecknold brought the 5-foot-11, 175-pound New Jersey native to Quinnipiac. The way Pecknold remembers it, assistant coach Billy Riga saw Clifton and older brother Tim play for Christian Brothers Academy and the New Jersey Hitmen of the Empire Junior Hockey League. Both Cliftons played high-energy hockey. Riga promptly called his boss to tell him they needed the brothers — in particular, Connor Clifton’s pace, on the blue line.
“He plays the way we play at Quinnipiac,” Pecknold said. “That’s how we want our (defensemen) to be involved. We always want that second wave. Sometimes our (defensemen) are our first wave. It was perfect with how we play.”
Quinnipiac recruited the Cliftons (Tim, a forward, is two years older) as a package in 2013-14. Pecknold and assistant coach Reid Cashman, who is now on the Capitals’ staff, worked with Connor Clifton to amplify his strengths while curbing his more aggressive tendencies.
The coaches had three directives for Clifton:
Use your legs to defend and attack. Anytime we go north, you jump in the rush, but pull back when required. Be physical, but pick the right time to flex your muscles. Clifton executed these orders well. As a junior in 2015-16, Clifton helped the Bobcats to a 32-4-7 record. Quinnipiac rolled through RIT, UMass Lowell and Boston College before losing to North Dakota in the championship game, 5-1.
Devon Toews (Islanders) and Sam Anas (Minnesota), Clifton’s classmates, left school a year early for the pros. Arizona’s so-so offer convinced Clifton otherwise. Pecknold did not complain.
“Junior and senior year, he was phenomenal on the (penalty kill) for us,” Pecknold said. “We have a very aggressive kill. We tell the (defenseman) to get in the rush every team. He was great at it. Every single time we went north, he’d take three hard strides, then make a read. If the read is not to go, he’d create a good gap and be in good position. If the read was go, he’d go. He was dominant for us. I’m still a little surprised at Arizona. But that’s part of teams undervaluing players. It happens.”
By the time Clifton completed his senior season, the Bruins had turned things around under Cassidy, who had replaced Claude Julien. On the right side, Brandon Carlo was enjoying an excellent rookie season. Kevan Miller and Adam McQuaid were doing their roughneck thing. Colin Miller was finding his way as a second-year Bruin. Charlie McAvoy would leave Boston University, make a pit stop in Providence and be required, because of injuries, to accelerate his NHL arrival.
Change was coming. The Bruins were about to lose Colin Miller in the expansion draft. Clifton caught the attention of executive director of player personnel John Ferguson Jr., associate director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau and amateur scout Scott Fitzgerald during their viewings.
“It’s a laundry list of guys that have gone in to see these players,” said general manager Don Sweeney of his scouts. “You might have one original identifier. But our staff — every staff — is trying to do the same thing. Our guys are over in Europe. We just tried to sign a player. It’s hard. Player supply is finite. It just is. We work hard to try and find the intangibles that fit what we’re trying to do and the identity we’re trying to build.”
Shortly after Aug. 15, Ferguson called Pecknold to conduct due diligence. The two are good friends. Ferguson told Pecknold the Bruins liked Clifton. Pecknold gave his approval.
“John always liked him,” Pecknold said. “He was a really good hockey player for me. All he really lacked for me was maturity. He needed to mature. He was a great player at the NCAA level. Just a little bit out of control. He still does it now, but he’s more in control of getting out of control.”
The Bruins were cautious enough that they only offered Clifton an AHL deal. Clifton accepted. Pecknold was surprised.
“I’m a little shocked at, almost, what he settled for,” Pecknold said. “Anybody could have had him with a little better offer. But he didn’t get it. But it’s like anything in life. It’s like Tom Brady going in the sixth round. Crazy stuff.”
Clifton played all of last season in Providence. His time there was good enough to earn him a two-year, $1.47 million varsity contract. This year, he played in 53 more games with Providence, where coach Jay Leach shaved off some of Clifton’s rough edges. The men upstairs noticed.
“People look at the landscape and look at your depth chart and think, ‘Why?’ You’ve got first-rounders. You’ve got people you think are going to be blocking you,” Sweeney said. “Kevan Miller was my example with Clifton. I said, ‘Don’t look at that. Look at your own self. If you’re good enough to play in the league, you’re going to play for us. Because you’re going to push other people out of the way.”
Riding the line In the playoffs, Clifton has muscled out John Moore for the No. 6 job. It wasn’t that way on his first recall.
On Nov. 16, 2018, Clifton made his NHL debut against Dallas because of injuries to Moore, McAvoy, Carlo, Miller, Zdeno Chara and Urho Vaakanainen. That night, Clifton fought Jason Spezza. It was his statement that he would not defer to anybody.
Several games later, Pecknold called Clifton. The coach had a question for his former player: What were his new bosses telling him?
“Honestly, Coach,” Clifton answered, “they’re telling me the exact same thing you told me for four years at Quinnipiac.”
Cassidy and assistant coach Kevin Dean, who manages the defensemen, want Clifton to refine his boundary between aggressiveness and recklessness. Cassidy finds he’s pulling on Clifton’s reins more than he’s applying the whip. He likes it that way.
“I thought he was a winger more than a defenseman at first,” cracked Cassidy of his original impression. “He was up and down the ice the whole time. So it’s like, ‘Well, that’s great. You’ve got an assertive guy.’ It’s better to coach it back than having to push a guy every night to do that. He always had that in him — his willingness to try to make a play.”
The Bruins have a term for this style: Cliffy Hockey. They like it a lot.
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Post by SeaBass on May 16, 2019 11:12:12 GMT -5
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Post by kjc2 on May 16, 2019 11:42:33 GMT -5
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Arizona Coyotes, owners of Connor Clifton’s draft rights, liked the seven goals and 21 assists the defenseman scored as a Quinnipiac junior in 2015-16. Their offer did not reflect a corresponding degree of approval. “They wanted him to sign and bring him out. But it was a mediocre offer,” said Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold. “He wan’t feeling it. He came back his senior year, and they gave him another mediocre offer.” By the time Clifton concluded his college career, the writing wasn’t just on the wall with Arizona. There was a wall, period. So Clifton, the Coyotes’ 2013 fifth-round pick, planned to exercise his right to become an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15, 2017. The trouble came in the endurance required to complete the journey from Point A to Point B. On March 17, 2017, Clifton closed out his NCAA career in Quinnipiac’s 4-1 loss to Harvard in the ECAC Tournament. Between then and mid-August, he was forbidden to speak with any suitor. While some of his classmates started post-college employment, Clifton had to wait five months before even being allowed to consider a job offer. For an anxious 22-year-old, that’s time counted in dog years. “Long summer,” Clifton said. “Yeah, long summer.” On Aug. 17, 2017, the Bruins signed Clifton. Now, the defenseman once dismissed by the fledgling Coyotes is roaring in the Eastern Conference final on the No. 3 pairing. “We have confidence in Connor because, A, he’s competitive. He’s not shying away from the moment,” said Bruce Cassidy. “When he’s moving his feet, which we do have to remind him — get the motor running — he can separate and make good plays.” Pecknold believes even better things are coming. He cites Clifton’s strengths: skating, physicality, competitiveness and coachability. Given those assets, it is not surprising that Clifton has room to grow. The surprise is how 30 teams failed to see it. Controlled substance During his first year at Quinnipiac, Clifton piled up 106 penalty minutes in 36 games. It is an ugly number for any collegian, especially a freshman. Such abandon likely raised red flags among NHL scouts. Pecknold didn’t care for it either. “Freshman and sophomore year, his mindset was to go out and smash people,” Pecknold said. “All he did was hit. We really had to teach him that to be a great hockey player, we can’t have you in the box all game.” Clifton’s friskiness was one reason Pecknold brought the 5-foot-11, 175-pound New Jersey native to Quinnipiac. The way Pecknold remembers it, assistant coach Billy Riga saw Clifton and older brother Tim play for Christian Brothers Academy and the New Jersey Hitmen of the Empire Junior Hockey League. Both Cliftons played high-energy hockey. Riga promptly called his boss to tell him they needed the brothers — in particular, Connor Clifton’s pace, on the blue line. “He plays the way we play at Quinnipiac,” Pecknold said. “That’s how we want our (defensemen) to be involved. We always want that second wave. Sometimes our (defensemen) are our first wave. It was perfect with how we play.” Quinnipiac recruited the Cliftons (Tim, a forward, is two years older) as a package in 2013-14. Pecknold and assistant coach Reid Cashman, who is now on the Capitals’ staff, worked with Connor Clifton to amplify his strengths while curbing his more aggressive tendencies. The coaches had three directives for Clifton: Use your legs to defend and attack. Anytime we go north, you jump in the rush, but pull back when required. Be physical, but pick the right time to flex your muscles. Clifton executed these orders well. As a junior in 2015-16, Clifton helped the Bobcats to a 32-4-7 record. Quinnipiac rolled through RIT, UMass Lowell and Boston College before losing to North Dakota in the championship game, 5-1. Devon Toews (Islanders) and Sam Anas (Minnesota), Clifton’s classmates, left school a year early for the pros. Arizona’s so-so offer convinced Clifton otherwise. Pecknold did not complain. “Junior and senior year, he was phenomenal on the (penalty kill) for us,” Pecknold said. “We have a very aggressive kill. We tell the (defenseman) to get in the rush every team. He was great at it. Every single time we went north, he’d take three hard strides, then make a read. If the read is not to go, he’d create a good gap and be in good position. If the read was go, he’d go. He was dominant for us. I’m still a little surprised at Arizona. But that’s part of teams undervaluing players. It happens.” By the time Clifton completed his senior season, the Bruins had turned things around under Cassidy, who had replaced Claude Julien. On the right side, Brandon Carlo was enjoying an excellent rookie season. Kevan Miller and Adam McQuaid were doing their roughneck thing. Colin Miller was finding his way as a second-year Bruin. Charlie McAvoy would leave Boston University, make a pit stop in Providence and be required, because of injuries, to accelerate his NHL arrival. Change was coming. The Bruins were about to lose Colin Miller in the expansion draft. Clifton caught the attention of executive director of player personnel John Ferguson Jr., associate director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau and amateur scout Scott Fitzgerald during their viewings. “It’s a laundry list of guys that have gone in to see these players,” said general manager Don Sweeney of his scouts. “You might have one original identifier. But our staff — every staff — is trying to do the same thing. Our guys are over in Europe. We just tried to sign a player. It’s hard. Player supply is finite. It just is. We work hard to try and find the intangibles that fit what we’re trying to do and the identity we’re trying to build.” Shortly after Aug. 15, Ferguson called Pecknold to conduct due diligence. The two are good friends. Ferguson told Pecknold the Bruins liked Clifton. Pecknold gave his approval. “John always liked him,” Pecknold said. “He was a really good hockey player for me. All he really lacked for me was maturity. He needed to mature. He was a great player at the NCAA level. Just a little bit out of control. He still does it now, but he’s more in control of getting out of control.” The Bruins were cautious enough that they only offered Clifton an AHL deal. Clifton accepted. Pecknold was surprised. “I’m a little shocked at, almost, what he settled for,” Pecknold said. “Anybody could have had him with a little better offer. But he didn’t get it. But it’s like anything in life. It’s like Tom Brady going in the sixth round. Crazy stuff.” Clifton played all of last season in Providence. His time there was good enough to earn him a two-year, $1.47 million varsity contract. This year, he played in 53 more games with Providence, where coach Jay Leach shaved off some of Clifton’s rough edges. The men upstairs noticed. “People look at the landscape and look at your depth chart and think, ‘Why?’ You’ve got first-rounders. You’ve got people you think are going to be blocking you,” Sweeney said. “Kevan Miller was my example with Clifton. I said, ‘Don’t look at that. Look at your own self. If you’re good enough to play in the league, you’re going to play for us. Because you’re going to push other people out of the way.” Riding the line In the playoffs, Clifton has muscled out John Moore for the No. 6 job. It wasn’t that way on his first recall. On Nov. 16, 2018, Clifton made his NHL debut against Dallas because of injuries to Moore, McAvoy, Carlo, Miller, Zdeno Chara and Urho Vaakanainen. That night, Clifton fought Jason Spezza. It was his statement that he would not defer to anybody. Several games later, Pecknold called Clifton. The coach had a question for his former player: What were his new bosses telling him? “Honestly, Coach,” Clifton answered, “they’re telling me the exact same thing you told me for four years at Quinnipiac.” Cassidy and assistant coach Kevin Dean, who manages the defensemen, want Clifton to refine his boundary between aggressiveness and recklessness. Cassidy finds he’s pulling on Clifton’s reins more than he’s applying the whip. He likes it that way. “I thought he was a winger more than a defenseman at first,” cracked Cassidy of his original impression. “He was up and down the ice the whole time. So it’s like, ‘Well, that’s great. You’ve got an assertive guy.’ It’s better to coach it back than having to push a guy every night to do that. He always had that in him — his willingness to try to make a play.” The Bruins have a term for this style: Cliffy Hockey. They like it a lot. Awesome, I like this kid, kind of a right shooting Andrew Ference?
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Post by nfld77 on May 16, 2019 12:34:21 GMT -5
Same here, Just knowing more about Clifton, a little of his background, how teams shyed away from him and the Yotes trying to save pennies on a good prospect..I'm just happy it worked out for him the way it did and there's no way he plays in Providence next year is there?? The playoff he's having, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bruins trying to trade Cap friendly Moore. We still have Miller in the mix so that's already 7 regulars for next season excluding Moore and not to mention Vaak or any other young defenseman who might surprise. I mean, this time last year, Clifton wasnt on the radar, sorta like a Tommy Cross to me..So who's to say another wont do the same next season..Bruins can trade Moore if the return is decent and still have plenty of depth. Moore's contract is another 4 years but it's under 3 million a season..Shouldn't be much trouble trading him..
Thanks Seabass, excellent read once again..I just don't know where you find all those great reads..I'm always reading Bruin stuff but not as good as the stuff you find..
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Post by crafar01 on May 16, 2019 18:59:39 GMT -5
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Post by offwego on May 16, 2019 21:01:42 GMT -5
"MOSTLY" you couldn't help yourself could you? 😆
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Post by KSJ08 on May 17, 2019 11:11:31 GMT -5
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Post by DonnyBrook on May 17, 2019 11:19:33 GMT -5
looking at the other choices i dont see how sweeney will lose...but with that said...im sure he will not win. LOL.. depth is the winning formula for the b's and donny started stocking the shelves right from the start.
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Post by madmarx on May 18, 2019 4:28:11 GMT -5
Hearing Monday May 27th will be game one ..
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Post by KSJ08 on May 18, 2019 8:39:52 GMT -5
Hearing Monday May 27th will be game one .. I read somewhere Sun 26th MM Correct! BOSTON - The NHL has announced the schedule for the 2019 Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and either the San Jose Sharks or St. Louis Blues. Stanley Cup Final Media Day will be held either Saturday, May 25 or Sunday, May 26 in Boston. Game 1: Monday, May 27 at 8 p.m. (TD Garden, Boston, MA) - NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Game 2: Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m. (TD Garden, Boston, MA) - NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Game 3: Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m. (San Jose, CA or St. Louis, MO) - NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Game 4: Monday, June 3 at 8 p.m. (San Jose, CA or St. Louis, MO) - NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Game 5: Thursday, June 6 at 8 p.m. (TD Garden, Boston, MA) - NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Game 6: Sunday, June 9 at 8 p.m. (San Jose, CA or St. Louis, MO) - NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Game 7: Wednesday, June 12 at 8 p.m. (TD Garden, Boston, MA) - NBC, SN, CBC, TVA All Bruins' playoff games can be heard on the Bruins flagship radio station, 98.5 The Sports Hub.
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Post by madmarx on May 19, 2019 7:07:41 GMT -5
So it’s a long layoff or injuries I take my chances on the layoff, who do want to play next??
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Post by orym on May 19, 2019 7:53:43 GMT -5
So it’s a long layoff or injuries I take my chances on the layoff, who do want to play next?? I think San Jose scares me more. With Thornton nearing the end of his career, I really feel like there is that added element for them to go and get this Cup. They also made it in 2016 and I think that is a very hungry group. If we have to lose I'd rather it be to St. Louis so the Cup can be brought to Saskatchewan three times this summer. Having said all that though! Rask is a better goalie than Binnington or Jones. I think the Bruins with home ice advantage and this rest can beat either team.
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Post by KSJ08 on May 19, 2019 9:11:42 GMT -5
So it’s a long layoff or injuries I take my chances on the layoff, who do want to play next?? I think San Jose scares me more. With Thornton nearing the end of his career, I really feel like there is that added element for them to go and get this Cup. They also made it in 2016 and I think that is a very hungry group. If we have to lose I'd rather it be to St. Louis so the Cup can be brought to Saskatchewan three times this summer. Having said all that though! Rask is a better goalie than Binnington or Jones. I think the Bruins with home ice advantage and this rest can beat either team. Don't forget the ref's definitely have been SUPER pulling for the Snarkies all 3 series so far!
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Post by madmarx on May 19, 2019 10:31:02 GMT -5
If you’re picking flag wavers for the Bruins who are they??
Tim Thomas Tom Brady And hopefully we don’t need more ..
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Post by KSJ08 on May 19, 2019 14:15:17 GMT -5
If you’re picking flag wavers for the Bruins who are they?? Tim Thomas Tom Brady And hopefully we don’t need more .. or Chris Wagner for gm 5 to win it on home icing on the CAKE! :-)
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Post by offwego on May 19, 2019 16:10:42 GMT -5
If you’re picking flag wavers for the Bruins who are they?? Tim Thomas Tom Brady And hopefully we don’t need more .. Nathan Horton....
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Post by madmarx on May 19, 2019 17:14:31 GMT -5
If you’re picking flag wavers for the Bruins who are they?? Tim Thomas Tom Brady And hopefully we don’t need more .. Nathan Horton.... I really like the way think great idea 👍
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Post by offwego on May 19, 2019 17:35:14 GMT -5
I really like the way think great idea 👍 Andrew Ference comes to mind as well. His 1 finger salute still brings a smile to my face.
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Post by madmarx on May 19, 2019 18:00:48 GMT -5
I really like the way think great idea 👍 Andrew Ference comes to mind as well. His 1 finger salute still brings a smile to my face. Absolutely he turned into one the Guys that turned it up when the team needed the most . The Hab salute will live forever in my mind.👍
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Post by madmarx on May 20, 2019 16:34:22 GMT -5
Not too many NHL players can empathize with what the Bruins’ Kevan Miller and Chris Wagner must be feeling now as they weigh missing the upcoming Stanley Cup final due to injuries.
Gregory Campbell can.
The former Bruins forward is remembered and respected in this city for sacrificing his body to block a shot and breaking his right fibula in Game 3 of the 2013 Eastern Conference final against the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden. Campbell was one of the Bruins’ best penalty killers when he blocked the slap shot from Evgeni Malkin during a power play in the second period of that game.
The image of Campbell on the ice in pure agony is iconic. What’s more impressive is he made it to his feet and continued to kill the penalty for more than a minute before leaving the ice. The Bruins won that game in double-overtime and eventually swept the series to advance to the Stanley Cup final before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks.
“It’s kind of synonymous now with my career,” Campbell said. “I thought I had a pretty good career, but it’s something I’ll be forever remembered for in Boston.”
No matter how this season ends for the Bruins, Wagner and Miller will be remembered in similar fashion.
Wagner blocked a shot and suffered a season-ending right-arm injury during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final against the Carolina Hurricanes. After Boston won that game, Wagner’s teammates all said they would win Game 4 for him. The Bruins swept the series to advance to the Cup final.
Miller is one of the most respected players in the locker room and he’s been out since suffering a knee injury in the second-to-last game of the regular season at Minnesota. The defenseman suffered a setback during his rehab and will miss the Cup final.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy described the situation as “terrible” for both Miller and Wagner because of the way they sacrifice their bodies for the overall success of the team.
Campbell has first-hand experience.
“It’s bittersweet, for sure. That’s a good word to use,” Campbell said. “At least you’re doing the right thing. At least you’re doing what you’re supposed to do and you’re helping your team win. It’s something that I could live with. It’s something I’m sure Wagner can live with and a guy like Millsey. You don’t make it to where the Bruins have made it without guys sacrificing their bodies on a nightly basis.
“I would have loved to play in the finals for me. Again, you do what you do and things happen and I can live with that at the end of the day.”
Hockey players, especially in the Stanley Cup playoffs, put themselves on the line.
“It’s a lot of instinct,” explained Campbell. “When I was in that moment there was no thought that went into it. This is what I’m supposed to do. This is my job and I’m just going to give my team the best chance to win.
“I’m sure that’s what Wagner was thinking. I don’t know Wagner at all, but I know Millsey pretty well and he’s a warrior. It’s unfortunate for him because he’s just a specimen too. Not only does he play hard, he keeps himself in good shape, so I really feel for him.”
Entering the 2013 final, the Bruins were a bruised and banged up group. Losing Campbell threw off the entire balance of the lineup, especially the third and fourth lines. Fortunately for the 2019 version of the Bruins, they’re a relatively healthy group entering the final. With Wagner out, Noel Acciari seamlessly slid into the lineup.
“There’s 60, or 70 percent of guys on the team that are playing with some sort of injury at this point of the year and that’s the truth, because it’s such a hard game to play,” Campbell said.
Campbell now works for Columbus Blue Jackets’ player-development department. His five seasons with the Bruins, including the 2011 Stanley Cup championship team, will always hold a special place for Campbell. If there’s a moment he’s remembered for, it’s his gutsy play to block that slap shot.
“I loved playing for the Bruins and loved playing for a Boston sports team because that stuff’s appreciated,” Campbell said. “I know Toronto, Montreal, or any other team in the league there are people who appreciate (that style of play) but (Boston) really supports the guys that are just the foot soldiers that go to work every night. I’m proud of that and I’m proud I did something to help my team.
“It’s no secret I loved playing in Boston. I love the city and the fans and everything about that city – everybody that plays there does. It was easy for me to put on the jersey every night and not really care what happened to my body. I took a few lickings in my day and I didn’t really care, but I was just trying to help the team. We had a great group of guys there.”
That theme continues in Boston and that’s one reason the Bruins will play for another chance to hoist the Stanley Cup, even though Wagner and Miller will be watching.
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Post by SeaBass on May 21, 2019 6:22:44 GMT -5
Ted Nolan was happy, and not just because he was back in the NHL after a nine-year absence.
On June 8, 2006, the Islanders hired Nolan as head coach after he led Moncton of the QMJHL to the Memorial Cup title game. Later that month, via the 2006 NHL Draft, Nolan was hoping to be reunited with Brad Marchand, his fiery forward in Moncton. As a 17-year-old, Marchand had been fourth in scoring for the Wildcats (29-37—66).
The band was getting back together on Long Island. Moncton assistants Danny Flynn and Dan Lacroix were joining their boss in Uniondale. They hoped to make sweet music with Marchand, whom Nolan endorsed to his new amateur scouting staff.
Nolan’s happiness was short-lived. On June 24, 2006, the Islanders traded their third-round pick to the Bruins for fourth- and fifth-rounders. The Bruins drafted Marchand in the third round. Not only did Nolan lose out on his former player, he watched his employer gift-wrap the left wing to the Bruins.
The Islanders drafted James DeLory and Shane Sims with the Bruins’ former picks. DeLory never played in the NHL. Sims appeared in one game.
“He was mad,” assistant general manager Scott Bradley, then the director of amateur scouting, recalled of Nolan. “I think they were going to step in and take him. We went ahead of them. Because I know talking to Teddy and Danny Flynn, I remember they were upset. It turned out to be a good pick. A great pick.”
The Bruins are in the Stanley Cup final because they drafted and developed Marchand and David Krejci, two of their foundational players. But before they drafted Marchand and Krejci, the Bruins had to acquire the picks to make the selections. Krejci, too, was drafted with a pick the Bruins traded for, knowing they needed to spend draft capital in the 2004 draft in order to move up and get their man.
Had they not made those two earthquake trades, the Bruins would be golfing instead of chasing their second Cup in eight years. Whether they would have even won the first is in doubt.
Turning red flags green Not every NHL team liked Marchand. The agitator already had a reputation for selfishness and impulsive behavior. NHL Central Scouting ranked Marchand as the No. 80 North American skater. They were higher on fast friend and fellow Nova Scotian Ryan Hillier (No. 23).
The Bruins were an exception. Don Matheson, their former Atlantic Canada scout, was the first to identify Marchand as a good future Bruin. During his viewings, Matheson liked Marchand’s speed, competitiveness and willingness to work.
The Bruins were aware of Marchand’s red flags. As such, they conducted due diligence. Bradley interviewed Marchand twice during his draft year. He met Kevin Marchand, his father. The Bruins did not spot anything that signaled them to stay away.
On their draft board, Bradley and his staff classified Marchand as a third-round pick. Trouble was, they didn’t have one.
A month earlier, the Bruins had hired Peter Chiarelli as general manager. Ottawa was not eager to let Chiarelli go. Not only did Chiarelli remain under Ottawa’s employment at the draft, the Bruins were required to send the Senators their 2006 third-rounder as compensation.
On June 24, 2006, the Bruins drafted Phil Kessel in the first round and Milan Lucic in the second. They would be home-run picks. The Bruins were greedy. They wanted a grand slam.
So with his scouts pounding the table to play in the third round, interim GM Jeff Gorton identified the Islanders, who owned pick No. 71, as a potential partner. The Bruins got their pick and their man.
Kessel and Lucic are ex-Bruins. It’s possible that Marchand, under contract through 2025 at $6.125 million annually, will be a lifelong Bruin. He is the fifth-leading scorer from the Class of 2006 (559 points). Nicklas Backstrom, Kessel, Claude Giroux and Jonathan Toews, the four in front of him, were all first-rounders.
By 2006, the Bruins had practice at moving up to grab a future star. They had done so just two years earlier.
Small but skilled In 2003-04, the Bruins were among the Northeast Division’s top clubs. A teenager named Patrice Bergeron had no trouble adjusting from junior hockey to the NHL. Glen Murray, Joe Thornton and Mike Knuble were giving defensemen nightmares down low. Andrew Raycroft would win the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
With a Cup run in his crosshairs, then-GM Mike O’Connell went big. On March 3, 2004, O’Connell acquired Sergei Gonchar from Washington for Shaone Morrisonn, a 2004 first-round pick and a 2004 second-rounder. A day later, the Bruins and Capitals made another deal: Michael Nylander to Boston for a 2006 second-rounder.
The moves did not pay off. The Bruins lost to Montreal in the first round.
That June, the Bruins identified two forwards as second-round picks: Krejci and Martins Karsums. But they only had one second-rounder, which they had acquired the year before when they traded Jozef Stumpel to Los Angeles.
In 2003-04, Karsums scored 30 goals and 23 assists in 60 games for Moncton, where he would become teammates with Marchand the following season. Krejci, meanwhile, was a 17-year-old playing junior for HC Kladno, where he scored 23 goals and 37 assists in 50 games.
Oto Hascak and Sven Svensson, two of the Bruins’ European scouts, were high on Krejci. Central Scouting ranked Krejci as the No. 21 European skater. Word was that Krejci wanted to play in the QMJHL, a better pre-pro proving grounds.
“We all liked Krech,” Bradley said. “Our Slovakian scout, he’d seen him the most, Oto Hascak. And Sven. We were looking for skill. Krech was a little underdeveloped. We kind of knew he was coming over to North America.”
On June 26, 2004, O’Connell found a trading partner in Doug Wilson. The Bruins sent three 2004 picks to the Sharks (third-, fourth- and ninth-rounders) for San Jose’s second-rounder. The Bruins drafted Krejci 63rd overall. One pick later, they drafted Karsums. San Jose, meanwhile, selected Thomas Greiss, Jason Churchill and Brian Mahoney-Wilson.
“Our thought was, ‘We’ll take two skilled guys. Hopefully one will pan out,’” Bradley said. “One turned out to be the steal of the draft, almost.”
Krejci is the fourth-leading scorer from 2004 (643 points). He trails only Alex Ovechkin (first overall), Evgeni Malkin (No. 2) and ex-linemate Blake Wheeler (No. 5).
Karsums appeared in only six games for the Bruins. But the right wing played a part in the Bruins’ 2011 Cup.
On March 4, 2009, the Bruins traded Karsums and Matt Lashoff to Tampa Bay. In return, the Bruins received Mark Recchi and Tampa’s 2010 second-round pick. Recchi was the No. 2 right wing and alternate captain during the Bruins’ Cup run.
On March 3, 2010, the Bruins traded Tampa’s former second-round pick to Florida. As part of the return, the Bruins acquired Dennis Seidenberg, Zdeno Chara’s right-hand man on the 2011 No. 1 pairing.
“It’s kind of nice to be involved with that,” Bradley said of identifying prospects his bosses deemed worthy of pick acquisition. “I was running the staff. It’s a group thing, but still, as a decision-maker, I’m very proud of those guys. For them to be still here and watch them become amazing, amazing players … It’s a credit to the scouting staff, the due diligence they do and what we did then and now.”
Marchand and Krejci are proof that every pick is precious. Even the ones teams don’t have at first.
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Post by SeaBass on May 21, 2019 6:40:30 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on May 21, 2019 7:44:40 GMT -5
Too funny
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Post by SeaBass on May 21, 2019 8:01:32 GMT -5
After the 1st period in game #3....wow.
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Post by SeaBass on May 21, 2019 8:25:20 GMT -5
Bruins Leadership -
“There’s not one word for it,” said Bruins newcomer Charlie Coyle. “Being in Minnesota for seven years, and you hear stories about (Boston’s) locker room and leadership, and then you come and experience it, you’re involved in it and become part of it — it’s everything you’ve heard and more. The leadership trickles down and everyone follows suit. It’s not just one guy; it’s a lot of guys, and everyone picks up after that. They set the standard, and that’s why it’s a tight knit group.”
We basically kind of grew up together,” Bergeron said of the veteran core. “We’ve been around so long, and it’s been a fun ride to be part of with these guys, the core group and leaders. We’ve been through a lot, and you realize how hard it is to get to this point, so you’ve got to be thankful for that.
“Over the last few years, we’ve built something special with the young guys. They are a big part of this group and this team. They want to get better. They are big-time players and they relish any challenge, so it’s been a fun ride.”
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