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Post by fforr on Nov 8, 2019 10:42:29 GMT -5
Might just happen.
Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy have paired together almost exclusively as Boston's No. 1 defense duo since McAvoy entered the league during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But during Thursday's practice, the two were split up, with Chara paired with Connor Clifton and McAvoy alongside former Boston University partner Matt Grzelcyk.
Cassidy's thinking? To free up McAvoy - who has four assists in 15 games - for a bit more offense and create some more balance on the back end.
"We see it as being more equitable if Clifton goes with Zee. We're gonna give it a go," said Cassidy. "It matches the size factor a little better. We always thought Grizz and Clifton was two good players, but are they an ideal pair? This allows Charlie to free up a bit on the offensive side of things, maybe not get the heavy matchup every time over the boards.
"Zee will definitely be matched up. That's his strength. We'll see with each game how long it lasts, but that's the thinking. Balance the pairs a little bit. A lot of hockey here, maybe balance the minutes a little more.
"Grizz and Charlie have had a good relationship from BU, they play well together. Not worried about that. Zee and Clifton, we haven't seen much of, so we'll see."
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Post by SeaBass on Nov 8, 2019 10:56:26 GMT -5
Might just happen. Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy have paired together almost exclusively as Boston's No. 1 defense duo since McAvoy entered the league during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But during Thursday's practice, the two were split up, with Chara paired with Connor Clifton and McAvoy alongside former Boston University partner Matt Grzelcyk. Cassidy's thinking? To free up McAvoy - who has four assists in 15 games - for a bit more offense and create some more balance on the back end. "We see it as being more equitable if Clifton goes with Zee. We're gonna give it a go," said Cassidy. "It matches the size factor a little better. We always thought Grizz and Clifton was two good players, but are they an ideal pair? This allows Charlie to free up a bit on the offensive side of things, maybe not get the heavy matchup every time over the boards. "Zee will definitely be matched up. That's his strength. We'll see with each game how long it lasts, but that's the thinking. Balance the pairs a little bit. A lot of hockey here, maybe balance the minutes a little more. "Grizz and Charlie have had a good relationship from BU, they play well together. Not worried about that. Zee and Clifton, we haven't seen much of, so we'll see." Wonder how long that would last. That would be giving Cliffy a lot of playing time and probably a lot less for Mac. I do like the idea though.
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Post by kjc2 on Nov 8, 2019 12:34:24 GMT -5
Might just happen. Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy have paired together almost exclusively as Boston's No. 1 defense duo since McAvoy entered the league during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But during Thursday's practice, the two were split up, with Chara paired with Connor Clifton and McAvoy alongside former Boston University partner Matt Grzelcyk. Cassidy's thinking? To free up McAvoy - who has four assists in 15 games - for a bit more offense and create some more balance on the back end. "We see it as being more equitable if Clifton goes with Zee. We're gonna give it a go," said Cassidy. "It matches the size factor a little better. We always thought Grizz and Clifton was two good players, but are they an ideal pair? This allows Charlie to free up a bit on the offensive side of things, maybe not get the heavy matchup every time over the boards. "Zee will definitely be matched up. That's his strength. We'll see with each game how long it lasts, but that's the thinking. Balance the pairs a little bit. A lot of hockey here, maybe balance the minutes a little more. "Grizz and Charlie have had a good relationship from BU, they play well together. Not worried about that. Zee and Clifton, we haven't seen much of, so we'll see." Wonder how long that would last. That would be giving Cliffy a lot of playing time and probably a lot less for Mac. I do like the idea though. That would be my concern as well, how the ice time all shakes out. Maybe this is a covert way by Butch of phasing down Z's ice time, that makes a ton of sense as well.
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Post by KSJ08 on Nov 8, 2019 12:44:00 GMT -5
I made my thoughts on this in game day thread.
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Post by SeaBass on Nov 8, 2019 12:44:16 GMT -5
Wonder how long that would last. That would be giving Cliffy a lot of playing time and probably a lot less for Mac. I do like the idea though. That would be my concern as well, how the ice time all shakes out. Maybe this is a covert way by Butch of phasing down Z's ice time, that makes a ton of sense as well. Especially against teams with speed.
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Post by KSJ08 on Nov 8, 2019 13:38:02 GMT -5
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Post by madmarx on Nov 8, 2019 17:37:11 GMT -5
I would like Seny to get ten games and see what you have, I got a hunch he will excel in the NHL given a proper chance ..
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Post by SeaBass on Nov 11, 2019 8:21:56 GMT -5
BOSTON — Here’s something about Joe Thornton that is a little hard to believe, courtesy of a man who has known the Sharks’ future Hall of Fame center for more than 22 years.
When he arrived in Boston in 1997 after the Bruins took him first overall in the previous June draft, “he was just a quiet, shy boy,” recalled Johnny Bucyk, the legendary former captain of the Bruins who is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame himself.
Wait a second. Joe Thornton, quiet and shy? Really?
“Yes, I was. I was kind of like a deer in headlights,” Thornton recalled. “It was like, (the NHL) is a different animal than I’m used to. These guys have kids, and they’re big and strong. It was just a lot to take in my first little while. It was just kind of soaking everything in and just watching what everybody else was doing.”
As an 18-year-old rookie, though, Thornton quickly learned he could lean on Bucyk for just about anything. At the time, Bucyk was serving as the Bruins’ road services coordinator, handling many of the off-ice needs of the players and making sure everything ran smoothly on the road, too.
And Bucyk, now 84, took to the Bruins’ new franchise center immediately. He saw many traits in Thornton that he saw in himself, a 23-year veteran and former captain of a team that captured the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972.
“We became such good friends right off the bat, just right off the bat,” Bucyk said recently while sitting in the Bruins’ alumni suite at TD Garden last month. “It was just what we had in common. Joe was very friendly. I’ve never seen him turn a kid down for an autograph. That’s something I always did, too, and still do it. And he still does, too. He was just such a good kid, and so easy to get along with. When I was doing the travel and stuff, he was just easy. Just no problem.
“The relationship we had was just so different, that we just did a lot of stuff together.”
Thornton, 40, has three photos in his home office. One is the most famous image in NHL history, capturing Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr flying through the air. Another is a 21-year-old Thornton with Gordie Howe.
The other is Thornton and Bucyk. They’ve remained close friends over the past two decades.
“Chief is a hard guy to get to know, but once he opens up to you he’s a friend for life,” Thornton said, using Bucyk’s well-known nickname. “I’m lucky that I had the ability to become friends with him and share a lot of good moments with him. For me, it was just, wow, Johnny Buyck is around all the time, which he was. He was around all the time, you’d see his number in the rafters. It was cool.”
Thornton, of course, eventually developed into one of the NHL’s best players, really breaking through in his sixth season in 2002-03 with 101 points in 77 games. He finished fourth in voting for the Hart Trophy (league MVP) that season.
“He was very strong. He still is, his physique is so big,” Bucyk said. “He kept himself in good shape, good conditioning. And he played to win. I always saw that in Joe. He would do anything to try to score a goal or set up a goal to win a game, he was good on faceoffs. He would do anything. He had all the talent in the world.”
That’s what made Boston’s decision to trade Thornton to the Sharks on Nov. 30, 2005, so difficult for Buyck. The captain of the Bruins at the time, and in the midst of a season in which he would capture the Hart Trophy, Thornton headed west in exchange for Brad Stuart, Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau.
It was a trade that shocked the hockey world, set up the Sharks for success for the next decade and a half, and broke Bucyk’s heart.
“I could have cried when they traded him,” Bucyk said. “I know he was as shocked as I was when he was told he was traded. We both looked at each other and both had tears in our eyes. It was just something he never expected, and neither did I. I thought he’d be here for a long time, and I was disappointed that he wasn’t. … There was nothing I could do, he had to leave.”
Thornton admitted that once he realized he wouldn’t be seeing Bucyk every day around the Bruins’ dressing room it hit him hard, as well.
“I had always heard when players got traded — and it’s true — you just kind of lose touch of people because you’re pulled in a different direction, you’re with a new team, you want to start fresh. It’s like having an old girlfriend, you kind of want to forget about her a little bit,” Thornton said.
“With me and him, we had such a strong bond that I think it kind of hit me that, hey, I’m not going to see you every day. I’m not going to see you on the road or at home. I think it was tough for both of us, yeah.”
But the two didn’t lose touch. Even though the Sharks and Bruins didn’t see each other very often, Thornton and Bucyk would often find a time to catch up when they did, and that’s lasted through the years even with Bucyk no longer traveling. At the Sharks’ morning skate at TD Garden last February, for example, Bucyk was there hanging out with Thornton and meeting some of the other visiting players.
And when Thornton was suffering through an infected knee at the start of last season that caused him to miss three weeks, Bucyk reached out to see how he was doing.
“He knows what’s going on,” Thornton said. “He’s always watching me, and I’m always keeping tabs on him even though we’re 2,000-some miles apart. It’s comforting to know that he’s still watching.”
Said Bucyk, who still attends most Bruins games as a team ambassador: “I always watch and read the papers and see what he’s been doing and what he’s accomplishing. I know he was hurt last year and I thought that could be the end of his career, but when I talked to him last year, he said (he’d) like to go another year and see what happens.”
Thornton’s longevity is something else he has in common with Bucyk, who played from 1955-56 until 1977-78, retiring at the age of 42 with 1,369 points in 1,540 career games. In 2017, he was selected as one of the NHL’s all-time top 100 players.
In fact, Thornton believes that might have been something that Bucyk saw in him 22 years ago when he was just breaking into the league.
“He was like, this kid, if I help him and take him under my wing and make him feel comfortable, he might play 20-plus years, like I did,” Thornton said. “And I think maybe he saw that in me. I don’t know why, but hopefully it was something towards that.
“He didn’t have an easy path to start; I don’t think I did either, but we both managed to stick around and love the game for so long. And he’s still doing it, which I wouldn’t expect anything different. He loves the game. He loves the game.”
So, of course, does Thornton, which is one trait that’s mentioned by nearly everybody who has played with him. Perhaps now we know where he got it from.
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Post by SeaBass on Nov 11, 2019 8:24:40 GMT -5
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Post by offwego on Nov 11, 2019 12:57:07 GMT -5
I would love to go to that game..... 🙏 🙏 🙏
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Post by SeaBass on Nov 11, 2019 13:34:23 GMT -5
I would love to go to that game..... 🙏 🙏 🙏 Me too!!
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Post by KSJ08 on Nov 11, 2019 13:40:27 GMT -5
I would love to go to that game..... 🙏 🙏 🙏 Me too!! Nope not me. I hate when they travel internationally for these games. ( I know Canada is legally international but same contitnent) Too risky for something stupid to happen. JMHO. Oh yea this too www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDGlN6mluGA
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Post by madmarx on Nov 11, 2019 15:08:28 GMT -5
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Post by fforr on Nov 12, 2019 9:18:54 GMT -5
Thanks! That was way cool.
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Post by SeaBass on Nov 12, 2019 9:29:30 GMT -5
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Post by crafar01 on Nov 12, 2019 18:51:35 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Nov 13, 2019 12:42:30 GMT -5
Someone did some research. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So if you don't use Hockey Reference when looking up stats, you're an idiot. They're unbelievably detailed, and I pulled all of my data from there.
Now, the first question: why didn't we use Pastrnak in the shootout? Leading the league with 16 goals, he seems like the logical choice, right?
Nope. In his entire career, David Pastrnak is 3 for 19 in the shootout, giving him a 15.8% conversion rate. He hasn't scored in his last 5 attempts, and hasn't scored in the shootout since the 2017-18 season. That's pretty bad, but it's nowhere near the worst on the team.
Alright, what about Bergeron? He's 17 for 68 in his career, giving him an even 25% shooting percentage- that's pretty good, right? Well, not once you look a little closer. Bergeron hasn't scored on his last 11 attempts, which date back to 2014-15 being the last time he scored in the shootout. That's what we call NOT GOOD.
Okay, okay, let's throw Marchand out there. He's 9 for 40 in his career, good for 22.5%- buuuut, since 2017-18, he is only 2 for 13, good for approximately 15.4%. Also not good.
Now, let's move down the rest of the lineup.
David Krejci is 13 for 45 in the shootout for his career, giving us approximately 28.9% conversion rate. Now, that's pretty good! Buuuut, let's look at this a little bit closer- in 2009-10 and 2011-12, Krejci took 10 shootout attempts in each, scoring on 4 and 5 respectively. Those are massive outliers for his career. Outside of those 2 seasons, Krejci is 4 for 25, giving us a 16% conversion rate- not to mention that he hasn't scored in the shootout since the 2015-16 season.
I'm just gonna rattle off the rest of the lineup real quick since they're all fairly unremarkable, or downright fucking terrible.
-Jake DeBrusk: 2 for 8, 25%. I don't consider this a large enough sample size to be definitive.
-Danton Heinen: 0 for 5. Again, sample size.
-Joakim Nordstrom: 0 for 1.
-Chris Wagner: 0 for 1
-Zdeno Chara: 1 for 7.
-Charlie McAvoy: 2 for 5.
-Torey Krug: 2 for 11.
Par Lindholm, Sean Kuraly, Anders Bjork, Zach Senyshyn, Brandon Carlo, Urho Vaakanainen, Matt Grzelcyk and Connor Clifton have never had a shootout attempt in their careers.
So, the one guy on the Bruins who I would consider to be even somewhat good at the shootout is none other than...
Charlie Coyle.
Coyle is 6 for 18 in his career, giving us a 33.3% conversion rate. With the Bruins, he's 2 for 4, a flat 50- again, sample size is something to be concerned about, but he's the only one I've got any confidence in at this point.
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Post by DonnyBrook on Nov 13, 2019 13:21:13 GMT -5
the move that pasta did on the two on one is what he should try in the shootout..i know he has no one to pass to. but if he came in like that the goalie might not know whats going on and he could rip it short side..
he would be better for some to shoot instead of trying a move.
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Post by DonnyBrook on Nov 13, 2019 13:53:40 GMT -5
vodka out 4-6 weeks after low bridge from kucherov.
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Post by crafar01 on Nov 15, 2019 10:01:15 GMT -5
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Post by DonnyBrook on Nov 15, 2019 10:07:49 GMT -5
get ready for the PC police. the pc police, police, police.
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Post by crafar01 on Nov 15, 2019 10:17:23 GMT -5
get ready for the PC police. the pc police, police, police. You got it. I hope RGO doesn't apologize and, in fact, tells them to go fuck themselves...which he would never do, of course, because he's far too nice of a person, but it is fun to think about.
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Post by KSJ08 on Nov 15, 2019 10:19:40 GMT -5
Yeah Mr. Orr is way too nice to tell the PC to just STFU!!! I'm glad he did say what he did too!!!!
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Post by kjc2 on Nov 15, 2019 10:50:30 GMT -5
He may not be a racist but what he said was racist. If it came out wrong he should have been given the opportunity to set it straight. I’m not sure if their’s an agenda and SportNet were looking to get rid of him but either way Cherry should have apologized and corrected his wording.
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Post by SeaBass on Nov 15, 2019 11:00:37 GMT -5
Matthews settle. According to a report, the Toronto Maple Leafs star has settled the matter and it has been dismissed. The charge stemmed from an alleged off-season incident between Matthews and a female security guard in Scottsdale, Ariz., in May.
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Post by kjc2 on Nov 15, 2019 11:03:58 GMT -5
Matthews settle. According to a report, the Toronto Maple Leafs star has settled the matter and it has been dismissed. The charge stemmed from an alleged off-season incident between Matthews and a female security guard in Scottsdale, Ariz., in May. The Toronto press will still grill him enough to rattle him before tonight’s game. Lol
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Post by KSJ08 on Nov 15, 2019 11:23:45 GMT -5
He may not be a racist but what he said was racist. If it came out wrong he should have been given the opportunity to set it straight. I’m not sure if their’s an agenda and SportNet were looking to get rid of him but either way Cherry should have apologized and corrected his wording. Sorry but I'm tired of all this one sides racist shit! He said "You People come here" What people? American,Russians,Africans, Iranians,Arabs, Greeks, Italians,French,Irish,English WHO??? He did NOT single out ANYONE specific nationality/race! It's the dam bleeding heart liberal snowflakes just whining about ANYTING they seem to THINK is racist! Total bullshit From the article below: "I know Grapes better than anybody," Orr said. "He's not a bigot and he's not a racist. This guy is the most generous, caring guy that I know. What they've done to him up there is disgraceful, it really is. It's a new world I guess. Freedom of speech doesn't matter." www.tsn.ca/hockey-legend-bobby-orr-calls-don-cherry-firing-disgraceful-1.1398309
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Post by kjc2 on Nov 15, 2019 11:44:33 GMT -5
He may not be a racist but what he said was racist. If it came out wrong he should have been given the opportunity to set it straight. I’m not sure if their’s an agenda and SportNet were looking to get rid of him but either way Cherry should have apologized and corrected his wording. Sorry but I'm tired of all this one sides racist shit! From the article below: "I know Grapes better than anybody," Orr said. "He's not a bigot and he's not a racist. This guy is the most generous, caring guy that I know. What they've done to him up there is disgraceful, it really is. It's a new world I guess. Freedom of speech doesn't matter." www.tsn.ca/hockey-legend-bobby-orr-calls-don-cherry-firing-disgraceful-1.1398309I’m tired of it as well. I love Bobby Orr and I love the fact he stands by his friend. I’ve watched Coaches Corner for the full 35 years, he says shit, he stirs the pot and that’s why people have tuned in all this time. He crossed the line of what’s considered acceptable here in Canada today. 30 years ago he said the same things without any repercussions but now the line has changed. Networks and sponsors won’t allow it. The definition of racism fits with his comments. Not crazy about Ron Maclean right now though, sounds like he cut his partner of 35 years loose when he stood silent and made no attempt to help the situation on air.
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Post by KSJ08 on Nov 15, 2019 14:11:45 GMT -5
Sorry but I'm tired of all this one sides racist shit! From the article below: "I know Grapes better than anybody," Orr said. "He's not a bigot and he's not a racist. This guy is the most generous, caring guy that I know. What they've done to him up there is disgraceful, it really is. It's a new world I guess. Freedom of speech doesn't matter." www.tsn.ca/hockey-legend-bobby-orr-calls-don-cherry-firing-disgraceful-1.1398309I’m tired of it as well. I love Bobby Orr and I love the fact he stands by his friend. I’ve watched Coaches Corner for the full 35 years, he says shit, he stirs the pot and that’s why people have tuned in all this time. He crossed the line of what’s considered acceptable here in Canada today. 30 years ago he said the same things without any repercussions but now the line has changed. Networks and sponsors won’t allow it. The definition of racism fits with his comments. Not crazy about Ron Maclean right now though, sounds like he cut his partner of 35 years loose when he stood silent and made no attempt to help the situation on air. Not trying to piss you off or create hostilities. I'm just stating my opinion as you are and I respect you for it!! Let's go Bruins!!!!!!!
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Post by kjc2 on Nov 15, 2019 14:57:50 GMT -5
I’m tired of it as well. I love Bobby Orr and I love the fact he stands by his friend. I’ve watched Coaches Corner for the full 35 years, he says shit, he stirs the pot and that’s why people have tuned in all this time. He crossed the line of what’s considered acceptable here in Canada today. 30 years ago he said the same things without any repercussions but now the line has changed. Networks and sponsors won’t allow it. The definition of racism fits with his comments. Not crazy about Ron Maclean right now though, sounds like he cut his partner of 35 years loose when he stood silent and made no attempt to help the situation on air. Not trying to piss you off or create hostilities. I'm just stating my opinion as you are and I respect you for it!! Let's go Bruins!!!!!!! You're right, we don't need to agree on everything and I respect your opinion as well. We all come here for the Bruins anyhow and tonight we put a beat down on those Maple Loafs.
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