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Post by SeaBass on Dec 31, 2020 7:35:54 GMT -5
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Post by kjc2 on Dec 31, 2020 7:56:26 GMT -5
The webpage continues to crash on me. What’s Kalman saying here?
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Post by SeaBass on Dec 31, 2020 8:09:25 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Dec 31, 2020 8:10:43 GMT -5
The webpage continues to crash on me. What’s Kalman saying here? The Boston Bruins told us that Zdeno Chara was waiting to see what the 2020-21 NHL season was going to look like before he made a decision on his future. We were told, again by the Bruins (this time via president Cam Neely instead of general manager Don Sweeney) that Chara’s thoughts on his role and what the Bruins had to offer in terms of playing time might not be congruent but that the Bruins valued his services. But then the Bruins captain took to Instagram on Wednesday and told us what was really what. Chara wrote: “My family and I have been so fortunate to call the great city of Boston our home for over 14 years. Recently, The Boston Bruins have informed me that they plan to move forward with their many younger and talented players and I respect their decision. Unfortunately, my time as the proud Captain of the Bruins has come to an end.” Not long after that post, it was announced Chara, four days before the start of NHL training camps, had signed a one-year deal worth $795,000. Ouch. This decision by Sweeney & Co. will take a world-champion dreidel player’s level of spin to explain how it makes any sense at this point in time during the coronavirus era of the NHL to remove such a vital piece of the lineup with little to replace him. It’s debatable whether the Bruins have as many “younger and talented players” as they think they have. They’re definitely “younger.” But for several years few experts have given the Bruins’ prospects pool anything near a high grade, and the defense hasn’t been at the head of the class in those assessments. Even if they’re “talented” enough for the long haul to prove those experts wrong, how long is it going to take for the likes of Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril and/or Jeremy Lauzon to emerge as legitimate top-four defensemen? Because in case the Bruins didn’t notice, time is not on their side. There’s a 56-game condensed schedule coming up. The normal growing pains of young defensemen, especially when there’s multiple green blueliners in the lineup together, could be a roadblock to the Bruins getting off to the requisite fast start in this season. So many Bruins prospects, in the past decade alone, have sputtered at the start of their careers when they were expected to seize a job. We’re not just talking about the Ryan Spooner-level busts. Anders Bjork, Matt Grzelcyk, and others needed more AHL seasoning after their initial NHL experience. There’s no way Sweeney can be so certain that all his prized prospects are ready to just pick up where Chara and Torey Krug left off and the Bruins will be playing on the Fourth of July. If more John Moore or Kevan Miller or Connor Clifton playing on the left side are some sort of Plan B, please don’t reveal Plan C. The shortened season isn’t the only thing pushing the sands through the Bruins’ hourglass faster. Patrice Bergeron is 35, David Krejci is 34 and Tuukka Rask is 33. Even Brad Marchand is 32. Krejci and Rask are entering the last year of their contracts. If the idea was to go for it one more time with this core — and a shortened season might’ve been the perfect time to take advantage not just of their talent, but their chemistry — those pillars of the organization are now left to wonder what kind of season this club will have with such a drop-off on its back end. Sure Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo are a decent top three, but after that the Bruins lack the size, grit and experience to handle the cream of the East Division, let alone go deep in the postseason. Obviously having 43-year-old Chara in the defense corps for the unusually heavy schedule was going to be a challenge. He was going to have to accept a cut in minutes and possibly even some nights in the press box. But that can’t be the reason he left, considering he’s joining a Capitals lineup that already has Brenden Dillon, Michal Kempny, Dmitry Orlov, and Jonas Siegenthaler on its left side. The Capitals obviously understand the need for depth, experience and durability in the upcoming season. He knows he’s not going to be logging 2009-level top-pair minutes. The Bruins, on the other hand, are paying Miller more than the Caps will pay Chara. They’re rolling the dice that their young defensemen will all play at a level we’ve never seen them reach as pros. And they’re betting that if the defense is a little leakier than usual, Rask and 35-year-old Jaroslav Halak are going to be able to reach Jennings Trophy form. All the Bruins had to do was put off their great “youth movement” a few more months, pay their loyal captain less than $1 million and go for it one last time before the corps has to break up. If they were going to go this route so soon, they should’ve traded Krug before last year’s deadline and they should’ve moved on from Rask this summer. A rebuild by any other name is still a rebuild. There’s an argument to be made for the Bruins needing one, but this was not the time. Now was the time go put all the chips in and try to win one last Cup before the major roster overhaul happens. The post Bruins Let Zdeno Chara Leave At Wrong Time appeared first on Full Press Hockey.
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Post by kjc2 on Dec 31, 2020 8:19:20 GMT -5
I think the Bruins did the right thing and also Chara did what he had to do. The only reason it could possibly be the wrong time (which I don’t agree with) is that the start of this season most likely going to be rough. No Krug, No Z and both Bergeron’s linemates will be missing or at least not at full capacity. The start of the season I would expect will be rough with or without Z but all the pressure of a potential bad start will be put squarely on Bergy. I think we’re all in agreement he’ll be the next captain. I’m praying we’ll have a strong start.
What is the latest on both Marchand and Pasta?
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Post by SeaBass on Dec 31, 2020 8:37:26 GMT -5
I think the Bruins did the right thing and also Chara did what he had to do. The only reason it could possibly be the wrong time (which I don’t agree with) is that the start of this season most likely going to be rough. No Krug, No Z and both Bergeron’s linemates will be missing or at least not at full capacity. The start of the season I would expect will be rough with or without Z but all the pressure of a potential bad start will be put squarely on Bergy. I think we’re all in agreement he’ll be the next captain. I’m praying we’ll have a strong start. What is the latest on both Marchand and Pasta? 985thesportshub.com/2020/12/22/bruins-updates-offseason-surgeries-brad-marchand-david-pastrnak-2021-season/
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Post by SeaBass on Dec 31, 2020 9:00:30 GMT -5
It was hot and muggy on the morning of Wednesday July 5, 2006, and much of Boston had a “Do Not Disturb” sign hanging on the door, this being the day after the city’s annual Fourth of July festivities.
It was not, then, the kind of day that inspires one to mull the joys of hockey. Certainly not Bruins hockey, no, no, no, not then, not with this pack of rubble coming off a fifth-place finish in the NHL’s Northeast Division and failing to qualify for Stanley Cup playoffs. The B’s hadn’t even made it out of the first round since 1999; where once they were the Big, Bad Bruins, now they were just, well, bad.
And yet the Bruins went right ahead and got folks talking hockey on that furnace of a morning, assembling a Causeway Street press conference to introduce their newest acquisition, defenseman Zdeno Chara, late of the Ottawa Senators. It was big, big news because Chara, 29 years old at the time, was a big, big guy, all 6 feet, 9 inches and 250 pounds of him. It was big, big news because the Bruins were swinging open the creaky door to the vault at Delaware North to withdraw the $37.5 million that would be paid out to Chara over the next five years. And it was big, big news because with this signing — and also the addition of free agent Marc Savard — the Bruins were signaling their interest in sitting at the grown-ups table with the Patriots and Red Sox as Boston teams that had won championships in the 21st century.
And now, all these years later, and with the luxury of being able to feast our eyes on Zdeno Chara’s 14 seasons as a member of the Boston Bruins, we can now better understand — and appreciate — the history that was made on that July morning in 2006 when Big Z climbed into a Spoked B.
For as Chara exits the Boston stage, which happened Wednesday when he signed with the Washington Capitals, it’s appropriate that we pause for a moment to recognize that this mountain of a man did so much than “earn the money” and “live up to his billing,” which are standard accounting procedures after a free agent has packed up and moved on.
Zdeno Chara is one of the greatest athletes in Boston sports history. That’s not opinion. That’s fact. For that’s where we land if we liberate ourselves from Top 10 lists and slide shows and boil it down to one simple question: If you were to set up a VIP Lounge for the greatest athletes in Boston history — a true Legends Club, if you will — would Zdeno Chara’s name be included among the list of gold-embossed invitations dropped off at the post office?
Yes, of course.
Before we even get to his awards, his All-Star nods and his status as the captain who scratched the ceiling of Vancouver’s Rogers Arena when the big fella held the Stanley Cup over his head on the night of June 15, 2011, here’s a distinction that sets Chara apart from his fellow legends: Chara is on his way to becoming the first big-bucks free-agent signing by a Boston sports team to be enshrined in his sport’s Hall of Fame.
I suppose I should qualify that a little. It’s true that David Ortiz was a free agent when he signed with the Red Sox in 2003. But he only became available because he’d been non-tendered by the Minnesota Twins, after which he signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Red Sox.
Ortiz went on to become the most important player in the history of the Red Sox, leading the team to three World Series championships as well as emerging as an important voice in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, but there was no fancy press conference when he arrived in town, no photo opp as he climbed into his crisp, new home jersey. The Boston Globe’s Gordon Edes was moved to write that the Red Sox, with their January 22, 2003, signing of Ortiz, had “completed a winter of shopping at Walmart.”
Chara is now 43. Whenever he finally retires, he’ll wait the obligatory three seasons and then be whisked directly to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The cooling-off period for baseball’s Hall of Fame is five seasons, which means Ortiz, who retired in 2016, will be eligible at the end of the 2021 campaign.
Whichever one gets the call first, Chara will earn the distinction of being the first free-agent Hall of Fame signing in Boston to have “lived up to his billing,” this because there was no billing when Ortiz landed in Boston, just a press release.
Chara’s arrival was all bells, whistles and sandwiches, with the Bruins laying out the good china to show off their new employee. It was an event in which everyone said all the right things “I’m not afraid of challenge,” Chara said that day. I’m willing to lead by my example with hard work, dedication and discipline and drive. I want to bring this team on the winning track. Once we do that I want to be a contender for the cup and hopefully be a champion.”
Dave Lewis, the incoming coach of the Bruins who would last but one season, said, “You can tell that the organization is committed to winning because of these signings. Players now want to come here. So there’s something going on.”
And Jeff Gorton, the interim general manager who was minding the shop until Peter Chiarelli could finish up his contractual obligations with Ottawa and then run the Bruins, mused that the team gave Chara the biggest sweater they could find for the photo op but, oops, it still wasn’t big enough.
What went unsaid that day, in the interest of decorum, was that Chara would be the first big, huge, smilin’-for-the-cameras, sayin’-all-the-right things free agent to go on and have such a wondrous Boston career that the Hall of Fame would one day beckon. And yet here we are. In his 14 seasons in Boston, the Bruins made it to the Stanley Cup Final three times. When the B’s toppled Vancouver in 2011, it brought their first Stanley Cup since 1972 and earned Boston the distinction of having won NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL championships in the still-adolescent 21st century.
Chara won a Norris Trophy, presented to the league’s top defenseman, joining Raymond Bourque and Bobby Orr as Bruins who have been so honored. He was a five-time All-Star as a Bruin. He was presented the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2011. And never forget that he returned to the ice for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final in 2019 after being hit in the face by a deflected puck during Game 4 and suffering multiple fractures.
I’ll pause now as you recall the ovation Chara received at the Garden when his name was announced.
It’s right up there with the greatest non-game-related moments in Boston sports history. Yes, right up there with Bourque pulling off his No. 7 that night in 1987 and handing it over to Phil Esposito. Yes, right up there with the fan who yelled, “We love ya, Cooz,” during Bob Cousy’s emotional retirement ceremony on St. Patrick’s Day in 1963. Yes, right up there with Big Papi’s reminder on that sunny Saturday afternoon in 2013: “This is our fucking city. And nobody’s gonna dictate our freedom.”
There’s something very old-fashioned and corny about an aging athlete willing himself to compete at a high level while battling the ravages of time and its evil cousins, physical deterioration and scary injuries. And, too, there’s something very old-fashioned and corny about fans standing up and cheering uproariously for said athlete, as though playing out a scene in a grainy black-and-white movie. Yet it all meshed wonderfully that night: Chara pulling that Rollerball prop of a helmet over his head and skating out to the ice, and Bruins fans letting him know how much they appreciated the effort.
So, yes, a thousand times yes, the Bruins did more than introduce a newly-signed free agent that day in 2006. They signed a future Hall of Famer is what they did, even if nobody knew it at the time or, if they did know it, didn’t blurt it out at the press conference.
If you want to get all technical and ticky-tack about it, it’s true that other free agents have come to Boston and were later deemed Hall of Fame worthy. But we’re not including future Hall of Famers who signed with the Bruins as free agents late in their careers, such as Dave Andreychuk, Joe Mullen, Paul Coffey and Brian Leetch.
On the Red Sox side, this would include Orlando Cepeda, the future Hall of Famer who was signed as a free agent in 1973 to become Boston’s first-ever designated hitter.
The late Junior Seau signed with the Patriots as a free agent in 2006, but, of course, earned his Hall of Fame laurels on the strength of his accomplishments with the San Diego Chargers.
The same holds with the various future Hall of Famers who signed on with the Celtics late in their careers, including Dominique Wilkins and the late Pistol Pete Maravich.
These are athletes who were resident scholars in the twilight of their careers, and for Boston fans it was nice to see them in the hometown threads for a while.
Zdeno Chara was different, is different. He was an All-Star defenseman when he signed with the Bruins in 2006, but he was not yet a slam-dunk, no-more-calls-we-have-a-winner future Hall of Famer.
That would come later, in Boston.
And now it can be said: Zdeno Chara is Boston, wherever and however his career ends.
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Post by bruinsnorth on Dec 31, 2020 10:24:06 GMT -5
I think the Bruins did the right thing and also Chara did what he had to do. The only reason it could possibly be the wrong time (which I don’t agree with) is that the start of this season most likely going to be rough. No Krug, No Z and both Bergeron’s linemates will be missing or at least not at full capacity. The start of the season I would expect will be rough with or without Z but all the pressure of a potential bad start will be put squarely on Bergy. I think we’re all in agreement he’ll be the next captain. I’m praying we’ll have a strong start. What is the latest on both Marchand and Pasta? 985thesportshub.com/2020/12/22/bruins-updates-offseason-surgeries-brad-marchand-david-pastrnak-2021-season/Agreed, it was a tough situation for both sides. If the Bs want to get the youth injected on the left side how do you tell the Captain of the team that he is going to be sitting some nights and do you want a situation (like in San Jose with Thornton) where they stripped the captaincy from him and give it to Bergy? I think Chara has too much pride for that. I somehow get the feeling that the Bs are fully prepared to let the ship sink for this year if things go south in a hurry. They could probably unload Tuukka and Krejci for Picks and Propsects at the trade deadline since they are UFAs after this year. Could be the start of a rebuild coming up. After the draft in October I hope they bring in some new scouts before going full on into a rebuild.
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Post by skemack on Dec 31, 2020 13:15:29 GMT -5
OK I have a problem with the articles that slam the Bruins for not signing Chara for one last hurrah. These same wankers would be the first ones to criticize the Bruins if they miss the playoffs this year or do not win the cup. Really it is a damned if they do damned if they don't situation.
Does anyone here actually expect the Bruins to make the playoffs? Again not to be the negative Nelly but given the division the Bruins are in this season it is definitely possible that they will in fact miss them. They suck against Washington and have been terrible against the Flyers lately too so if they perform their usual against just those two teams then realistically the playoffs are not in the cards.
Honestly this team needs a rebuild and my expectations for the last hurrah are in fact quite low. Marchand and Pasta out for the first part of the season, no cap room to sign a UFA. So honestly what is Chara being on the team going to do to prevent a train wreck start? Honestly at this point there is little he can do so let Vaak and Zboril play this year.
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 1, 2021 7:30:30 GMT -5
The webpage continues to crash on me. What’s Kalman saying here? The Boston Bruins told us that Zdeno Chara was waiting to see what the 2020-21 NHL season was going to look like before he made a decision on his future. We were told, again by the Bruins (this time via president Cam Neely instead of general manager Don Sweeney) that Chara’s thoughts on his role and what the Bruins had to offer in terms of playing time might not be congruent but that the Bruins valued his services. But then the Bruins captain took to Instagram on Wednesday and told us what was really what. Chara wrote: “My family and I have been so fortunate to call the great city of Boston our home for over 14 years. Recently, The Boston Bruins have informed me that they plan to move forward with their many younger and talented players and I respect their decision. Unfortunately, my time as the proud Captain of the Bruins has come to an end.” Not long after that post, it was announced Chara, four days before the start of NHL training camps, had signed a one-year deal worth $795,000. Ouch. This decision by Sweeney & Co. will take a world-champion dreidel player’s level of spin to explain how it makes any sense at this point in time during the coronavirus era of the NHL to remove such a vital piece of the lineup with little to replace him. It’s debatable whether the Bruins have as many “younger and talented players” as they think they have. They’re definitely “younger.” But for several years few experts have given the Bruins’ prospects pool anything near a high grade, and the defense hasn’t been at the head of the class in those assessments. Even if they’re “talented” enough for the long haul to prove those experts wrong, how long is it going to take for the likes of Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril and/or Jeremy Lauzon to emerge as legitimate top-four defensemen? Because in case the Bruins didn’t notice, time is not on their side. There’s a 56-game condensed schedule coming up. The normal growing pains of young defensemen, especially when there’s multiple green blueliners in the lineup together, could be a roadblock to the Bruins getting off to the requisite fast start in this season. So many Bruins prospects, in the past decade alone, have sputtered at the start of their careers when they were expected to seize a job. We’re not just talking about the Ryan Spooner-level busts. Anders Bjork, Matt Grzelcyk, and others needed more AHL seasoning after their initial NHL experience. There’s no way Sweeney can be so certain that all his prized prospects are ready to just pick up where Chara and Torey Krug left off and the Bruins will be playing on the Fourth of July. If more John Moore or Kevan Miller or Connor Clifton playing on the left side are some sort of Plan B, please don’t reveal Plan C. The shortened season isn’t the only thing pushing the sands through the Bruins’ hourglass faster. Patrice Bergeron is 35, David Krejci is 34 and Tuukka Rask is 33. Even Brad Marchand is 32. Krejci and Rask are entering the last year of their contracts. If the idea was to go for it one more time with this core — and a shortened season might’ve been the perfect time to take advantage not just of their talent, but their chemistry — those pillars of the organization are now left to wonder what kind of season this club will have with such a drop-off on its back end. Sure Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo are a decent top three, but after that the Bruins lack the size, grit and experience to handle the cream of the East Division, let alone go deep in the postseason. Obviously having 43-year-old Chara in the defense corps for the unusually heavy schedule was going to be a challenge. He was going to have to accept a cut in minutes and possibly even some nights in the press box. But that can’t be the reason he left, considering he’s joining a Capitals lineup that already has Brenden Dillon, Michal Kempny, Dmitry Orlov, and Jonas Siegenthaler on its left side. The Capitals obviously understand the need for depth, experience and durability in the upcoming season. He knows he’s not going to be logging 2009-level top-pair minutes. The Bruins, on the other hand, are paying Miller more than the Caps will pay Chara. They’re rolling the dice that their young defensemen will all play at a level we’ve never seen them reach as pros. And they’re betting that if the defense is a little leakier than usual, Rask and 35-year-old Jaroslav Halak are going to be able to reach Jennings Trophy form. All the Bruins had to do was put off their great “youth movement” a few more months, pay their loyal captain less than $1 million and go for it one last time before the corps has to break up. If they were going to go this route so soon, they should’ve traded Krug before last year’s deadline and they should’ve moved on from Rask this summer. A rebuild by any other name is still a rebuild. There’s an argument to be made for the Bruins needing one, but this was not the time. Now was the time go put all the chips in and try to win one last Cup before the major roster overhaul happens. The post Bruins Let Zdeno Chara Leave At xWrong Time appeared first on Full Press Hockey. Thanks Seabass! I had trouble with a few links yesterday but I’m sure it was on my end. I disagree with a couple of things here, first of all there’s a big difference between Z accepting a reduced role with the Bruins than it is with the Caps. He has a legacy with Boston, there’s a lot of pride on the line. Playing with the Caps he’s just an old vet finding his way on a new team. Sadly I see Chara’s time with the Caps resembling Marty Brodeur’s time with the Blues. Secondly, I’ve been thinking for a couple of years now that Chara wasn’t propping MacAvoy’s game up it was the other way around. Sure Chara had veteran savvy and leadership but he just couldn’t get around anymore, Charlie been covering his ass for two years at least. He was making bad plays because he was just a step or two too late. In game 4 in the final against St. Louis he took a puck to the jaw and he was supposed to be out with a broken jaw. Of course I wasn’t happy about it but I was a little relieved that we were going to get a fresh body out there that could skate. As we know he played through and was cheered for it but truthfully he was fucking brutal. My point is he didn’t help us go all the way then and two years later he’d be zero help now.
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 1, 2021 8:01:22 GMT -5
OK I have a problem with the articles that slam the Bruins for not signing Chara for one last hurrah. These same wankers would be the first ones to criticize the Bruins if they miss the playoffs this year or do not win the cup. Really it is a damned if they do damned if they don't situation. Does anyone here actually expect the Bruins to make the playoffs? Again not to be the negative Nelly but given the division the Bruins are in this season it is definitely possible that they will in fact miss them. They suck against Washington and have been terrible against the Flyers lately too so if they perform their usual against just those two teams then realistically the playoffs are not in the cards. Honestly this team needs a rebuild and my expectations for the last hurrah are in fact quite low. Marchand and Pasta out for the first part of the season, no cap room to sign a UFA. So honestly what is Chara being on the team going to do to prevent a train wreck start? Honestly at this point there is little he can do so let Vaak and Zboril play this year. I’m 50/50 on us making the playoffs. This season opens with a ton of question marks and whenever that’s the case you just don’t know. In an ideal world: Marchand misses 2-3 games and comes back strong, Smith takes Pasta’s spot and that line remains effective Pasta comes back mid Feb at 100% Debrusk/Krejci/Kase show chemistry and turn into the line we saw glimpses of in the playoffs. Both Studnika and Frederic make the team out of camp, Studnicka contributes offensively and Freddy brings the physicality. Nick Ritchie is a regular and is a legit tough guy. McAvoy’s takes Krug’s spot on the PP and our power play doesn’t miss a beat. Both D replacing Krug and Z are at least as good defensively (the bar wasn’t high with either of the outgoing guys) All of these things don’t have to go right to make the playoffs but Pasta/Marchand are a must for sure.
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Post by KSJ08 on Jan 1, 2021 9:09:46 GMT -5
Marchy's been on the ice so he may very well be in the line up opening night. I only hope he is %100-95 or he could have a set back that would NOT be good for the team.
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Post by madmarx on Jan 1, 2021 10:22:38 GMT -5
Bruins vs Philly Feb 21 will be an Outdoor game in Lake Tahoe
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 1, 2021 10:47:00 GMT -5
Marchy's been on the ice so he may very well be in the line up opening night. I only hope he is %100-95 or he could have a set back that would NOT be good for the team. Kev, I doubt Bruins management will allow Marchand to play if he isnt 100%..He had his surgery in Sept and was told it would be a 4 month wait to heal process..He's not coming back early, actually his 4 months are up..Yes sometimes they say it'll take 4 months to heal and sometimes it turns into 5 months but with him being on the ice NOW, I honestly think he'll be good to go opening night.. But I understand what you're saying and you're right, a setback would be a killer for the Bruins..But we have maybe the best training staff in the league..I trust them to make the right decisions or rather having Marchand ready..
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 1, 2021 10:52:24 GMT -5
[/quote]Thanks Seabass! I had trouble with a few links yesterday but I’m sure it was on my end.
I disagree with a couple of things here, first of all there’s a big difference between Z accepting a reduced role with the Bruins than it is with the Caps. He has a legacy with Boston, there’s a lot of pride on the line. Playing with the Caps he’s just an old vet finding his way on a new team. Sadly I see Chara’s time with the Caps resembling Marty Brodeur’s time with the Blues.
Secondly, I’ve been thinking for a couple of years now that Chara wasn’t propping MacAvoy’s game up it was the other way around. Sure Chara had veteran savvy and leadership but he just couldn’t get around anymore, Charlie been covering his ass for two years at least. He was making bad plays because he was just a step or two too late. In game 4 in the final against St. Louis he took a puck to the jaw and he was supposed to be out with a broken jaw. Of course I wasn’t happy about it but I was a little relieved that we were going to get a fresh body out there that could skate. As we know he played through and was cheered for it but truthfully he was fucking brutal. My point is he didn’t help us go all the way then and two years later he’d be zero help now. [/quote]
What you posted {in bold] makes so much sense that it went over my head like a kite..To me it puts the Chara situation right into prospective..And I agree with Z holding back Charlie.. And like you, I think it's a crap shoot on whether we make postseason..
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 1, 2021 10:56:19 GMT -5
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Post by skemack on Jan 1, 2021 11:09:55 GMT -5
OK I have a problem with the articles that slam the Bruins for not signing Chara for one last hurrah. These same wankers would be the first ones to criticize the Bruins if they miss the playoffs this year or do not win the cup. Really it is a damned if they do damned if they don't situation. Does anyone here actually expect the Bruins to make the playoffs? Again not to be the negative Nelly but given the division the Bruins are in this season it is definitely possible that they will in fact miss them. They suck against Washington and have been terrible against the Flyers lately too so if they perform their usual against just those two teams then realistically the playoffs are not in the cards. Honestly this team needs a rebuild and my expectations for the last hurrah are in fact quite low. Marchand and Pasta out for the first part of the season, no cap room to sign a UFA. So honestly what is Chara being on the team going to do to prevent a train wreck start? Honestly at this point there is little he can do so let Vaak and Zboril play this year. I’m 50/50 on us making the playoffs. This season opens with a ton of question marks and whenever that’s the case you just don’t know. In an ideal world: Marchand misses 2-3 games and comes back strong, Smith takes Pasta’s spot and that line remains effective Pasta comes back mid Feb at 100% Debrusk/Krejci/Kase show chemistry and turn into the line we saw glimpses of in the playoffs. Both Studnika and Frederic make the team out of camp, Studnicka contributes offensively and Freddy brings the physicality. Nick Ritchie is a regular and is a legit tough guy. McAvoy’s takes Krug’s spot on the PP and our power play doesn’t miss a beat. Both D replacing Krug and Z are at least as good defensively (the bar wasn’t high with either of the outgoing guys) All of these things don’t have to go right to make the playoffs but Pasta/Marchand are a must for sure. My thoughts as well, too many things have to come together for their to be a viable run at the playoffs and a cup. Glad to see I am not the only one on this board that has doubts about the playoffs.
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Post by skemack on Jan 1, 2021 11:11:25 GMT -5
OK I have a problem with the articles that slam the Bruins for not signing Chara for one last hurrah. These same wankers would be the first ones to criticize the Bruins if they miss the playoffs this year or do not win the cup. Really it is a damned if they do damned if they don't situation. Does anyone here actually expect the Bruins to make the playoffs? Again not to be the negative Nelly but given the division the Bruins are in this season it is definitely possible that they will in fact miss them. They suck against Washington and have been terrible against the Flyers lately too so if they perform their usual against just those two teams then realistically the playoffs are not in the cards. Honestly this team needs a rebuild and my expectations for the last hurrah are in fact quite low. Marchand and Pasta out for the first part of the season, no cap room to sign a UFA. So honestly what is Chara being on the team going to do to prevent a train wreck start? Honestly at this point there is little he can do so let Vaak and Zboril play this year. I forgot to add a part to the "these same wankers" part where I add that these wankers would be criticizing the Bruins for signing Chara and missing the playoffs.
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 1, 2021 12:29:14 GMT -5
Bruins vs Philly Feb 21 will be an Outdoor game in Lake Tahoe Why the heck are they playing there? Makes no sense with the travel.
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Post by KSJ08 on Jan 1, 2021 12:52:29 GMT -5
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Post by madmarx on Jan 1, 2021 13:18:22 GMT -5
Bruins vs Philly Feb 21 will be an Outdoor game in Lake Tahoe Why the heck are they playing there? Makes no sense with the travel. From what I have seen to appease NBC rating I believe there contract is coming up soon🤷♂️ Seems bizarre playing on a golf course 🤬
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Post by madmarx on Jan 1, 2021 15:19:29 GMT -5
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 1, 2021 19:53:16 GMT -5
Another writer acting like we let a 2011 version of Chara walk. Z is very slow now and while he’s always in great shape he just don’t have the stamina at 44 to handle this compressed schedule. So instead of having two little D and one giant slow D we’ll have 1 small D in Grz and most likely Lauzon, Moore, Zboril and Vaakanainen. 3 of them are 200 plus pounds and the youngest Vaak is listed at 185 and is most likely heavier now. Our D structure has always been about a 5 man unit. I really think we’ll be at least as good in the back end as we were last year. My only concern is our key people that are injured and our toughness.
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 2, 2021 6:03:55 GMT -5
Another writer acting like we let a 2011 version of Chara walk. Z is very slow now and while he’s always in great shape he just don’t have the stamina at 44 to handle this compressed schedule. So instead of having two little D and one giant slow D we’ll have 1 small D in Grz and most likely Lauzon, Moore, Zboril and Vaakanainen. 3 of them are 200 plus pounds and the youngest Vaak is listed at 185 and is most likely heavier now. Our D structure has always been about a 5 man unit. I really think we’ll be at least as good in the back end as we were last year. My only concern is our key people that are injured and our toughness. You dont think Kevan Miller will be healthy or just dont make top 6?? Maybe you just forgot to mention him but IF he's healthy, IF Frederic gets 4th line duties, and IF one of those guys can get the snarl out of Ritchie, I think we might be ok in the physical dept..But Ritchie has to prove he's not just another crap signing like his brother..Damn, just play like you did in Annaheim.. Marchand is skating now so there's a huge chance he'll be ready. While Pasta is out, there's a good chance we get to see both Frederic and Studnicka..That's what I'm looking forward to the most; seeing the kids play... And Speaking of kids, GO CANADA!!!!
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 2, 2021 7:26:16 GMT -5
Another writer acting like we let a 2011 version of Chara walk. Z is very slow now and while he’s always in great shape he just don’t have the stamina at 44 to handle this compressed schedule. So instead of having two little D and one giant slow D we’ll have 1 small D in Grz and most likely Lauzon, Moore, Zboril and Vaakanainen. 3 of them are 200 plus pounds and the youngest Vaak is listed at 185 and is most likely heavier now. Our D structure has always been about a 5 man unit. I really think we’ll be at least as good in the back end as we were last year. My only concern is our key people that are injured and our toughness. You dont think Kevan Miller will be healthy or just dont make top 6?? Maybe you just forgot to mention him but IF he's healthy, IF Frederic gets 4th line duties, and IF one of those guys can get the snarl out of Ritchie, I think we might be ok in the physical dept..But Ritchie has to prove he's not just another crap signing like his brother..Damn, just play like you did in Annaheim.. Marchand is skating now so there's a huge chance he'll be ready. While Pasta is out, there's a good chance we get to see both Frederic and Studnicka..That's what I'm looking forward to the most; seeing the kids play... And Speaking of kids, GO CANADA!!!! I was more thinking along the lines of these pairings Lauzon/McAvoy Grz/Carlo Moore/Miller Zboril/Clifton Vaak We have a lot of choices in pairings and I always want Miller in there regardless if it’s left or right side. I’d love to see Zboril take a full time role and start show why we picked him so high. With regards to toughness it’d be great to see Frederic, Ritchie and Miller in the lineup every night.
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Post by KSJ08 on Jan 2, 2021 11:06:40 GMT -5
That writer make Grez sound like a Pee Wee player when in fact I feel D Y's he's 1 slightly bigger than Krug & 2 Better defensively. I always said when Butch put those 2 together that was a SMALL D Pairing.
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Post by KSJ08 on Jan 2, 2021 11:09:01 GMT -5
Another writer acting like we let a 2011 version of Chara walk. Z is very slow now and while he’s always in great shape he just don’t have the stamina at 44 to handle this compressed schedule. So instead of having two little D and one giant slow D we’ll have 1 small D in Grz and most likely Lauzon, Moore, Zboril and Vaakanainen. 3 of them are 200 plus pounds and the youngest Vaak is listed at 185 and is most likely heavier now. Our D structure has always been about a 5 man unit. I really think we’ll be at least as good in the back end as we were last year. My only concern is our key people that are injured and our toughness. You dont think Kevan Miller will be healthy or just dont make top 6?? Maybe you just forgot to mention him but IF he's healthy, IF Frederic gets 4th line duties, and IF one of those guys can get the snarl out of Ritchie, I think we might be ok in the physical dept..But Ritchie has to prove he's not just another crap signing like his brother..Damn, just play like you did in Annaheim.. Marchand is skating now so there's a huge chance he'll be ready. While Pasta is out, there's a good chance we get to see both Frederic and Studnicka..That's what I'm looking forward to the most; seeing the kids play... And Speaking of kids, GO CANADA!!!! Happy New Year To you & your family Ernest!! I agree with everything you posted Except GO USA!:-) Hopefully those 2 meet in the Gold Medal game & the best team wins!!!
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Post by KSJ08 on Jan 2, 2021 11:14:00 GMT -5
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 2, 2021 11:22:02 GMT -5
You dont think Kevan Miller will be healthy or just dont make top 6?? Maybe you just forgot to mention him but IF he's healthy, IF Frederic gets 4th line duties, and IF one of those guys can get the snarl out of Ritchie, I think we might be ok in the physical dept..But Ritchie has to prove he's not just another crap signing like his brother..Damn, just play like you did in Annaheim.. Marchand is skating now so there's a huge chance he'll be ready. While Pasta is out, there's a good chance we get to see both Frederic and Studnicka..That's what I'm looking forward to the most; seeing the kids play... And Speaking of kids, GO CANADA!!!! Happy New Year To you & your family Ernest!! I agree with everything you posted Except GO USA!:-) Hopefully those 2 meet in the Gold Medal game & the best team wins!!! Thanks and same to you and family..I should of said Go Canada/USA cause that's the final I want..Yes my country vs your country BUT it's different..It's like my team playing my brother's team....
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Post by skemack on Jan 2, 2021 12:44:02 GMT -5
Why the heck are they playing there? Makes no sense with the travel. From what I have seen to appease NBC rating I believe there contract is coming up soon🤷♂️ Seems bizarre playing on a golf course 🤬 Am I the only one that thinks this kind of thing is irresponsible of the NHL and NBC to be doing during a pandemic?
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