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Post by madmarx on Jan 2, 2021 12:48:28 GMT -5
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? Nope I think it’s irresponsible as well as a money grab
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Post by KSJ08 on Jan 2, 2021 13:46:53 GMT -5
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? I think it's just a stupid location!!!
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 2, 2021 17:43:23 GMT -5
It doesn’t make any sense other than a money grab. They have the divisions set up for minimal travel....but let’s send 2 teams across the country.
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 2, 2021 18:02:35 GMT -5
Am I the only one that thinks this kind of thing is irresponsible of the NHL and NBC to be doing during a pandemic? Nope I think it’s irresponsible as well as a money grab With no fans there, unless something changes, It's almost like a slap in the face to the fans..
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 3, 2021 15:55:08 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 3, 2021 18:22:07 GMT -5
Bruins training camp roster.
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 4, 2021 7:19:05 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 4, 2021 7:50:48 GMT -5
The hockey puck as it’s been known forever, that humble 6-ounce chunk of hard rubber patented decades ago by Bruins general manager/coach Art Ross, has left the building.
There’s a new kid in NHL rinks, and this is fitted with a tiny embedded battery, a circuit board roughly the size of a half-dollar, and 6-inch-long tubes that emit infrared light at 60 pulses per second — fast, yet still two beats behind Connor McDavid on a breakaway.
“Crazy, isn’t it?” said the NHL’s Dave Lehanski, an executive vice president who has helped steer the puck’s development the last 7-8 years. “It almost has a life of its own.”
Crazy ain’t the half of it, especially for those of us who remember maddening nights of pond hockey, searching in the dark, knee-deep in drifted snow for pucks gone astray. Where were those light beams then?!
“Yeah, it went in right there . . . it went in right there . . . I swear!” said Lehanski, briefly a netminder in his Bowdoin days, recalling fruitless childhood hunts for black chunks of vulcanized rubber. “I know it’s out here somewhere!”
The space-age pucks, which cost the NHL some $40 each to produce, will make their debut next week in the NHL’s 31 arenas, all part of the league unveiling its long-anticipated Puck and Player Tracking technology for use in broadcasts and, undoubtedly, the tidal wave of legalized betting about to wash over all pro sports.
But let’s save all the data and their various uses for a different day and focus on the puck’s grand makeover. It’s come a long, long way from days of old. Some of the late-19th-century versions were made of wood. The rubber iteration came along around 1900 when someone shaved off two sides of a ball, a puck emerging from the handiwork.
Rest assured, the new puck will look and sound the same as the old model — 6 ounces, 3 inches wide, 1 inch thick. Based on exhaustive testing, noted Lehanski, players have reported it feels the same on their sticks, fires just like the old version, and bangs off pipes and boards with honest-to-Boom Boom Geoffrion auditory authenticity.
“We tried to leave no stone unturned,” said Lehanski. “A big part of the testing was just getting players to play with it. How does it feel on your stick? How does it sound when you shoot it? So it was hours and hours and hours of testing . . . and when the players told us they couldn’t tell a difference, we knew we were in a good spot.”
One of the unique aspects of NHL pucks for decades has been their logos. Dating back to Original Six days, one side of the puck carried the logo of the home team in each arena, with the NHL logo on the opposite side.
In part because of the shortened season, noted Lehanski, NHL pucks for these next six months will sport only the NHL logo. For 2021-22, which will see the Seattle Kraken open for business, all 32 arenas will be stocked with pucks with both the home team logos and the NHL shield.
The key tech element of the new puck is its battery-powered infrared light, the beam essential to a triangulation system that also incorporates 16-18 cameras mounted inside every arena. Every NHLer also will be outfitted with an infrared tag — approximately the size and shape of a pack of gum — slipped into the backs of their sweaters.
All the light beams and all the associated PPT technology, other than cameras mounted in the ceiling and elsewhere in the arena, will not be visible. Every move of puck and players will be tracked, recorded, and all of the info streamed into a giant data punch bowl.
Eighty years ago last month, it was Ross who was granted his patent on the design of a new puck, one that was far easier to handle because of its textured (knurled) edge. He held the patent for some 17 years.
A local manufacturer, the Andover-based Tyer Rubber Co., for many years produced the NHL pucks that carried Ross’s patent number. Ross also held a patent on the nets the league used for years. His son, John Ross, once told a Globe reporter with great pride that NHLers for many seasons “shot the Art Ross puck into the Art Ross net.”
Tyer pucks were punched out by the thousands, ready for immediate game play as they rolled off the production line. The new pucks are manufactured in three stages across three sites. Soucy Baron, a rubber manufacturer outside of Montreal, produces the raw form puck, Ross’s knurled edge and all. Raleigh-based SMT, Inc., loads up each puck with battery, circuit board, and light tubes. Inglasco, Inc., in Sherbrooke, Quebec, then uses a silkscreening process to affix logos. Et voila, the biscuit est fini.
The paint applied by Inglasco turns purple when the pucks are chilled to proper temperature for game play. If purple fades to a gray tone, it is pulled from play. During games, pucks are stored in a tiny freeze box at rinkside, alongside the official scorer’s position.
For decades, pucks were kept chilled in a bucket of ice inside one of the penalty boxes. If cold to the feel, they played. If not, they remained in the bucket. Changing paint color? Maybe for a can of Coors beer.
According to Lehanski, pucks that land in the stands can be taken home for souvenirs. So at least that bit of hockey nostalgia has not been lost to the onward march of technology.
Once a puck is out of play, the arena tech crew will deactivate it from the PPT system and a new puck, with a unique embedded code, will be activated. The fan who goes home with the souvenir puck will just have chunk of rubber, its battery gone dead in 4-6 hours.
“Although,” added Lehanski, “we’ll have the data that tells us everything about that puck, what happened to it in every moment. Every goal. Every save. There is something interesting to that. So at the very least we want to think about how we can create some kind of public database for fans to go back and look at these pucks.”
All for another day back in the puck lab. For now, with play about to begin anew, the old puck has been reborn, chock full of new technology, and no doubt loaded with the same old capricious bounces that make hockey so infuriating and intoxicating. Let no one in a lab coat ever try to find a new model for that.
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 4, 2021 8:48:10 GMT -5
Bruins training camp roster. I see 41 names on that board, anyone want to take a shot at bringing it down to 22-23 regulars for this season?
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 4, 2021 8:49:53 GMT -5
z is one classy guy. I have nothing but respect for him.
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 4, 2021 9:10:51 GMT -5
Bruins training camp roster. I see 41 names on that board, anyone want to take a shot at bringing it down to 22-23 regulars for this season? Sure...here goes nothing Bergy-Pasta-Marchand Krejci-Kase-DeBrusk Coyle-Smith-Bjork Wagner-Kuraly-Ritchie Frederic-Studnicka McAvoy-Grzelcyk Carlo-Lauzon Clifton-Zboril Miller Rask Halak They will also have 4-6 "spares" that travel with the team McKegg Lindholm Steen Vaakanainen-Moore Vladar
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 4, 2021 14:02:16 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 4, 2021 14:02:23 GMT -5
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 4, 2021 14:11:17 GMT -5
z is one classy guy. I have nothing but respect for him. Ok, I'm gonna leave out Pastrnak cause he definitely wont be ready Marchand-Bergeron-Smith DeBrusk-Kreji-Kase Bjork-Coyle-Studnicka Frederic-Kuraly-Wagner Ritchie McAvoy-Grzelcyk Carlo-Miller Lauzon-Zboril Vaakaneinen to play every other game minimun
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 4, 2021 22:57:10 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 5, 2021 7:43:59 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 5, 2021 7:49:14 GMT -5
The Bruins dashed through Day 1 of training camp on Monday with one very big thing missing: their 6-foot-9 former captain, who for so long led the charge.
“It’s different. It’s different,” Charlie McAvoy said of starting the season without ex-partner Zdeno Chara. His presence speaks for itself. Not having him there was definitely a little bit different.”
Observations on the Chara-less Bruins:
1. McAvoy, who underwent offseason knee surgery, said he started to feel like himself by November. Two months later, the 23-year-old looks effortless.
He spent Monday’s first session doing his thing in the defensive zone, which is everything: Defending with his feet, wielding a good and active stick, leaning on puck carriers and disrupting rushes. Once McAvoy gained control of the puck, he initiated exits on his own and with a hard first pass.
Bruce Cassidy believes McAvoy has a lot of room to grow. That’s scary. Because he’s already scary good.
“He’s a young guy that still has a long way to go in this league to reach his ceiling,” Cassidy said. “When I say that, it’s not being disrespectful. He’s just a young guy that has so (many) more years to figure out this league, what he can get away with on a nightly basis and what he can’t, knowing the opposition. Time is the best teacher. So he has that in front of him.”
Nobody will be more affected by Chara’s departure than McAvoy. It doesn’t necessarily mean McAvoy’s game will suffer. In fact, with a more mobile partner, McAvoy may have greater freedom to express some of his strengths.
2. McAvoy shared shifts with Jeremy Lauzon and Jakub Zboril. Whether either of the two 2015 picks is ready for top-pairing performance is unknown.
Lauzon (35 games) has more NHL experience than Zboril (two). Lauzon is better equipped to play a shutdown role because of his in-your-face style. He does not shy away from confrontation. Lauzon would get plenty of that against divisional monsters such as Jack Eichel and Alex Ovechkin.
But Zboril is a better skater. His feet are quicker than Lauzon’s. Zboril’s pivots are quicker and cleaner. His hands are softer. The question is whether Zboril can apply his physical strengths to diminish the panic that is inevitable to kick in against first-line opposition.
Expect early turbulence if the coaches start either of the two on McAvoy’s left.
“This is the opportunity that’s in front of him,” Cassidy said of Lauzon. “He has to realize it’s starting right away. You don’t get a lot of lead time for this. That’s the challenge for him if he’s going to play against good players. Zboril has been playing in the Czech Republic. So hopefully that translates to being a little sharper on the ice for him because of the lack of exhibition games. So we’ll see.”
3. Brad Marchand started the session in his usual first-line spot while wearing a non-contact jersey. By design, the top-line left wing was replaced by Paul Carey in the second half of the session when the tempo and physicality picked up. Marchand is hopeful he will be ready for the Jan. 14 season opener against New Jersey.
Marchand underwent offseason sports hernia surgery. He said his groin and abdominal area had been bothering him for the last two-and-a-half years. Off the ice, Marchand has not been able to sprint because of the condition.
“I was only able to play at 80 percent,” Marchand said. “I couldn’t take a full stride. A lot of times I was taking days off. In the playoffs, I was barely practicing because I needed every day off to recover. Because I was in a lot of pain. It bugged me every single day. It was a really easy decision to do it. I was going to do it regardless, no matter what happened this season. Having 4-5 months off, whatever it was, it worked out perfectly for me. But I was having that surgery regardless. I needed it big time. Now, after having gone through it, I can’t believe I waited two years to do it.”
Marchand said he feels a night-and-day difference on the ice. He looked excellent Monday.
4. Jack Studnicka got the first ride with Marchand and Bergeron in David Pastrnak’s seat. Pastrnak will not be ready for the opener.
Studnicka, wearing No. 23 (he debuted in No. 68 last year), played at a high pace. Studnicka kept up with Marchand. He was strong on the puck. He was not shy about shooting. The right-shot Studnicka has a whippy shot.
Even though Studnicka is a natural center and a rookie, he did not look interested in deferring as the temporary No. 1 right wing. The Bruins would be just fine with that. Marchand and Bergeron should possess the puck enough to free Studnicka up for chances.
“Just the jump he made over that time was amazing to see,” Bergeron said of Studnicka’s development from the start of camp last year to the Toronto bubble. “Now, I don’t think he missed a beat. He looked good. He’s one of those players that’s very smart. He positions himself well on the ice. I don’t think moving to the right side will be an issue for him. He understands the game enough to do that switch.”
5. Cassidy could have given Craig Smith a look on the first line. But he wants to give the first-year Bruin some break-in time with Charlie Coyle.
Smith, a high-energy north-south right wing, should work well with Coyle. The center is good at protecting the puck down low and buying time for his linemates to get open. Smith knows where to go and is not afraid about ripping the puck.
“He shoots the puck a ton,” Cassidy said. “He shoots it well. It’s on net. He’s a second-effort guy. Constantly working. High motor. That’s what we expect he’d bring. He’s done it for years in Nashville. So, no different here.”
6. Matt Grzelcyk played alongside Brandon Carlo, filling Torey Krug’s old spot. I understand the thinking.
Like Krug, Grzelcyk is a good puck mover. Carlo can handle the heavy lifting against physical opponents. The transition should run smoothly.
But I think Grzelcyk can handle himself well with McAvoy as a top-pairing defender. On Monday, Grzelcyk got physical when necessary. He broke up plays with his feet and stick. There will always be concern about wear and tear because of his size. But by managing Grzelcyk’s shifts and mixing Lauzon in when necessary, the Bruins could get the 5-foot-9, 174-pound defenseman through a shortened, albeit compressed, season.
They are selling Grzelcyk short if they don’t give him a top-pair opportunity.
7. Kevan Miller’s hands were understandably rusty. The pace of practice showed he had not made high-speed decisions in 20 months.
But Miller looked really good for someone who hasn’t played since April 4, 2019. He skated briskly. He dumped bodies. The 33-year-old looked like someone who is intent on being ready for the opener.
After practice, Bergeron invited Miller out to center ice to join him in leading the stretch.
“It was amazing,” Bergeron said. “We were so happy to see him. Just having him back around the locker room this morning was great.”
8. The more Anders Bjork plays, the less he looks like a top-six threat. Bjork, who skated with Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner, has NHL wheels. He launches pucks. He’s not afraid.
But Bjork’s routes regularly take him to bad ice. It’s one thing if he goes to the perimeter with purpose. He’s fast enough to stretch defensemen out wide. But his shots are not threatening when they arrive from the outside.
9. Ondrej Kase played with pace. He’ll be a good second-line right wing if he can keep that up throughout the season. Kase’s game dipped against Tampa Bay when his conditioning flamed out.
10. The right side of the defense was good. McAvoy did his thing. Carlo was stout. Miller and Connor Clifton were feisty. Steve Kampfer skated well.
As for the left side, other than Grzelcyk … it’s a work in progress.
Monday’s lineup Group A
Brad Marchand (non contact)-Patrice Bergeron-Jack Studnicka Anders Bjork-Sean Kuraly-Chris Wagner Trent Frederic/Paul Carey-Par Lindholm-Zach Senyshyn
Jeremy Lauzon/Jakub Zboril-Charlie McAvoy Steve Kampfer/Jack Ahcan-Kevan Miller
Tuukka Rask Dan Vladar Callum Booth
Group B:
Jake DeBrusk-David Krejci-Ondrej Kase Nick Ritchie-Charlie Coyle-Craig Smith Matt Filipe/Cameron Hughes-Greg McKegg-Robert Lantosi
Matt Grzelcyk/John Moore-Brandon Carlo Urho Vaakanainen/Nick Wolff-Connor Clifton
Jaroslav Halak Jeremy Swayman Callum Booth
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 5, 2021 8:37:05 GMT -5
The more I read this stuff the more excited I am about getting this season started. I think we’ll be fine but we got to have toughness 🙂
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Post by madmarx on Jan 5, 2021 13:19:55 GMT -5
Each division this year will have a sponsor’s name in order to collect more revenue, apparently just this year only ..
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Post by madmarx on Jan 5, 2021 13:40:55 GMT -5
The more I read this stuff the more excited I am about getting this season started. I think we’ll be fine but we got to have toughness 🙂 I’m reading Fredric Kuraly Wagner fourth line in camp that would be a heavy line ..
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 5, 2021 18:21:45 GMT -5
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Post by nfld77 on Jan 5, 2021 18:26:51 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 6, 2021 9:26:17 GMT -5
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Post by madmarx on Jan 6, 2021 11:02:37 GMT -5
Tuukka Rask, 34, Boston Bruins
Boy, time flies. I still remember reporting on Rask’s eight-year, $56-million extension signed in July 2013 like it was yesterday. Now he’s UFA in just over six months. He’s a fascinating one to watch, too, for all kinds of reasons. People wondered about his future in Boston after the controversy when he left the bubble last summer (it bothers me that anyone should question that). But the fact remains, the Bruins and his camp, led by agent Markus Lehto, didn’t do an extension this fall. But given all the uncertainty in the world right now with the pandemic, it’s not surprising the timing wasn’t right for an extension.
“The extension may have been the last thing on everybody’s mind here, going through this COVID situation, Return to Play, whether the NHL was going to play or not, you know, all that,’’ Lehto said. “He’s actually really happy in Boston. That’s where home is. I’ve never heard him say that ‘this is going to be my final year.’ On the contrary. We all can see he’s still one of the best goalies in the league. But I know there isn’t any kind of a plan or strategy right now in terms of trying to get something done like next week. Who knows what the next week is going to bring, right? I think it’s more like Tuukka wants to have another great season. Obviously, he wants to put the last one behind him, right?”
This is a really tough one. There were whispers around the league that Bruins GM Don Sweeney was taking calls on Rask in the offseason. The Bruins made a huge decision on Zdeno Chara. Is anyone convinced Patrice Bergeron will play past this season? Where does Rask fit in Boston’s transition? I think the answer lies in how he plays this season and if the Bruins see the goalie who can help shepherd that transition for the next few years.
From our Bruins beat writer Fluto Shinzawa:
“Rask’s 2020-21 performance will steer how he and the Bruins proceed for the years beyond. He turns 34 on March 10. At that age, injury and decline are expected companions.
“But Rask has yet to hit a wall. It’s helped that the Bruins have managed his workload with assistance from Jaroslav Halak. It could very well be that Rask, arguably the second-best goalie after Connor Hellebuyck last year, remains among the league’s elite.
“If so, it would serve player and organization well to pursue an extension (perhaps two seasons) of their relationship. Rask likes it in Boston. His three daughters were born in the city. For Rask, the likeliest outcome is re-signing with the Bruins or retiring. He does not seem interested in playing for another team.
“The Bruins, meanwhile, need an ace. Like Rask, Halak is also unrestricted after this season. Dan Vladar, their 2015 third-rounder, has yet to make a regular-season NHL appearance. Jeremy Swayman, the top NCAA goalie last year, hasn’t made a pro appearance.
“The guess here: Rask plays well and the relationship continues.’’
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 6, 2021 12:05:10 GMT -5
I like the idea of those pairings. Grz shouldn’t be paired with Charlie, they both like to jump into the rush, I’d to see Carlo with Grz and see Zboril get a long look with McAvoy.
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 6, 2021 12:07:39 GMT -5
Don't they all say this...
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 6, 2021 12:21:43 GMT -5
Tuukka Rask, 34, Boston Bruins Boy, time flies. I still remember reporting on Rask’s eight-year, $56-million extension signed in July 2013 like it was yesterday. Now he’s UFA in just over six months. He’s a fascinating one to watch, too, for all kinds of reasons. People wondered about his future in Boston after the controversy when he left the bubble last summer (it bothers me that anyone should question that). But the fact remains, the Bruins and his camp, led by agent Markus Lehto, didn’t do an extension this fall. But given all the uncertainty in the world right now with the pandemic, it’s not surprising the timing wasn’t right for an extension. “The extension may have been the last thing on everybody’s mind here, going through this COVID situation, Return to Play, whether the NHL was going to play or not, you know, all that,’’ Lehto said. “He’s actually really happy in Boston. That’s where home is. I’ve never heard him say that ‘this is going to be my final year.’ On the contrary. We all can see he’s still one of the best goalies in the league. But I know there isn’t any kind of a plan or strategy right now in terms of trying to get something done like next week. Who knows what the next week is going to bring, right? I think it’s more like Tuukka wants to have another great season. Obviously, he wants to put the last one behind him, right?” This is a really tough one. There were whispers around the league that Bruins GM Don Sweeney was taking calls on Rask in the offseason. The Bruins made a huge decision on Zdeno Chara. Is anyone convinced Patrice Bergeron will play past this season? Where does Rask fit in Boston’s transition? I think the answer lies in how he plays this season and if the Bruins see the goalie who can help shepherd that transition for the next few years. From our Bruins beat writer Fluto Shinzawa: “Rask’s 2020-21 performance will steer how he and the Bruins proceed for the years beyond. He turns 34 on March 10. At that age, injury and decline are expected companions. “But Rask has yet to hit a wall. It’s helped that the Bruins have managed his workload with assistance from Jaroslav Halak. It could very well be that Rask, arguably the second-best goalie after Connor Hellebuyck last year, remains among the league’s elite. “If so, it would serve player and organization well to pursue an extension (perhaps two seasons) of their relationship. Rask likes it in Boston. His three daughters were born in the city. For Rask, the likeliest outcome is re-signing with the Bruins or retiring. He does not seem interested in playing for another team. “The Bruins, meanwhile, need an ace. Like Rask, Halak is also unrestricted after this season. Dan Vladar, their 2015 third-rounder, has yet to make a regular-season NHL appearance. Jeremy Swayman, the top NCAA goalie last year, hasn’t made a pro appearance. “The guess here: Rask plays well and the relationship continues.’’ I know we’re in line for a rebuild or retool but if we’re replacing Rask or Krejci and eventually Bergeron we need to trade young assets. We don’t have anything in house that can be considered an up and coming starting goalie or a #1 oe #2 center. I think it’d be in management’s best interest to extend Rask for three years and same for Bergeron. Maybe extend Krejci for a year or two on short money. You need up in comers to retool, they either replace our old guard or are used in a trade, our cupboard is sparse at best.
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Post by madmarx on Jan 6, 2021 12:54:54 GMT -5
Dubois stated his reason for wanting out of Columbus is he wants to play on a bigger stage ..
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Post by kjc2 on Jan 6, 2021 13:37:04 GMT -5
Dubois stated his reason for wanting out of Columbus is he wants to play on a bigger stage .. I can’t stand Dubois, great player and I’d learn to like him if he was a Bruin but he ran Tuukka continuously during our playoff series with them.
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Post by SeaBass on Jan 6, 2021 13:49:09 GMT -5
Dubois stated his reason for wanting out of Columbus is he wants to play on a bigger stage .. Trade him for Krejci
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