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Post by SeaBass on Jun 14, 2021 9:57:51 GMT -5
Cassidy on Hall: "I think the next playoffs he’s in he’ll be better prepared for it. I hope it’s with the Boston Bruins. ... I think he knows what he wants out of his career now. He’s been in a few different places. He’s made some money. And hopefully both sides can make it work"
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Post by kjc2 on Jun 14, 2021 15:26:02 GMT -5
Cassidy also mentioned that he thinks Hall could benefit from a full season of Brad Marchand: "I think the benefit of being here for the full season would be just to watch how hard a guy like Brad Marchand practices and plays every day of the season." I thought Fluto had a good question and only because I brought it up just before the playoffs I think. Can Tuukka play every other night in the playoffs. Not talking about injury or anything like that but just in general, can he play well every other day for two months. I think Butch can see it cause goalies are absolutely coddled in the regular season. Not saying it applies to every goalie but I think it does to Rask. The problem is that it’d be hard to slide in your backup goalie when you’re down 2-1 in a second round series but at the same time you can’t let your backup sit for a month and expect him to come in and shine. It’ll be tough to manage going forward if Tuukka is our starter next April.
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 15, 2021 7:51:31 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 15, 2021 8:11:38 GMT -5
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Post by skemack on Jun 15, 2021 14:30:17 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 15, 2021 14:59:16 GMT -5
That is an interesting theory.
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 16, 2021 8:49:39 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 16, 2021 11:25:51 GMT -5
Cam Neely on one thing the Bruins need: “That elusive left D we’ve been looking for.”
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 16, 2021 13:22:58 GMT -5
The Boston Bruins season is over, and one week is probably an appropriate time to chew on things before handing out grades.
So, let’s dive into our annual Bruins end-of-season report card.
A couple of things to note: Everyone who played at least one game this season and finished the campaign with the organization will get a grade (basically, no Anders Bjork or Par Lindholm). Also, we graded based on role, so Anton Blidh and Patrice Bergeron won’t be graded on the same scale.
THE REGULARS Brad Marchand, A –If he wasn’t the best Bruin this season, he was second-best. He deserved to pop up on some Hart Trophy ballots.
Patrice Bergeron, A- — The struggles in the faceoff dot during the playoffs were fascinating, but he showed no signs of his overall game slowing down. Still an elite all-situations player.
David Pastrnak, B+ — This ultimately will be remembered as a bumpy season for him. There were some low points, but at times no one in the NHL was as electric as him.
Taylor Hall, B+ — The best left winger David Krejci has had since Milan Lucic. Bringing back Hall should be a priority this offseason.
David Krejci, B — It was clear how energized he was with Hall and Craig Smith as his linemates. That largely makes up for a lackluster first couple months of the season.
Craig Smith, A- — Everything the Bruins could have asked for. He played on three different lines, and found ways to contribute on each. His contract through one year is proving to be one of the biggest bargains of the 2020 offseason.
Nick Ritchie, B — A shame he disappeared during the second round because this was a great rebound year for Ritchie. He’s a useful bottom-six winger.
Charlie Coyle, C — As a third-line center, his job isn’t to be an elite scorer. But some of the things he does best just weren’t there enough this year.
Jake DeBrusk C- — We’ll give him the break that he was getting thrown around the lineup all the time, but this was without question his most challenging year as a pro.
Sean Kuraly, C — He was the driver of the fourth line for a long time, but simply wasn’t effective enough in 2021. Some of it was being victim of starting in the defensive zone almost every time he was on the ice, but it was a down year.
Curtis Lazar, B- — Things started unraveling at the end of the postseason leading up to his injury, but he is the Bruins’ fourth-line center of the foreseeable future. Overall, a good pickup.
Chris Wagner, C — Just not a great year for Wagner. Too often was a passenger, and wasn’t really effective enough in any area.
Trent Frederic, C+ — A solid showing as a rookie. He proved early on he had a good ability to get under guys’ skin, but his play overall tanked as the season went on. Still, he has an exciting future.
Charlie McAvoy, A — Right up there with Marchand. Truly an elite player.
Matt Grzelcyk, B+ — Tough luck on the injury front, but it was clear how much better the Bruins were when he was on the ice.
Brandon Carlo, C+ — Another guy with bad injury luck, but even prior to that, it was not his most sterling campaign as a shutdown guy.
Mike Reilly, B — His impact upon arriving at the trade deadline was palpable. He’s probably better off as a third-pairing blueliner instead of second, but he makes sense as a long-term fit.
Connor Clifton, B+ — Credit to him, he went from healthy scratch to being a really impactful defenseman. He quieted his game down, and that paid dividends. He’s proving to be a legitimate NHL D-man.
Kevan Miller, B — The fact he played at all was impressive. Even if the analytics weren’t kind to him, he moved well and the Bruins seemed like a better team when he was on the ice.
Jeremy Lauzon, C+ — Got put in some tough situations, and while he overall was fine, he made crushing mistakes too often. His postseason play also marred what was a decent regular season.
Jakub Zboril, B- — Looked way more confident this season than in previous NHL stints. He was better in his own zone than expected, and was active in the offensive zone. There’s some upside there, but he’s not a finished product yet.
Tuukka Rask, B+ — He dealt with health issues for much of the season, but still was one of the game’s top netminders when he was healthy.
aroslav Halak, B- — Basically lost his job because he got COVID-19, but for the first three months of the season was the steady No. 2 for Boston.
THE FRINGE GUYS Jack Studnicka, B — He proved to be far more effective as a center than winger. The skill is tantalizing, but now it’s a matter of finding out where exactly he fits, because that was a question left unanswered this season.
Karson Kuhlman, B- — He’s often asked to come in on short notice and be a high-energy guy. That’s exactly what he’s done, but now it’s time for him to find out how to become a regular.
Steven Kampfer, B+ — Had to play a lot more than the Bruins probably would’ve liked, but as always, he did his job like a true pro. Kampfer deserves a lot of respect, he’s great at his job.
Jarred Tinordi, B — When the Bruins needed him to come in and be a stopgap, he did. Played physically, backed things up with his fists when needed and didn’t make too many mistakes with the puck. If Kampfer is done in Boston, Tinordi makes sense to be re-signed and serve as a spare.
THE CUP OF COFFEE GUYS (Fewer than 10 games) Anton Blidh, C — His game is growing, especially in the AHL, but at 26 years old, he still hasn’t found a way to separate himself in the NHL.
Greg McKegg, C+ — A good insurance policy who spent much of the year on the taxi squad. Actually looked pretty good when he got into game action, too.
Zach Senyshyn, B- — One of the unluckiest guys in the world. Was great in Providence and showed promise in his season debut but got hurt. Tough to grade him when injuries keep impacting things.
Ondrej Kase, Incomplete — Got hurt in the second game of the year, then was injured in his first game back. Here’s to hoping he just gets healthy.
Oskar Steen, C+ — He was a little too invisible in his NHL opportunities, but the speed is impressive. His path to NHL playing time might continue to be on the wing instead of his natural center.
Cameron Hughes, B — We actually were impressed with how he looked in the one NHL game he played this season. If the Bruins bring him back (he’s an RFA), he could compete to be the spare center at the NHL level.
Urho Vaakanainen, B- — Vaakanainen still gets thrown around a little bit too much, but he’s still young and it takes defenseman a longer time than forwards to be NHL ready. The raw skills are there, he just needs a little more time.
John Moore, C- — His season was cut short due to injury, but he was outplayed and healthy scratched too often, and didn’t do enough when he did make his way into the lineup.
Jack Ahcan, B+ — Had a killer year in the AHL and looked confident during NHL playing time. Plays like he’s bigger than 5-foot-8, 178 pounds, and he moves the puck real well. He’s one to keep watching.
Dan Vladar, B+ — A lot of the talk is about Jeremy Swayman, but Vladar looked poised in his NHL time this season. Some periods were clunkers, but a largely good showing from the young netminder.
Jeremy Swayman, A — He’s looking like the Bruins’ No. 1 goalie of the future. Confident and technically sound, things are bright for Swayman.
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 16, 2021 13:23:27 GMT -5
I would say that some of these grades are a little bit high.
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 16, 2021 13:55:38 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 17, 2021 11:11:01 GMT -5
Bruce Cassidy did not believe speaking with Jake DeBrusk after the season-ending Game 6 loss to the Islanders would have been a good idea. The feeling was probably mutual.
The Bruins coach trusts a cooling-off period will initiate a more productive dialogue.
“My conversations with Jake, I think, would have been too raw the day after,” Cassidy said on Monday. “The players had some time to themselves. So we’re going to sit down this week, now that we’ve both digested a little bit of the season, and say, ‘OK, let’s find some common ground on where you see yourself fitting into this lineup and where I feel you need to be better.’ And see if we can sort through some of the stuff now that the season’s over. Sometimes in season, players are just going to tell you what you want to hear at times. So it will be up to me to dig a little deeper with him so we can get to the root of, ‘OK, what’s going to make you the best player?’”
DeBrusk fell well short of being at his best in 2020-21. Consider some of the following:
DeBrusk averaged a career-worst 0.36 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-five play, according to Natural Stat Trick. His previous low was 0.86 goals per 60 in 2019-20. He had a worst-ever 5.4 all-situations shooting percentage. He shot 17.31 percent in 2018-19 when he scored 27 goals. DeBrusk did not score a five-on-five goal until March 11, which was Game No. 24 of the season. He lost his job as No. 2 left winger, first to Nick Ritchie, then to Taylor Hall. He was a healthy scratch three times during the regular season and once in Game 5 of Round 2. At times, Cassidy pointed out DeBrusk’s need to produce better second effort on forechecks and puck recoveries. On other occasions, he spoke about the desire to see DeBrusk more regularly in inside ice.
On April 27, prior to scratching him for two straight games, Cassidy dropped the big one.
“We just need a higher compete level,” Cassidy said. “Every player’s at a different place in their career here. We just talked to him about the standard we expect him to play to. Everyone’s going to have an off night. But that’s the message. It’s not about individual stats. It’s about, ‘You need to help this team win.’”
This declaration aligns with Cassidy’s philosophy. He is more demanding of young players than veterans. Most coaches are.
Cassidy views players seeking full-time NHL traction as requiring more structure than those who have earned their keep. Cassidy, perhaps more than other coaches, is more willing to share publicly what he has addressed privately with players beforehand. How this sits with DeBrusk is unknown.
Perhaps the reason coach and player do not see eye to eye is the circumstances touching DeBrusk’s performance. Consider some of the following as well:
DeBrusk was asked to play right wing regularly. Cassidy has acknowledged DeBrusk is better on his strong side. The 24-year-old, who is single, did not fare well under COVID-19 restrictions. He is a gregarious, approachable, life-of-the-party character. His personality shriveled because of the solitary nature of life away from the rink. Just as DeBrusk was regaining his touch after six sleepy games to open the regular season, he suffered an upper-body injury. He missed the next five games. On March 18, DeBrusk scored the deciding goal against Buffalo. He was unavailable for the next six games after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The variance in opinion has created friction between Cassidy and DeBrusk. The left winger admitted being “pissed off” after being a healthy scratch for the first time this season on March 9 against the Islanders. He scored the following game against the Rangers.
It’s unknown where the relationship goes from here.
“It just felt like there’s a lot,” DeBrusk said of the negativity he experienced on all sides. “It’s one of those things where you could just feel it. Not really pointing out anyone. But the one thing I did learn is you obviously play for your teammates and the people in this room. That’s all I really look for now, is doing for it for the guy beside you.”
Both parties want a mending of the fences. The Bruins need DeBrusk to be a consistent goal scorer, forechecking presence, reliable defender and occasional penalty killer. DeBrusk is entering the second season of a two-year, $7.35 million bridge deal. Better performance is required if he wants the big payday he once expected.
The wrinkle is whether DeBrusk fits in the Bruins’ plans. The first checkpoint is the July 21 expansion draft. One NHL source questioned whether the Bruins would use one of their seven forward slots to protect DeBrusk.
“Don’t you think he’d be the one to expose?” the source asked.
Even if the Bruins protect DeBrusk, he is not guaranteed a roster spot. Much of that depends on how the Bruins proceed with Hall. The ex-Oiler was one of DeBrusk’s favorite players when he was growing up in Edmonton.
Both Hall and the Bruins want to continue their partnership. The left winger said he is not looking to maximize his earnings. If Hall accepts an average annual value below Brad Marchand’s $6.125 million threshold, he could be the Bruins’ full-time No. 2 left winger.
That would push DeBrusk down to the third line. Even there, he would not be guaranteed ice time. He would have to battle with Nick Ritchie for left-wing duties.
At right wing, which is not his natural position, DeBrusk’s competition would include Jack Studnicka, Karson Kuhlman and Oskar Steen. All are right shots and cheaper than DeBrusk. The fight would get even harder if Ondrej Kase is cleared to play and the Bruins bring back the restricted free agent.
This is not where DeBrusk expected to be after his fourth NHL season. Getting on the same page with his boss will be the first step toward revival.
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Post by kjc2 on Jun 17, 2021 16:50:48 GMT -5
Bruce Cassidy did not believe speaking with Jake DeBrusk after the season-ending Game 6 loss to the Islanders would have been a good idea. The feeling was probably mutual. The Bruins coach trusts a cooling-off period will initiate a more productive dialogue. “My conversations with Jake, I think, would have been too raw the day after,” Cassidy said on Monday. “The players had some time to themselves. So we’re going to sit down this week, now that we’ve both digested a little bit of the season, and say, ‘OK, let’s find some common ground on where you see yourself fitting into this lineup and where I feel you need to be better.’ And see if we can sort through some of the stuff now that the season’s over. Sometimes in season, players are just going to tell you what you want to hear at times. So it will be up to me to dig a little deeper with him so we can get to the root of, ‘OK, what’s going to make you the best player?’” DeBrusk fell well short of being at his best in 2020-21. Consider some of the following: DeBrusk averaged a career-worst 0.36 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-five play, according to Natural Stat Trick. His previous low was 0.86 goals per 60 in 2019-20. He had a worst-ever 5.4 all-situations shooting percentage. He shot 17.31 percent in 2018-19 when he scored 27 goals. DeBrusk did not score a five-on-five goal until March 11, which was Game No. 24 of the season. He lost his job as No. 2 left winger, first to Nick Ritchie, then to Taylor Hall. He was a healthy scratch three times during the regular season and once in Game 5 of Round 2. At times, Cassidy pointed out DeBrusk’s need to produce better second effort on forechecks and puck recoveries. On other occasions, he spoke about the desire to see DeBrusk more regularly in inside ice. On April 27, prior to scratching him for two straight games, Cassidy dropped the big one. “We just need a higher compete level,” Cassidy said. “Every player’s at a different place in their career here. We just talked to him about the standard we expect him to play to. Everyone’s going to have an off night. But that’s the message. It’s not about individual stats. It’s about, ‘You need to help this team win.’” This declaration aligns with Cassidy’s philosophy. He is more demanding of young players than veterans. Most coaches are. Cassidy views players seeking full-time NHL traction as requiring more structure than those who have earned their keep. Cassidy, perhaps more than other coaches, is more willing to share publicly what he has addressed privately with players beforehand. How this sits with DeBrusk is unknown. Perhaps the reason coach and player do not see eye to eye is the circumstances touching DeBrusk’s performance. Consider some of the following as well: DeBrusk was asked to play right wing regularly. Cassidy has acknowledged DeBrusk is better on his strong side. The 24-year-old, who is single, did not fare well under COVID-19 restrictions. He is a gregarious, approachable, life-of-the-party character. His personality shriveled because of the solitary nature of life away from the rink. Just as DeBrusk was regaining his touch after six sleepy games to open the regular season, he suffered an upper-body injury. He missed the next five games. On March 18, DeBrusk scored the deciding goal against Buffalo. He was unavailable for the next six games after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The variance in opinion has created friction between Cassidy and DeBrusk. The left winger admitted being “pissed off” after being a healthy scratch for the first time this season on March 9 against the Islanders. He scored the following game against the Rangers. It’s unknown where the relationship goes from here. “It just felt like there’s a lot,” DeBrusk said of the negativity he experienced on all sides. “It’s one of those things where you could just feel it. Not really pointing out anyone. But the one thing I did learn is you obviously play for your teammates and the people in this room. That’s all I really look for now, is doing for it for the guy beside you.” Both parties want a mending of the fences. The Bruins need DeBrusk to be a consistent goal scorer, forechecking presence, reliable defender and occasional penalty killer. DeBrusk is entering the second season of a two-year, $7.35 million bridge deal. Better performance is required if he wants the big payday he once expected. The wrinkle is whether DeBrusk fits in the Bruins’ plans. The first checkpoint is the July 21 expansion draft. One NHL source questioned whether the Bruins would use one of their seven forward slots to protect DeBrusk. “Don’t you think he’d be the one to expose?” the source asked. Even if the Bruins protect DeBrusk, he is not guaranteed a roster spot. Much of that depends on how the Bruins proceed with Hall. The ex-Oiler was one of DeBrusk’s favorite players when he was growing up in Edmonton. Both Hall and the Bruins want to continue their partnership. The left winger said he is not looking to maximize his earnings. If Hall accepts an average annual value below Brad Marchand’s $6.125 million threshold, he could be the Bruins’ full-time No. 2 left winger. That would push DeBrusk down to the third line. Even there, he would not be guaranteed ice time. He would have to battle with Nick Ritchie for left-wing duties. At right wing, which is not his natural position, DeBrusk’s competition would include Jack Studnicka, Karson Kuhlman and Oskar Steen. All are right shots and cheaper than DeBrusk. The fight would get even harder if Ondrej Kase is cleared to play and the Bruins bring back the restricted free agent. This is not where DeBrusk expected to be after his fourth NHL season. Getting on the same page with his boss will be the first step toward revival. Debrusk needs to grow up first and foremost. If and when you don’t play well you get criticized by fans and the brass, deal with it. I think he can turn it around but if we can throw him into a deal for a LD make it happen please.
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Post by madmarx on Jun 17, 2021 19:48:35 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 18, 2021 9:38:36 GMT -5
More grades.
The 2020-21 Bruins had game-breaking talent. There were not many teams that could silence the No. 1 line. Opponents quaked in their skates when the second line followed up their first-line mates with even more straight-line speed.
The trouble was how a shortage of depth flared up in the playoffs. This manifests in their year-end evaluations.
Following are marks for how players who appeared in five or more games in 2020-21 performed within their job descriptions and expectations:
Brad Marchand: A+ Finished third in league scoring behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with 29 goals and 40 assists … Led brilliantly in his first season as full-time alternate captain … Was second in shorthanded goals (four) behind Ottawa’s Connor Brown … Still feels the effects of 2020 sports hernia surgery.
Charlie McAvoy: A+ Took his biggest step yet as an offensive presence, incorporating top power-play duties in the playoffs … Did everything his coaches asked him to do … Showed no signs of missing big brother Zdeno Chara.
Jeremy Swayman: A+ Exceeded all expectations over 10 starts … Posted a .945 save percentage, highest of any goalie with 10-plus appearances … Likely to be the Game 1 starter in 2021-22.
Patrice Bergeron: A Showed no signs of a slowdown, finishing as the team’s second-leading scorer (23-25—48) … Led the way as first-year captain … Called it “great news” that his groin held up all year … Entering the final season of his contract.
Taylor Hall: A Fulfilled all expectations after his arrival from Buffalo … Impressed his coaches and teammates with his 200-foot zone commitment … Both sides want to continue the partnership, with an extension happening after the expansion draft.
David Pastrnak: A- Returned with a thunderclap following hip surgery, scoring five goals and three assists in his first four games … Shortage of regular offseason training may have caught up to him at times … Moved around on the power play after opponents prioritized taking away his one-timer… Should be back to full strength following a normal offseason.
Matt Grzelcyk: B+ Overcame rotten early injury luck to settle in as McAvoy’s top-pairing partner … Created a superpair with McAvoy because of their combined hockey IQ, quickness, speed and chemistry … Did not approach Torey Krug’s ceiling as a first-unit PP quarterback … Uncharacteristic puck management in Game 6 led to two gut-punch goals against.
David Krejci: B+ Did not score an even-strength goal until April 13. Probably not a coincidence that it was Hall’s first game as a Bruin … Came to life with Hall on his left flank … Finished fourth on the team in scoring (8-36-44) … Signs point to a return if he wants to continue his NHL career.
Craig Smith: B+ Started the year as the No. 3 right wing. Found his groove on the second line with Hall and Krejci … Fulfilled an elevated role after the Game 2 departure oKevan Miller: B Played 28 regular-season games after missing all of 2019-20 because of his right knee … Was a very good strongman presence on the No. 3 pairing … Bruins missed him in a big way against the Islanders because of the concussion delivered by Dmitry Orlov in Round 1 … Future is very much in doubt.
Tuukka Rask: B Played the entire year on a torn hip labrum, which speaks to his toughness and the work of the training staff … Was outstanding against Washington … Faded in Round 2 when his condition caught up to him … Impossible to tell how the 34-year-old will recover following hip surgery.
Mike Reilly: B Gave the Bruins desperately needed puck-moving touch following his arrival from Ottawa … Was good at getting shots on goal from the point … Not as sturdy a defender as the Bruins would prefer on the second pairing, but the sides have discussed an extension.
Nick Ritchie: B Set a career high with 15 goals … Was a good No. 2 left wing until Hall’s arrival… Worked the net-front well on the No. 1 power-play unit for most of the season … Hit the wall in the playoffs, when he scored just one goal in Game 1 against Washington.
Brandon Carlo: B- Tough injury luck, starting with a concussion via Tom Wilson and ending with a second via Cal Clutterbuck … Submitted good defensive work at five-on-five and penalty kill when healthy … Projection of his next contract is blurry given his health and defense-first responsibilities.
Connor Clifton: B- Played himself squarely into Seattle’s crosshairs with a solid postseason in which he played both left and right defense … Was reckless at times during the regular season, which cost him shifts … Even if he’s not in Seattle’s lineup, the Kraken could get something back via trade for the cost-controlled (signed through 2023 at $1 million annually) right-shot defenseman.
Trent Frederic: B- Made an excellent early impression, earning a roster spot when one was not guaranteed … Rapidly made a name for himself as a disciplined agitator, which is not an easy thing to be … Missed time because of an illness, but had gone quiet before then … Concerning how he hit the wall and never recovered.
Steve Kampfer: B- Was No. 9 on the defense depth chart at the start of the year… Played more often than expected because of injuries and filled his role when needed… Recovering from hand surgery.
Jeremy Lauzon: B- Started the season on the No. 1 pairing as McAvoy’s partner, exhibiting peaks-and-valleys play … Got behind after breaking his hand in Lake Tahoe… Limited puck play flared up at times, including overtime of Game 2 when his turnover led to Casey Cizikas’ breakaway winner… Projects to be a third-pairing defender and penalty killer.
Curtis Lazar: B- Filled his role as No. 4 center and penalty killer after arriving from Buffalo… Gave the fourth line some lift early at both sides of the rink… Will be OK after spraining his MCL and bruising his ACL in Round 2.
Jarred Tinordi: B- Impressed his teammates by fighting Wilson after the Carlo incident in his second game as a Bruin … Filled a need amid injuries when claimed off waivers from Nashville … Played within his skill set.
Dan Vladar: B- Had a memorable NHL debut on March 16 against Pittsburgh, stopping 35 of 36 shots when the Bruins were staggering… Showed abilities to make eye-opening saves, although that isn’t necessarily a signal of sound positioning or tracking … Blew up in his last appearance for the second straight season under awful circumstances … Requires waivers to report to Providence in 2021-22.
Jakub Zboril: C+ Was effective at the beginning next to Miller on the No. 3 pairing … Game started to unravel after Miller’s unavailability and his own upper-body injury … Struggled to stabilize performance once things went poorly.
Jaroslav Halak: C Was a serviceable No. 2 until April, albeit not as sharp as he was in previous years … Was diagnosed with COVID-19 at the wrong time, too late to play himself back into the playoff mix … Might be at the end of his NHL road.
Karson Kuhlman: C Spent part of training camp on the COVID-19 protocol list, which did not help his early-season traction … Delivered speed and energy whenever he played, but offense was not consistently there … Looks like the fourth line is his ceiling.
Greg McKegg: C Spent most of the season on the taxi squad … Appeared in five games as a depth center and penalty killer… Not much offensive presence.
Anton Blidh: C- Good teammate, hard worker and willing checker, but limited offensive touch … NHL future is as a fourth-liner and penalty killer, if that … Thursday, he signed a one-year deal for $750,00.
Charlie Coyle: C- Played through a knee injury all year, which explains the overall quietness of his game … Was missing the last gear of his power and explosiveness, keys to his puck-possession approach in the offensive zone … Was on the ice for 12 five-on-five goals against in the playoffs. Ondrej Kase … Speed, energy and shot-first approach make him a good right-side follow-up to Pastrnak.
John Moore: C- Started as the No. 8 defenseman on the depth chart … Got into five games because of injuries, but was shut down following hip surgery … Signed through 2023 at $2.75 million annually.
Zach Senyshyn: C- Went unclaimed on waivers at the end of camp … Showed good pace in his first game on March 11 against the Rangers, but a lower-body injury knocked him out for two weeks … Was not noticeable upon his return.
Jack Studnicka: C- Disappointing second pro season after indicating he was ready for full-time NHL play … In retrospect, was put in a tough spot at right wing instead of center, his natural position … Has to make a big step in 2021-22.
Urho Vaakanainen: C- Showed bursts of efficiency with his positioning, puck play and awareness … Could not gain the full-time trust of the coaches because of his occasional lack of urgency … Facing a make-or-break season.
Sean Kuraly: D+ Puzzling why such a key bottom-six contributor faded as fourth-line center … Was better at left wing, where he could apply his straight-line speed … Columbus could push for the Ohio native.
Anders Bjork: D Did not score enough to be a top-six presence. Did not defend reliably enough to be a bottom-six forward and penalty killer. Ultimately paid the price by being moved in the Hall trade … Remains to be seen whether his hockey sense will align with his speed and skill in Buffalo.
Chris Wagner: D Skating wasn’t as strong as in past years, which cost him his lineup spot 10 times during the regular season … Scored only two goals, well off his career pace of 12 in 2018-19 … Acknowledged experiencing anxiety because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Jake DeBrusk: D- Scored just five goals, an unacceptable sum for a wing with his speed and hands … Bounced all around the lineup at both left and right wing, partly because of team need, but also because he couldn’t find traction in one spot … Needs to find offseason common ground with Bruce Cassidy or risk being moved … Felt the isolation of COVID-19 restrictions.
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Post by madmarx on Jun 18, 2021 12:40:00 GMT -5
Cheers 🍻
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Post by madmarx on Jun 19, 2021 9:30:53 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 21, 2021 7:42:55 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 22, 2021 10:15:40 GMT -5
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Post by fforr on Jun 23, 2021 14:08:53 GMT -5
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Post by madmarx on Jun 25, 2021 14:07:40 GMT -5
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Post by nfld77 on Jun 25, 2021 22:33:48 GMT -5
Yeh they have a very untidy household right now!!
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Post by nfld77 on Jun 25, 2021 22:35:54 GMT -5
Oh how ironic the 2 teams that practically cheated the salary cap system meets in the final..Pisses me off so much, something needs to be done about it..Personally I think whatever the salary cap is for reg season should be the same for postseason..Agree? Disagree??
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Post by fforr on Jun 26, 2021 9:27:51 GMT -5
Oh how ironic the 2 teams that practically cheated the salary cap system meets in the final..Pisses me off so much, something needs to be done about it..Personally I think whatever the salary cap is for reg season should be the same for postseason..Agree? Disagree?? A no brainer.
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Post by kjc2 on Jun 26, 2021 11:37:32 GMT -5
Oh how ironic the 2 teams that practically cheated the salary cap system meets in the final..Pisses me off so much, something needs to be done about it..Personally I think whatever the salary cap is for reg season should be the same for postseason..Agree? Disagree?? Totally agree. Two teams, #1 and #2 on my hate list in the finals. I must have done something horrible in a previous life to deserve this😁
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Post by madmarx on Jun 27, 2021 8:54:33 GMT -5
Yeh they have a very untidy household right now!! Bergevin was director of Player personnel at the time of the alleged assaults, said he was unaware of the incidents, I say bullshit .
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Post by madmarx on Jun 27, 2021 11:14:11 GMT -5
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Post by madmarx on Jun 27, 2021 14:11:17 GMT -5
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Post by madmarx on Jun 27, 2021 14:47:43 GMT -5
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Post by nfld77 on Jun 27, 2021 20:57:27 GMT -5
Always thought I was pretty good with a hammer and nails..This guy just put me to shame but what an incredible job!!
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