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Post by nfld77 on Feb 5, 2022 17:40:21 GMT -5
He could possibly be enough to make the Rangers a legit Cup contender but no one player does that for the Bruins, too many holes. Also it’s a losing formula, giving away that much future on a good player (not a star) is ridiculous. Thats how I see it too..Lysell and our 1st PLUS another young player?? Miller is good but he isnt McDavid!!
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Post by madmarx on Feb 6, 2022 10:18:56 GMT -5
Is anyone watching the Olympics ? There is no amount of money you could give Me to travel to China now .
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Post by KSJ08 on Feb 6, 2022 11:24:49 GMT -5
Is anyone watching the Olympics ? There is no amount of money you could give Me to travel to China now . Nope & unfortunately I have a feeling my Co. will start going there & I will have too within the next 6-9 months along W/other countries in that part of the world ie: Vietnam, Malaysia, all the major producers that export to the N.A.
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Post by fforr on Feb 6, 2022 12:58:46 GMT -5
Is anyone watching the Olympics ? There is no amount of money you could give Me to travel to China now . Not one minute.
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Post by madmarx on Feb 6, 2022 14:50:42 GMT -5
Is anyone watching the Olympics ? There is no amount of money you could give Me to travel to China now . Nope & unfortunately I have a feeling my Co. will start going there & I will have too within the next 6-9 months along W/other countries in that part of the world ie: Vietnam, Malaysia, all the major producers that export to the N.A. No thanks
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Post by nfld77 on Feb 6, 2022 16:32:48 GMT -5
Nope & unfortunately I have a feeling my Co. will start going there & I will have too within the next 6-9 months along W/other countries in that part of the world ie: Vietnam, Malaysia, all the major producers that export to the N.A. No thanks I usually watch the Oly but just not into it at all this year..Just not the same period..
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 7, 2022 8:29:36 GMT -5
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Post by madmarx on Feb 7, 2022 19:54:48 GMT -5
A look at Eastern Conference playoff teams' projected deadline cap space:
$35.3m - NYR … $8.3m - BOS .. $4.0m - PIT $3.9m - FLA … $1.8m - CAR $1.3m - WSH $0.2m - TOR $0.0m - TBL
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Post by nfld77 on Feb 8, 2022 0:17:28 GMT -5
A look at Eastern Conference playoff teams' projected deadline cap space: $35.3m - NYR … $8.3m - BOS .. $4.0m - PIT $3.9m - FLA … $1.8m - CAR $1.3m - WSH $0.2m - TOR $0.0m - TBL Man Thanks for this, very interesting indeed!! Gotta laugh when I see NYR with all that cap space..Man all those years when they never had no cap space and never really got them very far..And now, they're a top contender to win the Cup and all this cap space!!! How freaking ironic is that?? WOW, alot of cap space!!!
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 8, 2022 11:33:09 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 8, 2022 11:48:49 GMT -5
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Post by madmarx on Feb 8, 2022 12:30:40 GMT -5
Had these as a kid 👀, anyone else ?
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 8, 2022 12:49:54 GMT -5
Had these as a kid 👀, anyone else ? Too funny. I had those as well.
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Post by orym on Feb 8, 2022 12:50:02 GMT -5
Had these as a kid 👀, anyone else ? Mine were very similar but they were Original Six only!
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Post by nfld77 on Feb 8, 2022 15:52:45 GMT -5
Had these as a kid 👀, anyone else ? Mine were very similar but they were Original Six only! Same here, origional 6..My son Joshua, now 33 yrs old slept many a night covered in that blanket.
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Post by KSJ08 on Feb 8, 2022 16:45:35 GMT -5
Mine were very similar but they were Original Six only! Same here, origional 6..My son Joshua, now 33 yrs old slept many a night covered in that blanket. I'll have to look in my wood shop where I use them to keep saw dust off somethings.Not sure if they were original 6 or the 67 exp.teams.
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 9, 2022 12:46:44 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 9, 2022 13:05:44 GMT -5
The Czech and Krejci lose to Denmark 2-1 today.
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Post by madmarx on Feb 9, 2022 15:22:17 GMT -5
That is interesting, wonder if he has watched his teammates getting Physically dominated this year .
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Post by kjc2 on Feb 9, 2022 16:50:22 GMT -5
That is interesting, wonder if he has watched his teammates getting Physically dominated this year . Seems like such a long shot. I can’t hang my hopes on Krejci coming back here. Also teams will line up to claim him on waivers just to stick it to us.
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Post by madmarx on Feb 9, 2022 16:54:50 GMT -5
That is interesting, wonder if he has watched his teammates getting Physically dominated this year . Seems like such a long shot. I can’t hang my hopes on Krejci coming back here. Also teams will line up to claim him on waivers just to stick it to us. He can bail if claimed.
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Post by kjc2 on Feb 9, 2022 17:21:57 GMT -5
Seems like such a long shot. I can’t hang my hopes on Krejci coming back here. Also teams will line up to claim him on waivers just to stick it to us. He can bail if claimed. I’d love to have him back but it seems so unlikely to me.
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Post by madmarx on Feb 9, 2022 17:49:38 GMT -5
I’d love to have him back but it seems so unlikely to me. I would love to bring him back but this lineup needs Nails otherwise it’s useless.
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 10, 2022 9:37:53 GMT -5
You could argue that Brad Marchand’s punch and stick swipe of Tristan Jarry on Tuesday had little chance of causing harm. Jarry was fully geared up with his mask covering his face. Goalies face far more dangerous situations between whistles.
You cannot argue, however, that Marchand’s actions were appropriate. The game was over. Pittsburgh had a 4-2 lead with 24.1 seconds remaining in regulation. Marchand’s only acceptable maneuver would have been to take the loss — and any associated chirping — and call it a night.
Instead, Marchand chose to act with complete vacancy of common sense.
“You shouldn’t go after the goaltender in that situation,” coach Bruce Cassidy said Wednesday. “Unless you’re pushed into the crease. Or he sticks you first. Which I did not see. It could have happened, but I don’t think it did.
“Marsh just has to have control of his emotions in that situation. Live to fight another day and get ready for the next game. Unfortunately, it got the best of him.”
Perhaps had Marchand been anybody else, the NHL would have been tagged him with an after-the-fact fine to accompany the seven minutes of penalties (five for attempt to injure, two for roughing) he accumulated at the time with his mischief.
But this is Marchand. His streak of good behavior ended with a three-game suspension in November for slew-footing Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He was brassy enough to torch the NHL, in public comments and via his Twitter account, for not releasing players for Olympic duty. The league will have no issues going after Marchand’s livelihood.
So by exploding at the wrong time, Marchand put himself into the league’s sights for a stiff version of supplemental discipline. He is eligible to be suspended for more than five games, based on Wednesday evening’s in-person hearing via Zoom — an oxymoron if there ever was one — he was entitled to accept.
(Update at 9:05 p.m. ET Wednesday: Marchand has been suspended for six games, the Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday evening.)
“We’ll let the league address it first,” Cassidy said. “Then I’ll sit down with Brad. We’ve had a few shares of our sitdowns over the years. I think Brad’s been doing a pretty good job, for the most part, with controlling those emotions.”
How many games will Marchand receive? There’s no telling with a Department of Player Safety that has the market cornered on arbitrariness. Marchand could have avoided all that by turning the other cheek.
Instead, Marchand dunked himself into a cauldron that was already at full boil. The Bruins believe Tuukka Rask’s comeback is over. Patrice Bergeron will not play against Carolina on Thursday after slamming his head into the TD Garden boards. The captain’s status beyond that is unknown.
“It’s involving his head, so we have to be careful,” Cassidy said. “This is a guy that’s had a head injury in the past. We want to make sure everything checks out. He wants to make sure everything checks out. In the immediate term here, he didn’t skate today. He won’t play tomorrow. Hopefully he’s in good shape in the next few days. But we’re obviously going to take as much time as we need with this one.”
All of a sudden, the Bruins are without their three 2011 ring-winners. Things have gone sideways at a bad time.
The Metropolitan-leading Hurricanes are on deck. Then the Bruins play 10 of their next 11 games on the road. Their only home game in that stretch is against Colorado.
So it’s one thing for Marchand’s reputation to take another ding. That affects him. It is quite another to make himself eligible for suspension when the roster was already compromised. That affects the team.
To wit, Marchand did not even skate as a forward in Wednesday’s practice. The No. 1 left wing practiced on defense in place of Brandon Carlo, who was given a rest day.
Taylor Hall, Erik Haula and David Pastrnak, formerly the No. 2 line, assumed top-trio status. Jake DeBrusk, Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith, who have previously played as the third line at times, were in the No. 2 position. Trent Frederic, out since Jan. 10, centered the No. 3 line between Nick Foligno and Oskar Steen.
The No. 1 power-play unit was equally compromised without Bergeron and Marchand. Coyle assumed Bergeron’s position in the bumper. DeBrusk replaced Marchand on the right-side half-boards.
“Replacing your captain and then a player like Marshy is not just as simple as everyone doing a bit more,” Hall said. “We’re going to miss those guys. There’s no doubt. We have to find a way to all be the best version of ourselves and play collectively as a team. Not to say we’re going to have to play perfect hockey or anything like that, but we’re going to have to be dialed in. Especially with the team we’re playing tomorrow.”
It will be impossible for the Bruins to replace Bergeron and Marchand. Perhaps their best chance of success will be for Linus Ullmark, scheduled to start against Carolina, to resume the performance he was submitting prior to the All-Star break.
This is Ullmark’s opportunity to grab the No. 1 job. Rask is out of the picture. Jeremy Swayman is coming off a rough start.
“For us, it’s back to where we were at the start of the year,” Cassidy said. “It’s Ullmark and it’s Swayman, and we need them to play well to give us the best chance to win. That’s where we’re at right now.”
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Post by kjc2 on Feb 10, 2022 11:16:55 GMT -5
You could argue that Brad Marchand’s punch and stick swipe of Tristan Jarry on Tuesday had little chance of causing harm. Jarry was fully geared up with his mask covering his face. Goalies face far more dangerous situations between whistles. You cannot argue, however, that Marchand’s actions were appropriate. The game was over. Pittsburgh had a 4-2 lead with 24.1 seconds remaining in regulation. Marchand’s only acceptable maneuver would have been to take the loss — and any associated chirping — and call it a night. Instead, Marchand chose to act with complete vacancy of common sense. “You shouldn’t go after the goaltender in that situation,” coach Bruce Cassidy said Wednesday. “Unless you’re pushed into the crease. Or he sticks you first. Which I did not see. It could have happened, but I don’t think it did. “Marsh just has to have control of his emotions in that situation. Live to fight another day and get ready for the next game. Unfortunately, it got the best of him.” Perhaps had Marchand been anybody else, the NHL would have been tagged him with an after-the-fact fine to accompany the seven minutes of penalties (five for attempt to injure, two for roughing) he accumulated at the time with his mischief. But this is Marchand. His streak of good behavior ended with a three-game suspension in November for slew-footing Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He was brassy enough to torch the NHL, in public comments and via his Twitter account, for not releasing players for Olympic duty. The league will have no issues going after Marchand’s livelihood. So by exploding at the wrong time, Marchand put himself into the league’s sights for a stiff version of supplemental discipline. He is eligible to be suspended for more than five games, based on Wednesday evening’s in-person hearing via Zoom — an oxymoron if there ever was one — he was entitled to accept. (Update at 9:05 p.m. ET Wednesday: Marchand has been suspended for six games, the Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday evening.) “We’ll let the league address it first,” Cassidy said. “Then I’ll sit down with Brad. We’ve had a few shares of our sitdowns over the years. I think Brad’s been doing a pretty good job, for the most part, with controlling those emotions.” How many games will Marchand receive? There’s no telling with a Department of Player Safety that has the market cornered on arbitrariness. Marchand could have avoided all that by turning the other cheek. Instead, Marchand dunked himself into a cauldron that was already at full boil. The Bruins believe Tuukka Rask’s comeback is over. Patrice Bergeron will not play against Carolina on Thursday after slamming his head into the TD Garden boards. The captain’s status beyond that is unknown. “It’s involving his head, so we have to be careful,” Cassidy said. “This is a guy that’s had a head injury in the past. We want to make sure everything checks out. He wants to make sure everything checks out. In the immediate term here, he didn’t skate today. He won’t play tomorrow. Hopefully he’s in good shape in the next few days. But we’re obviously going to take as much time as we need with this one.” All of a sudden, the Bruins are without their three 2011 ring-winners. Things have gone sideways at a bad time. The Metropolitan-leading Hurricanes are on deck. Then the Bruins play 10 of their next 11 games on the road. Their only home game in that stretch is against Colorado. So it’s one thing for Marchand’s reputation to take another ding. That affects him. It is quite another to make himself eligible for suspension when the roster was already compromised. That affects the team. To wit, Marchand did not even skate as a forward in Wednesday’s practice. The No. 1 left wing practiced on defense in place of Brandon Carlo, who was given a rest day. Taylor Hall, Erik Haula and David Pastrnak, formerly the No. 2 line, assumed top-trio status. Jake DeBrusk, Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith, who have previously played as the third line at times, were in the No. 2 position. Trent Frederic, out since Jan. 10, centered the No. 3 line between Nick Foligno and Oskar Steen. The No. 1 power-play unit was equally compromised without Bergeron and Marchand. Coyle assumed Bergeron’s position in the bumper. DeBrusk replaced Marchand on the right-side half-boards. “Replacing your captain and then a player like Marshy is not just as simple as everyone doing a bit more,” Hall said. “We’re going to miss those guys. There’s no doubt. We have to find a way to all be the best version of ourselves and play collectively as a team. Not to say we’re going to have to play perfect hockey or anything like that, but we’re going to have to be dialed in. Especially with the team we’re playing tomorrow.” It will be impossible for the Bruins to replace Bergeron and Marchand. Perhaps their best chance of success will be for Linus Ullmark, scheduled to start against Carolina, to resume the performance he was submitting prior to the All-Star break. This is Ullmark’s opportunity to grab the No. 1 job. Rask is out of the picture. Jeremy Swayman is coming off a rough start. “For us, it’s back to where we were at the start of the year,” Cassidy said. “It’s Ullmark and it’s Swayman, and we need them to play well to give us the best chance to win. That’s where we’re at right now.” The team is down to two skilled wingers and one star D. Crappy goaltending, less than average D, nothing at center and no team toughness. Let’s see how that works against the Canes tonight. The Canes are coming off a mail it in loss against Ottawa so they will be extra pist and may need to take it out on us.
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 11, 2022 9:38:29 GMT -5
The game was over. Providence had lost in the shootout to Albany on March 20, 2009, 1-0.
Bruce Cassidy, then Providence’s assistant, had already hustled off the bench and into the Dunkin’ Donuts Center coaches office. Had Cassidy held his ground, he would have been an on-site bystander in Tuukka Rask’s most memorable on-camera explosion. He might have even heard the most famous milk crate in Providence history whizzing past his ear.
“I would have been right in the heat of the battle and been a YouTube star if I’d have stuck around,” Cassidy said. “But the game was over. The shootout was over. So I walked back down the hallway. If you’ve been there, it’s a short hallway. I was in the coaches’ office. I heard the crowd, and the trainers were saying, ‘You’ve got to see this.’ So off I went, back out there. But I missed most of it. Fortunately, I did see it later and had a pretty good recollection from a lot of first-hand witnesses.”
Rask had other moments. He tried his best to fight Jimmy Howard. He flung his skate blade in protest after it wiggled loose against Tampa Bay.
The blowups were the yin to Rask’s yang displays of mechanical and metronomic excellence. He was a superb skater. The 6-foot-3, 176-pounder had the posture of an Ermenegildo Zegna model, which allowed his torso to consume the net even when he dropped into the butterfly. He processed his surroundings rapidly and efficiently. He developed into an effortless puckhandler.
A goalie experiences frenzy in every appearance, from one-timers to net-crashers. Rask was Too Cool Tuukks. The ease with which he approached his position allowed him to tend goal, in figurative terms, with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
“He just turned into an unflappable guy, that all his teammates acknowledge you had a chance to win with him every night,” said general manager Don Sweeney, who recalled with a smile having a bird’s-eye view of Rask’s crate heave. “From a goaltending standpoint, that’s all you can ever ask for — for a guy to go out and give you a chance to win. That’s a guy you want to play in front of. He owns records. He’s got a long history. He deserves all the accolades.”
The completeness of his skill set translated to exquisite numbers: a .921 career save percentage, 308 wins, three Stanley Cup Final appearances, one Vezina Trophy.
“His talent,” ex-Bruin Andrew Raycroft, traded for Rask in 2006, said last October of the 2005 first-rounder. “He’s so talented at stopping pucks. Him and another Finnish guy, Kari Lehtonen. Those two guys are the most talented guys I’ve seen stopping pucks. Just to go out and make it look so effortless every single day.”
All the circumstances collided for Rask at the right time:
• He learned his craft in Finland alongside a cohort of goalies (Lehtonen, Pekka Rinne, ex-Bruin Hannu Toivonen, Karri Ramo) with a model in mind: Miikka Kiprusoff.
• Rask incorporated modern techniques such as reverse vertical horizontal, lateral release and box control into his style.
• He trained under Tim Thomas, one of the most competitive goalies in NHL history.
• Technological advances in goalie gear let Rask move with speed and quickness.
• He became the backbone of a philosophy, instilled by Claude Julien and advanced by Cassidy, that emphasized defense first.
“One of the elite goaltenders ever in the NHL. Not only with Boston,” Cassidy said. “I think his impact was he solidified the reputation of being a very good defensive team. You need a good goaltender to be a good defensive team. You need a culture. You need forwards that are willing to play 200-foot games. Defensemen that are willing to kill penalties. A lot goes into it. But it usually starts with the goaltender.”
Marc-Andre Fleury, Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price, perhaps three of Rask’s closest peers, are or were front-and-center showmen. Rask didn’t tend goal that way.
He manned the crease with the thump-thump background rhythm of the drums he enjoys playing. Rask was a piece of the puzzle that included Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Brad Marchand: professional and generational players that approached the game the right way. He played his position with such expected precision that the shots that shouldn’t have gone in or rebounds that popped out awkwardly were uncommon events.
“It’s comforting as a coach,” Cassidy said. “These guys were all battle-tested and at each position. Guys that won, played winning hockey, meaningful hockey, good pros, all those things. Now we’re trying to build some other guys into those roles.”
Rask did not write his final chapter as he would have liked. Upon resumption of NHL play, he experienced discomfort in his back and hip. It progressed to the point where he worried not just about an inability to approach Vezina-level performance but also about his post-career quality of life. It was a more fulfilling end, however, than limping out after last season and wondering about what could have been.
“We’re extremely proud of everything he’s contributed to the organization,” Sweeney said. “Right down to the very end and how he handled his exit. It was on his terms in terms of how he wanted to lay it out. He took some time to really evaluate that and do things the way he wanted to. He stayed true to what was important to Tuukka.”
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 14, 2022 9:26:45 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 14, 2022 9:29:31 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 14, 2022 9:32:19 GMT -5
Tuukka Rask has retired. Unless Brad Marchand succeeds with his appeal, he will not return from his six-game suspension until Feb. 24. Whether Patrice Bergeron, out the past two games because of a head injury, will be available Tuesday against the Rangers is uncertain. In one way, the Stanley Cup-winning epoch of the Black-and-Gold empire appears to be approaching its conclusion.
That is not to say, though, that it’s time to wave the white flag on 2021-22. The Bruins remain seven points clear of Detroit, with three games in hand, in the race for the second wild-card position. A healthy Bergeron and a well-behaved Marchand, with support from David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, can pull the playoff sled. Montreal’s unlikely 2020-21 dash to the Stanley Cup Final proves that any team can make a run upon postseason qualification.
So if the Bruins can acquire reinforcements at center and defense, they could take another Cup swing with the last players standing from their 2011 title.
“If you find an impact player in any area, I don’t think you’re going to turn it down,” general manager Don Sweeney said. “You move another guy around. If we can find the best players to help our club, that’s what we’re going to do. We definitely have, as an organization, identified some players that may or may not be available. Some teams might not see it that way. There’s some teams still evaluating what they may do at the deadline.”
Sweeney, though, has to ride a narrow line: maximizing Bergeron’s final season under contract while optimizing the post-core roster. As much as the Bruins are in win-now mode, in other words, they cannot afford to send every asset out the door.
Pastrnak, after all, is unrestricted after 2022-23. If the right wing doesn’t see hope for the future in terms of players added or assets retained, he may seek his fortune elsewhere.
So with all that in mind, the following are the assets that could be up for grabs, ranked by how much they could fetch in return. Some are just about untouchable.
15. Zach Senyshyn
Every team could have had the No. 15 pick from 2015 for nothing when he was placed on waivers before the start of the season. Every team said no.
But between now and then, the speedy right wing has scored 13 goals and 10 assists in 35 games. Perhaps a rebuilding team would identify the 24-year-old as a low-cost third- or fourth-liner.
14. Jake DeBrusk
This is a complicated transaction on multiple fronts: the 2015 first-rounder’s pedigree, trade request, unfixable relationship with coach Bruce Cassidy, pending qualifying offer, possible upside, multiyear downswing.
It’s likely the left wing would provide an immediate spike to his acquiring team. But long-term data signals that DeBrusk is who he is: an inconsistent scorer lacking a complementary toolbox.
The Bruins want equal value for the No. 14 pick from 2015. They are unlikely to get it.
13. Trevor Kuntar
The No. 89 pick from 2020 is developing as a Boston College sophomore. The left-shot forward has 17 points in 27 games, No. 8 on the team in scoring.
One league source questioned whether Kuntar’s skating would make him an everyday NHL player.
12. Jakub Lauko
Scouts around the league regularly cite the left wing’s speed, skill and feistiness as characteristics they like. The No. 77 selection from 2018 is not afraid to get in opponents’ faces. But Lauko’s willingness to engage has led to regular injuries.
If the 21-year-old cracks the NHL, it may be as a bottom-six wing.
11. Oskar Steen
At times, the 23-year-old did not look out of place as a No. 3 NHL right wing. Steen acclimated so rapidly that the Bruins were OK with losing Karson Kuhlman on waivers.
But the Bruins assigned Steen to Providence on Feb. 10 because he hit the wall. He was scoreless in six straight games prior to his assignment. His ceiling appears to be as a bottom-six NHL forward with secondary scoring presence.
10. John Beecher
He has undeniable skating talent for his size (6-foot-3, 209 pounds) and could grow into a dependable defensive-minded center because of how well he moves.
That would require, however, Beecher’s acceptance that his professional future depends on checking instead of scoring. One NHL source wasn’t sure the 20-year-old left-shot center has come to terms with that just yet.
9. Brett Harrison
The 2021 third-rounder is having a nice season for Oshawa: 18 goals and 19 assists in 38 games. Cassidy remarked on the left-shot center’s hockey sense when he was in training camp.
Harrison, 18, could be a play-driving pivot once he turns pro.
8. Jack Ahcan
The undrafted left-shot defenseman opened eyes at St. Cloud State, primarily by working the point on the power play. But like Torey Krug, another undersized and undrafted left-shot defender, Ahcan is growing into a dependable even-strength presence. He is competitive like Krug too.
“He’s been good down there almost all year,” Cassidy said of Ahcan’s Providence season (five goals and 19 points in 31 games). “Pretty consistent player. Five-on-five has been good. We know when he came here, there was a power-play element.”
The sticky point about Ahcan is some left-side duplication with Matt Grzelcyk, both on the power play and at even strength. It was not easy at times for Cassidy to optimize defensive matchups with Krug and Grzelcyk. The same issue would arise with Ahcan. A team with more left-side size might be interested in Ahcan’s speed and skill in sheltered situations.
7. Trent Frederic
Injuries are part of the reason Frederic’s development hasn’t proceeded this year at last season’s pace. The 24-year-old has also switched between left wing and center, the latter of which is his natural and preferred position.
But three goals and three assists in 26 games signals that Frederic’s upper limit may be third line. As such, the 2016 first-rounder won’t nudge the offensive needle significantly. Teams are always looking for size and bite, though.
6. 2023 first-round pick
It’s possible, especially if Bergeron does not return in 2022-23, that the Bruins could take another step back. They might even miss the playoffs. The 2023 first-rounder would then be higher than where the Bruins have traditionally selected.
5. Urho Vaakanainen
Before Yanni Gourde drove Vaakanainen facefirst into the TD Garden glass on Feb. 1, the left-shot defenseman was playing like an NHL regular. The No. 18 pick from 2017 will not be an offensive pace-pusher. But he is smart in the defensive zone and sharp with his outlet passes. He’ll be even more dependable if he becomes harder on the puck and on opposing sticks in front of his net.
The question is whether Vaakanainen can develop into enough of an upgrade over Mike Reilly to join Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort as full-timers on the left side. His entry-level contract expires after this season. Teams are always interested in inexpensive 23-year-old defensemen.
4. Jack Studnicka
The 2017 second-rounder has not looked out of place in his two-game recall following Bergeron’s injury. He’s played with pace, engaged in battles and looked to make plays.
To this point, though, Studnicka has struggled to string together stretches of consistent and reliable performance as an NHL center. The Bruins have always had plans for Studnicka because of his skill set and the aging of Bergeron and David Krejci. But if he cannot fit the internal demands of being a regular two-way center, this may be the window in which to wheel the 22-year-old for more experience.
3. 2022 first-round pick
The Bruins traded their 2020 and 2018 first-rounders in deadline deals for Ondrej Kase and Rick Nash, respectively. Perhaps their strategy is to send out their even-numbered selections.
2. Fabian Lysell
The No. 21 pick from 2021 is No. 2 in scoring (15 goals, 19 assists in 30 games) for Vancouver of the WHL. It’s been a good first season of North American play for the skilled Swede. For all his speed and scoring touch, Lysell has not been afraid of seeking interior ice.
The 19-year-old is developing into a possible complement and eventual replacement for Pastrnak. The likelihood of dealing Lysell, then, is extremely low.
1. Mason Lohrei
Last season, the No. 58 pick from 2020 was commanding games in the USHL to the point where one NHL GM had seen enough.
“That’s an NHL defenseman,” said the GM.
Lohrei’s first NCAA season has not prompted any deviation. The left-shot defenseman has four goals and 25 assists in 31 games for Ohio State. It’s possible that Lohrei, 21, could be a one-and-done collegian. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Lohrei is on track to be a top-four, all-situations NHL defenseman. The Bruins have been searching for such a presence for years.
Teams do not trade such assets unless the return is spectacular.
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Post by SeaBass on Feb 14, 2022 10:08:01 GMT -5
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