Tag Archives: NHL

Bruins Need to Balance Roster

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The Bruins opened the season  with an impressive 4-3 victory against the reigning Western Conference champions. What was most impressive was how the young kids played. Both McCavoy and Debrusk scored their first NHL goals and looked more than comfortable playing at the highest level.

But a home-road matchup with Colarado ending with the Bruins getting outscored 10-3 was quite sobering. The Bruins looked outmatched against the Avalanche, both offensively and defensively.  Much of the early season struggles on the defensive side are due to the absence of Selke winner Bergeron, and Backes.  Right now,  the Bruins look lost out there.

Age vs. Experience

McCavoy has been solid defensively, but mistake prone with his outlet passes and caught flatfooted on a couple of occasions against the Avs. That’s expected from a young defenseman.  But it shows a lot about McCavoy’s confidence level that he will even try those outlet passes.

A beautiful example of the talent and touch McCavoy can have on his outlet passes was a subtle but effective breakout pass to Marchand against Arizona. While the play didn’t result in a goal, it did show something Bruins fans have waited for — a talented young puck moving defenseman.

Carlo hasn’t been as flashy this year, but continues to be solid overall defensively. So why would the Bruins struggle defensively if their young defensemen have been solid?  Simple, the lack of experience up and down the Bruins roster.

For years the Bruins have preached layers. But now with Cassidy running the show, and the sudden overhaul of young talent on the roster, it’s much harder to close teams out. While the young players are promising, the Bruins have reached a saturation point.

Experience Wins

Everyone wants to see the kids.  Just watching McCavoy, and Debrusk set up Anders Bjork for his first NHL was worth a parade. But with youth comes, well stupidity. That’s of course expected from a bunch of 20-year-olds playing on the biggest stage.  Correct that stupidity by surrounding them with proven leaders.  But right now the Bruins lack that calming force.

They desperately need a veteran on this team.   Not necessarily a big name,  just a proven player. Purcell was the perfect candidate, a player with past success and a proven professional. While they might not put up the big numbers, their effect on the character of young players is invaluable .

Bergeron has been sorely missed, but just adding Bergeron won’t fix enough. Sweeny should  bring in a veteran and soon. Because while youth is great, too much of it can dig a deep hole early in the season.

 

 

 

Bruins Zap Us Right Back into Reality

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Like everyone else, I was feeling confident about the Bruins after their opening night win against the Predators. Who am I kidding?   I had them in the Eastern Conference Finals. With five rookies in the opening night lineup, they took the play to the Western conference champions all night. Jake Debrusk scored an impressive goal for his first of what looks like many.  Anders Bjork was all over the ice, registering an assist and generating plenty of chances. Charlie McAvoy picked up right where he left off, and appears to be an early favorite for the Calder. The rookies put David Krejci in the DeLorean. Krejci looked young again–registering three assists and easily keeping up with his faster, younger linemates.

Then something happened while I was planning the Duck Boat parade:  The Bruins reminded us how frustrating they can be, and zapped us right back into reality. With three days off between games one and two, they looked like the “youth-movement Bruins” most expected to see. Mental mistakes and missed passes made the goaltender’s job easy, all adding up to an abysmal 4-0 defeat for the home team.  Even Tuukka Rask looked like a rookie today, badly playing a puck outside his net and easily beaten.

I realize the Bruins mysteriously struggled against the Avalanche at home, but there wasn’t much to take from today’s “effort.”  They looked as though they really enjoyed the long fall weekend – pumpkin beer, spiked cider, apple picking, the whole nine yards.  Once again they were without Patrice Bergeron, who after today’s game, can’t get back in the lineup soon enough. Great to see Torey Krug back on the ice after a long layoff.  But he looked rusty and will most likely need a couple of games to get up to speed.

There is still much to learn about the 2017-18 Boston Bruins. Class begins Wednesday night in Colorado. Did I overreact after Thursday night’s game? Maybe. But I reserve the right to dust off my parade plans if we see more what we saw Thursday night and less of what we saw Monday.

The Number 63

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by @inlow005

Despised by the greater majority of NHL fans, Brad Marchand is constantly in the spotlight. His antics on the ice are different from that of any other player in hockey. One moment he could be wailing on the star player of the opposing franchise. Then, five minutes after his trip to the box, he scores the game tying goal late in the third. The list of reasons Marchand fills opposing fans with fuming anger is immense. But in the eyes of Bostonians, number 63 is looked upon with admiration, nearly in a heroic sense.

FROM ROOKIE TO VETERAN

Throughout the course of his NHL career, Marchand has matured from a young 21-year-old spending 20x the amount of time in the box than in the points column. This season, he’ll be the fourth highest paid player on the Bruins’ roster (capfriendly.com). A Bruin throughout his entire career, fans watched him develop into the stud he has become today.

His aggressive demeanor has lead Marchand to success through both his physicality and his offensive wittiness. Boston fans perch on the edge of their seat when 63 hits the ice, knowing he could very easily make a huge play for the B’s.  Last season Marchand led the team not only in assists and points, but also penalty minutes. This only glorifies the uniqueness he brings to the city of Boston.

THE MEMORIES

One of the most memorable Marchand moments for Boston hockey fans occurred during the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. After dropping the first two games on the road in Vancouver, the B’s needed a home-ice win in game three. With a two goal lead just past the halfway point of the second period, Marchand went the length of the ice to sneak a short-handed wrister past Roberto Luongo. This set the course for the rest of the series.  The Bruins eventually went on to win game three 8-1 before shutting out Vancouver in game seven on their own ice.

THEATER ON ICE

Marchand’s impressive performance during that Stanley Cup series allowed him to display his theatrical side of the game in Vancouver a few years later. After chirping back and forth on the bench with some Canucks fans, Marchand proceeded to remove his glove and kiss his ring finger while staring down the men in the stands. Marchand’s history with Vancouver epitomizes the hatred he brings out with NHL fans all over the country, with the exception of Boston, of course.

The only time cities like Vancouver can tolerate Marchand?  When he nets the winning goal in the World Cup Finals for their home country of Canada. In every other scenario, Marchand is looked upon as a frustrating pest threatening the opposition’s players and win column. But for Bostonians, few things compare to the thrill of looking up and seeing number 63 skating down the ice in that black and gold.

Charlie McAvoy Ranked #4 Overall Prospect in NHL

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ESPN released their top 100 NHL prospect rankings for the upcoming season. Boston has three prospects in the top 100, including the #4 overall rated prospect Charlie McAvoy. The 19-year-old Boston University prospect is the top-rated defenseman in the rankings. However the top rated BU prospect is forward Clayton Keller.

The cornerstone of the Bruins remains that reliable star defenseman. Watching the Bruins over the past couple of seasons,  Zdeno Chara just isn’t the same superstar he was. Boston has needed a young defenseman to come in and take the place of Chara when  he calls it quits.

Enter 19-year-old McAvoy. Boston called McAvoy up late last year who showed impact immediately. His offensive skill set coupled with his natural defensive skills gave the Bruins a needed boost heading into the playoffs. McAvoy’s natural ability allows him to step in and help the Bruins to start the 2017-2018 season. McAvoy spent last season showcasing his unique skill set at the World Juniors, BU and in the NHL.

The ESPN list includes three young Bruins prospects. In addition to McAvoy,  Urho Vaakanainen ranks 75th, their first round pick this year. Jake DeBrusk ranks 88th overall as the Bruins third prospect in ESPN’s 100.

Boston didn’t make an impact in free agency or at the trade deadline this offseason. McAvoy will be their big addition from offseason activity. Boston should use McAvoy as a main defensemen to start the year. Rask needs help in front of him, and McAvoy should provide Rask some protection and improve a weaker defense.

 

 

Here is a quick glimpse of what Charlie McAvoy can provide. This 19-year-old has star potential and will be fun to watch for a long time.