Staples projected lines for opening night:
Nelson-Tavares-Okposo
Conacher-Grabovski-Kulemin
Bailey-Nielsen-McDonald
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
(extras: Skille, Boulton; IR: Grabner)
Defense
Brennan-Hamonic
Hickey-Visnovsky
Strait-Pulock
(extra: Czuczman; IR: de Haan, Carkner)
Goaltender
Halak
Johnson

1. Why the (frank) is our coaching staff so keen on Martin, Cmac, and Strait. Lee, Strome and Reinhart are easily better than those three right now.
2. I really hope de Haan comes back from injury soon..... We are in trouble if he won't be.

My lines would be

Nelson-JT-KO
Grabbo-Strome-Kule
Lee-Nielsen-Bailey/Grabner
Conacher-Cizikas-Clutts
- Danformo

If those are the lines Capuano should be fired before the drop of the puck opening night

The entire team other than Frans, Jt Ko was horrible last year. Honestly I would rather have Mcdonald than Martin especially after last night. That Bobbie guy and Marchand were running everyone last night...to me MArtin should have sent a message to those guys...if he can't do that than there's no use for him because that's what makes him an effective player. There's no way JT should have to wrestle or get into physical altercations....I was cringing when I saw that. I can understand JT standing up for himself or his teammates. This team is done if he gets hurt.
- dack1972

He tried twice and he had no takers. Met him once and I asked him why he wasn't mixing it up much lately(it was a particular stretch where he wasn't fighting much)and he told me he couldn't make someone fight him if they didn't want too. Made sense to me. Haley told me the same thing the one time i met him. Said nobody wanted to fight him. Never really thought of that happening till these guys told me it. As far as JT goes he jumped in to help Conacher out along with Okposo and got face washed. Martin wasn't on the ice. Not a whole lot he could do.
With that said he has been noticeably ineffective in the three games I've seen. Seems to be behind the play more than usual which mean a lot. It's like these guys forgot how to fore check. Either that or the coach's game plan has changed.

Eh, we'll disagree on this one. Let's stick to the real possibility that McDonald will be on the opening night roster
- Vukota

im certain you are correct on this. His empty net goal on goalie mishandle basically is all Cappy needed. Mind you I think he is one of the laziest players after he realizes he has a roster spot. He was our biggest minus player last year.

If those are the lines Capuano should be fired before the drop of the puck opening night
- Cptmjl

I agree.

Dehaan-Hamonic

Viz- Hickey

Pulock-Reinhart

Fack it throw the two rookies in there and lets roll. Can't be any worse then what they throw out there every year
- Vukota

I'd say the same except

Pulock/Reinhart-Brennan

For the last pairing. I don't want to throw the two kids out there to the wolves at the same time. Probably would rather Reinhart bcs he seems to look a little more comfortable and seems like a stable presence back there. If Brennan shats the bed call one of Pulock or Mayfield up. There's not much to work with as far as NHL talent. Or should i say clear cut NHL talent.

I agree.
- ses111

Brennan on the first pairing?

I'd say the same except

Pulock/Reinhart-Brennan

For the last pairing. I don't want to throw the two kids out there to the wolves at the same time. Probably would rather Reinhart bcs he seems to look a little more comfortable and seems like a stable presence back there. If Brennan shats the bed call one of Pulock or Mayfield up.
- Cptmjl

Fair Enough

I think it's interesting that Staples predicts Pulock making the team over Reinhart.
Haven't had the chance to watch any preseason games, has he looked good?

Fair Enough
- Vukota

There's just not much to work with as far as clear cut NHL talent. You don't really know what we're working with for the most part

I think it's interesting that Staples predicts Pulock making the team over Reinhart.
Haven't had the chance to watch any preseason games, has he looked good?
- Danformo

Pulock looked good the game before last against the Devils. Didn't look rattled. Good first pass, pinched when he should. etc. Not flawless of course but good none the less. You can clearly see his potential and he has a helluva shot.

im certain you are correct on this. His empty net goal on goalie mishandle basically is all Cappy needed. Mind you I think he is one of the laziest players after he realizes he has a roster spot. He was our biggest minus player last year.
- Spartiarti

I noticed that myself. Like he ran out of gas.

SInce when is Grabner hurt?

Staples projected lines for opening night:
Nelson-Tavares-Okposo
Conacher-Grabovski-Kulemin
Bailey-Nielsen-McDonald
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
(extras: Skille, Boulton; IR: Grabner)
Defense
Brennan-Hamonic
Hickey-Visnovsky
Strait-Pulock
(extra: Czuczman; IR: de Haan, Carkner)
Goaltender
Halak
Johnson

1. Why the (frank) is our coaching staff so keen on Martin, Cmac, and Strait. Lee, Strome and Reinhart are easily better than those three right now.
2. I really hope de Haan comes back from injury soon..... We are in trouble if he won't be.

My lines would be

Nelson-JT-KO
Grabbo-Strome-Kule
Lee-Nielsen-Bailey/Grabner
Conacher-Cizikas-Clutts
- Danformo

I hope that Staple lineup is a joke.

So what's up with Dehaan? Earlier his injury was listed as day to day and if it was the regular season he could play, now staple is guessing 3-4 games? Wtf?

So what's up with Dehaan? Earlier his injury was listed as day to day and if it was the regular season he could play, now staple is guessing 3-4 games? Wtf?
- Isles_since_6

He's as fragile as Mark Texeria.

So what's up with Dehaan? Earlier his injury was listed as day to day and if it was the regular season he could play, now staple is guessing 3-4 games? Wtf?
- Isles_since_6

Usual injury cloak and dagger BS. Could've turned out to be worse than they initially thought.

also the bruins announcers are big time homers...
- LetsGoIsles

Local broadcast and one of them is an ex Bruin who grew up 20 mins outside of Boston...so yeah. Not exactly a revelation.

Local broadcast and one of them is an ex Bruin who grew up 20 mins outside of Boston...so yeah. Not exactly a revelation.
- glove_was_stuck

No where near as bad as the pens.

No where near as bad as the pens.
- Cptmjl

I kind of think its a dumb argument, it's a local broadcast. I'll take the NESN Broadcast over Doc, Edzo and Panger. (frank)ing clowns.

EDIT: I love the Panther's guy who uses the random movie references when someone scores

They open with two against CAR and they always give us fits, especially their vets, so I say go with a lot of the new forwards. Everybody is trying to fine tune this team on paper but playing everyone out of position just to get everyone in the lineup can lead to too many errors in their play. Can also lead to errors in the coaching as well. Start with a lineup of guys playing their positions and you can always mix and fine tune later.

Just about every vet that can be waived is attractive as an NHL player or a minor league addition to be claimed, so I say send down the kids and keep the vets unless you really think they can outplay the vet by a lot.

After a couple of weeks into the season we may see other clubs looking to make the trades everyone is speculating now.

I kind of think its a dumb argument, it's a local broadcast. I'll take the NESN Broadcast over Doc, Edzo and Panger. (frank)ing clowns.
- glove_was_stuck

Some guys are so homerish it makes their broadcast dumb. A little objectivity goes a long way imo. With that said I didnt think they were so bad yesterday. Ive heard far worse before. Os the panthers guy potvin? He was their announcer for a bit I believe.

I kind of think its a dumb argument, it's a local broadcast. I'll take the NESN Broadcast over Doc, Edzo and Panger. (frank)ing clowns.

EDIT: I love the Panther's guy who uses the random movie references when someone scores
- glove_was_stuck

Racist.

They open with two against CAR and they always give us fits, especially their vets, so I say go with a lot of the new forwards. Everybody is trying to fine tune this team on paper but playing everyone out of position just to get everyone in the lineup can lead to too many errors in their play. Can also lead to errors in the coaching as well. Start with a lineup of guys playing their positions and you can always mix and fine tune later.

Just about every vet that can be waived is attractive as an NHL player or a minor league addition to be claimed, so I say send down the kids and keep the vets unless you really think they can outplay the vet by a lot.

After a couple of weeks into the season we may see other clubs looking to make the trades everyone is speculating now.
- Fan101

That is not true. Some might get claimed, others might not, but, honestly, why does it matter? Why deliberately start off the season with an inferior lineup just to hold onto a Brian Strait or a Colin McDonald? If there isn't room for them now, then when will there be?

Why is it that a team like the San Jose Sharks can fit a whole lineup of natural centers together successfully but the Isles can't?

I cant see how anyone who watched last's night game could want Brennan running their teams PP. He shot every time he touched the puck and his shots were flat. He kept getting burned when the Bruins rushed out their zone, since he is not just slow, but can't skate backwards to save his life. The PP looked good at times, bc Tavares was running it, but everytime the puck got to the point, the blackhole Brennen shot it.

We gave up two Shorthanded goals on one Power Play (yes I know the second wasn't technically, but still your PP unit was out there).

Don't be blinded by him tallying a goal on the PP, he had 7 shots last night (4 on goal, 2 blocked and one miss) and he had zero assists. Not is not a playmaker in my eyes.

That is not true. Some might get claimed, others might not, but, honestly, why does it matter? Why deliberately start off the season with an inferior lineup just to hold onto a Brian Strait or a Colin McDonald? If there isn't room for them now, then when will there be?

Why is it that a team like the San Jose Sharks can fit a whole lineup of natural centers together successfully but the Isles can't?
- Snowblind