Eklund: Therrien's Refusal To Play His Clutch Playoff Player Totally Baffling.

The bigger issue that will likely cost us the series if it continues is his decision to play Douglas Murray.

The bigger issue that will likely cost us the series if it continues is his decision to play Douglas Murray.
- BeanCountingHab

Maybe not bigger, but as big. Yes.

So the Flyers respected him enough to us a compliance buy out on him instead of keeping such a "valuable playoff performer" around to help them try and win the cup?.... Got it

The bigger issue that will likely cost us the series if it continues is his decision to play Douglas Murray.
- BeanCountingHab

probably won't play in Boston w/out the last change.

The bigger issue that will likely cost us the series if it continues is his decision to play Douglas Murray.
- BeanCountingHab

Douglas Murray plays in game 3, Montreal wins in regulation for the only time in this series. Douglas Murray plays 13 minutes in game 4. Montreal shuts Boston out through regulation and outshoots them as well. they lose the game on a fluke bounce in OT.

yes. Douglas Murray has clearly been a huge, huge problem the last 2 games. as does not playing a 36 year old who does little to nothing when he actually is on the ice.

probably won't play in Boston w/out the last change.
- Fountain-San

Shhhhhhhhh Therien is probably reading this..... Don't give him any ideas!

What is going on at HB? Two clunkers in a row. Just think a team can scoop up Michalek and Biere and be SC favorites at the start of next year. This is a little off even for a bad day.

Maybe not bigger, but as big. Yes.
- Eklund

...

Brian Gionta kills penalties. And still generates more shots per TOI than Briere. And has the same number of points as Briere, offensive juggernaut.

It's just about finding the right mix. I don't agree with the way Therien is handling Briere myself, but PK and Price seem to have been enough this far.

It's just about finding the right mix. I don't agree with the way Therien is handling Briere myself, but PK and Price seem to have been enough this far.
- Flyers_V88

and the posts

So the Flyers respected him enough to us a compliance buy out on him instead of keeping such a "valuable playoff performer" around to help them try and win the cup?.... Got it
- Yonk1216

Really...? Are you that ignorant? It was strictly a financial move, as you know, there's something called the Salary-Cap, right? So teams have to manage their assets according to their prices....

Briere is a clutch playoff performer, and possibly the best since 2004, BUT, no team can stomach a cap hit like he had ($6.5 mil), when they are pressed to the cap-ceiling... Got it?

and the posts
- glove_was_stuck

Such is true, but hockey is a fickle game. Sometimes you get 'em, sometimes you don't.

It's just about finding the right mix. I don't agree with the way Therien is handling Briere myself, but PK and Price seem to have been enough this far.
- Flyers_V88

curious as to which centre Briere should usurp here...
Desharnais, the guy who played at nearly a PPG pace from the 20-game mark on?
Plekanec, the top defensive centre?
or Eller, the guy leading the forwards in scoring?

Really...? Are you that ignorant? It was strictly a financial move, as you know, there's something called the Salary-Cap, right? So teams have to manage their assets according to their prices....

Briere is a clutch playoff performer, and possibly the best since 2004, BUT, no team can stomach a cap hit like he had ($6.5 mil), when they are pressed to the cap-ceiling... Got it?
- Flyers_V88

oh please they turned around and gave that money to a similarly finished player in Lecavalier. they had no use for him anymore. none at all.

Such is true, but hockey is a fickle game. Sometimes you get 'em, sometimes you don't.
- Flyers_V88

Maddening at times. Snake venom everywhere for the Bruins.

therrien is doing a masterful job.
his team is clearly inferior in so many ways, and theyre giving the bruins everything they can handle.

briere hasn't been dangerous at all really. its what have u done for me lately, not big minutes because uve scored lots of playoff goals over the last ten years.


he hasn't played as well as any of eller, pleks or deshar

Do you know anything about statistics and small sampling bias? Over the long term I'm sure Danny Briere will be crap and the player's PPG will match their skill level.

Which centre should Briere replace exactly? Because he's been largely ineffective on the wing.

Put Briere on the wing instead of Bournival and give Vanek bigger shoulder pads so he can go in the corners.

oh please they turned around and gave that money to a similarly finished player in Lecavalier. they had no use for him anymore. none at all.
- Gary_B.

I didn't say that the team made a miracle in signing Lecavalier? Nor did I say that the Flyers are saints when it comes to cap management...

I was just pointing to the fact that Briere's compliance buyout was as a result of his cap hit and the Flyers' cap contraints...

The bigger issue that will likely cost us the series if it continues is his decision to play Douglas Murray.
- BeanCountingHab

What the hell are you basing this on??

Really...? Are you that ignorant? It was strictly a financial move, as you know, there's something called the Salary-Cap, right? So teams have to manage their assets according to their prices....

Briere is a clutch playoff performer, and possibly the best since 2004, BUT, no team can stomach a cap hit like he had ($6.5 mil), when they are pressed to the cap-ceiling... Got it?
- Flyers_V88

But then pay guys like Streit and Vinny.... right?

Your arguemnt is unvalid.... If he was such a STUD, there were ways to keep him, easily