Ty Anderson: Life without Z begins vs. Leafs

Nice blog

The Bergeron line isn't working. It just isn't, but I was thinking during the last game... The Swedes have clearly been the most effective combo this season. I say we move Soderberg to wing and have Soderberg-Bergeron-Eriksson as the 2nd line. I've been super impressed with Kelly this year, enough so that I think he would do well centering struggling wingers Marchand and Smith, who could benefit from easier minutes and zone starts.

Lucic-Krejci-Griffith
Yeti-Bergeron-Eriksson
Marchand-Kelly-Smith
Paille-Campbell-Gagne

Obviously no guarantee (knowing Claude its probably guaranteed not to happen) but I think shaking up the Bergeron line could jumpstart some scoring.

As for Chara, I'm choosing to look at this positively. Young guys get a chance to step up and maybe Chara comes back to the team refreshed and ready for a deep run. I don't think this will cost them playoffs, but it could cost them home ice

This is the beginning of the fall of the bruins

This is the beginning of the fall of the bruins
- Paul99

probably not but im sure most teams in the east will be hoping that.

They still have one of the best goalies in the game today, that in itself can weather the storm of a shakey D Core (see Varlamov as exhibit A)

This is the beginning of the fall of the bruins
- Paul99

Chara, Gagne, Seidenberg, Kelly, Paille, Campbell. These are all of the Bruins who are 30+. The most difficult player to replace is Chara, but they have Dougie so that's about as good as they can possibly do to address that issue. Seidenberg has a couple more years, he's definitely improving game by game. They have Trotman, Morrow, Krug, and Miller who all project as 3-6 D men, maybe one develops into a good partner for Dougie. They also have promising young forwards in Pastrnak, Griffith, Khokolachev, Spooner and Camera. Tuukka-Svedberg-Subban is about as good as it gets for organizational goalie depth. This could certainly be a rough year, but PC would have to seriously drop the ball for this team to not rebound going forward

Bruins will surprise and play better without Chara

An injured Chara might be a blessing in disguise for the Bruins. He's not getting any younger so they're gonna have to learn how to play without him at some point in the near future. If the right guys step up and the Bruins excel just fine without him, Chara could be a valuable trade chip for the Bruins. The days of running Chara like a rented mule are coming to an end, his age doesn't warrent it anymore.

Bruins will surprise and play better without Chara
- MTL1

Doubt it but they won't collapse because they lost one player even a star like Chara

Bruins will surprise and play better without Chara
- MTL1

Doubt it. If they still had Boychuk, then I'd be inclined to agree.

probably not but im sure most teams in the east will be hoping that.

They still have one of the best goalies in the game today, that in itself can weather the storm of a shakey D Core (see Varlamov as exhibit A)
- DDM-Coga

Agreed... Rask keeps them half decent

The Leafs will be too fast for the Bruins. The Bruins are probably the slowest team in the NHL.

This is the beginning of the fall of the bruins
- Paul99

Lets not get ahead of ourselves here. The forward core are still in their primes and we have several good prospects both at forward and defense going forward. This team needs to get younger and if it requires a season or two to integrate the kids into the system then so be it. When Boychuk was traded, that was essentially the message Chiarelli put forth. I would've liked him to have been the vet on the backend going forward but that's neither here nor there. Chara ain't getting any younger he's been one of my favourite players for years and if this is a year to retool I really don't have a problem. Judging by just how little this team has changed in four years this has been a while coming. Having a core of Bergeron, Krejci, Lucic, Seidenberg and Rask and a few years of Chara to mentor the youngsters is a luxury we should take advantage of.

Regardless I'll be shocked if the B's miss the playoffs.

Edit: double post

Phaneuf, your Defence, Woof!

Phaneuf, your Defence, Woof!
- MrBeanTown

I was reading comments on one of the boards and a Leafs fan made a comment on how he didn't understand why people keep talking like Boychuck is a great D man.

He even wrote that Phanuf is a better D man.....you need to kinda shake your head at some hockey fans.

Anyone that thinks a player like Phanuf is a top D man is nuts. IMO

Phaneuf, your Defence, Woof!
- MrBeanTown

- DDM-Coga

I think I love you

The Leafs will be too fast for the Bruins. The Bruins are probably the slowest team in the NHL.
- RogerRoeper

No way, an overly optimistic Leafs fan.

The Leafs will be too fast for the Bruins. The Bruins are probably the slowest team in the NHL.
- RogerRoeper

Didn't hurt them tonight.

I was reading comments on one of the boards and a Leafs fan made a comment on how he didn't understand why people keep talking like Boychuck is a great D man.

He even wrote that Phanuf is a better D man.....you need to kinda shake your head at some hockey fans.

Anyone that thinks a player like Phanuf is a top D man is nuts. IMO
- JIwasinskiJr

But, but... the hockey writers voted him Norris runner-up.

NHL wanted a poster boy for a Dman. Big, skilled, hard-hitting. He's all three but he still sucks at coverage, often comically. Do the Leafs even employ scouts or do they just watch highlights?

But, but... the hockey writers voted him Norris runner-up.

NHL wanted a poster boy for a Dman. Big, skilled, hard-hitting. He's all three but he still sucks at coverage, often comically. Do the Leafs even employ scouts or do they just watch highlights?
- gforce

Personally that's why I think there is a change in the NHL right now, especially with advanced stats.

Any REAL HOCKEY FAN can understand why Boychuck is a very good D man, but most casual fans look at stats and if a player isn't a league leader than he isn't good.

That's a big reason Bergy was so underrated for so long......if your not putting up 100 points then most people don't understand the importance.

I can't wait until they come up with a WAR type stat for hockey like they have in baseball.

The Leafs will be too fast for the Bruins. The Bruins are probably the slowest team in the NHL.
- RogerRoeper

Sucks that the Bruins couldn't keep up with the Leafs speed last night.

Jesus. Pastrnak has 9P in 7 AHL GP already. That's got to be unheard of from an 18YO in the AHL. What a pick

Phaneuf, your Defence, Woof!
- MrBeanTown

Puck Podcast fan, must be. Good to know!

Puck Podcast fan, must be. Good to know!
- roland_hazard

Huh??