Ty Anderson: Averages, Breaks and Misses: the 2014-15 Boston Bruins

Should've signed Iggy...

Should've signed Iggy...
- whipper334

should have traded lucic for eberle

should have traded lucic for eberle
- pker2theend

Shoulda drank more....

Shoulda drank more....
- dothedougie

Shoulda snorted more crack.

Ty Anderson: Averages, Breaks and Misses: the 2014-15 Boston Bruins
- tyanderson

Why can't we still be physical and be more skilled at the same time?

If we were to flip Lucic for an Eberle type and then grab a guy like Kassian for the third line wouldn't that make sense and address both finishing and Braun?

I think we have some players on this team having to play too many roles.

Chara can be a nasty SOB but we can't rely on him to be a shutdown D man then! Why, because he needs the ability to slap people around and sit in the penalty box.........think Pronger in Philly. Play him as your fourth D man and let him be a Richard.

Lucic can also be a punishing force, but again, he needs to be able to take penalties and fight more often.........but he can't (and really shouldn't) be relied on as a top line goal scoring winger.

The problem is, we can not rely on these guys to always be on the ice AND be worried to take a penalty at the same time.

More skill up top of the lines and pairings and more GRIT on the bottom........isn't that the way it used to be anyways?

Why can't we still be physical and be more skilled at the same time?

If we were to flip Lucic for an Eberle type and then grab a guy like Kassian for the third line wouldn't that make sense and address both finishing and Braun?

I think we have some players on this team having to play too many roles.

Chara can be a nasty SOB but we can't rely on him to be a shutdown D man then! Why, because he needs the ability to slap people around and sit in the penalty box.........think Pronger in Philly. Play him as your fourth D man and let him be a Richard.

Lucic can also be a punishing force, but again, he needs to be able to take penalties and fight more often.........but he can't (and really shouldn't) be relied on as a top line goal scoring winger.

The problem is, we can not rely on these guys to always be on the ice AND be worried to take a penalty at the same time.

More skill up top of the lines and pairings and more GRIT on the bottom........isn't that the way it used to be anyways?
- JIwasinskiJr

I rarely agree with you but you are spot on with this.

I rarely agree with you but you are spot on with this.
- Mahewman

I think it's pretty simple in the end, to be honest.

My only concern is that if we change roles around and have players like Chara play as the fourth D-man and then Lucic as a third or fourth line basher............

.....that's $13 million a year going for players that should really be making half that amount.

Why can't we still be physical and be more skilled at the same time?

If we were to flip Lucic for an Eberle type and then grab a guy like Kassian for the third line wouldn't that make sense and address both finishing and Braun?

I think we have some players on this team having to play too many roles.

Chara can be a nasty SOB but we can't rely on him to be a shutdown D man then! Why, because he needs the ability to slap people around and sit in the penalty box.........think Pronger in Philly. Play him as your fourth D man and let him be a Richard.

Lucic can also be a punishing force, but again, he needs to be able to take penalties and fight more often.........but he can't (and really shouldn't) be relied on as a top line goal scoring winger.

The problem is, we can not rely on these guys to always be on the ice AND be worried to take a penalty at the same time.

More skill up top of the lines and pairings and more GRIT on the bottom........isn't that the way it used to be anyways?
- JIwasinskiJr

That's all well and good but reducing roles of the highest paid winger and highest paid blue liner means we're less likely to land someone meaningful to take the reins

That's all well and good but reducing roles of the highest paid winger and highest paid blue liner means we're less likely to land someone meaningful to take the reins
- eganator

What do you plan to give up for kassian?

What do you plan to give up for kassian?
- pandabk

I was just brainstorming. Chris Stewart could be another guy and he is a FA.

BUT, for instance Smith for Kassian and a 3rd....?

I was just brainstorming. Chris Stewart could be another guy and he is a FA.

BUT, for instance Smith for Kassian and a 3rd....?
- JIwasinskiJr

smith for kassian and maybe a 5th.. Somewhere around there

Why can't we still be physical and be more skilled at the same time?

If we were to flip Lucic for an Eberle type and then grab a guy like Kassian for the third line wouldn't that make sense and address both finishing and Braun?

I think we have some players on this team having to play too many roles.

Chara can be a nasty SOB but we can't rely on him to be a shutdown D man then! Why, because he needs the ability to slap people around and sit in the penalty box.........think Pronger in Philly. Play him as your fourth D man and let him be a Richard.

Lucic can also be a punishing force, but again, he needs to be able to take penalties and fight more often.........but he can't (and really shouldn't) be relied on as a top line goal scoring winger.

The problem is, we can not rely on these guys to always be on the ice AND be worried to take a penalty at the same time.

More skill up top of the lines and pairings and more GRIT on the bottom........isn't that the way it used to be anyways?
- JIwasinskiJr

They don't want Milan Lucic fighting. His wrist is another significant injury away from being completely mangled. It's a pretty big problem from what I've been told.

I was just brainstorming. Chris Stewart could be another guy and he is a FA.

BUT, for instance Smith for Kassian and a 3rd....?
- JIwasinskiJr

Canucks not gonna be interested in that. Smith makes too much for an average player, and Kassian is the type of player that we need.

Canucks not gonna be interested in that. Smith makes too much for an average player, and Kassian is the type of player that we need.
- JameyVinnick

Kassian in a package for lucic. Not sure what else we could put in though

They don't want Milan Lucic fighting. His wrist is another significant injury away from being completely mangled. It's a pretty big problem from what I've been told.
- tyanderson

I thought GMs and scouts have been swirling rumors among themselves about his body breaking down as a reason for his slide anyway........this would make sense.

And that would seem to be a pretty big reason to look for a trading partner, if one is still willing?

Last year in a $6 mil contract..............he can't be as physical and feared as in the past.............he isn't the greatest guy to rely on to be a goal scorer...........

They don't want Milan Lucic fighting. His wrist is another significant injury away from being completely mangled. It's a pretty big problem from what I've been told.
- tyanderson

Ty, what's your take on Looch? We all know about him being hurt in the playoffs ly and not being able to do much in the offseason, so a slow start was anticipated. Do you think he was still 'playing hurt' this year or do you think it's a broader issue than that? He appeared very unmotivated/inconsistent this year and really a shell of his former self. If you're the GM, is it time to move on? If so, there has to be some sort of influx of toughness added to the bottom 6 and the blueline if McQuaid goes...? Your thoughts?

I thought GMs and scouts have been swirling rumors among themselves about his body breaking down as a reason for his slide anyway........this would make sense.

And that would seem to be a pretty big reason to look for a trading partner, if one is still willing?

Last year in a $6 mil contract..............he can't be as physical and feared as in the past.............he isn't the greatest guy to rely on to be a goal scorer...........
- JIwasinskiJr

IMO, this is not the Looch of 3 years ago... it's likely time to move on and part ways. Really tough for me to say that, he's been my fave Bruin since he came into the league.

They don't want Milan Lucic fighting. His wrist is another significant injury away from being completely mangled. It's a pretty big problem from what I've been told.
- tyanderson

is that affecting his shooting too? Not being sarcastic, legit question....

I was just brainstorming. Chris Stewart could be another guy and he is a FA.

BUT, for instance Smith for Kassian and a 3rd....?
- JIwasinskiJr

This is a great post. It presents one side of the of an important argument. The Bruins need to stay big, strong, fast and hard. They need to be able to over power other teams.

Or the Bruins need to be quicker, more skilled and more offensively oriented on their 3rd and 4th lines.

I fall into the second group. The game has changed dramatically every year, especially over the last two years. Every change has been made to make the game faster and less physical. Dmen cannot impede the attacking forward at the blue line. Your forwards have to get back because your Dmen are so limited in using their physical skills. Quick attacking forwards place great pressure on the Dmen. You need Dmen who can play and sometimes skate the puck out of their own end.

Are the current versions of the Boston Bruins or LA Kings built for the changing NHL game? Seems to me both teams lost out to the quickness of younger teams coming down the stretch.

By contrast, I think Bergeron is the prototype of the perfect player for this up tempo game. Marchand plays a solid 200' game. Better to build in that direction than go with more size and physical presence, so, I would say no to Chris Stewart.

should have traded lucic for eberle
- pker2theend

lucic and smith to Columbus for Atkinson and a young dman like savard

Chara can be a nasty SOB but we can't rely on him to be a shutdown D man then! Why, because he needs the ability to slap people around and sit in the penalty box.........think Pronger in Philly. Play him as your fourth D man and let him be a Richard.

- JIwasinskiJr

Pronger was the 4th defenseman in Philly??? I guess maybe this season since half our defense was below adequate. But back in 2009/2010, he was playing at All-Star level.

lucic and smith to Columbus for Atkinson and a young dman like savard
- bosman

Thanks but no thanks! Sorry your team is on the sidelines with ours.

Big problem for the B's is they really don't have a major salary coming off the books next season. Campbell, McQuaid, and a few other plugs but that's it. Soderberg will get a raise if you want him and you HAVE to pay Hamilton what he wants.

So the suggestion of making a run with Chara, Seidenberg, Marchand etc. could have the Bruins look very similar next year. I do think they can and will make it in with that crew but unless they make a move they won't have very much $ to play with for improvements. Plus is you enter the postseason with a full season of Chara and a 70-plus start season from Rask, how far can they go?

I think at least on "Core" member 33,63,17 should be moved. 17 first priority. The reality on Lucic is you can have another guy do what he does for 1/3 of the price.

Shoulda drank more....
- dothedougie

Judging by your HB pic I think you drank too much.