Ty Anderson: That's A Wrap: B's reflect on disappointing season

Lucic to the Pens.

Glad they weren't released!
Complatantcy was rampant through out the organization this season!

Had no idea the Bruins have only missed the playoffs 5 times since 1968. Quite impressive really.

Had no idea the Bruins have only missed the playoffs 5 times since 1968. Quite impressive really.
- Zmloste

The bruins have a lot to be proud of. They have a great fan base, they've destroyed the Canucks on multiple occasions (besides Vancouver, the rest ofCanada Thanks you Boston!) and while they didn't get into the playoffs they put up 96 points. The competition within the NHL this year has been tight. In fact, the cup in my opinion could be won by just about any team in the playoffs this year. I predict that the Bruins will be back in full force next year.

Okay so who's in and Whos out? And who do you have that can help the Oilers? We have Pitts 1st , a boatload of 2nds and 3rds , prospects and the mighty Ben Scrivens for sale in trade.

Lucic to the Pens.
- Barnaby36

Nah after next year he is going to be back with his boy Boychuk

You guys can have Ferrence Nikitin and Purcell for Chara and Lucic and you will take it.

Get ready for a Dougie Hamilton offer sheet

Chiarelli has made so many mistakes that were covered up by the Bruins insane Defense/Thomas/Rask.

Their Defense and goaltending has been their bread and butter for years. Chiarelli clearly believed the Bruins D was far deeper. Any outsider knew that. After moving Boychuk for virtually nothing but a hope & prayer they could score something through their upcoming draft picks, who would've EVER guessed the aging Chara and Seidenberg (who was insanely overrated) couldn't shoulder the load.

Hamilton will be a #1 Dman, but with Chara playing too many minutes while quickly declining, the Bruins defense will continue to get worse and there isn't any defensive depth coming to the rescue. Chara needs to be playing less than 24 minutes, on a 2nd or 3rd pairing, Seidenberg needs to go elsewhere or resign to a 3rd pairing role, while some FA D help needs to be brought in.

But I don't see the cap space to do it. Impending Krug contract after 15/16, Lucic contract coming, Reilly Smith being retained for another 2 years, Rask being entirely overplayed, Kelly eating too much salary, the impending loss of Soderberg, no more Boychuk, McQuaid not being what they hoped, I just don't see where the B's defense will get better with the continuing low scoring forwards.

The Bruins thrived on holding leads and having the occasional come back win, something they are no longer capable of doing .

I don't see any clear direction on where the Bruins are going, and being handcuffed by the cap and clinging to Chara, I don't understand their refusal to address the gigantic mistake they made by not even negotiating a possible extension with Boychuk.

Blame the 30 less goals by letting Iginla walk, but their defense has been the major issue the last 2 seasons now...and it's only going to get worse...and we all can agree D is the hardest thing to develop & build in the NHL.

I don't see things looking any prettier next year and we should plan on another struggling season with no playoffs.

Elite players and teams are caught in a competitive cycle. Time is the most important measure. 2007 was the last time Bruins missed playoffs. 2007 Ottawa went to SCF. 2007 season was Chara's first with Bruins having moved over from Ottawa. 2007 Ottawa topped out as an elite team and the next year they began a slow, constant descent in the standings.

2015 Bruins miss playoffs, Ottawa makes playoffs after missing two years out of last three. Ottawa has very young talented team that could make some noise over the next few years as they head towards a peak performance year. (Note: I could have used a bunch of other teams like Tampa or LA Kings to highlight the cycle but chose Ottawa because of the Chara link with the Bruins).

The fundamental point is that the time factor for an aging team is relentless. You have to bottom out before you get better. But, teams will choose to make peripheral changes trying to get into the playoffs. Some will actually get marginal improvement delaying the inevitable crash. Nobody has the courage to do it but the is the year to shift to a comprehensive rebuild. Don't trade your marginal player (Kelly). Go for the home run, trade Bergeron for top picks/prospects.

I know it sounds crazy. But if the current situation requires a 2 or 3 year rebuild it means Bergeron will be on the down side of his peak performance level. As a Leaf fan I watched Toronto management dither year after year trying to build a winner around Sundin. He aged out, team did squat and in the end the got a late 2nd round pick for Sundin. And, they have only made playoffs once in what seems like forever. Finally, this year they decide they actually need a rebuild. The Leafs refused to face reality. They are probably 7 years behind the competitive curve.

Chara the sasquach has to go Too old Too Hairy and Too slow

Elite players and teams are caught in a competitive cycle. Time is the most important measure. 2007 was the last time Bruins missed playoffs. 2007 Ottawa went to SCF. 2007 season was Chara's first with Bruins having moved over from Ottawa. 2007 Ottawa topped out as an elite team and the next year they began a slow, constant descent in the standings.

2015 Bruins miss playoffs, Ottawa makes playoffs after missing two years out of last three. Ottawa has very young talented team that could make some noise over the next few years as they head towards a peak performance year. (Note: I could have used a bunch of other teams like Tampa or LA Kings to highlight the cycle but chose Ottawa because of the Chara link with the Bruins).

The fundamental point is that the time factor for an aging team is relentless. You have to bottom out before you get better. But, teams will choose to make peripheral changes trying to get into the playoffs. Some will actually get marginal improvement delaying the inevitable crash. Nobody has the courage to do it but the is the year to shift to a comprehensive rebuild. Don't trade your marginal player (Kelly). Go for the home run, trade Bergeron for top picks/prospects.

I know it sounds crazy. But if the current situation requires a 2 or 3 year rebuild it means Bergeron will be on the down side of his peak performance level. As a Leaf fan I watched Toronto management dither year after year trying to build a winner around Sundin. He aged out, team did squat and in the end the got a late 2nd round pick for Sundin. And, they have only made playoffs once in what seems like forever. Finally, this year they decide they actually need a rebuild. The Leafs refused to face reality. They are probably 7 years behind the competitive curve.
- spatso

ottawa way overachieved in 07, they weren't an elite team, they did it for one year, stop trying to compare that team to the Bruins. That the same team that thought Redden would be more important to the team than Chara... correct?

ottawa way overachieved in 07, they weren't an elite team, they did it for one year, stop trying to compare that team to the Bruins. That the same team that thought Redden would be more important to the team than Chara... correct?
- 77emac77

Duh! I think if you go back for the 5 years prior to 2007 and count the points earned by each team over that period of time I think that Ottawa was the top point getting team in the East very easily. But, as I said, if you don't like Ottawa for comparative purposes, use LA or Tampa.

Point is Bruins have peaked out. Choice is to tinker around the edges in the belief a few changes can restore a playoff return. Or, go directly to rebuild.

a lil humble pie anyone

Anybody thinking PC and CJ were getting canned looks like its not happening. PC stated it was "business as usual". More curious to see what they do player-wise to right the ship.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli told forwards Gregory Campbell and Daniel Paille that they won’t be re-signed by the team.

“I’ve spoken with Dan Paille and Gregory Campbell and I told them that we won’t be re-signing them,” Chiarelli said. “There’s more questions that we’ve got to get answered first before we make determinations on [other free agents]. We’ll see where that sits as kind of the day, the week unfolds. There’s time to make decisions, there’s time to go through the planning process, there’s time to look at various rosters and players and unfortunately we have a lot of time that way.”

Anybody thinking PC and CJ were getting canned looks like its not happening. PC stated it was "business as usual". More curious to see what they do player-wise to right the ship.
- tunmasterflex

This right here should cost Neely his job. Lame duck president. What a poop show.

This right here should cost Neely his job. Lame duck president. What a poop show.
- glove_was_stuck

Fire Sacco

Or......stop acting like he is the bionic man and realize we need to add another top pairing D-man...... []

After Spooner, Connolly and Hamilton sign as RFA we will ONLY have around $3 mil to sign players after Soderberg, Campbell, Paille, Bart, Svedberg, and Mcquaid leave........ []

From last blog's comment section.

Ok then guys. They dump Chara then WHO THE (frank) IS PLAYING DEFENSE?! Haven't heard a single coherent thought from this jack wagon or any other Chara detractor. Morons!

Fire Sacco
- dothedougie

Fire everyone from Neely on down the line.

From last blog's comment section.

Ok then guys. They dump Chara then WHO THE (frank) IS PLAYING DEFENSE?! Haven't heard a single coherent thought from this jack wagon or any other Chara detractor. Morons!
- glove_was_stuck

If chara was to be traded, CJ would probably just roll bart for 26 mins a game and we would lose by six goals every time.

Lucic to the Pens.
- Barnaby36

Lucic for Maata and Hornqvist

If chara was to be traded, CJ would probably just roll bart for 26 mins a game and we would lose by six goals every time.
- dothedougie

Yup. Then Solderberg guy would be (frank)ing thrilled.

Yup. Then Solderberg guy would be (frank)ing thrilled.
- glove_was_stuck

How about we just win the lottery?