Ty Anderson: Boston Bruins Year in Review: Carl Soderberg

He's going to NJ cause they love third and fourth liners on the team. They also like to overpay them

If Soderberg is getting that kind of money, it needs to be for a 2C role. I tend to agree with the assessment that he will be average in that position. But I suppose a team like NSH doesn't have many alternatives.

Trade or buyout Kelly and bring back Soda for 2-3 mil without a ntc. Otherwise not worth 4.5-5 mil at third line minutes.

Pass. He had a real strong 1st half of the season. The second half eh...He seems to go ice cold for long stretches of time. Too many guys on this roster that are consistently inconsistent. Combined with the cap crunch, I'll take my chances with someone like Spooner. Maybe this new look front office will stop shunning Kochlachev and give him a real shot? Maybe not.

The Yeti will find another home. Cant see him taking a huge discount to stay with Boston. Kind of sucks since the B's had to wait so long for him to come over. Given Neely's "vision" of the team, I just dont think the Yeti hits enough for him to be resigned.

Pass. He had a real strong 1st half of the season. The second half eh...He seems to go ice cold for long stretches of time. Too many guys on this roster that are consistently inconsistent. Combined with the cap crunch, I'll take my chances with someone like Spooner. Maybe this new look front office will stop shunning Kochlachev and give him a real shot? Maybe not.
- glove_was_stuck

Agreed. I'd take Spooner over Soderberg... I just worry that Spooner might be even more inconsistent than Soderberg when given a full season with the Bs (though I think he has the potential to have a higher ceiling). Either way he's not worth $4.5-$5 million, and if he gets that from another team, then more power to him I guess. I think it's worth debating whether his goals really mattered at all. As Ty pointed out, he only scored when the team was dumping in goals... to me that says his goals didn't matter, even if they won the games when he scored.

The Yeti will find another home. Cant see him taking a huge discount to stay with Boston. Kind of sucks since the B's had to wait so long for him to come over. Given Neely's "vision" of the team, I just dont think the Yeti hits enough for him to be resigned.
- dothedougie

Truth... he doesn't use his big body as much as he should (unless he's taking a run at the goalie from behind the net... how many goals did they get disallowed this year because of that move?). He barely hits people... and while I think there's room on the team for someone who doesn't hit very often, he's the first dude to turtle in an after the whistle scrum. I think that's the part that doesn't fit Neely's vision. I think one of the things Neely is looking for is that "all for one" mentality, with everyone looking to back each other up after the whistle. I think when they talk about being harder to play against, it's not necessarily that EVERYONE is going to hit, it's that if you're going to (frank) with one of our dudes, you better watch out because you'll have 5 dudes on the ice coming for you.

Agreed. I'd take Spooner over Soderberg... I just worry that Spooner might be even more inconsistent than Soderberg when given a full season with the Bs. Either way he's not worth $4.5-$5 million, and if he gets that from another team, then more power to him I guess. I think it's worth debating whether his goals really mattered at all. As Ty pointed out, he only scored when the team was dumping in goals... to me that says his goals didn't matter, even if they won the games when he scored.
- mixturebill

Exactly. The Bruins have to make cost effective decisions and get themselves through the mistakse made with salary. That kind of money for Soderberg is an overpayment based on his performance in this 3 year sample size. I hope it's mistake Sweeney does not make.

Truth... he doesn't use his big body as much as he should (unless he's taking a run at the goalie from behind the net... how many goals did they get disallowed this year because of that move?). He barely hits people... and while I think there's room on the team for someone who doesn't hit very often, he's the first dude to turtle in an after the whistle scrum. I think that's the part that doesn't fit Neely's vision. I think one of the things Neely is looking for is that "all for one" mentality, with everyone looking to back each other up after the whistle. I think when they talk about being harder to play against, it's not necessarily that EVERYONE is going to hit, it's that if you're going to (frank) with one of our dudes, you better watch out because you'll have 5 dudes on the ice coming for you.
- mixturebill

Agree with this. Makes me think the B's are going to try and get one of the large forwards with their first round pick this year. Kinda wish they would take a D man. We could use another blue chip D prospect. But who knows what will happen. Given our draft history (outside of last year), Neely will just draft the biggest kids available and hope they pan out, which will lead us to wasting 5 out of our 7 picks and only getting playing time out of our 1st and 2nd rounder eventually.


I think Trotman is the only anomaly we have.

Agree with this. Makes me think the B's are going to try and get one of the large forwards with their first round pick this year. Kinda wish they would take a D man. We could use another blue chip D prospect. But who knows what will happen. Given our draft history (outside of last year), Neely will just draft the biggest kids available and hope they pan out, which will lead us to wasting 5 out of our 7 picks and only getting playing time out of our 1st and 2nd rounder eventually.


I think Trotman is the only anomaly we have.
- dothedougie

I would like to see them go after Oduya, Jackman or Petry. All of which should be affordable.

(frank) Solderberg

Agree with this. Makes me think the B's are going to try and get one of the large forwards with their first round pick this year. Kinda wish they would take a D man. We could use another blue chip D prospect. But who knows what will happen. Given our draft history (outside of last year), Neely will just draft the biggest kids available and hope they pan out, which will lead us to wasting 5 out of our 7 picks and only getting playing time out of our 1st and 2nd rounder eventually.


I think Trotman is the only anomaly we have.
- dothedougie

i think with Gretzky in charge of scouting now we may see better drafting. that was the one change that was made with Chiarelli still around.

I would like to see them go after Oduya, Jackman or Petry. All of which should be affordable.
- glove_was_stuck

Andrej Sekera may be be the best D-man on the market.

The guys you named are going to get around $4 - 5.5 per. Sekera will likely be $5.5. We are desperately going to need to move atleast a couple "big" contracts to sign one of these guys though.

I wish the offseason would start.

I would like to see them go after Oduya, Jackman or Petry. All of which should be affordable.
- glove_was_stuck

For some reason I feel like we just wont sign any FA defense.

Lets just roll what we got and see what happens........

i think with Gretzky in charge of scouting now we may see better drafting. that was the one change that was made with Chiarelli still around.
- Niatnouf

I hope Gretzky can change things. Just afraid Neely is going to do a lot of micromanaging and control the type of players we draft. (big and mean first, if they can play hockey second).

Andrej Sekera may be be the best D-man on the market.

The guys you named are going to get around $4 - 5.5 per. Sekera will likely be $5.5. We are desperately going to need to move atleast a couple "big" contracts to sign one of these guys though.

I wish the offseason would start.
- JIwasinskiJr

July is not far away, thankfully.

For some reason I feel like we just wont sign any FA defense.

Lets just roll what we got and see what happens........
- dothedougie

suspect at best. Chara is only player in this d-group I would have hop the boards while protecting a 1 goal lead in the final minute of a game. I am queasy even saying that given his decline. This team has zero true shutdown guys at the moment.

suspect at best. Chara is only player in this d-group I would have hop the boards while protecting a 1 goal lead in the final minute of a game. I am queasy even saying that given his decline. This team has zero true shutdown guys at the moment.
- glove_was_stuck

Question is, does management actually believe this? Part of me thinks that Bruins brass still thinks they have great shutdown guys in Chara, Seids and Dougie (learning but getting better).

Just a feeling I get when I say that the B's wont be signing any big names on the blueline this off season. (e4)

I hope Gretzky can change things. Just afraid Neely is going to do a lot of micromanaging and control the type of players we draft. (big and mean first, if they can play hockey second).
- dothedougie

i really don't think he's a micromanager. he wants people do their jobs and he is in the loop.

the fact that he trumped charlie jacobs and harry sinden on the GM search isn't a bad thing, IMO.

Question is, does management actually believe this? Part of me thinks that Bruins brass still thinks they have great shutdown guys in Chara, Seids and Dougie (learning but getting better).

Just a feeling I get when I say that the B's wont be signing any big names on the blueline this off season. (e4)
- dothedougie

i honestly think they change some big pieces. hope so anyway.

Question is, does management actually believe this? Part of me thinks that Bruins brass still thinks they have great shutdown guys in Chara, Seids and Dougie (learning but getting better).

Just a feeling I get when I say that the B's wont be signing any big names on the blueline this off season. (e4)
- dothedougie

I hope you're wrong or it's going to be a long year.

I hope you're wrong or it's going to be a long year.
- glove_was_stuck

I hope I'm wrong too

suspect at best. Chara is only player in this d-group I would have hop the boards while protecting a 1 goal lead in the final minute of a game. I am queasy even saying that given his decline. This team has zero true shutdown guys at the moment.
- glove_was_stuck

I think we aren't giving Seidenberg enough credit. He had a meh year due to injury, but seemed to get in better form near the end of the season. I believe by the time the season starts in October, he will be in the same shape he was over the passed several seasons as a solid number 2-3 shutdown D. Problem is if/when he gets injured again................

I think we aren't giving Seidenberg enough credit. He had a meh year due to injury, but seemed to get in better form near the end of the season. I believe by the time the season starts in October, he will be in the same shape he was over the passed several seasons as a solid number 2-3 shutdown D. Problem is if/when he gets injured again................
- Videoj

True, I may not be. But If I am retooling a team I want as many solutions over questions as I can get.