Ty Anderson: Despite early exit, Bruins can't hang their heads

I think we were lucky to get all our Dmen back earlier than you guys. Normally with Krug and Carlo the defense (and powerplay) would've been much better and it would have gone 7. Good luck next year.

It's a different feeling this year then the last two seasons for sure. And that difference is hope.
There was a lot of positives that is to be taken from this season and from the ottawa series for next year.
Our core still has a few years before age slows them down, even Chara maybe has another 1 or 2 in the tank.
Mcavoy looked great. Our d that everyone worried about seems to be stabilized.
We have some cap room to play with to acquire a legit top 6 forward.
And our slew of prospects continue to mature.
I can really see us as a contender again in a couple of years.

For the first time this year, I thought Backes was worth his contract in the Ottawa series, maybe its time to say goodbye to Spoons and move Backes down to his natural position at center of the 3rd line.

One last thought about the Miller situation. I thought the same thing about Kevan, how good he looked lately and thought how crappy it's going to be to lose him and what a tough choice it's going to be on who to protect.
I think I would still protect Colin over Kevan just because of his offensive potential. That kid's ability skate on those rushes is a rare commodity in the league these days, not to mention his shot.
Either way Vegas is sure to take one or the other.

You really can't ask much more out of a team than to 'leave it all out on the ice'...and this is what these guys did. We can lament overtime penalties or missing so many d-men but that takes away from bright spots like Mcavoy, Kuralay, Pastrnak and Stafford scoring some clutch goals ...and Rask. These guys played their butts off.
I hope we don't lose either Millers on the back end and by some miracle if Sweeney can work a side deal to get Vegas to take Beleskey and ship them Spooner for doing so, I'd welcome that to free up some more cap space to add a top 6 scorer and a puck moving D.
Really proud of how this team came together under Cassidy and played together in the playoffs...a loss never felt this good.

The only guy I though we should have gotten more out of was Marchant. How many open nets did he have and couldn't contain the puck. I thought Karlsson was wearing down as the series wore on, yesterday he was giving up the puck and couldn't even keep up with more.. (would love to get a gif of him turning Karlsson inside out with the spin move) Close series Bruins could have won, but considering they almost didnt make the playoff, the hope for next year..AND they lasted one more day than the Habs...

A lot to look forward to next year on the back end. A few questions up front. They could stand to trim some fat and let the younger players have their time. Would explore trading Krejci, or at the very least listen to offers.


Would be nice to see guys like DeBrusk and Heinen make the jump. Plus whoever they pick up this year. Will be interesting in the fall to see who makes the team out of camp. I sincerely hope that Hayes goes somewhere else. He did the most for the team in the playoffs by taking a seat in the press box.

On to the drafts! Will be interesting to see who Sweeney takes this year, and who the B's lose to expansion. If I had to guess anyone, I think vegas takes McQuaid or Beleskey (pipe dream I know). Looking forward to what the future brings.

I think the biggest difference between this year and the last 4 or 5 is there's light at the end of the tunnel. We didn't trade a ton of assets away at the deadline just to exit early from the post season.

I think there's a lot of positives heading out of this one. It always stings to not lift the cup at the end of the season, but i think expectations were low especially after all the injuries on the blue line.

I think Cassidy did enough to be rehired and i look forward to see what this group can do in the future.

A lot to look forward to next year on the back end. A few questions up front. They could stand to trim some fat and let the younger players have their time. Would explore trading Krejci, or at the very least listen to offers.


Would be nice to see guys like DeBrusk and Heinen make the jump. Plus whoever they pick up this year. Will be interesting in the fall to see who makes the team out of camp. I sincerely hope that Hayes goes somewhere else. He did the most for the team in the playoffs by taking a seat in the press box.

On to the drafts! Will be interesting to see who Sweeney takes this year, and who the B's lose to expansion. If I had to guess anyone, I think vegas takes McQuaid or Beleskey (pipe dream I know). Looking forward to what the future brings.
- dothedougie

Couldn't agree more. Everyone's argument with Krejci is always "but hes clutch in the playoffs".

Welp, he hasn't been clutch in the playoffs for 5 years and is apparently made of glass. Time to move on.

Jacobs better not screw this up, I think Neely is safe for at least another year and Sweeney seems to be building something to be excited about. Give Cassidy a short term deal and see if his results carry over to next year, seems like a no BS type of coach that I think fits wells with this city.

Disappointed in marchand, didn't do enough and with his suspension to end the season, was probably the difference in having home ice. It's hard to pick on him after the season he had, but Pastrnak needs to be better, WAYYY too many turnovers in this series and at one point had 20 shots but only 2 on net, that's almost impossible to accomplish. All in all, already looking forward to the draft and free agency and seeing this team build on this previous season.

Solid series. They played well enough to make it interesting but I really dont think the injured defense was the problem. There were longgggg stretches where we couldnt generate any offense. They made it easy on the Senators.

Marchand who should have arguably been the best player in the series was close to, if not, the worst player on the ice for most of the series. He couldnt handle the puck, was getting knocked off the puck so easy, and was just coasting around last night waiting for a break away.

The suspension was in his head.

Glad to see them push it to 6. Honestly expected this group to fold Friday night and I'm happy to be wrong. Given that the 2C and 3 of 4 top defenseman are hurt they gave the Sens all they could handle.

Let's get Pasta signed, give Cassidy the job and work on some scoring depth. Also get Spooner, Hayes, Belskey and Morrow out.

Thought Bruins were going to win when they could have had several goals in the the third. With all lthe injuries they had on the back end they were iimpressive. Did not know the Bruins had so much young talent , bright future for the B's

Solid series. They played well enough to make it interesting but I really dont think the injured defense was the problem. There were longgggg stretches where we couldnt generate any offense. They made it easy on the Senators.

Marchand who should have arguably been the best player in the series was close to, if not, the worst player on the ice for most of the series. He couldnt handle the puck, was getting knocked off the puck so easy, and was just coasting around last night waiting for a break away.

The suspension was in his head.
- Mahewman

Inexperience caught up Pastrnak too. His first go around in the post season. I hope the Bruins do not (frank) around here. Sign him and do it long term. None of this bridge deal stuff. he is going to be worth it. Just imagine some of those setups from McAvoy for the next 5-6 seasons.

Inexperience caught up Pastrnak too. His first go around in the post season. I hope the Bruins do not (frank) around here. Sign him and do it long term. None of this bridge deal stuff. he is going to be worth it. Just imagine some of those setups from McAvoy for the next 5-6.
- glove_was_stuck

McAvoy looks to be the real thing. So much poise to be inserted into the playoffs for your first NHL game and excel so quickly. He will be exciting next year.

could we not talk chara into waiving his no trade clause and have him say he would retire if he gets drafted by lv. This way we can protect both

Couldn't agree more. Everyone's argument with Krejci is always "but hes clutch in the playoffs".

Welp, he hasn't been clutch in the playoffs for 5 years and is apparently made of glass. Time to move on.
- Charlie.Conway

Krejci is criminally underrated, and always catches the brunt of the hate because of his contract. The fact that he never has anyone to play with should be more of the concern. I think he was playing hurt for a majority of the year, and his playoff track record speaks for itself. That being said he has been hurt too often in recent years, and maybe if he has a good start to the season next year, they can explore moving him somewhere else. While I think it might be a mistake to trade him (who is going to play 2nd line C?) it might be the right move with the FUTURE in mind.

I agree with Mayhewman in thinking that the defense wasn't the issue in the series. Even with all the injuries, the D played well enough to win... it was really all of the (STUPID) penalties, and lack of offense that did them in. Tuukka played great too... can't put any of this on him.

When it comes to the expansion draft, I would love if they got Chara to waive his NMC (or just retire) and were able to protect both Colin and Kevan Miller, but I don't think that will happen. I think I still protect Colin at this point, because even as well as Kevan has played...we still have McQuaid, who is almost the same player, and I think having McQuaid and Killer on the roster moving forward is just dumb. Especially with the contracts both of them are on.

What possible roster changes does management see happening??

Inexperience caught up Pastrnak too. His first go around in the post season. I hope the Bruins do not (frank) around here. Sign him and do it long term. None of this bridge deal stuff. he is going to be worth it. Just imagine some of those setups from McAvoy for the next 5-6 seasons.
- glove_was_stuck

He's still young, and you can definitely see it at times. He gets frustrated easily and honestly kind of reminds me of a young Rask in that regard. He's only going to get better... I think he needs to be on the first line with Bergeron and Marchand, and they have to address their top 6 depth in the offseason. We need a solid enough top 6 where we can use Pastrnak on the top line and not need to put him on the second line to "spread the talent around." If he plays a full year with Bergy and Marchand I think he'll put up 50 goals eventually.

I'm with you on the long term contract. If I had to guess I would say it's similar to Gaudreau deal.... somewhere around 6 years and $40million.

You guys battled as well as you could given your injuries. I'm a Ranger fan, and love the city of Boston, but I think it's sad that there is a small percentage of your fans that seem to have no sportsmanship, and always seem to throw garbage all over the ice when you get eliminated. Disappointing for an Original Six franchise

You guys battled as well as you could given your injuries. I'm a Ranger fan, and love the city of Boston, but I think it's sad that there is a small percentage of your fans that seem to have no sportsmanship, and always seem to throw garbage all over the ice when you get eliminated. Disappointing for an Original Six franchise
- ELew11

Although I agree some fans are stupid, but to lose 3 games in overtime on the PK (pastrnak's was legitimate) is going to raise the collective blood pressure in the arena.

You guys battled as well as you could given your injuries. I'm a Ranger fan, and love the city of Boston, but I think it's sad that there is a small percentage of your fans that seem to have no sportsmanship, and always seem to throw garbage all over the ice when you get eliminated. Disappointing for an Original Six franchise
- ELew11

Yeah it is terrible. No respect. Then again it takes about 15 minutes for the bathrooms in the TD garden to be covered in piss and empty nips. Like do people close their eyes? No respect for the arena.

Although I agree some fans are stupid, but to lose 3 games in overtime on the PK (pastrnak's was legitimate) is going to raise the collective blood pressure in the arena.
- highstick87

There are stupid fans everywhere...

Krejci is criminally underrated, and always catches the brunt of the hate because of his contract..
- mixturebill

Gotta disagree with that. He's forever had the "wait for the playoffs" reputation, and if he's that good, he'd make the players around him better. Wasnt looch good enough? Backes is no slouch either, he showed up for the playoffs. His contract is what is it, he's just not living up to it. In fact, Backes would be a fine 2nd line C, its only the position he played his entire career.

You guys battled as well as you could given your injuries. I'm a Ranger fan, and love the city of Boston, but I think it's sad that there is a small percentage of your fans that seem to have no sportsmanship, and always seem to throw garbage all over the ice when you get eliminated. Disappointing for an Original Six franchise
- ELew11

Uhh... no offense, but get off your high horse buddy... that's the same with literally any franchise. Are you telling me if the Rangers get eliminated at MSG that there aren't going to be a couple of buffoons who toss some crap on the ice? Especially after a series with some very questionable officiating? I certainly don't condone it, but to sit there and pretend like your Rangers fanbase is so high and mighty, and doesn't have a few bad apples who would do the exact same thing is just silly.

Well played series... Good luck to the Bruins next year...

Bruins fans, are you cheering for Ottawa or NYR in the next series?