Jared Crozier: Peeking over the fence - Boston Bruins

Would have liked to see us healthier in that playoff run. Changed that lineup to what may be a bit more plausible. Could also switch Spooner/Nash on the 3rd line.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Bjork - Krejci - Backes
Vatrano - Spooner - Nash
Beleskey - Acciari - Schaller

Kuraly/JFK



Chara - McAvoy
Krug - Carlo
Miller - McQuaid

Postma



Rask
Khudobin
McIntyre

Nice write up.

The Bruins also let Dominic Moore walk who was signed by Toronto. A few thoughts regarding camp and the opening day roster.

Hopefully before the start of the season McQauid will be moved in order to make room for either Lauzon or Zboril who are hopefuls to push for the roster. Also between Heinen, JFK and Spooner Sweeney potentially has a glut at 3C. I could see Heinen getting another shot if he has good camp and may force a trade for Spooner. I think JFK needs time the AHL as he looked completely lost in his debut. Lastly, Senyshyn and Bjork are also expected to challenge for roster spots as well. Both of which have been exciting players at NCAA and OHL level. They may end being additions later in the season after time in the AHL. Bjork appears to have more a complete game and is bigger body which may hold Sneyshyn back for now. Lastly, Petr Cehlarik spent some time in thew NHL last year and played very well along side Krejci. I think he has the best chance of making the opening day roster for the 2nd line. I could see the opening day roster being something like this:

POTENTIAL LINEUP

FORWARDS

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Cehlarik- Krejci - Backes
Vatrano- Spooner/Heinen - Beleskey
Schaller- Nash - Accari/Czarnik

Kuraly/Agostino/Bjork

DEFENSE

Chara - McAvoy
Krug - Miller
Carlo - Lauzon/Zboril

Postma

GOALIES

Rask
Khudobin

Either way Sweeney has committed to the youth movement and for the moment has stopped doing stupid poop. The Bruins are probably 2 seasons away before challenging for a 7-8 seed IMO. It really depends on if the kids can perform.

Great signing. Adds depth and pretty much guarantees that Chabot won't be rushed

Great Blog. Started reading your stuff during the round 1 series, and have stayed a reader. Really enjoy your content and objective views on other clubs.

Could have been a different series if we had been healthy, but you guys made one hell of a run regardless.

Nice write up.

The Bruins also let Dominic Moore walk who was signed by Toronto. A few thoughts regarding camp and the opening day roster.

Hopefully before the start of the season McQauid will be moved in order to make room for either Lauzon or Zboril who are hopefuls to push for the roster. Also between Heinen, JFK and Spooner Sweeney potentially has a glut at 3C. I could see Heinen getting another shot if he has good camp and may force a trade for Spooner. I think JFK needs time the AHL as he looked completely lost in his debut. Lastly, Senyshyn and Bjork are also expected to challenge for roster spots as well. Both of which have been exciting players at NCAA and OHL level. They may end being additions later in the season after time in the AHL. Bjork appears to have more a complete game and is bigger body which may hold Sneyshyn back for now. Lastly, Petr Cehlarik spent some time in thew NHL last year and played very well along side Krejci. I think he has the best chance of making the opening day roster for the 2nd line. I could see the opening day roster being something like this:

POTENTIAL LINEUP

FORWARDS

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Cehlarik- Krejci - Backes
Vatrano- Spooner/Heinen - Beleskey
Schaller- Nash - Accari/Czarnik

Kuraly/Agostino/Bjork

DEFENSE

Chara - McAvoy
Krug - Miller
Carlo - Lauzon/Zboril

Postma

GOALIES

Rask
Khudobin

Either way Sweeney has committed to the youth movement and for the moment has stopped doing stupid poop. The Bruins are probably 2 seasons away before challenging for a 7-8 seed IMO. It really depends on if the kids can perform.
- glove_was_stuck

McQuaid?

Solid depth signing.

Going to be real interesting to see what happens to this roster after next season. I believe they are 5m under the cap and with Andy, Wideman, Oduya, Boro, Turris all UFA (Stone, Ceci RFA) this team could look drastically different.

Hate to say it but they almost need Mac to retire to free up that 4.65 of space. Without that I find it hard to believe that they can bring back 61,7, 65.

McQuaid?
- Charlie.Conway

Hopefully moved before the start of the season if either Lauzon or Zboril makes a push.

Great signing. Adds depth and pretty much guarantees that Chabot won't be rushed
- sensarmy_11

I'm not sure I see this is a "great" signing... mostly because I'm not sure of the level of Oduya's game at this point. The suggestion that "his days as a legitimate top-4 defenceman are probably behind him" is cemented by the fact that he just signed a 1yr/$1M contract with a minimal performance incentive. However, I don't think they could have gone into training camp without some kind of veteran bridging option in place for the blue line, so in the absence of anything more substantial this kind of signing was certainly necessary.

This moves signals to me that Dorion still firmly believes that one of Chabot, Harpur, or Claesson is ready for a top-4 role, but has accepted the fact that it might take a good part of the season for that to really develop. Assuming it's Chabot, the question that I still have is whether they have the right pieces in place on the blue line to support his development (i.e. someone to insulate him defensively)... and does that potentially conflict with the need to have an effective partner for Karlsson?

Great signing. Adds depth and pretty much guarantees that Chabot won't be rushed
- sensarmy_11

That's the key for me....

some people might say cheap spending, but to me the 2 keys are (1) you didn't just sit pat, which would have made me very upset and (2) you bring in a low risk, higher reward 2-time stanley cup winner... and he's not 40. 1 year term makes him work for something and he's sweedish!

As mentioned above and many of you know, it allows Chabot to have some time and even more reason to play better given he has 2 vets on his side (phaneuf, oduya)

I really like this signing, especially the term and dollar amount.

I would rather a Mcquaid type player. But this is good and we can still bring in Chabot to develop

As mentioned above and many of you know, it allows Chabot to have some time and even more reason to play better given he has 2 vets on his side (phaneuf, oduya)
- AlfieisKing

This is what I mean, though... assuming that Phaneuf-Ceci remains the 2nd pairing, is Oduya there as a bridge replacement for Methot beside Karlsson, or as a veteran mentor for Chabot? If it's the latter, then I'm not sure this counts as them doing anything to functionally account for the loss of Methot. Or is there a chance that Phaneuf gets bumped up to play regularly with Karlsson, which essentially means a total overhaul of all three defence pairings?

You note that Miller was taken in the expansion draft but then you have him in the projected lineup