Chara as the #1 doesn't make sense at all... the dude is (frank)ing toast. Most overrated player in the NHL at this point? Maybe?

He needs to be dropped down to the 2nd pairing at best.
We're not going to get two top pairing D-Men... but hopefully we can land one top pairing guy, and maybe a supporting character.
I still think the team will be competitive with 1 upgrade on the back end... especially if that means that Chara plays drastically reduced minutes.

I wish they had kept Colin Miller up with the big club this whole season.

I think a big issue is they were "pretenders" all season... trying to look like a competitive team... when they really should have been more focused on the development of the younger players.

It's clear that they need help on the back end... and it looks pretty promising in terms of forwards right now... Spooner, Pastrnak, Acciari, Vatrano, Ferraro are all younger pieces that I like a lot.

I really don't think the team is far off from competing. We need to find help on defense (and lose Chara... fast) and they'll be back to a competitive team.
- mixturebill

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I ment the players, not their exact slotting as written above. As its written there are guys slotted on the wrong sides and in the wrong order. But I'd be happy, (not thrilled of course), with that group.

I do think if they can get at least one top defenseman to eat up the large minutes that will do a world of good for the B's. Everything would fall into place. They cant rely on Chara to play 24 minutes a game. I still think he can log some good shut down minutes though. Shattenkirk would be nice obviously. I think they need to move Seids as well.

You need a defensive unit that will not panic and rush the puck out of the zone all night. Lots of sky lobs and high off the boards with the lead is the primary reason they could not keep leads. Krug was the only one who was consistent on the break out.
- Mahewman

I'm down to move seids and open up that spot for a Gryz/O'Gara, I'm just not sure he's moveable. I think that 3rd pair would be good for not getting scored on for 7-12 5v5 min and log heavy PK. Seids is still a good pk'er.

I honestly think Kevan Miller was one the better D by the end of the year at moving the puck up ice efficiently. We need to give him a fresh start. I think he and Krug would be a fine 2nd pair

I'm down to move seids and open up that spot for a Gryz/O'Gara, I'm just not sure he's moveable. I think that 3rd pair would be good for not getting scored on for 7-12 5v5 min and log heavy PK. Seids is still a good pk'er.

I honestly think Kevan Miller was one the better D by the end of the year at moving the puck up ice efficiently. We need to give him a fresh start. I think he and Krug would be a fine 2nd pair
- Shaundre93

I have said before that K. Miller has nice potential. He's still learning the NHL game as well. (frank) all games played so far in his big league career and he's made nice progress, Imo. I know he can be a train wreck at times but those moments are becoming less and less as he learns his craft. Not to mention he can stand up for guys and hold his own with the best of the middle weights in the league. He makes it tough for guys in his corner as well. I say keep him. I'd move Trotman and Morrow if I had to.

I have said before that K. Miller has nice potential. He's still learning the NHL game as well. (frank) all games played so far in his big league career and he's made nice progress, Imo. I know he can be a train wreck at times but those moments are becoming less and less as he learns his craft. Not to mention he can stand up for guys and hold his own with the best of the middle weights in the league. He makes it tough for guys in his corner as well. I say keep him. I'd move Trotman and Morrow if I had to.
- shoreorrpark

My biggest problem with K. Miller is his shoulder though. It's like hanging on by a thread at this point. If we do have him next year, it's almost guaranteed to have him go down for a good 20 game stretch.

My biggest problem with K. Miller is his shoulder though. It's like hanging on by a thread at this point. If we do have him next year, it's almost guaranteed to have him go down for a good 20 game stretch.
- mixturebill

Yeah, his shoulder is definitely sketchy, but it's not like it was a soft play. He got buried from behind and only missed a couple weeks

I find it funny no one includes Kevan Miller in any of their roster projections. I was one of his biggest critcs throughout the season but it's time to give credit where it's due, he was the most improved player on the B's last season. I really thought Trotman would step up and Miller would be the odd man out but I got it backwards. And to listen to Doug Houdas comments, Kevan is becoming a locker room favorite. He's sticking around.

I.E. Krug. To say he's at best a #4 PP specialist is asinine. Dude was our best D man all year. 44pts on D (with an insanely low sh%) and we're just shrugging it off? With a little luck Krug could have put up 60pts this year. And he was injured, and he has character qualities that can't be taught. Lock this guy up and get him a letter.

We need 1 dman (or maybe Colin takes a step forward?) to round out the group for next season. Obviously more work needs to be done going forward to replace Chara and Seids but for just next year, 1 dman will do. Shattenkirks a popular name so let's pretend we add him (whoever said he's a 3rd pair D man... Go home, you're drunk).

Chara Shatty
Krug Kevan
Seids McQuaid

The forwards are poised to be lethal again, I think a D group like this (though not ideal) would be enough for the team to compete next year
- Shaundre93

would you be more comfortable with me saying he's a 2nd pair d man that cant kill pentalties? You might be right where he was one of our best defensman, but that just shows how bad they were. He scored 4 goals... and he's the offensive d-man. Sure, its 2x as many as Chris kelly had,.......

would you be more comfortable with me saying he's a 2nd pair d man that cant kill pentalties? You might be right where he was one of our best defensman, but that just shows how bad they were. He scored 4 goals... and he's the offensive d-man. Sure, its 2x as many as Chris kelly had,.......
- 77emac77

he had a down year in goals and improved a lot of other aspects in his game because he wanted to become a better defender. he could come out and score 15-20 next year and you will point that he had less assists.

would you be more comfortable with me saying he's a 2nd pair d man that cant kill pentalties? You might be right where he was one of our best defensman, but that just shows how bad they were. He scored 4 goals... and he's the offensive d-man. Sure, its 2x as many as Chris kelly had,.......
- 77emac77

I wonder if his scoring drought was due to the shoulder AND the shoulder got hurt because he was being asked to do too much physically on D.

He could be a good middle pairing guy, but he just doesn't have the size to clear out the front of the net. Has a good heart and passion for the game too.

He is like the Bs version of Issiah Thomas for the Cs. He has all the things you like about a gritty ballsy skilled player except the size.

My biggest problem with K. Miller is his shoulder though. It's like hanging on by a thread at this point. If we do have him next year, it's almost guaranteed to have him go down for a good 20 game stretch.
- mixturebill

Same has his twin Qauider. Identical players in most regards including injuries.

K. Miller, Seidenberg and McQuaid feel like the Kelly, Paille and Campbell experience that may have gone on a couple players too many and a couple seasons too long.

I wonder if his scoring drought was due to the shoulder AND the shoulder got hurt because he was being asked to do too much physically on D.

He could be a good middle pairing guy, but he just doesn't have the size to clear out the front of the net. Has a good heart and passion for the game too.

He is like the Bs version of Issiah Thomas for the Cs. He has all the things you like about a gritty ballsy skilled player except the size.
- JIwasinskiJr

He also shows accountability when they arent playing well. He was a bright spot for me this year. Krug, Bergy, and Marchand all improved. I think Spooner took some steps forward as well. Seth Griffith had a monster yeah in the AHL and Vatrano looks like he might be able to become a legitimate scorer. The forward group has a bright future. Who would you target in free agency?

Alex Goligoski isnt a bad target in my mind for the right contract.

He also shows accountability when they arent playing well. He was a bright spot for me this year. Krug, Bergy, and Marchand all improved. I think Spooner took some steps forward as well. Seth Griffith had a monster yeah in the AHL and Vatrano looks like he might be able to become a legitimate scorer. The forward group has a bright future. Who would you target in free agency?

Alex Goligoski isnt a bad target in my mind for the right contract.
- Mahewman

Jason Demers.

Saw an article out of Montreal that they should sign Looch. I hope he doesnt have it in him to sign there. Would be AWFUL.

Same has his twin Qauider. Identical players in most regards including injuries.

K. Miller, Seidenberg and McQuaid feel like the Kelly, Paille and Campbell experience that may have gone on a couple players too many and a couple seasons too long.
- JIwasinskiJr

That's true, and that's kind of the reason I hope they move on from K Miller... they've already got Quaider locked up on a deal that's not going anywhere, so K Miller is just too much of a redundancy on this team for me.

I think Krug will probably always be viewed as a powerplay specialist... but he's so much more than that. It's just so hard to classify him, because he doesn't really fit into any clear cut profile. He's not anything close to a liability in his own end... I think he's quite underrated defensively, but still you don't want him out there against the top line players night in and night out. Still, I think you have to get him in 22-24 minutes a game, and basically use him in every offensive situation possible. And the Krug/Marchand/Bergeron combo in overtime is nasty.

- dothedougie

They're talking on the Buzzcast that Wideman is still going to go back to Boston... I don't see it happening but the dudes on the Buzzcast seem pretty confident about it.

I don't think Wideman fits here, and I don't think that's a move the Bruins make.

They're talking on the Buzzcast that Wideman is still going to go back to Boston... I don't see it happening but the dudes on the Buzzcast seem pretty confident about it.

I don't think Wideman fits here, and I don't think that's a move the Bruins make.
- mixturebill

and who's on the Buzzcast?

They're talking on the Buzzcast that Wideman is still going to go back to Boston... I don't see it happening but the dudes on the Buzzcast seem pretty confident about it.

I don't think Wideman fits here, and I don't think that's a move the Bruins make.
- mixturebill

Never gonna happen. Could you imagine how many more calls would go against us, or non calls for that matter, with Wideman in our line up? I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but it seems to me that Bruins get (frank)ed over on a regular basis with regards to officiating. Having the guy who "purposely" dropped a linesman can't help.

They're talking on the Buzzcast that Wideman is still going to go back to Boston... I don't see it happening but the dudes on the Buzzcast seem pretty confident about it.

I don't think Wideman fits here, and I don't think that's a move the Bruins make.
- mixturebill

I can't decide if I am more surprised about someone watching the Buzzcast, or that the Bruins would want that human turnstile of a Dman.

Looks like koko is headed to the K. Guess he won't have to complain about ice time anymore

Looks like koko is headed to the K. Guess he won't have to complain about ice time anymore
- dothedougie

Good riddance

Looks like koko is headed to the K. Guess he won't have to complain about ice time anymore
- dothedougie

At least BOS controls his rights. If he lights up the KHL maybe a team wants to trade for his rights and sign him

At what point does this horrible track record of skill players in Boston become embarrassing to the point that they "change" there ways?

I didn't see what made Koko so special that he could work out in the NHL but at some point you have to give him a shot, don't you?

Hayes and Connolly didn't deserve the permanent roster spots they received. So how do you look at a Vatrano, Spoons, Griffith and Koko and tell them they aren't good enough, some for multiple seasons?

Too many roster spots given to old guys or blah grinders without any foresight about the future of the players and club. The greatest reason we are where we are as a fringe playoffs team that is trending downward presently.

At what point does this horrible track record of skill players in Boston become embarrassing to the point that they "change" there ways?

I didn't see what made Koko so special that he could work out in the NHL but at some point you have to give him a shot, don't you?

Hayes and Connolly didn't deserve the permanent roster spots they received. So how do you look at a Vatrano, Spoons, Griffith and Koko and tell them they aren't good enough, some for multiple seasons?

Too many roster spots given to old guys or blah grinders without any foresight about the future of the players and club. The greatest reason we are where we are as a fringe playoffs team that is trending downward presently.
- JIwasinskiJr

Yep, let's hand all the "talented" kids roster spots, free of competition. Worked great for Edmonton. At what point do you realize no kids were making impacts because Chias staff sucked at drafting? Seems to me Spooner, Pasta, Vatrano, Ferraro, Acciari were all given increased roles as they earned them. Koko and Griffeth did nothing to earn increased roles

Yep, let's hand all the "talented" kids roster spots, free of competition. Worked great for Edmonton. At what point do you realize no kids were making impacts because Chias staff sucked at drafting? Seems to me Spooner, Pasta, Vatrano, Ferraro, Acciari were all given increased roles as they earned them. Koko and Griffeth did nothing to earn increased roles
- Shaundre93

The last THREE years have been "failures." Need to question decisions at some point don't we? Or should we wait another season or two?

Yep, let's hand all the "talented" kids roster spots, free of competition. Worked great for Edmonton. At what point do you realize no kids were making impacts because Chias staff sucked at drafting? Seems to me Spooner, Pasta, Vatrano, Ferraro, Acciari were all given increased roles as they earned them. Koko and Griffeth did nothing to earn increased roles
- Shaundre93

Griffith absolutely tore up the AHL....