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Post by chappy28 on May 31, 2023 18:05:17 GMT
Anybody else look over at Chicago every now and again and get a little jealous? Chicago and Boston rose at the same time and aged at the same time but we are seeing two completely different strategies from the GM's. While Chicago looked at it's aging stars and decided to start the rebuild, each of the last two seasons we all sit on the edge of our seats waiting to hear whether our two aging stars want to come back for yet another run after disappointing playoff attempts. There's merit to both strategies as we just had one of, if not the best regular season in the history of the league before falling apart at the worst time to an admittedly very hot team. Chicago on the other had, just won the draft lottery for the "best player since McJesus", has a strong pipeline, and on top of all that has another first round pick, and SIX 2nd round picks in what is supposed to be a very deep and talented draft. We wait in agony, waiting for the other shoe to drop and Bergy to retire and leave us without a legit #1C, and Chicago took two down years to hit the bottom and get the arrow pointing back upwards.
Only time will tell how it all pans out, but you can't help but think what if......I plan to be a Bruins fan forever, but I've got to admit, it looks pretty fun to be a Chicago fan right now.
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Post by dannycater on May 31, 2023 18:21:19 GMT
Anybody else look over at Chicago every now and again and get a little jealous? Chicago and Boston rose at the same time and aged at the same time but we are seeing two completely different strategies from the GM's. While Chicago looked at it's aging stars and decided to start the rebuild, each of the last two seasons we all sit on the edge of our seats waiting to hear whether our two aging stars want to come back for yet another run after disappointing playoff attempts. There's merit to both strategies as we just had one of, if not the best regular season in the history of the league before falling apart at the worst time to an admittedly very hot team. Chicago on the other had, just won the draft lottery for the "best player since McJesus", has a strong pipeline, and on top of all that has another first round pick, and SIX 2nd round picks in what is supposed to be a very deep and talented draft. We wait in agony, waiting for the other shoe to drop and Bergy to retire and leave us without a legit #1C, and Chicago took two down years to hit the bottom and get the arrow pointing back upwards. Only time will tell how it all pans out, but you can't help but think what if......I plan to be a Bruins fan forever, but I've got to admit, it looks pretty fun to be a Chicago fan right now. Difference between Chicago and Boston is the B's just had the best regular season in NHL history...it's not even close to what happened in Chicago, a team that has been on the downside now for several years. B's down side was missing the playoff 2 years in a row by what amounts to 1 regulation win, hardly a downside. B's are in no position to go fire sale or even want to, and they answer to the B's big fan base...they have too. Chaim Bloom doesn't have to answer apparently but Sweeney/Neely have to realize the product better be good.
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Post by moognoates on Jun 1, 2023 2:34:04 GMT
Difference between Chicago and Boston is Chicago's core won three cups and Boston's won one.
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Post by dannycater on Jun 1, 2023 2:54:54 GMT
Difference between Chicago and Boston is Chicago's core won three cups and Boston's won one. True, but Chicago did fall off the cliff.
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Post by stevegm on Jun 1, 2023 10:31:17 GMT
Difference between Chicago and Boston is Chicago's core won three cups and Boston's won one. irrelevance, your honor. despite the managerial meltdown when the b's missed the playoffs(which no team in history ever did with that many points), the Bruins have been an incredibly good, and competitive team. Much better, over 14 or 15 years...than Chicago.
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Post by stevegm on Jun 1, 2023 10:37:45 GMT
Anybody else look over at Chicago every now and again and get a little jealous? Chicago and Boston rose at the same time and aged at the same time but we are seeing two completely different strategies from the GM's. While Chicago looked at it's aging stars and decided to start the rebuild, each of the last two seasons we all sit on the edge of our seats waiting to hear whether our two aging stars want to come back for yet another run after disappointing playoff attempts. There's merit to both strategies as we just had one of, if not the best regular season in the history of the league before falling apart at the worst time to an admittedly very hot team. Chicago on the other had, just won the draft lottery for the "best player since McJesus", has a strong pipeline, and on top of all that has another first round pick, and SIX 2nd round picks in what is supposed to be a very deep and talented draft. We wait in agony, waiting for the other shoe to drop and Bergy to retire and leave us without a legit #1C, and Chicago took two down years to hit the bottom and get the arrow pointing back upwards. Only time will tell how it all pans out, but you can't help but think what if......I plan to be a Bruins fan forever, but I've got to admit, it looks pretty fun to be a Chicago fan right now. I think you're mistaking strategy/philosophy, with the realities that come from winning/losing. what have we got to show for our last 6 second rounders? our last first? you can't tank your way to a franchise player. you have to tank, then win the lottery, and hope a cornerstone player is head and heels over all the rest. that ain't much of a strategy. it's sittin on your ass, feeling entitled to "watch your ship come in".
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Post by sandogbrewin on Jun 1, 2023 12:57:08 GMT
Difference between Chicago and Boston is Chicago's core won three cups and Boston's won one. You are not allowed to think or type this in Chiarelliville. His fanbase are now eying you with red laser eyes. Don't like turnover get the hell out!!!
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Post by dannycater on Jun 1, 2023 14:00:08 GMT
You win the lottery and it doesn't guarantee anything. The Ducks had a core of guys that were pretty awesome on defense in Montour, Lindholm, Fowler, they get rid of 2, they have bells and whistles Zegras, they hae Gibson...they've done nothing but suck. I'd rather have the B's system and their philosophy...one Cup? Sure, but that's not on the system to get the team to always be a playoff type team and one that had a chance to compete. The 13,19,23 failures are as much about bad luck, poor puck management in 13, game 6, no hockey god luck in game 7, 19, and an epic fail that was not helped by injuries to about 4 key players, maybe more. With some luck and some better poise, maybe they have 3 cups already (11,13,19). 23? That was a speculation after the fact, because unlike 13 and 19--it wasn't the finals....go farther back, 1979, they win the Cup v. a weak Rangers team but Too Many Men on Ice...and then the Oilers-B's triple OT game, B's win that game, I really believe that becomes a completely different series...so to me, that's 4 Cups lost. Just the way puck bounced in those 4 Cup runs.
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Post by dannycater on Jun 1, 2023 14:09:40 GMT
Just remember the Dave Lewis Bruins...that was a season that made the B's "unwatchable" (think Chaim Bloom Sox). That year was so hard to watch them and so hard to see them fall on their faces night after night...that when CJ came to town and started Chiarelli's Camelot, it was refreshing, fun to watch a young team with some great players--Lucic, Marchand, Krejci, etc, growing into their talents with Savard, Bergeron, Chara changing things...It's been basically a great team every year ever since...it's amazing stretch of success, and this was a team that had like a 30-year streak of making playoffs in a row BEFORE what we have now and those 2 weird years of missing playoffs were just head-scratchers as the team did do a lot to get in only to be not enough because the league parity saw too many 90-plus point teams. 90 points was a gimme for years in the NHL. Dave Lewis B's are the Blackhawks last several seasons HAWKS 17-18, 76 points, pathetic 18-19, 84 points (if B's put that out this year, you think Monty, Sweeney, Neely all wouldn't have been fired?) 19-20, 72 points 32-30-8...yeah, that's good? 20-21, 24-25-7...yeah that would fly in Boston 21-22, 68 points...umm that's a whole season btw, yeah that would cause us all to blow up the TD Garden and everyone inside on the roster 22-23, 59 points...oh, wow, we tanked!!! No, they didn't. THEY FUCKING SUCKED...I KNOW HAWKS FANS, TRUST ME THEY ARE FUCKING FURIOUS WITH A SHITTY PRODUCT.
They had Debrincat for cryin out loud...39th overall draft pick, 40 goal scorer...bye-bye...so much for cultivating talent. The 3 Cups they got, great, salute Kane, Toews, Crawford (not that great), Niemi, Keith, Sharp, Hossa...10, 13, 15....2015 is a long fucking time ago...sure 3 Cups and salute them. I couldn't possibly tolerate the Hawks "way" since 16-17...
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Post by dannycater on Jun 1, 2023 14:26:50 GMT
This is the Hawks now..this is all they can root for... Attachments:
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Post by dannycater on Jun 1, 2023 14:27:12 GMT
Let's buy Draft hats, Chicago!!!...fuck them, fuck this thread. chappy's words it looks pretty fun to be a Chicago fan right now.
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Post by kelvana33 on Jun 1, 2023 15:24:31 GMT
Pastrnak,MacAvoy,Lindholm,Swayman,Marchand,Zacha,Coyle and Hall...I'm not blowing that up. I might have to trade one or two pieces to address the top 2 centers, but certainly not blowing it up.
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Post by dannycater on Jun 1, 2023 15:35:03 GMT
Pastranak (injured), Lindholm (broken foot), Hall (coming back after long layoff for injury).....add DK, Bergeron, Ullmark injured as well...You have to go back and think as a B's fan, rationalize and be realistic. This team won 65 games for a reason, they were incredibly great...You take away the injury factor, and I really believe the B's are playing Vegas for the Cup right now..simple as that....great roster, and some kids are gonna go in by next year.
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Post by davinator on Jun 1, 2023 15:51:15 GMT
Pastranak (injured), Lindholm (broken foot), Hall (coming back after long layoff for injury).....add DK, Bergeron, Ullmark injured as well...You have to go back and think as a B's fan, rationalize and be realistic. This team won 65 games for a reason, they were incredibly great...You take away the injury factor, and I really believe the B's are playing Vegas for the Cup right now..simple as that....great roster, and some kids are gonna go in by next year. Even WITH the injury factor, they were 59sec away from throwing the Panthers to the curb and that would have changed the complexion of the EC playoffs... Now, it doesn't mean the Bruins would be in the Finals, but you never know. Winning the Panthers series could have served as a wake up call to the Bruins and got them playing MORE like the 65 wins club.
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Post by thanx4memORRies on Jun 1, 2023 15:57:07 GMT
Pastranak (injured), Lindholm (broken foot), Hall (coming back after long layoff for injury).....add DK, Bergeron, Ullmark injured as well...You have to go back and think as a B's fan, rationalize and be realistic. This team won 65 games for a reason, they were incredibly great...You take away the injury factor, and I really believe the B's are playing Vegas for the Cup right now..simple as that....great roster, and some kids are gonna go in by next year. I’m sure there’s at least another team or two with a long list of walking wounded…. Agree that the B’S will still have a good core after Donnie’s hatchet job in the coming weeks…. And that’s even if the two greybeards decide to call it a career….
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Post by mdsizzle on Jun 1, 2023 16:03:26 GMT
Difference between Chicago and Boston is Chicago's core won three cups and Boston's won one. irrelevance, your honor. despite the managerial meltdown when the b's missed the playoffs(which no team in history ever did with that many points), the Bruins have been an incredibly good, and competitive team. Much better, over 14 or 15 years...than Chicago. Can you really say the B's have been better when Chi won 2 more cups? If you could choose the B's next 15 years, would you pick 1 cup or 3, and do the other 12 years even matter? I know my choice is a no Brainer. Ive seen enough "close but no cigar" & collapse endings now.... 2 categories going forward for me... Cup or don't give a fuck.
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Post by mdsizzle on Jun 1, 2023 16:09:06 GMT
Pastranak (injured), Lindholm (broken foot), Hall (coming back after long layoff for injury).....add DK, Bergeron, Ullmark injured as well...You have to go back and think as a B's fan, rationalize and be realistic. This team won 65 games for a reason, they were incredibly great...You take away the injury factor, and I really believe the B's are playing Vegas for the Cup right now..simple as that....great roster, and some kids are gonna go in by next year. Lol, well, ya.. Definitely true.. They did win 65 games for a reason... The reason being they should have been resting and healing so they didn't have a round 1 collapse due to injuries and mental/physical fatigue. 65 wins... 🤮 Went from feel good to a fucking embarrassment.
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Post by bookboy007 on Jun 1, 2023 16:45:06 GMT
Difference between Chicago and Boston is Chicago's core won three cups and Boston's won one. I won't go as far as steve and call this irrelevant, but I will say that it's extremely reductive, and without unpacking it a bit more, it probably doesn't add much that's relevant to comparing the two franchises today. There are meaningful differences between the two cores and their records, especially if you take the conversation from their first Cup and the "core" to mean the central group of players who were there throughout a championship calibre window. Chicago went to the Finals 3 times in six years. Prior to the return to relevance that culminated in the Cup, Chicago missed the playoffs in 9 of 10 seasons, which was a big part of them accumulating players through the draft. Their leading playoff scorers in 2010 were Toews (21), Kane (20), Sharp (27) Keith (23), Bolland (23), Byfuglien (24), and Hossa (30). The team also included Seabrook (23), Hjalmarsson (24), Brouwer (24), Bickell (23), and Burish (26). Only Sharp and Hossa in that group were acquired by means other than the draft. But only Kane, Toews, and Seabrook were first rounders. Many were second rounders (Keith, Bickell, Bolland) but Hjalmarsson was a 4th rounder, Brouwer a 7th and Byffy 8th. This is a perfect example of "you have to be lucky to be good" at the draft, including winning the lottery and then having a 7th and 8th rounder in back to back years turn into players as impactful as Brouwer and Byfuglien. All of the drafted players were drafted in a perfect storm window from 2002-2007. In 2013, the order of the playoff scorers changed, but it was the same group with Bickell jumping into the mix. In 2015, same group with rental Brad Richards bringing up the rear. When the window closed on them after that year (they've only played 20 playoff games since and only won one series - the bubble play in, so it doesn't count in my eyes), Kane was just 25 and Toews 26. That used to be "entering your prime" and it's before UFA begins at 27. Connor McDavid, for the record, is 26. Boston went to the Finals 3 times in 9 years. When the Bruins won the Cup in 2011, their leading scorers in the playoffs were Krejci (24), Bergeron (25), Marchand (22), Ryder (30), Horton (25) and Recchi (42). The first three were Bruins drafts but none in the first round. Only Horton was a former first rounder. Milan Lucic and Tyler Seguin were the only other players drafted by the Bruins to make an impact in that series. Everyone else was acquired by trade or as a UFA. On the blueline, Chara was 33, Ference 31, Seids 29, Kaberle 32, Boychuk 26, McQuaid 23. Tim Thomas was 36. In 2013, it was the same group. No additional drafted players made an impact. Mullet McFatass replaced Recchi as the aging former Penguin. But the gap between #2 and #3 is big for Boston. In 2019, Pastrnak and Coyle inserted themselves into the leading scorers, along with Krug, and Debrusk, Kuraly, Grz, McAvoy and Heinen all contributed 8 or more points. In many ways, it was a different "core" with about 40% of the flavour of the first two Cup appearances. So I would complete any sentence that begins "difference between Chicago and Boston is that" with things like "Chicago had almost unprecedented luck in the later rounds of the draft after a decade of irrelevance while Boston built their team with picks, trades and signings, making it much more difficult to manage the Cap over the longer term than if most of your top players are on ELCs or RFAs." Or "Boston's window opened when their key players were at the same age as Chicago's were when their window closed." Looking solely at the record in the finals as 3-0 vs. 1-2 is fair enough, but it's really comparing apples and carburetors. In terms of what it means for right now? The Bruins are miles ahead of the Hawks in terms of team building. The Hawks are miles ahead of the Bruins in terms of draft capital. I see this as analogous to being 10 points back with 7 games in hand. You have enough games in hand that if you deliver, you can pass the team ahead of you. But you have to deliver. And the history of teams that have tried the Chicago-style deep dish tank isn't great.
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Post by umainebruinsfan on Jun 1, 2023 16:47:41 GMT
I don't think you blow it up because you just re-signed Pasta. McAvoy is young and a true #1 D and his contract will look better as more young D sign contracts bigger than his, and Sway is young and could sign a reasonable deal in RFA. Also, Zacha and Lindholm have good contracts and are young. DeBrusk is young and affordable but with only 1 year left, I worry what he might cost in the future, but I think you need his production at his salary for this year, and maybe he will be a center-piece beyond this year too.
That said, we did need to do some major reshuffling. We need to save some money somewhere. Trade salary (Ullmark, Gryz, Hall, Forbort) for prospects or draft picks just to get the money off the books. Maybe you even make a "hockey trade". Good player for good player but it helps fill a hole or save a little money. But I don't think you blow it up when you still have a good young core.
And this is different from Chicago. Chicago had to blow it up. They didn't have a Pasta or McAvoy or Sway. They had Toews (similar to Bergeron but aged worse and was a shell of his former self) and Kane (similar to Marchand in that he's an older wing who still can score and has value to a contender). But that is basically all Chicago had. They didn't have the young core behind those guys. Good for them that they can rebuild around Bedard, but they still have a lot of holes on that roster.
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Post by 50belowzero on Jun 1, 2023 17:26:24 GMT
In their Cup winning window i also think the Hawks benefitted from some sketchy contract shenanigans to keep the team together. Contract limits and yearly cap hits (AAV) were inplemented after the Hawks assembled their teams. They still managed it within the NHL rules at the time so fair is fair i guess.
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Post by dannycater on Jun 1, 2023 17:27:25 GMT
Pastranak (injured), Lindholm (broken foot), Hall (coming back after long layoff for injury).....add DK, Bergeron, Ullmark injured as well...You have to go back and think as a B's fan, rationalize and be realistic. This team won 65 games for a reason, they were incredibly great...You take away the injury factor, and I really believe the B's are playing Vegas for the Cup right now..simple as that....great roster, and some kids are gonna go in by next year. Lol, well, ya.. Definitely true.. They did win 65 games for a reason... The reason being they should have been resting and healing so they didn't have a round 1 collapse due to injuries and mental/physical fatigue. 65 wins... 🤮 Went from feel good to a fucking embarrassment. Epic Fail, Always will be known like the 07 Pats, all-time epic fail...16-0? Who cares, 65 wins, who cares...who won at the end...not either, but that's not the point of the thread, right? The point was blowing something up that does not even close to have to blown up. It's a philosophy change, coaching learning moments to get to the next level in playoffs. You figure out now that the reg. season and winning games 61,62,63,64,65 were not that important...but you can't control injuries...Pasta got hurt they said on his opening shift game 1 v. Florida...how do you control that? There's nothing you can do, Lindholm had a broken foot..and didn't think the ineffective play and pain he likely was going through didn't warrant going to team doctor? Telling the coach? Letting B's know? Well, I can go on...Ullmark, same fucking thing..and finally #37, El Capitan...what he did to play in Montreal, then what he did to demand back in the lineup up 3-1 games...that is unforgivable. He will be on the Mount Rushmore of all-time Bruins and rightfully so, but his blatant non-team attitude at the very end is....sad.
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Post by The OC on Jun 1, 2023 18:26:00 GMT
Lol, well, ya.. Definitely true.. They did win 65 games for a reason... The reason being they should have been resting and healing so they didn't have a round 1 collapse due to injuries and mental/physical fatigue. 65 wins... 🤮 Went from feel good to a fucking embarrassment. Epic Fail, Always will be known like the 07 Pats, all-time epic fail...16-0? Who cares, 65 wins, who cares...who won at the end...not either, but that's not the point of the thread, right? The point was blowing something up that does not even close to have to blown up. It's a philosophy change, coaching learning moments to get to the next level in playoffs. You figure out now that the reg. season and winning games 61,62,63,64,65 were not that important...but you can't control injuries...Pasta got hurt they said on his opening shift game 1 v. Florida...how do you control that? There's nothing you can do, Lindholm had a broken foot..and didn't think the ineffective play and pain he likely was going through didn't warrant going to team doctor? Telling the coach? Letting B's know? Well, I can go on...Ullmark, same fucking thing..and finally #37, El Capitan...what he did to play in Montreal, then what he did to demand back in the lineup up 3-1 games...that is unforgivable. He will be on the Mount Rushmore of all-time Bruins and rightfully so, but his blatant non-team attitude at the very end is....sad. You don't seem to understand the Bergeron situation. It wasn't selfish. They rested him the last couple weeks of the season to avoid him tweaking his groin which has been a traditional problem for the last few years. At the point they decided to shut him down to prevent injury, they agreed he would play the last game of the season as a tune up so he wasn't cold going into the playoffs. Get back in the rhythm. This makes total sense and the plan from everyone in the organization. It just so happens that in that game he did something to his back and herniated a disc. Heck, that might have happened because he wasn't in game form from sitting out. Regardless, it wasn't selfish and wasn't stupid. It was crap luck.
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Post by dannycater on Jun 1, 2023 18:47:18 GMT
Epic Fail, Always will be known like the 07 Pats, all-time epic fail...16-0? Who cares, 65 wins, who cares...who won at the end...not either, but that's not the point of the thread, right? The point was blowing something up that does not even close to have to blown up. It's a philosophy change, coaching learning moments to get to the next level in playoffs. You figure out now that the reg. season and winning games 61,62,63,64,65 were not that important...but you can't control injuries...Pasta got hurt they said on his opening shift game 1 v. Florida...how do you control that? There's nothing you can do, Lindholm had a broken foot..and didn't think the ineffective play and pain he likely was going through didn't warrant going to team doctor? Telling the coach? Letting B's know? Well, I can go on...Ullmark, same fucking thing..and finally #37, El Capitan...what he did to play in Montreal, then what he did to demand back in the lineup up 3-1 games...that is unforgivable. He will be on the Mount Rushmore of all-time Bruins and rightfully so, but his blatant non-team attitude at the very end is....sad. You don't seem to understand the Bergeron situation. It wasn't selfish. They rested him the last couple weeks of the season to avoid him tweaking his groin which has been a traditional problem for the last few years. At the point they decided to shut him down to prevent injury, they agreed he would play the last game of the season as a tune up so he wasn't cold going into the playoffs. Get back in the rhythm. This makes total sense and the plan from everyone in the organization. It just so happens that in that game he did something to his back and herniated a disc. Heck, that might have happened because he wasn't in game form from sitting out. Regardless, it wasn't selfish and wasn't stupid. It was crap luck. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Bergeron had no business playing in game 5, none..no need. That's on the Monty too. If I'm injured and not playing at my best, I owe it to my team to let them know that maybe it's better to play the depth until I am in a state of I can help the team...27,37,35
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Post by bookboy007 on Jun 1, 2023 19:00:54 GMT
Anybody else look over at Chicago every now and again and get a little jealous? Chicago and Boston rose at the same time and aged at the same time but we are seeing two completely different strategies from the GM's. While Chicago looked at it's aging stars and decided to start the rebuild, each of the last two seasons we all sit on the edge of our seats waiting to hear whether our two aging stars want to come back for yet another run after disappointing playoff attempts. There's merit to both strategies as we just had one of, if not the best regular season in the history of the league before falling apart at the worst time to an admittedly very hot team. Chicago on the other had, just won the draft lottery for the "best player since McJesus", has a strong pipeline, and on top of all that has another first round pick, and SIX 2nd round picks in what is supposed to be a very deep and talented draft. We wait in agony, waiting for the other shoe to drop and Bergy to retire and leave us without a legit #1C, and Chicago took two down years to hit the bottom and get the arrow pointing back upwards. Only time will tell how it all pans out, but you can't help but think what if......I plan to be a Bruins fan forever, but I've got to admit, it looks pretty fun to be a Chicago fan right now. I don't think it looks fun to be a Chicago fan. I think it looks difficult and potentially tiresome. Chicago didn't look at its aging stars and make a difficult decision to move them; they waited until they had played out contracts that they couldn't move. They kept Kane and Toews and tried to build round them and...sucked. DeBrincat, Schmaltz, Saad, Boqvist, Jokiharju, Dach, Strome...they tried to rebuild. After 7 years of suckitude, they finally realized they had exhausted all of their resources. But mostly, I have very little faith in their rebuild strategy. Their entire strategy seems to have been to suck as hard as possible and hope for Bedard. And while the kid is super talented, he's 5'10" and 185 and doesn't have McDavid wheels to compensate for a lack of size. They traded DeBrincat for a WHL offensive defenseman who was second pairing for Canada at the WJHC last year. They traded a former #3 overall in Dach for #13, a 5'10" C playing for Michigan with Beecher like scoring numbers as a freshman. I don't think either player looks especially exciting for Chicago's future. They have very little in the system already. Lukas Reichel got a taste last year and looked like a decent player, but his Rockford numbers are Studnicka-esque. Rockford is fully of 26 yr old AHL veterans and former 5th round picks. There is no burst of talent from the later rounds like they got in 2009-10. I'm not sure where you see a strong pipeline, to be honest. It's not like they graduated players to the NHL and that's why the cupboard is bare, either. Bedard, if he goes straight to the NHL, is going to have a miserable time. They don't have a goalie and their D is Seth Jones and Nobody. The returning forwards are uninspiring - if he is instantly the #1C, he'd play with Raddysh and either Reichel or Kachouk based on last year's scoring. They have the most cap space of any team in the league, though, so maybe they can do something more inspiring that way, but it isn't an inspiring FA class. I could see them being players for Lucic to defend Bedard, Drouin to serve as a cautionary tale, JVR to help him rack up PP points, and Dumba to help build that D. But that assumes that Lucic or Dumba isn't offered a deal with a team that can win now. JVR and Drouin might be looking for rehab opportunities. If Chicago gets it right at this draft - after taking Bedard - and then again in 2024 and 2025 where they have 2 1st per year - I think they could still be DNQ in 2026-2027. They are as bad or worse than Edmonton was when they got Hall. Edmonton missed the playoffs in 9 of 10 years after drafting Taylor Hall (losing in the Q round counts as a DNQ here). That's 4 of the first 5 years of the McDavid era. Prior to this year, Connor McDavid has won 3 playoff rounds. Like the Oilers, Chicago has no goaltending and no defense. Bedard doesn't play those positions, and as good as Jones is, he's on an island out there. He's -75 over the last two seasons. Chicago is going to continue to suck for a very long time. 4 years at best, and it's probably 5-6 before they are really relevant unless they make a series of smart moves above and beyond picking players in the draft. Like Sabre fans after Eichel, they have a long, painful and likely boring wait before they see playoff hockey again. So no...I am not envious of Hawks fans at all. As kel points out, I think this Bruins team built around Pastrnak, McAvoy, Lindholm, Carlo, Ullmark, Swayman, and Zacha is going to do more to compete for playoff victories in the next 5 years, with Marchand and Hall and Coyle and Debrusk rounding out the roster for the next 2 or more.
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Post by sandogbrewin on Jun 1, 2023 19:08:26 GMT
In their Cup winning window i also think the Hawks benefitted from some sketchy contract shenanigans to keep the team together. Contract limits and yearly cap hits (AAV) were inplemented after the Hawks assembled their teams. They still managed it within the NHL rules at the time so fair is fair i guess. It's a plucky flucky cap foolery. Sweeney did use the "Tampa clause" a bit this season. Well sheet I would.
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