|
Post by bookboy007 on Sept 7, 2023 11:45:19 GMT
The potential is there. I'm very curious about what they can get from JVR. He's been under the 20 goal mark more years than he's been over it, but some of that has been injuries and other issues cutting his seasons off before he gets there. I will be surprised if his numbers aren't similar to what we hope to see from Freddy - 20+ goals, something close to that in assists, somewhere around .5 points/game. But I want to see "veteran savvy". I want some key PPG, some smart plays to get the puck to Pastrnak to unlock the PP when it stumbles, some down-low presence when the team falls into perimeter passing. All the stuff that Torts ripped him for not being last year. The thing JVR is elite at is net front, especially on the PP. Unfortunately the rest of his game is a bit below average. But you can work with that. Net-front on the PP was a bit of a gap for the Bruins last year until they got Bertuzzi. They've used JDB, Hall and even Marchand in the role, but it's not plan A for any of them. It's Bert's happy place and I think that was a part of the PP jumping to 40% against FLA in the playoffs. I think management saw a way to get a key part of what Bert brought at a fraction of the cost. We then probably see JDB be the puck mover on PP2 replacing Hall. My biggest concern with Jim is where he plays a regular shift. Not a huge fan of him with Zacha and Pasta because he's slow and not a great puck distributer. He could probably hold his own cloggin' up and down the wing while Coyle holds on to the puck for a few hours. Powerplays are so important in today's NHL that it's probably worth it at his low salary. I'm not crazy about him on the Zacha line either, but having him go to the net and create space for Pastrnak to dance isn't the worst experiment. That's putting feta cheese in gin to see what it tastes like. I worry more about the Coyle line being a defensive liability. Coyle's no Bergeron to cover for the weaker defensive wings, so if he's got JVR, it could make that whole line less effective as a two-way matchup line. I mean, you might be better with him playing a fourth lone role at even strength and giving Lucic a chance with Coyle and Freddy. Still not ideal defensively, but i like the idea that they would get it deep and then exhaust their defenders.
|
|
|
Post by dannycater on Sept 7, 2023 13:24:42 GMT
I'm weirdly excited that Danton Heinen is back and hope he can grab a roster spot. Monty's former boy in college.
|
|
|
Post by Lord Markwart on Sept 7, 2023 14:04:23 GMT
I'm weirdly excited that Danton Heinen is back and hope he can grab a roster spot. Monty's former boy in college. I hear Bjork is coming back as well...and Donato...just kidding. Wanted to raise my blood pressure a little bit more. The Bruins long layoff has given me withdrawal symptoms one can only experience on prom night. I know that makes no sense but the response topic was Heinen
|
|
|
Post by The OC on Sept 8, 2023 0:24:10 GMT
I'm weirdly excited that Danton Heinen is back and hope he can grab a roster spot. Monty's former boy in college. I hear Bjork is coming back as well...and Donato...just kidding. Wanted to raise my blood pressure a little bit more. The Bruins long layoff has given me withdrawal symptoms one can only experience on prom night. I know that makes no sense but the response topic was Heinen I hope this year you get a better finish
|
|
|
Post by wayne on Sept 8, 2023 1:37:33 GMT
The thing JVR is elite at is net front, especially on the PP. Unfortunately the rest of his game is a bit below average. But you can work with that. Net-front on the PP was a bit of a gap for the Bruins last year until they got Bertuzzi. They've used JDB, Hall and even Marchand in the role, but it's not plan A for any of them. It's Bert's happy place and I think that was a part of the PP jumping to 40% against FLA in the playoffs. I think management saw a way to get a key part of what Bert brought at a fraction of the cost. We then probably see JDB be the puck mover on PP2 replacing Hall. My biggest concern with Jim is where he plays a regular shift. Not a huge fan of him with Zacha and Pasta because he's slow and not a great puck distributer. He could probably hold his own cloggin' up and down the wing while Coyle holds on to the puck for a few hours. Powerplays are so important in today's NHL that it's probably worth it at his low salary. I'm not crazy about him on the Zacha line either, but having him go to the net and create space for Pastrnak to dance isn't the worst experiment. That's putting feta cheese in gin to see what it tastes like. I worry more about the Coyle line being a defensive liability. Coyle's no Bergeron to cover for the weaker defensive wings, so if he's got JVR, it could make that whole line less effective as a two-way matchup line. I mean, you might be better with him playing a fourth lone role at even strength and giving Lucic a chance with Coyle and Freddy. Still not ideal defensively, but i like the idea that they would get it deep and then exhaust their defenders. Pair them up Marchand- -DeBrusk -Zacha-Pastrnak -Coyle-Frederic
|
|
|
Post by 50belowzero on Sept 8, 2023 13:47:45 GMT
I'm weirdly excited that Danton Heinen is back and hope he can grab a roster spot. Monty's former boy in college. I think the B's would be better off with a 24 of Heineken myself but as i've always said, you can never have enough Finns, Latvians or LW's!
|
|
|
Post by Lord Markwart on Sept 8, 2023 14:45:16 GMT
On Heinen....In the words of one of my former coaches when I was a has-been..."I want guys who can backcheck who can also score"....This always made me pause. Perhaps he meant that you are not always gonna score but you better damn well get back...Anyway, we are very lucky to have a few guys on this team who do the reverse in March and Pasta. Lotta so-so teams filled with only the Heineken type players.
|
|
|
Post by dannycater on Sept 8, 2023 17:24:07 GMT
Danton will be an adequate player with Monty getting the most out of him.
|
|
|
Post by chappy28 on Sept 13, 2023 2:18:57 GMT
I'm not crazy about him on the Zacha line either, but having him go to the net and create space for Pastrnak to dance isn't the worst experiment. That's putting feta cheese in gin to see what it tastes like. I worry more about the Coyle line being a defensive liability. Coyle's no Bergeron to cover for the weaker defensive wings, so if he's got JVR, it could make that whole line less effective as a two-way matchup line. I mean, you might be better with him playing a fourth lone role at even strength and giving Lucic a chance with Coyle and Freddy. Still not ideal defensively, but i like the idea that they would get it deep and then exhaust their defenders. Pair them up Marchand- -DeBrusk -Zacha-Pastrnak -Coyle-Frederic I've never really loved the "pair them up" philosophy. There's three guys to a line, so the idea that you want two good guys and a rotating cast on the third pair doesn't do it for me. I know this was pretty much Cassidy's method and maybe Claude's to an extent as well, but I think if I were the coach I'm searching for chemistry between three guys and build the best lines you can instead of three line's that you like 2 of the 3 guys on the line. If we have to be a top heavy team then so be it, that's the break until Sweeney brings in other ingredients. But until then, start at the top and build the best lines you can. Do you want to take the risk that JVR or whoever slows down Pasta's scoring? Do you want to waste Marchand's season playing with Coyle? Let's remember that Marchand is a ppg player when HURT. High end players need high end players to play with. Putting stone hands McGee with two top tier forwards just means that Stone Hands McGee will end plays that could have worked out and eventually the other two on the one will learn how to work around him (and become more predictable, and less effective over the course of the season). I also think that approach limits the opportunities that other guys receive because really you are locking in 4 of the top 6 spots on the team. It's fine to start with those combo's based on the pairs, but if the chemistry isn't there you have to be willing to shake it up. Geekie could theoretically be a better fit than Coyle. Merkulov or Lysell could pop if they get a second line chance with other skill players. Shit, even Freddy could surprise us slipping into the top 6 (for the sake of argument). Marchand-Zacha-Pasta Debrusk-Geekie-Freddy Heinen-Coyle-JVR Lucic-Beecher/McLaughlin/Brown/Boquist and the rest of them Man....all this exercise did for me is demonstrate how hard it is to put a viable middle six together without someone looking out of place
|
|
|
Post by wayne on Sept 13, 2023 12:01:35 GMT
Pair them up Marchand- -DeBrusk -Zacha-Pastrnak -Coyle-Frederic I've never really loved the "pair them up" philosophy. There's three guys to a line, so the idea that you want two good guys and a rotating cast on the third pair doesn't do it for me. I know this was pretty much Cassidy's method and maybe Claude's to an extent as well, but I think if I were the coach I'm searching for chemistry between three guys and build the best lines you can instead of three line's that you like 2 of the 3 guys on the line. If we have to be a top heavy team then so be it, that's the break until Sweeney brings in other ingredients. But until then, start at the top and build the best lines you can. Do you want to take the risk that JVR or whoever slows down Pasta's scoring? Do you want to waste Marchand's season playing with Coyle? Let's remember that Marchand is a ppg player when HURT. High end players need high end players to play with. Putting stone hands McGee with two top tier forwards just means that Stone Hands McGee will end plays that could have worked out and eventually the other two on the one will learn how to work around him (and become more predictable, and less effective over the course of the season). I also think that approach limits the opportunities that other guys receive because really you are locking in 4 of the top 6 spots on the team. It's fine to start with those combo's based on the pairs, but if the chemistry isn't there you have to be willing to shake it up. Geekie could theoretically be a better fit than Coyle. Merkulov or Lysell could pop if they get a second line chance with other skill players. Shit, even Freddy could surprise us slipping into the top 6 (for the sake of argument). Marchand-Zacha-Pasta Debrusk-Geekie-Freddy Heinen-Coyle-JVR Lucic-Beecher/McLaughlin/Brown/Boquist and the rest of them Man....all this exercise did for me is demonstrate how hard it is to put a viable middle six together without someone looking out of place The pairs are the foundation from which you build a line. If you stack them Im still looking at starting from that DeBrusk-Zacha-Pastrnak Marchand-Coyle-Frederic Boqvist-Geekie-JVR Lucic-Brown-Lauko Heinen et al blah blah blah I think Monty has stated he is looking at JVR-Zacha-Pastrnak Marchand-Coyle-DeBrusk Boqvist-Geekie-Frederic Lucic-Brown-Lauko
|
|
|
Post by umainebruinsfan on Sept 13, 2023 13:05:38 GMT
I have to accept that our forward group just isn't going to be as deep as it was last year. Looking at all these line combos, and it's obvious there are going to be question marks no matter how you put them together. Me personally, I would rather see a young player get a REAL chance to stick in the top 6 than to put a washed up JVR or Frederic (who just looks like he belongs on the 3rd line) up in the top 6. Maybe it's just my perspective, but it always seems like other teams are breaking in their young players and letting them learn and grow and we are always saying "he's not ready yet. He needs another year in Providence."
Marchand Zacha Pasta DeBrusk Coyle/Geekie Lysell/Merkulov JVR Coyle/Geekie Frederic Lucic Boqvist/Beecher Lauko
|
|
|
Post by thanx4memORRies on Sept 13, 2023 14:47:12 GMT
I've never really loved the "pair them up" philosophy. There's three guys to a line, so the idea that you want two good guys and a rotating cast on the third pair doesn't do it for me. I know this was pretty much Cassidy's method and maybe Claude's to an extent as well, but I think if I were the coach I'm searching for chemistry between three guys and build the best lines you can instead of three line's that you like 2 of the 3 guys on the line. If we have to be a top heavy team then so be it, that's the break until Sweeney brings in other ingredients. But until then, start at the top and build the best lines you can. Do you want to take the risk that JVR or whoever slows down Pasta's scoring? Do you want to waste Marchand's season playing with Coyle? Let's remember that Marchand is a ppg player when HURT. High end players need high end players to play with. Putting stone hands McGee with two top tier forwards just means that Stone Hands McGee will end plays that could have worked out and eventually the other two on the one will learn how to work around him (and become more predictable, and less effective over the course of the season). I also think that approach limits the opportunities that other guys receive because really you are locking in 4 of the top 6 spots on the team. It's fine to start with those combo's based on the pairs, but if the chemistry isn't there you have to be willing to shake it up. Geekie could theoretically be a better fit than Coyle. Merkulov or Lysell could pop if they get a second line chance with other skill players. Shit, even Freddy could surprise us slipping into the top 6 (for the sake of argument). Marchand-Zacha-Pasta Debrusk-Geekie-Freddy Heinen-Coyle-JVR Lucic-Beecher/McLaughlin/Brown/Boquist and the rest of them Man....all this exercise did for me is demonstrate how hard it is to put a viable middle six together without someone looking out of place The pairs are the foundation from which you build a line. If you stack them Im still looking at starting from that DeBrusk-Zacha-Pastrnak Marchand-Coyle-Frederic Boqvist-Geekie-JVR Lucic-Brown-Lauko Heinen et al blah blah blah I think Monty has stated he is looking at JVR-Zacha-Pastrnak Marchand-Coyle-DeBrusk Boqvist-Geekie-Frederic Lucic-Brown-Lauko Unless some guy from Praaaavidence shows he’s ready, this is how I see it come puck drop for game one…. Coyle,Marchy,DeBrusk Zacha,Pasta,JVR (oy!) Geekie,Freddy,Lauko/Heinen/Chiasson Boqvist,Looch, see above
|
|
|
Post by sandogbrewin on Sept 13, 2023 20:20:50 GMT
I have to accept that our forward group just isn't going to be as deep as it was last year. Looking at all these line combos, and it's obvious there are going to be question marks no matter how you put them together. Me personally, I would rather see a young player get a REAL chance to stick in the top 6 than to put a washed up JVR or Frederic (who just looks like he belongs on the 3rd line) up in the top 6. Maybe it's just my perspective, but it always seems like other teams are breaking in their young players and letting them learn and grow and we are always saying "he's not ready yet. He needs another year in Providence." Marchand Zacha Pasta DeBrusk Coyle/Geekie Lysell/Merkulov JVR Coyle/Geekie Frederic Lucic Boqvist/Beecher Lauko Not putting Geekie at center ?
|
|
|
Post by wayne on Sept 13, 2023 21:32:55 GMT
I have to accept that our forward group just isn't going to be as deep as it was last year. Looking at all these line combos, and it's obvious there are going to be question marks no matter how you put them together. Me personally, I would rather see a young player get a REAL chance to stick in the top 6 than to put a washed up JVR or Frederic (who just looks like he belongs on the 3rd line) up in the top 6. Maybe it's just my perspective, but it always seems like other teams are breaking in their young players and letting them learn and grow and we are always saying "he's not ready yet. He needs another year in Providence." Marchand Zacha Pasta DeBrusk Coyle/Geekie Lysell/Merkulov JVR Coyle/Geekie Frederic Lucic Boqvist/Beecher Lauko Not putting Geekie at center ? I think its choose who plays 2C or 3C Coyle or Geekie
|
|
|
Post by sandogbrewin on Sept 13, 2023 22:22:13 GMT
That settles the line combos and who's captain.
|
|
|
Post by badhabitude on Sept 14, 2023 15:37:33 GMT
Winter is not fucking coming, it's like August outside right now. I'm still in shorts.
oh. wait. Prospects game tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by umainebruinsfan on Sept 14, 2023 16:31:19 GMT
I have to accept that our forward group just isn't going to be as deep as it was last year. Looking at all these line combos, and it's obvious there are going to be question marks no matter how you put them together. Me personally, I would rather see a young player get a REAL chance to stick in the top 6 than to put a washed up JVR or Frederic (who just looks like he belongs on the 3rd line) up in the top 6. Maybe it's just my perspective, but it always seems like other teams are breaking in their young players and letting them learn and grow and we are always saying "he's not ready yet. He needs another year in Providence." Marchand Zacha Pasta DeBrusk Coyle/Geekie Lysell/Merkulov JVR Coyle/Geekie Frederic Lucic Boqvist/Beecher Lauko Not putting Geekie at center ? I meant that either Geekie or Coyle could be 2C or 3C. Coyle probably gets first chance, but if Geekie is playing well and has a scoring touch, maybe he would fit better on the 2nd line and we already know Coyle is a good 3C.
|
|