Always risky to go into a coach's head, but I think that Montgomery might believe that McLaughlin or Lauko might be close to NHL ready, and he also has McAvoy, Gryz and Marchand on the horizon. That's 3-5 players that will be replaced. So I think he's giving some guys some run now so he can decide on who goes later.
Yes. Natural Stat Trick has a line tool. Short version is you can search for DeBrusk and Bergeron and it'll spit out their numbers when they are on the ice together as well as their numbers when they are on the ice without the other.
I almost added the caveat of playing with Bergie as a complication. And that is really hard to filter out… I have some time on my hands (unwillingly), so I can take a look and try to separate the wheat from the chaff .
Agree on the pass and the burst, but I would also give him a few points for controling the puck, which he had to kick to his stick as he broke between the defensemen.
It’s one of the easiest things to notice on the eye test, too. When he’s flying, he’s fucking flying in all three zones, in all phases. He’s an underrated menace on the forecheck and defensively in the neutral zone when he’s playing like that. A much less skilled and studied Marchand but with greater closing speed as a harasser.
Greer was a UFA signing this past July. He's got some draft pedigree, the 39th overall pick in 2015 by the Avalance. Played some college hockey at BU before going back to the QMJHL. At the pro level, he's been a journey man. He played 37 games across 3 seasons for the Avs with little to no production before being traded to the Islanders. After a 10 game stay with the Islanders AHL team, they flipped him to New Jersey. He started to pop offensively with the Devils AHL team with 74 points in 76 games across two seasons. The Devils didn't give him much of a chance at the NHL level, only giving him 9 games a year ago where he scored a goal and had an assist. They then let him walk in free agency where the Bruins signed him.
It is rare, but does happen on occasion. My favorite example of that type of late bloomer is former Bruin Mike Knuble. Here are his goals by age:
I dont think there's any way Reilly gets moved. He is exactly the kind of defenseman that Montgomery likes. He has real offensive chops. He has (I think) played both sides, he can sit for days and days and fit back in pretty well. I've been down on Smith for awhile now. All that said, Foligno may *look* like an NHL player, but it's a replaceable and improve-upon-able NHL player. I understand though, that he might be a valuable presence in the dressing room and the fighting part oif the game.
It is a numbers crunch and I suspect Reilly is at the top of the list to go. If they get to a place where they are fully healthy, they basically have to move a defenseman, maybe even 2. The first reason is they can't carry the 9 NHL D when all are healthy. That leaves them without the ability to have a spare forward on the roster which isn't great. Someone on D has to go at some point.
Thanks. That's very helpful. I suppose I'm still scarred from what seems like the annual springtime defense attrition and my first instinct is "you can never have enough major league defensemen." But given cap and roster limits, and contract statuses, clearly you can. Also, I really like Reilly and I'm done with Mr. Smith.
While that hadn't occurred to me specifically, I think it plays into my "keep all the d-men you can" approach. (which, as cshea points out, is likely untenable without some other contingencies -- like Carlo, perhaps -- cropping up.)
They haven't exactly faced the elite teams when we consider FL was only dressing 5 D and lost their best D 1/2 through the game. I love what I see from the offense but I don't see how anyone can say they are just as stingy defensively under Monty as they were with Cassidy. The D are jumping into the play more and that is both generating more offense but also creating more chances against. Ullmark has been sensational to start the season and seems to be covering up for some of the defensive miscues obv the same can't be said of Sway. Perhaps when McAvoy gets back the D will right itself but I do think Monty's up-tempo style is going to continue to lead to a lot more high quality scoring chances but also more high quality chances against. Given the elite top 6 this team has (arguably strongest FW core since 2011?) I think that is a trade-off that makes sense. Especially if Ullmark can keep up his hot start.
I tend to agree with this. I hate to be that person that relies on the eye test over numbers, but the play in the defensive zone has looked noticeably sloppier this year. I think their play in the offensive zone has obviously improved - many more quality chances. I also think their play in the neutral zone has been their biggest improvement. They seem to be packing it in between the blue lines, which has caused teams headaches. They often get neutral zone turnovers that turn into quality offensive chances, but if the opposing team is able to get over the red and dump it in they're not in position to have a clean breakout. I see a lot of forwards hanging out higher in the defensive zone, which leads to the outlet passes on the boards being cut off by the opposing team's forward or the D-pinching down being right on top of the winger once he gets the puck. The defensemen are also a little slow covering the guy in the slot when they are switching off with one another. I hope (and expect) this to get cleared up once McAvoy is back.
The data is there through 5 games. They've given up a tick more scoring chances but not an alarming number. It'd still be top-10 worthy. By high danger and expected goals against, they're essentially the same.
Cap friendly shows only Chuckie on LTIR. So I don't think they ever actually moved Marchy to LTIR
Honestly all they need is some bottom 6 help (Lysell may be that guy this year) and a 2nd pairing defenseman for the inevitable Carlo long term injury. Top 6 are looking really good (even better with Marchy back) issue is going to be they have zero cap room to do anything later in the year without someone taking on some of their bottom 6 contracts. But as was said. Far to early to even think or worry about it. Just enjoy the hot start and balanced scoring.
Ullmark really looks like a different goalie this year. He looks much quicker and more efficient than last year. He was going down and some times staying down way too much last season. If this is due in part to Essensa work give that man a raise.
Essensa has stuck around through numerous administrations (he's been with the Bruins since 2003!!--preNeely.......Mike Sullivan....18yr old Bergeron......Raycroft/Potvin....some guy named "Patrick Leahy"......1st round loss to MTL), so a lot of people believe in him.
The cap and farm system are going to be the biggest challenges. We'll have a better idea of what they'll have available to work with in a month or so when the McAvoy activation happens (maybe sooner, he practiced yesterday). We'll know what they actually have in cap space, any holes to fill if they end up having to trade off the roster, and better picture of assets available to deal.
I remember yelling at times last year where he would lose where his net was behind him when he came out super high on some shots, and it allowed other team to get angles for shots that shouldn't have been open. Don't recall doing it yet this year.
Well, well, well...
