2022-23 Bruins Season

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Thanks fror the article. I do appreciate it and I am always seeking to learn, and I was not aware of Mike Moore's essay. That said, and noting that Moore seems like a decent chap, some of his argument perplexes me and seems to make the point he denies. Perhaps you can help me. For example, he admits that for decades the sponsorship system benefited the Habs (10k players on 750 teams), which he attributes to Selke and increased capital (I think market forces played a much larger role than he gives it credit for -- and more, the existing rules allowed for what amounts to a monopoly on the best payers. The sociological reasons, then, are less causal (the great man) as they are of an "elective affinity" type). He then suggests that it was unfair, for he notes that in the 1960s then President Clarence Campbell, knowing it was unfair and envisioning (and here I quote Moore) "a level playing field", made the NHL replace the sponsorship system with the draft. Unfortunately, the best players (at least for awhile) were already taken. In further speaking to the draft, Moore seizes on the fallacy of the "French Canadien" draft rule which, in deference to the Habs, gave them two FC players of their choice (as if they needed it), but then says it didn't help them. But what DID help was that as a result of the sponsorship rules the Habs were so "deeply stocked" with players that they could trade some of that stock to expansion teams hungry for basic NHL talent so they could garner a paying social base of fans (so it wasn't "just" Pollock after all). Interestingly, he omits that through such efforts the Habs amassed 17 first round draft picks from 1969-1974 (including the one that went to LaFleur). Up to 1979 the Habs won 22 championships. Since then? 2. Wonder why.

I read through the article and was coming to post something similar, but you worded it perfectly.

Is that how defensive Patriots fans sound when people bring up deflategate or spygate?

 

[changer591]

I read through the article and was coming to post something similar, but you worded it perfectly.

Is that how defensive Patriots fans sound when people bring up deflategate or spygate?

That article seemed like it was parsing the exact literal interpretation of the Canadiens got "exclusive" rights to all French Canadians...when it really should have been addressing the question of "was the playing field level when the Canadiens won all those Stanley Cups"? And I think it's pretty clear (based on everything in that article) that the answer is pretty obviously No.

 

[Bowhemian]

I haven't watched a ton of games this year-but what is up with Marchand? Is he nursing an injury or something? He just doesn't look himself.

 

[kenneycb]

He came back pretty early from offseason hip surgery for 2 torn hip labrums so I imagine lingering issues from that. He's also 34, so no spring chicken anymore. That said, he's still very good. Just probably not a top 5 winger in the league right now.

 

[wiffleballhero]

Something does seem a little off with Marchand.

He just does not seem to have the same level of energy that normally leads to very good things for the Bruins. And he's also been really not himself with his shooting and passing -- passing up or not pursuing shots he should go for and making lots of weak, bad passes.

My biggest worry about him is that he is not a pain in the ass right now. Normally, other teams seem to struggle with his persistence on the forecheck, on creating turnovers and on just generally being a little hemorrhoid for whomever he's playing. Recently he has not brought that energy it seems. Could be that he's matured in a way where six weeks of garbage time games means he's sort of wise enough to cool it and his game just looks different with nothing to play for? I hope so.

But the Bruins have not rested him so it is hard to know what is going on.

 

[wiffleballhero]

I think I know things but sometimes I realize I probably don't.

I've been re-watching the Orlov goal and in real time I just thought that this was just, you know, frenetic good hockey with players making plays. But rewatching it I wonder, is this a kind of set play unfolding there?

Notice how the sequence before Orlov scores has essentially the exact same set-up with Orlov having the puck at the point, a forward high, in the middle (Taylor Hall) and then a Canadien defender having to make a choice about how hard he's going to press the point between those two players. First time around the defender presses Orlov hard, so Orlov passes to Hall who can then slip underneath for an opportunity. The second time the same defender tries to split the difference and gets himself split as Orlov passes off (this time to Lauko). As the defender stayed in, worried about giving up that middle as he had just done for Hall, Orlov now slips behind him for a pass down the outside corridor that was not available the first time around.

So I wonder, is that something of a designed play with these two options (with the pretty unorthodox move of such an aggressive go-to-goal for a defender) or are they just improvising?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QKtMgj0sAY&ab_channel=RussianNHL

 

[Cotillion]

I haven't watched a ton of games this year-but what is up with Marchand? Is he nursing an injury or something? He just doesn't look himself.

He's been very easy to dislodge off the puck ever since he got his ankle sliced open by the skate blade. Compensation from coming back from that may have exacerbated any long term issues he may be facing since he had the hip surgeries.

 

[RIFan]

I think the issue with Marchand is primarily mental. He didn't bounce back from the surgery like he wanted to and the progress has been slower than he'd like. I think he is mostly there physically, but his decision making is is just a split second off. His game thrives on his confidence and that is lacking right now. Even a slightest delay in making a decision is costly at that level. Telegraph a move or a pass and an NHL player will read it and take it away every time. I have no doubt that he was offered days off and declined every time so he could keep working through it.

That said, I think he comes up huge in the playoffs. One good game is all it will take.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

The last little bit of business for this season: 2022-23 will cost the Bruins $4.5 million against the 2023-24 cap.

View: https://twitter.com/puckpedia/status/1649244109436248064?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg


Not a surprise with the Bergeron and Krejci bonuses being pretty easy to hit.