And I don't think Ullmark has even been that special. He's been ok to good, but that's all they need is someone solid that can keep them in games. If they had prime Tuukka they may win every game this year.
2022-23 Bruins Season
- Thread starter cshea
- Start date
Regarding Cassidy vs. Montgomery, I just think no coach (or very few coaches) can be perfect for every type of team.
Cassidy was good here, but the Bruins needed something else. Claude was also very, very good here, but at the time of his firing the Bruins needed something else, which turned out to be Cassidy.
Cassidy was good here, but the Bruins needed something else. Claude was also very, very good here, but at the time of his firing the Bruins needed something else, which turned out to be Cassidy.
They are undoubtedly an elite team. They have a +21 goal differential (+10 5v5) and they are 5th in the league in xG%. It's also not sustainable. They are scoring approx .60 goals per game more than expected and are riding a bit of a pdo heater (1.04 is second in the NHL) bolstered by a 12% shooting percentage as a team. That's almost certainly coming down. They are also getting a 96% save percentage on the PK. They are giving up 13 high danger chances/60 on the PK (incidently best in the league) but have yet to give up a high danger goal. That's insanely good fortune.
I think they are playing at a 107-112 point level but getting results at a 150 point level. Regression is coming and it will likely feel bad but their real performance level is among the top 3-4 teams in hockey regardless
I think before the season I thought if they could get to the playoffs with everyone as realistically healthy as one can be at that time of year, that they would be able to beat any team in the east. I think this start simply shows me that with a little luck (to go along with health) they can hoist a cup.
Which is fun.
I think this is the most fun I'm having watching when the B's have the puck since...
...when the likes of Middleton, Pederson, Linseman, and Simmer roamed the old Garden.
Curious to see if McAvoy skates with Lindholm (or another regular) today at practice. Month said he’s checked boxes, but not all of them.
Lindholm has been so incredible that I really think splitting him and McAvoy is the right answer (until the playoffs, perhaps. When you can deploy those two together and potentially neve leave the offensive zone).
It could also help with load management on both him AND McAvoy. No reason for either to play more than 22ish minutes a night when you can deploy either pair in any situation and have very little drop off in effectiveness.
Yeah, they could put McAvoy with any of the lefties. I’m just more curious if his return is imminent.
With this kind of start, I'm not opposed to not rushing him back. Let him get 100% healthy and maybe the extra time off will help come the spring.
If they are following the same playbook as Marchand, Chuck is back tomorrow night.
Of course there is the cap and who knows if anyone in the organization can actually make hockey and roster decisions at the moment.
Of course there is the cap and who knows if anyone in the organization can actually make hockey and roster decisions at the moment.
Imagine the team moving away from the Grz-McAvoy pair because this one gives them even *more* offensive juice.
I feel a little bad for Clifton. Not onlu has he been good, but there have been far fewer "bad Cliffy" moments so far. (Although I cant really tell if that's a side benefit of playing with Lindholm a lot.)
Monty says McAvoy will return within a week but won’t confirm or deny if it’s tomorrow.
Swayman is ahead of schedule too but not On the ice yet.
Swayman is ahead of schedule too but not On the ice yet.
I'd say McAvoy is back tomorrow based on this move.
View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1590421514087960577?s=20&t=GQMi445rkGWQ-aPkDoZtCQ
View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1590421514087960577?s=20&t=GQMi445rkGWQ-aPkDoZtCQ
Sorry if this was posted elsewhere, but the Bergeron interview on the 32 thoughts podcast is a must listen.
Forbort to LTIR + Reilly demotion would let them activate McAvoy. Reilly getting claimed suffices too.
View: https://twitter.com/puckpedia/status/1590435082497847297?s=46&t=o0yA55FttUvvVzQilB_18g
View: https://twitter.com/puckpedia/status/1590435082497847297?s=46&t=o0yA55FttUvvVzQilB_18g
Saint Patrice Bergeron-Cleary
View: https://twitter.com/llysowski/status/1592259392669376513?s=46&t=qtoV3pgeirz7lp-ZKCJDTw
View: https://twitter.com/llysowski/status/1592259392669376513?s=46&t=qtoV3pgeirz7lp-ZKCJDTw
Forbort was back on the ice this morning prior to practice. He's about 2 weeks in to the 4-6 week recovery period.
Swayman participated in full practice.
Tied into Forbort is Reilly. He did report to Providence and skated with them on Friday morning but did not play in either Providence game over the weekend. Divver reported the belief is he's, predictably, seeking a trade. They probably have another 2 weeks until Forbort is ready to be activated. They can run the clock out and maintain depth until then and see if another injury pops up to continue the LTIR run or just get on with it.
Swayman participated in full practice.
Tied into Forbort is Reilly. He did report to Providence and skated with them on Friday morning but did not play in either Providence game over the weekend. Divver reported the belief is he's, predictably, seeking a trade. They probably have another 2 weeks until Forbort is ready to be activated. They can run the clock out and maintain depth until then and see if another injury pops up to continue the LTIR run or just get on with it.
I guess we'll see what Swayman's readiness is but with the light schedule and weak opponents I think I'd start Kinkaid or Swayman in both games this week. Ullmark is already at 13 games played and could use some time off.
Generally apropos of time off:
Secret to Bruins’ success could be the amount of rest Jim Montgomery gives them - The Boston Globe
Once Swayman returns and Kincaid goes back to Providence then the Bruins will need to free up just under $1 million to bring Forbort back onto the active roster. They’re only carrying 22 players right now (13F/7D/2G) so they have the roster slot already.
I see 5 options:
1) Waive or Trade Smith. Waiver claim would clear $3.1 million. Forbort and Lauko return. They could also waive Stralman and bring Reilly back up as 8th D (Or not and bank more trade deadline cap space).
2) Waive/Demote Smith (if no one claims him) Providence assignment saves $1.125 million which is enough for Forbort but not enough to have a 13th F. Waiving Stralman would free up space for an additional forward like Lauko.
3) Waive/Demote Stralman. Creates just enough space for Forbort.
4) Trade Reilly (clears additional $1.875 million, enough to bring back Forbort with room to spare).
5) Trade Reilly and/or Smith, retaining some amount. I don’t like this idea as it cuts into ability to pay for bonuses this year and next. At least Smith is in the final year of his deal.
They might decide to trade someone else, who knows?
Edit: It turns out that the capfriendly armchair gm was showing 970Kish needed but the actual number is closer to $1.363 million. So demoting 1 of Smith or Stralman wouldn’t be enough to activate Forbort. But the rest of it still applies.
I see 5 options:
1) Waive or Trade Smith. Waiver claim would clear $3.1 million. Forbort and Lauko return. They could also waive Stralman and bring Reilly back up as 8th D (Or not and bank more trade deadline cap space).
2) Waive/Demote Smith (if no one claims him) Providence assignment saves $1.125 million which is enough for Forbort but not enough to have a 13th F. Waiving Stralman would free up space for an additional forward like Lauko.
3) Waive/Demote Stralman. Creates just enough space for Forbort.
4) Trade Reilly (clears additional $1.875 million, enough to bring back Forbort with room to spare).
5) Trade Reilly and/or Smith, retaining some amount. I don’t like this idea as it cuts into ability to pay for bonuses this year and next. At least Smith is in the final year of his deal.
They might decide to trade someone else, who knows?
Edit: It turns out that the capfriendly armchair gm was showing 970Kish needed but the actual number is closer to $1.363 million. So demoting 1 of Smith or Stralman wouldn’t be enough to activate Forbort. But the rest of it still applies.
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Maybe it's playoff flashbacks, but I'd prefer to maneuver things so that all the defensemen stay in the organization. What's the consensus on Stralman? I dont think he's looked all that good, but it's really small sample. Is it worth keeping him around somehow to avoid having to play, say, Ahcan somewhere down the road?
Early on, I said that the injury periods for Marchand, Grz, and McAvoy would give the team time to sort out the roster. Sub in Frobot for McAvoy's early arrival and that really hasn't changed. That sorting, so far, has shown that Foligno can play. Frederick, too, seems to have reached a generally consistent level of play. With the music soon to stop, I think Smith is the forward without a chair. As to the D, Clifton has really solidified his spot. I'm a lot higher on Carlo's play than others here. (I suspect the numbers will prove my eyes wrong, but I guess I have a soft spot for him). Having a resurgent Frobot and Zboril (and Carlo, if youd like) as the two (or 3) "worst" of 7 defensemen is not a bad problem to have.
Keeping the D would be ideal but it's not really practical. There's 9 of them. If they are all healthy, that's very difficult to manage. There's not enough ice time to go around and it also strains the forwards because the team wouldn't be able to carry a spare forward. They could leave Reilly in the AHL and trim the mimimum to activate Stralman until another injury presents an opportunity to bring Reilly back up but that opportunity may never come and he's likely unhappy with the situation already. I'm not saying they have to bend over backwards to make him happy but burying guys in the AHL isn't a good habit to get into.
Stralmen hasn't been that good but he'd probably get claimed if they waive him. He's cheap, only signed this season and a veteran. There's a lot of attrition on blue lines across the league, someone would pick him up. Reilly keeps getting through waivers not because he's a bad player but because he carries a $3 million cap hit for this year and next.
Stralmen hasn't been that good but he'd probably get claimed if they waive him. He's cheap, only signed this season and a veteran. There's a lot of attrition on blue lines across the league, someone would pick him up. Reilly keeps getting through waivers not because he's a bad player but because he carries a $3 million cap hit for this year and next.
I'd have this man's babies if I could. I guess having his sweater will have to suffice.
Oh, I know. Its impossible to keep all 9 in Boston, and very difficult to keep all 9 in the organization in the event of emergency.
View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1592624644137582592?s=20&t=v_IxjN5yqdSW6Hj0A6-b7Q
Short interview with Nosek about Goal, first fight, and Foligno friendship
Short interview with Nosek about Goal, first fight, and Foligno friendship
I'm glad Foligno is playing well. It would be pretty hard to hate this guy:
(story about Swayman)
(story about Swayman)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/11/15/sports/goalie-jeremy-swayman-is-back-bruins-practice-appears-close-playing/
Nice insight into Clifton Kenny and Montgomery.
So far, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has played his cards right with Connor Clifton - The Boston Globe
So far, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has played his cards right with Connor Clifton - The Boston Globe
Cross posting from the game thread -
Consider the source - but Jimmy Murphy is reporting there might be some mutual interest in the Bruins and Patrick Kane at the trade deadline.
Consider the source - but Jimmy Murphy is reporting there might be some mutual interest in the Bruins and Patrick Kane at the trade deadline.
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Not to mention that once Forbort is back, they'll need to clear $1.4m to activate him -- no idea how they'd manage to do that, then bank the ~$3m space to fit a pro-rated Kane. I don't think any single player going on LTIR gives them the space to fit Kane unless Chicago retains the max.
Jimmy Murphy indeed.
Jimmy Murphy indeed.
$10.5 million cap hit. Even if Chicago retains half the Bruins would have to basically match up $5.25 million to make the math work. That’s a lot.
I think the unstated part of mentioning that Jimmy Murphy is reporting it is that Jimmy Murphy has never once broken a Bruins story.
I doubt this is the first.
I doubt this is the first.
KPD had mentioned Kane for Carlo / DeBrusk pre-season. I do that in a heartbeat and throw in a 1st / prospect, but I also think Carlo is bordering on negative value and has 4 years left at $4.1m
Where does a pass first right wing like Kane fit with this years team? That’s what I’m struggling to figure out.
Eh, he’s an all around offensive force. He’s definitely a playmaker but he shoots a ton too. His shot rates for his career are much higher than Marchand and slightly lower than Pasta. You put him anywhere, though I’d probably stick him with 63 and 37.
Isn’t Kane not a high character guy? After the Miller fiasco, it might be nice to steer clear for a bit.
He was a shit head when he was younger but hasn’t had any issues in the last like 8-10 years. Could be forgetting something of course.
This is all likely a trivial exercise regardless since it’s very difficult to make the specifics work for something Chicago would want.
This is all likely a trivial exercise regardless since it’s very difficult to make the specifics work for something Chicago would want.
I believe the players knew it was going on and did nothing to stop it or support Beach. IIRC the players even mocked or joked about it in the room.
edit: Kane’s not named specifically but:
View: https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1453488363181330436?s=46&t=TwMo-9o7Yy0LuhbLXoWYZQ
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