23-24 Bruins Season Thread
- Thread starter cshea
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Absolutely correct. Bergeron's OZS percentage went from just under 40% under Claude to over 60% under Butch (with some gentle suggestions from the analytics staff).
Just echoing the chorus to say that that's a really great, insightful story. Thank you for taking the time to share it.
Pretty close, but there were a lot more expletives from what I heard. Cam was very inventive with profanity.
Great story.
And on the other front, more than happy with this season. Bruins have been doing well getting experience for the young guys. Have been playing pretty well, and doing much better than I hoped.
I have no real desire for any super trade deadline move or think they really need to do anything crazy (as currently going). Would like to see them do a bit of a reset and try to save up some draft capital for future years.
Just want them to play hard for rest of season. Get into the playoffs and see what happens.
And on the other front, more than happy with this season. Bruins have been doing well getting experience for the young guys. Have been playing pretty well, and doing much better than I hoped.
I have no real desire for any super trade deadline move or think they really need to do anything crazy (as currently going). Would like to see them do a bit of a reset and try to save up some draft capital for future years.
Just want them to play hard for rest of season. Get into the playoffs and see what happens.
I guess this is as appropriate as any to chime in with a question that has been loitering in my head for a while. What constitutes a face-off win? Is it the team that gains control of the puck, or just the person who provides the impetus for the puck movement after the drop?
The former, the team that ends up with control following the draw, even if there's a scrum for it and a winger digs it out.
Thanks. That made the most sense to my simple mind- but I was talking myself into the latter as more of a "skill"
And one of those draft picks represents the final remaining piece of the Pederson for Neely trade, and has 10 goals this season.
Just to follow up on this, Poitras and Merkulov co-existing, the ESPN broadcast last night did say the Bruins/Monty were discussing Poitras on the wing during the second half of the season to ease some of the burden and pressures of being a center on a playoff team in games 40-80 and beyond. Fist I'd heard of it, not sure I'd love it, but that would be a path.
Additionally, not loving the Merkulov as 4C thing they trotted out the past 2 games. They brought him up to try and help scoring goals...and basically put him in the defense only line Monty deploys.
I never thought these words would leave my lips but whatever happened to Forbort? For every clever play on the rush there are a half dozen instances of #6 watching the goalie retrieve the puck from the net. He's going to be a good one eventually but right now he is a liability to this team.
So what exactly is Forbort's status? Is he skating? Practicing? Taking his dog for a walk in the North End?
So what exactly is Forbort's status? Is he skating? Practicing? Taking his dog for a walk in the North End?
Forbort just started skating yesterday per Monty's last presser. He's a ways off.
https://thehockeywriters.com/bruins-news-rumors-pastrnak-montgomery-goalies-forbort/
https://thehockeywriters.com/bruins-news-rumors-pastrnak-montgomery-goalies-forbort/
I hope Boqvist doesn't replace one of our 4th line regulars who are starting to jell as a unit. He's shown about as much as Patrick Brown in the fleeting glimpses we've had.
Poitras, Ully hurt in the OT loss to AZ. Poitras grabbed his arm/shoulder after a hit in the corner, Ully looked like he jammed his back on a nice glove save and needed help off the ice.
Guessing DiPietro gets the call for now. NHL experience, better numbers at Providence this year. Same cap hit as Bussi. I guess a silver lining is, if Ullmark is out for an extended period of time, we'll get a look at Swayman in a full starters role. Gonna have to pay him as an elite starter after this year, might as well get some data on how he handles things when not in an every-other rotation.
There's going to be a lot of moving parts. Currently maxed out on the roster with 23 guys but Carlo, Poitras and Ullmark banged. At the very least will likely need to make a roster move to get a goalie to Vegas.
There's going to be a lot of moving parts. Currently maxed out on the roster with 23 guys but Carlo, Poitras and Ullmark banged. At the very least will likely need to make a roster move to get a goalie to Vegas.
I hadn't looked at Prov's goalie stats since early in the year, I didn't realize how much Bussi had fallen off compared to last season. Stark difference. Have you, or basically anyone watched him this year to get a sense of what the biggest difference is? Players adjusted? rebound control?
That being said I agree if Ully is out long term DiPietro should get the call because of experience and, like you said better AHL numbers and same cap hit. I'm also really interested to see how Sway performs with a starters workload especially behind a patchwork D-Corps with the current injuries (if Carlo is out longer). See if he can take it and run with it.
This is an example of why players love Torts
View: https://twitter.com/FlyersNation/status/1745288325601087738/video/1
View: https://twitter.com/FlyersNation/status/1745288325601087738/video/1
View: https://twitter.com/flutoshinzawa/status/1745530106599317867?s=12&t=m1_9hYP01inJx9hy1JrKwQ
Linus Ullmark and Matt Poitras are day to day. Still on the trip.
Linus Ullmark and Matt Poitras are day to day. Still on the trip.
I've heard it described multiple times that he is incredibly tough on all players, but that his toughness never comes from an unfair place. If someone isn't meeting expectations, both Torts and the player are clear on what isn't working and what needs to be improved. I can 100% understand how that can be polarizing in response.
Hope Sway isn’t holding too big of a grudge come contract negations:
When asked about being named an All-Star, Jeremy Swayman brought up his arbitration case as part of his answer:
"After dealing with what I did this summer with arbitration, hearing things that a player should never hear, it feels pretty special to be in this situation."
When asked about being named an All-Star, Jeremy Swayman brought up his arbitration case as part of his answer:
"After dealing with what I did this summer with arbitration, hearing things that a player should never hear, it feels pretty special to be in this situation."
Talking to his Dad in the off-season Sway really loves Boston and playing for the Bruins. To the point for the first time he didn't really come home here to Alaska last off-season and spent it back in Mass.
I know his ex as well and Tori said he absolutely loves the area and the Bruins. On a side note she had some funny stories about Marchy and raves about what an amazing guy he is and his family.
So that would lead me to believe that as long as the money works he stays. But nobody but Sway knows for sure. Fingers crossed. I really hope he finishes his career with the Bruins. Kid is a stud.
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I appreciate the additional insight. Tell him I’m willing to go halfsies on a pizza some time, if you think it would help.
If I see him around again I'll pass it on, man if only it worked like that!! HahaI appreciate the additional insight. Tell him I’m willing to go halfsies on a pizza some time, if you think it would help.
I’ll chip in a domestic beer!I appreciate the additional insight. Tell him I’m willing to go halfsies on a pizza some time, if you think it would help.
Good stuff Katnado! Thanks for sharing that.
It’s good to hear (and I appreciate you sharing that story with us, before, during, and after). You’d like to think that institutions you’re invested in are good ones, but it’s tough to actually believe it sometimes. Love watching the kid play, and great that he does good off the ice, too.
The most recent Behind the B had some scenes of Swayman and others with a group from Lewiston.
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The arb situation is something that Swayman uses as motivation, he brought it up in training camp as well. He's a chip on his shoulder kind of guy.
He's the only player Sweeney has ever taken into an arb hearing. They basically had to squeeze Swayman because of the cap situation. I *think* they'll make it up to him the offseason with the long term deal. The team elected only the 1-year award so unless they want to take him back to a hearing they'll have to figure out the long term situation this summer.
He's the only player Sweeney has ever taken into an arb hearing. They basically had to squeeze Swayman because of the cap situation. I *think* they'll make it up to him the offseason with the long term deal. The team elected only the 1-year award so unless they want to take him back to a hearing they'll have to figure out the long term situation this summer.
Agreed!
That's really neat, I'll have to tell my coworker. I'm fairly certain she would have been on it.
Here's the episode-- Swayman meeting the Lewiston group starts around 7:55 (the link should be queued up to that starting point).
View: https://youtu.be/Guc4F8Ptv4g?si=pxP6jY9-68JNHoHE&t=475
View: https://youtu.be/Guc4F8Ptv4g?si=pxP6jY9-68JNHoHE&t=475
Bruins 5x5 xGF% the past 3 games...60%, 70%, 58%...best 3 game stretch of the year by far. Avs, Jets and Hurricans in the next 4 games so be a nice test.
Out of nowhere, Parker Wotherspoon is eating some serious minutes right now with Carlo out. They might have themselves a decent depth defenseman in this kid. He can play both sides which is huge. It allows them to send Lohrei back down for some more seasoning when Carlo or Forbort get back.
Wotherspoon is basically Carlo-lite. Burried in dzone starts (25% ozone start). Not much happens when he's on the ice. 7 goals for, 6 against in 225 minutes of 5x5 ice time.
They hit on the bargin bin guys. $3.55 million total to JVR, Shattenkirk, Wotherspoon and Heinen. Boqvist is even beginning to bring some value. Geekie is the most expensive at $2 million and he's been a win so far. Toss in Poitras and Lohrei from the draft and it's almost like the front office knows what they're doing.
Fire Neely! Fire Sweeney!
They hit on the bargin bin guys. $3.55 million total to JVR, Shattenkirk, Wotherspoon and Heinen. Boqvist is even beginning to bring some value. Geekie is the most expensive at $2 million and he's been a win so far. Toss in Poitras and Lohrei from the draft and it's almost like the front office knows what they're doing.
Fire Neely! Fire Sweeney!
Given the 25% ozone start, isn't 7 GF / 6 GA an excellent outcome / favorable metric?
Anytime you can pick up a defenseman as a group 6 UFA and he gives you 17 or 18 uneventful minutes a night, that’s a huge win in my book.
I realize that. It's just when you said that nothing much happens when he is on the ice (in terms of goals), that seems like a good thing too.
Yeah it is. When you get deep into the depth chart on defense, having guys who can hold down a steady diet of defensive zone starts and not have the puck end up in the back of the net frequently is a very good thing. Anything in the goals for column is a plus. He's also been really good shorthanded. He's averaging 2:29 per game in SH TOI, 4th on the team behind Carlo and Forbort. In 43 minutes of PK TOI, he's been on the ice for only 2 goals against. At a time where they are without Carlo and Forbort, having Wotherspoon eat those extra PK minutes and not get killed is huge. And he's doing more than just "not get killed" he's been really good on the PK. His expected goal numbers are among the best on the team.
I mean, it’s fun to think about…but…
View: https://twitter.com/spittinchiclets/status/1747665902059868225?s=46
View: https://twitter.com/spittinchiclets/status/1747665902059868225?s=46
I'm not going to hold my breath, but a couple games ago there was a clip of him announcing Hillary Knight as Boston PWHL captain. It immediately stuck out how physically fit he still is, like he could hop on the ice tomorrow and play. So he passes the eye test of maintaining the physical ability.... Damn it now I'm dreaming a little
I am sticking my fingers in my ears and yelling "LALALALALLA" as loud as I can, because I don't want to begin to even entertain the possibility.
My heart can only be broken so many times.
My heart can only be broken so many times.
Earlier this season, he looked to me like he was a good 15 lbs. below his playing weight.