Gonna be a race to the finish. Let's go Panthers!!!!! Looking forward to the April 9th game down here. Girlfriend (big Bruins fan) and I will be in attendance. Here's to sincerely hoping it's a game to decide who gets into the playoffs. It's been one hell of a year. Come on, Panthers!!!!!
I think the Caps have one of the spots locked up. What's pissing me off is that the Sens have decided they want to win 9 out of their last ten, and jump ahead of both fucking Boston and Florida for the other. These teams are giving me gotdamn heart attacks.
Of course the Panthers manage to give it away in the 3rd period. You don't have too many chances left at this, guys. Might wanna kick it into gear. Come on, now.
heart breaker last night. some beauty goals though. sooo close Bartkowski. you almost touched him. ^ game tying goal. i didn't realize at the time but this probably shouldn't have counted. thems the breaks.
being reported that the Bruins have come to a handshake agreement w/ Gregory Campbell on 3 year $5.75 deal. my initial thoughts were that i hate it but i think that's just because PC regularly overpays his own guys. Im still waiting for the cap to go up, we've been hearing about that for a few years now. if it does the Bruins will be sitting pretty, if not this will just be another unnecessary deal that will hold the team back. I think this solidifies Claude and Peter being in this thing together. Campbell is a Cload guy all the way, he regularly gets more ice time than Spooner and Pastrnak, which is ridiculous. i don't see why they felt as though they needed to lock him up, there are pressing issues that need to be addressed first, imho. Campbell isn't the fantastic penalty killer/4th liner that he once was. he's 31 and has lost a step since breaking his leg in the '13 playoffs. i understand locking up a piece for next year to play w/ Talbot but this seems like too much money for a guy that isn't necessary. Dougie Hamilton still needs a new deal and that is a major concern for me.
big win last night, matty. i wish i could say the same. oh wait, we got a strong island win, .500 and beyond!!!11111one11!!
it sure will be, thanks Will. Im gonna skate tonight so i'll miss at least the last period and any OT/SO so you guys wills have to give me your run down of the game. you guys make it hard for me to dislike the Wings.
Sorry bout that. I have PC problems and I think thats the first time i ever saw a triple post... wow.
3 times as good Will. Brett Connolly might suit up tonight. I wonder who would sit if so, Id think either Smith or Campbell.
Rookie Seasons (all 18 years old) Kessel '06/07 67 gp, 12g-18a-30p TOI/g 13:30 P/60 1.99 Seguin '10/11 74gp, 11g-11a-22p TOI/g 12:21 P/60 1.46 Pastrnak '14/15 41gp, 10g-17a-27p TOI/g 14:12 P/60 2.83
You've got a good one there, Matty. Now, will the hockey team from Boston keep him? The trade results for the other two are mixed. Your market is similar to Philadelphia's, which is a great thing in several ways. Can you break with the impetuos yearning for the win-now players? Your team has done a much better job of that, and you certainly have a lot more to show for it. Still, your team is getting old at several positions. I think Boston is more willing - I'm speaking of the fan base - to put up with a reload compared to Philly. Your team is trending down as an objective observation. I think they can do a lot to turn that around this off season, but they'll get on the mediocre tread wheel if they try to do too much to win in '15-'16. I hope you can sustain a playoff caliber team for another 3 or 4 seasons. That's because few things delight me more than watching the Buffalo Sabres punk the hockey team from Boston in the playoffs.
i don't know Dan, i think your view of the age of the Bruins roster may be off a bit. the only forwards over 30 are all bottom 6/healthy scratches- Campbell, Paille, Talbot, and Kelly. You've got- Bergeron (29), Krejci (28), Marchand (26), Lucic (26), Eriksson (29), Soderberg (29), Smith (23), Spooner (22), Connolly (22), and Pastrnak (18) all still very much in their primes or not even there yet. on D Chara is ancient and Seidenberg isn't far behind. i think their play has been one of the major reasons why this team hasn't been elite this season. the D overall has been atrocious at times and only saved by the goaltender behind them, it might not be fair to solely blame Chara and Seidenberg but individually they've been bad and they make too much money to play that way. other than those 2 old men on D you've got Hamilton (21), Krug (23), McQuaid (28), Miller (27), Trotman (24), Bartkowski (26), and Joe Morrow (22). Thats a pretty good young(ish) group but I think this unit needs an additional top 4 under the age of 30. That would have a significant effect on the core and there are many assets that could be in play to make this happen. The deals that Chara and Seidenberg have will be an albatross so moving either of those deals would be a god-send, i don't see that happening though. on the backend you have arguable the best goaltending situation of any organization moving forward- Rask (28) + Subban (21) and Mcintyre (22) waiting in the wings. Montreal also has a good argument for best goalie situation moving forward w/ Price and Fucale but fuck them. I don't think the Bruins window is closing, obviously this has been a tough year for the organization on the whole but I don't see it as symbolic of where they stand in the grand scheme of things. they still have a legitimate shot at taking the EC and possibly the Cup this year. Not saying that they're in the elite company for this year but they have the makeup to beat/steal games from anyone 4 times in a 7 game series. Any team that finishes 1st in the EC and possibly gets the Bruins at 8 will be very uneasy. That being said, I don't think Boston finishes 8th, looks like they could move up in to 7th or even in to a non- wildcard spot. I don't think the Bruins would need a smoke n mirrors style to beat anyone. Don't want to sound cocky, missing the playoffs also very much a possibility and those pesky Sens just won't go away. This season they've had to pay for past attempts (Krug, Hamilton + Iginla overages the most in NHL history I believe) and that money will come off the books moving forward. Not having that top 6 RW (Iginla) affected them much more than I would've thought this year. To counter that looking ahead however, Pastrnak's play, especially considering he has a pre-pubescent body, bodes very well moving forward. Like most teams this will be a big off season for the Bruins. They don't need to make many moves, rather a couple of big ones- 1) lock up Hamilton and 2)procure a top 4D. 3?) Id swing for a legitimate top line wing if you can move out similar money. Would like the Bruins to become more of the bullies that they have been. Gregory Campbell leads the team in fighting majors. Will someone please remind me why Lucic makes so much money if he's unwilling to fight. long winded point being?..?..your hockey team from Buffalo will continue looking up at the Broonz for eternity.
Thanks, Matty, but I think this exceeds my quota for reading about that team; it seems obvious that I had not read too much before posting my message. Still, this year's team does not look to me like a reloading team this season. It reminds me of a WTF-happened-to-us! this year kind of team. Smart mgmt. will recognize this and know action is needed. Dumb mgmt. will be oblivious, or in denial, and that only pushes them to rebuild mode in a year or two. I agree with your G assessment. With a Vezina starter and two hot prospects I think it's clearly a team strength. One of the prospects could be moved if another team is willing to pay a lot. They're probably better off waiting a year since the value for both should be even higher. Some of your top six are getting up there, and your bottom six are underwhelming. Your D looks like it needs help. There's nothing that cannot be taken care of in the offseason, but the cap works against them so I expect they'll look to move some salary and retool. But I'd be surprised if they're a SC contender next year. (Boy do I miss CapGeek!) In two or three years the hockey team from Boston will be back in line with a view of the lead dog's ass. Count on it; it's the natural order.
