I awoke this morning to a radio station in Las Cruces, New Mexico, playing the audio from the national anthem at last night's Bruins game. Las Cruces is far removed from New England in every way possible, but as with the rest of the country our hearts are with the city of Boston.
Many more people should have died at the Boston Marathon, if not for the professionalism, preparedness, and skill of the emergency services of Boston and the northeast in general. As we saw with the hurricane last fall, they are truly the best of the best.
I didn't stay a Bruins fan since 1972 because of all the cups the team has won since then. I've held the Bruins close to my heart because they are a reflection of the city they represent. I respect and admire the humanity, humility, and unpretentious, hard-working determination. When people around the world think of Americans, too many think of an arrogant, self-righteous, stetson-wearing cowboy. But that's not who we really are, nor is it the source of our strength. If you want to know who we truly are as Americans, look no further than the people of Boston.
Even though I only visit New England from time to time, the Bruins have given me a life-long connection to the region. I am proud to be associated with the people of Boston, if only in a small way.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
These Bruins are Not Made for the Playoffs
The lockout-shortened season has been an interesting experiment. If you had asked me before the season started I'd have said that once they got going the overall play in the NHL would be sharper and that it would be cool to focus on opponents in your own conference. Wrong, and wrong again!
A few teams were better prepared right out of the gate, and the Bruins were among them. The result was unusual. These few teams, such as Chicago, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, Montreal, and Boston, quickly jumped out to a huge lead. They looked like the Oilers of old, skating three astride into the offensive zone, making quick easy passes, and scoring at will. Nobody bothered to play defense. Only now, with the season in the final stretch, is the gap between these top teams and the rest of the pack starting to fill in. But it started near the middle of the season as teams tightened their D, taking away all that time and space. That's about the time the Bruins started to look less like a team destined for the Cup and more like a team struggling at the bottom of the standings. I know they are still at the top of the standings, but they look like a below 0.500 team.
In all my years of watching NHL hockey, I've never seen anything like this. The Bruins are one point out of first place in their division -- a division that contains Montreal, which has seen a lot of success this season. Yet the Bruins suck. Yeah, I said it, they suck. I haven't seen them play this poorly since the last time they missed the playoffs.
How bad are they? I hardly know where to start. The list of things they have going for them is a lot shorter, so I'll start with that: goaltending and the PK. Rask has been getting stronger with each game and lately he's been as sharp or sharper than I've ever seen him. His backup has been excellent as well. If the Bruins played general defense as well as they play the penalty kill, they'd be leading the league in points. But that's it for the positives.
The Bruins play overall has been horribly inconsistent. In fact, I'd say they have been consistently inconsistent! They have blown more leads in the 3rd period than I can count. Lately they start each game as if they no longer recall how to pass. They carelessly throw the puck away in their own zone over and over and over. It's painful to watch. They have speed, but don't use it effectively. They have size, but don't use that effectively either. They often don't make the first pass out of their end, and when they do get out they all too often turn it over in the neutral zone. When they finally get the puck in the offensive zone they fail to hold down the forecheck, often never even getting off a good shot. As the puck is carried back through the neutral zone the forwards often fail to pursue aggressively, making it easy for the other team to enter the defensive zone as the defensive pair plays too loose. And despite all the work they've done and the addition of Jagr, they still have a lousy power play.
How a team that has been playing so badly can be near the top of the conference in points boggles my mind. But when you look at the stats a few things jump out. The Bruins have played Pittsburgh twice, losing both games. They have taken only one out of four against Montreal. It is clear they can't match the play of either of these teams. We have no idea how the western conference stacks up because there has been no inter-conference play. I wouldn't be surprised if the Stanley Cup wasn't a sweep this season, something we haven't seen in a long time. For which conference, who knows?
Anyhow, for Bruins fans it comes down to this: we don't know how well the Bruins can play, we only know how well they are currently playing. If they continue to play the way they have played all season long they likely won't get past the first round. If somehow they get their act together, who knows? Yes, it does look like both Bergeron and Marchand will be back eventually, and they have both been missed. But it is the team effort as a whole that is the real problem, not injuries or the play of any single player, including by the way, Lucic. Despite not being able to score and some spotty play from time to time, Lucic is like the team in reverse: playing well but not being rewarded for it.
To sum up, I am tired of seeing the same teams over and over, even in this short season, and this hockey fan is sick and tired of watching a team that no longer plays the game at the high level we have come to expect -- regardless of the standings.
A few teams were better prepared right out of the gate, and the Bruins were among them. The result was unusual. These few teams, such as Chicago, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, Montreal, and Boston, quickly jumped out to a huge lead. They looked like the Oilers of old, skating three astride into the offensive zone, making quick easy passes, and scoring at will. Nobody bothered to play defense. Only now, with the season in the final stretch, is the gap between these top teams and the rest of the pack starting to fill in. But it started near the middle of the season as teams tightened their D, taking away all that time and space. That's about the time the Bruins started to look less like a team destined for the Cup and more like a team struggling at the bottom of the standings. I know they are still at the top of the standings, but they look like a below 0.500 team.
In all my years of watching NHL hockey, I've never seen anything like this. The Bruins are one point out of first place in their division -- a division that contains Montreal, which has seen a lot of success this season. Yet the Bruins suck. Yeah, I said it, they suck. I haven't seen them play this poorly since the last time they missed the playoffs.
How bad are they? I hardly know where to start. The list of things they have going for them is a lot shorter, so I'll start with that: goaltending and the PK. Rask has been getting stronger with each game and lately he's been as sharp or sharper than I've ever seen him. His backup has been excellent as well. If the Bruins played general defense as well as they play the penalty kill, they'd be leading the league in points. But that's it for the positives.
The Bruins play overall has been horribly inconsistent. In fact, I'd say they have been consistently inconsistent! They have blown more leads in the 3rd period than I can count. Lately they start each game as if they no longer recall how to pass. They carelessly throw the puck away in their own zone over and over and over. It's painful to watch. They have speed, but don't use it effectively. They have size, but don't use that effectively either. They often don't make the first pass out of their end, and when they do get out they all too often turn it over in the neutral zone. When they finally get the puck in the offensive zone they fail to hold down the forecheck, often never even getting off a good shot. As the puck is carried back through the neutral zone the forwards often fail to pursue aggressively, making it easy for the other team to enter the defensive zone as the defensive pair plays too loose. And despite all the work they've done and the addition of Jagr, they still have a lousy power play.
How a team that has been playing so badly can be near the top of the conference in points boggles my mind. But when you look at the stats a few things jump out. The Bruins have played Pittsburgh twice, losing both games. They have taken only one out of four against Montreal. It is clear they can't match the play of either of these teams. We have no idea how the western conference stacks up because there has been no inter-conference play. I wouldn't be surprised if the Stanley Cup wasn't a sweep this season, something we haven't seen in a long time. For which conference, who knows?
Anyhow, for Bruins fans it comes down to this: we don't know how well the Bruins can play, we only know how well they are currently playing. If they continue to play the way they have played all season long they likely won't get past the first round. If somehow they get their act together, who knows? Yes, it does look like both Bergeron and Marchand will be back eventually, and they have both been missed. But it is the team effort as a whole that is the real problem, not injuries or the play of any single player, including by the way, Lucic. Despite not being able to score and some spotty play from time to time, Lucic is like the team in reverse: playing well but not being rewarded for it.
To sum up, I am tired of seeing the same teams over and over, even in this short season, and this hockey fan is sick and tired of watching a team that no longer plays the game at the high level we have come to expect -- regardless of the standings.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Jaromir Jagr will Never be a Bruin in My Eyes
I was reading about the possible pickups that the Bruins might make before the trade deadline the other day and Jager's name came up. My first thought was, "no way." Reading today that he's now on the Bruin's roster, I can't say I've changed my mind. In fact, I think this acquisition is a disaster, and I have lost a measure of respect for the Bruins management.
Jagr does not play like a Bruin. He's never had the work ethic and he's reportedly a compulsive gambler. I doubt very much that he will be a positive influence in the room, nor will he make much of an impact on the ice. People have compared him to Mark Rechhi; give me a break. Jaromir Jager is no Mark Rechhi. Why, one must ask, has a guy who had so much talent, spent most of his career moving from team to team like some hired gun?
What bugs me the most about this trade is that I doubt very much if the Bruins would have pulled the trigger on it if it hadn't been for the Iginla fiasco. I never thought they needed Iginla for that matter, although nobody in their right mind could have been against it, particularly for what the Bruins were offering for him. Iginla is one classy guy. But all they needed offensively was anybody who could put some pressure on Lucic and Horton. Jagr is going to be too much of a distraction. What the Bruins really need is more defensive depth. Hopefully that will happen before tomorrow. That, and for Kelly to come back, and for the playoffs to get under way to liven things up a bit.
So now we have Jagr, but he's not the sort of player that fits the Neely mold of what it means to be a Bruin, and it's not the sort of trade that made Chiarelli one of the most shrewd GMs in the NHL. It comes off as a desperate attempt to placate a disappointed fan base and to jump start a team with a morale problem. Only, I doubt it will accomplish either!
Jagr does not play like a Bruin. He's never had the work ethic and he's reportedly a compulsive gambler. I doubt very much that he will be a positive influence in the room, nor will he make much of an impact on the ice. People have compared him to Mark Rechhi; give me a break. Jaromir Jager is no Mark Rechhi. Why, one must ask, has a guy who had so much talent, spent most of his career moving from team to team like some hired gun?
What bugs me the most about this trade is that I doubt very much if the Bruins would have pulled the trigger on it if it hadn't been for the Iginla fiasco. I never thought they needed Iginla for that matter, although nobody in their right mind could have been against it, particularly for what the Bruins were offering for him. Iginla is one classy guy. But all they needed offensively was anybody who could put some pressure on Lucic and Horton. Jagr is going to be too much of a distraction. What the Bruins really need is more defensive depth. Hopefully that will happen before tomorrow. That, and for Kelly to come back, and for the playoffs to get under way to liven things up a bit.
So now we have Jagr, but he's not the sort of player that fits the Neely mold of what it means to be a Bruin, and it's not the sort of trade that made Chiarelli one of the most shrewd GMs in the NHL. It comes off as a desperate attempt to placate a disappointed fan base and to jump start a team with a morale problem. Only, I doubt it will accomplish either!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Make the Penguins Pay
The Bruins lost out on Jerome Iginla when he chose to play with his buddy Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh. Given that Iginla had indicated that he didn't want to be a rental, Boston had a better package to offer Calgary, and that the Penguins will be hard up against the cap next year, it seemed a lock for the Bruins. As hard as his decision is to swallow for Bruins fans, I would not want to be a Calgary fan this morning, because they really got screwed. By his choosing Pittsburgh, Calgary got much less in return for the trade.
So what do the Bruins do now? For starters, they can do what likely made more sense anyhow -- get some help on defense. With Boychuck and McQuaid both out and the Bruins already struggling defensively, that has to be a priority. I'd look for a smart signing of a defenseman. But I also expect the Bruins to sign a forward, if for no other reason than to put more pressure on the likes of Lucic and Horton, who could benefit from some looking over their shoulders.
Ultimately the reaction of the Bruins organization should be to focus on one thing: should they meet the Penguins in the post season, show them who the better organization is -- make them pay! Make Mr. Iginla watch the rest of the playoffs from his couch.
So what do the Bruins do now? For starters, they can do what likely made more sense anyhow -- get some help on defense. With Boychuck and McQuaid both out and the Bruins already struggling defensively, that has to be a priority. I'd look for a smart signing of a defenseman. But I also expect the Bruins to sign a forward, if for no other reason than to put more pressure on the likes of Lucic and Horton, who could benefit from some looking over their shoulders.
Ultimately the reaction of the Bruins organization should be to focus on one thing: should they meet the Penguins in the post season, show them who the better organization is -- make them pay! Make Mr. Iginla watch the rest of the playoffs from his couch.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
First Quarter Report
After 13 games we are now past the quarter point of the season. It would seem like a good time to take stock of how the Bruins have fared so far.
First off, let's look at the standings. There is an unusually large difference in the number of games that have been played, so it is difficult to interpret the standings directly, particularly for the Bruins who have played the fewest number of games. A good way to look at the standings is to project the total number of points at the end of the 48-game season based on the current number of points and the number of games that have been played for each team. Here are those final standing projections for the top teams league wide:
87 Chicago
80 Ahaheim
74 Boston
69 Montreal
66 Pittsburgh
66 New Jersey
So the Bruins are in 1st place in the east, and 3rd place overall. But the really interesting thing about this analysis is what happens when you use these same numbers to predict the results of a normal 82-game season. Chicago ends up with 148 points, Anaheim with 137, and Boston with 126. For comparison, the highest regular season point totals for the last three seasons are: 117, 121, and 116. This is an interesting observation. It appears that a few teams (primarily those listed above) have dominated the play to a large extent. Most teams got off to a slower start, and some, such as Columbus and Washington, have been nothing short of abysmal.
Basically, Bruins fans should be very happy with the standings. In 13 games there have been 9 wins, 2 losses, and 2 overtime losses. They said they needed to get off to a good start and they delivered--with the best 10-game start in franchise history.
So far the most interesting games have been the losses. Both losses came against Buffalo--a team that was still reeling after last season's loss to the Bruins when Milan Lucic bowled over Ryan Miller and nobody stood up for him. This has given the Sabres a thirst to beat the Bruins and in their first meeting the game began with a rare beatdown of Sean Thornton by the 6'6", 270 pound John Scott. This game ended the Bruins season-opening winning streak with a final score of 4-7. It was closer than the score suggests, but the surprisingly poor play of the Bruins defensively was cause to worry. The next time they met the Bruins were triumphant 3-1, seemingly putting to rest the "Buffalo problem." But the Sabres came back to defeat the Bruins in their next meeting, dealing the Bs their only regulation defeats so far. The Bruins will play Buffalo twice more and these have become must watch games. A playoff series against the Sabres would be excellent, but with just 13 points in 17 games they may not make the playoffs.
Both OT losses were in shootouts against the Rangers. Some of the most memorable moments against the Rangers came from watching Rick Nash make everyone else look like minor leaguers in comparison. If the Rangers top line of Nash, Gaboric and Richards were to start meshing they could score a ton of goals. But for Bruins fans the biggest moment came when the Bs came back to tie up the second game, scoring 2 goals in the final 2 minutes. The Rangers went on to win in the shootout, but that comeback told us a lot about the caliber if this Bruins team. They aren't used to losing, and little seems to affect them. They showed they can come from behind if they need to--something very important come playoff time.
Now to speak to the things I said I'd be looking for at the start of the season. Both Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic have been playing like monsters. Marchand in particular reminds me of that "little ball of hate" that we came to love so much two seasons ago (I'll never forget the amusement on the President's face when he read those words at the White House--Timmy should have been there just for that!).
The news on the goaltender interference front is not so rosy. There have been at least three bizarre calls where a player was clearly checked into the goaltender by a defender, leading to penalties. Sure, if a goal is scored under these circumstances, maybe it should be waved off, but to penalize a player for being pushed into the goaltender is ridiculous. Not only that, but it could well put the tenders in peril because it seems their teammates have no qualms about doing it.
The Bruins power play has looked better, and has made the difference in a game or two, but it is still not up to the level of play of the team 5-on-5. They can be better, and I expect them to continue to improve.
Regarding Tuukka Rask, I have no complaints. He's let in a bad one here and there, but he's also made some key saves. Khudobin has been a solid backup. So far so good. Clearly, one person Rask had to win over was Zdeno Chara. In the first game Chara took a penalty when he hauled a guy down from behind rather than let him get a shot off. This happened again a game later. There is no way he'd have done that with Timmy back there. It wasn't until his attempt to stop a shot rather than block the pass resulted in a goal that he seemed to start trusting Tuukka (stopping the pass is in his job description).
Things have been going well enough that the media hasn't felt the need to dump on anybody (so far).
Nathan Horton has been playing at the level he played when the Bruins won the cup. We couldn't ask for more from him.
One of the biggest stories this season has been 19-year old Dougie Hamilton. He's not leading the league in any category, so he's not a superstar yet, but his ability to just slide into the lineup as if he'd been playing in the NHL for 20 years is astounding. This kid is going to be the best defensemen in the NHL some day, mark my words.
As for the new kids, Chris Borque has been solid and his play seems to improve with each game. The play of Lane MacDermid has been acceptable. The veteran Jay Pandolfo only recently signed, but appears to have brought the veteran depth that the Bruins wanted.
All-in all it's been a great start to the season!
First off, let's look at the standings. There is an unusually large difference in the number of games that have been played, so it is difficult to interpret the standings directly, particularly for the Bruins who have played the fewest number of games. A good way to look at the standings is to project the total number of points at the end of the 48-game season based on the current number of points and the number of games that have been played for each team. Here are those final standing projections for the top teams league wide:
87 Chicago
80 Ahaheim
74 Boston
69 Montreal
66 Pittsburgh
66 New Jersey
So the Bruins are in 1st place in the east, and 3rd place overall. But the really interesting thing about this analysis is what happens when you use these same numbers to predict the results of a normal 82-game season. Chicago ends up with 148 points, Anaheim with 137, and Boston with 126. For comparison, the highest regular season point totals for the last three seasons are: 117, 121, and 116. This is an interesting observation. It appears that a few teams (primarily those listed above) have dominated the play to a large extent. Most teams got off to a slower start, and some, such as Columbus and Washington, have been nothing short of abysmal.
Basically, Bruins fans should be very happy with the standings. In 13 games there have been 9 wins, 2 losses, and 2 overtime losses. They said they needed to get off to a good start and they delivered--with the best 10-game start in franchise history.
So far the most interesting games have been the losses. Both losses came against Buffalo--a team that was still reeling after last season's loss to the Bruins when Milan Lucic bowled over Ryan Miller and nobody stood up for him. This has given the Sabres a thirst to beat the Bruins and in their first meeting the game began with a rare beatdown of Sean Thornton by the 6'6", 270 pound John Scott. This game ended the Bruins season-opening winning streak with a final score of 4-7. It was closer than the score suggests, but the surprisingly poor play of the Bruins defensively was cause to worry. The next time they met the Bruins were triumphant 3-1, seemingly putting to rest the "Buffalo problem." But the Sabres came back to defeat the Bruins in their next meeting, dealing the Bs their only regulation defeats so far. The Bruins will play Buffalo twice more and these have become must watch games. A playoff series against the Sabres would be excellent, but with just 13 points in 17 games they may not make the playoffs.
Both OT losses were in shootouts against the Rangers. Some of the most memorable moments against the Rangers came from watching Rick Nash make everyone else look like minor leaguers in comparison. If the Rangers top line of Nash, Gaboric and Richards were to start meshing they could score a ton of goals. But for Bruins fans the biggest moment came when the Bs came back to tie up the second game, scoring 2 goals in the final 2 minutes. The Rangers went on to win in the shootout, but that comeback told us a lot about the caliber if this Bruins team. They aren't used to losing, and little seems to affect them. They showed they can come from behind if they need to--something very important come playoff time.
Now to speak to the things I said I'd be looking for at the start of the season. Both Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic have been playing like monsters. Marchand in particular reminds me of that "little ball of hate" that we came to love so much two seasons ago (I'll never forget the amusement on the President's face when he read those words at the White House--Timmy should have been there just for that!).
The news on the goaltender interference front is not so rosy. There have been at least three bizarre calls where a player was clearly checked into the goaltender by a defender, leading to penalties. Sure, if a goal is scored under these circumstances, maybe it should be waved off, but to penalize a player for being pushed into the goaltender is ridiculous. Not only that, but it could well put the tenders in peril because it seems their teammates have no qualms about doing it.
The Bruins power play has looked better, and has made the difference in a game or two, but it is still not up to the level of play of the team 5-on-5. They can be better, and I expect them to continue to improve.
Regarding Tuukka Rask, I have no complaints. He's let in a bad one here and there, but he's also made some key saves. Khudobin has been a solid backup. So far so good. Clearly, one person Rask had to win over was Zdeno Chara. In the first game Chara took a penalty when he hauled a guy down from behind rather than let him get a shot off. This happened again a game later. There is no way he'd have done that with Timmy back there. It wasn't until his attempt to stop a shot rather than block the pass resulted in a goal that he seemed to start trusting Tuukka (stopping the pass is in his job description).
Things have been going well enough that the media hasn't felt the need to dump on anybody (so far).
Nathan Horton has been playing at the level he played when the Bruins won the cup. We couldn't ask for more from him.
One of the biggest stories this season has been 19-year old Dougie Hamilton. He's not leading the league in any category, so he's not a superstar yet, but his ability to just slide into the lineup as if he'd been playing in the NHL for 20 years is astounding. This kid is going to be the best defensemen in the NHL some day, mark my words.
As for the new kids, Chris Borque has been solid and his play seems to improve with each game. The play of Lane MacDermid has been acceptable. The veteran Jay Pandolfo only recently signed, but appears to have brought the veteran depth that the Bruins wanted.
All-in all it's been a great start to the season!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Things to Look For in 2013
The lockout wasn't all bad. Some of us have long felt that the NHL plays too many games and the seasons drag on too long. Although I'd prefer to have seen the season start/end earlier, playing only 48 games will be interesting. And hey, we won't need to refer to this as the 2012-2013 season, given that it will only be played in 2013. So that's something.
I'll be watching for certain things early on and I'd thought I share them here. So without further ado:
1. Brad Marchand. "Marshy," as he's called in the room, is a well known pest. He plays hard and never stops the trash talk, getting under opponents skin. But it seemed to me that the NHL got under his skin last season when they suspended him for a monster hip check that led to an injury. I thought the NHL overreacted badly, and afterward it seemed like something was missing from Marchand's game, particularly in the playoffs. I understand that he also didn't play in the off season, which is going to mean a slow start. I'll be looking to see him get the edge back into his game.
At the start of the 2004 lockout I vividly recall reading that the Bruins GM had decided not to let their fine young goaltender, Andrew Raycroft, play in Providence. I am still mystified by this decision. "Razor" decided not to play in Europe and lost his edge (um, sorry). After struggling badly he was traded to the Leafs for Tuukka Rask. I'd hate to see the same sort of thing happen to Marchand.
2. Milan Lucic. "Looch" can be a powerful force on the ice who can be a game changer, with a big hit or a big goal at just the right time. But like Marchand he chose not to play during the lockout. His performance in last year's playoffs was a huge disappointment to me. He literally stood around in game 7, looking beaten. It reminded me of the last playoff game that Joe Thornton played for the Bruins. That's not good.
3. Goaltender Interference. The goaltender interference rule was created to stop players from intentionally pushing or blocking the goaltender in such a way that he would not be able to make the save. It was not intended as a safety measure. But after the Lucic hit on Miller last season this rule started to be enforced too broadly, in my view. As far as I'm concerned, when two players are out in open ice, fully aware of each other, and going for the puck, then contact is only fair. Last season we saw far too many penalties and suspensions that came on legitimate hits (see above) but resulted in injury. People get hurt. It's not always someones fault. The NHL should simply stick to their rules. One result of the "new and improved" interpretation of the goaltender interference rule was that far too many penalties were called on players who had been clearly shoved into the goaltender by their opponent. That needs to stop. More food for thought: many Bruins fans may not be aware of this story by ex referee Kerry Fraser about the goal that put the Bruins out of the playoffs. Consistency. That's all we ask. It it really that difficult?
4. Bruins Power Play. The Bruins may well have been the worst power play team to ever win a modern Stanley Cup. Last season they were no better, and it may well have been the difference in not making it out of the first round. Coach Julien has stated that they are going to work on the power play this season, so I'll be looking for innovation and ultimately improvement in this important area.
5. Tuukka Rask. A headline stated that the Bruins will be "just fine" without Tim Thomas. While this may well be true, some of us want more than "just fine." We want another Stanley Cup. Can Rask elevate his game? It's certainly possible. His talent is undeniable, particularly his speed from side to side. But his play has been inconsistent, he has suffered from injuries, and he has yet to prove that he can make the long haul. I was most impressed with his play when he first came to the Bruins. His positioning had machine-like precision and he had excellent control over his side to side movement. In recent years his style has changed to be more like that of Thomas, and I am not sure that's a good thing. I'll be watching for two things from Rask: consistently sharp play and some hint of the heart that made Thomas one of the Bruins greats.
6. The Bad Guy in the Media Eye. These days the Boston media have no more access to what's going on inside the Bruins organization than we do. This leads to some pretty poor behavior, one of which is the desire for a person to dump on when things go wrong. Tim Thomas made the perfect foil for them for years, but now he's gone. Who will they try to run out of town on rails now? Who will they make the snide remarks, innuendos and speculative trade rumors about? Will it be a player? Coach? The GM? The answer may be painful for some. My early guess is Tuukka Rask.
7. Nathan Horton. "Horty" was one of the reasons the Bruins won the Cup in 2011, even if he didn't make it to the end without being injured. He showed that he could be an unstoppable goal scoring monster in big games. But he has been plagued by injuries, including a season-ending concussion in January 2012. He claims he's back to normal, but the worry is that he's just one hit away from watching from the stands. His game requires a certain recklessness and I will be looking to see if retains his edge.
8. Dougie Hamilton. At just 19, this promising young rookie is looking to break into the NHL. He's played the last four seasons with the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL. It will be interesting to see how he performs and progresses, regardless of where he ends up playing this season.
9. The New Kids on the Block. There are other "new" faces at training camp as well. They include Ray Borque's son, Chris, Jay Pandolfo, Lane MacDermid, and Aaron Johnson. Will any of these guys stick around and make a contribution?
I'll be watching for certain things early on and I'd thought I share them here. So without further ado:
1. Brad Marchand. "Marshy," as he's called in the room, is a well known pest. He plays hard and never stops the trash talk, getting under opponents skin. But it seemed to me that the NHL got under his skin last season when they suspended him for a monster hip check that led to an injury. I thought the NHL overreacted badly, and afterward it seemed like something was missing from Marchand's game, particularly in the playoffs. I understand that he also didn't play in the off season, which is going to mean a slow start. I'll be looking to see him get the edge back into his game.
At the start of the 2004 lockout I vividly recall reading that the Bruins GM had decided not to let their fine young goaltender, Andrew Raycroft, play in Providence. I am still mystified by this decision. "Razor" decided not to play in Europe and lost his edge (um, sorry). After struggling badly he was traded to the Leafs for Tuukka Rask. I'd hate to see the same sort of thing happen to Marchand.
2. Milan Lucic. "Looch" can be a powerful force on the ice who can be a game changer, with a big hit or a big goal at just the right time. But like Marchand he chose not to play during the lockout. His performance in last year's playoffs was a huge disappointment to me. He literally stood around in game 7, looking beaten. It reminded me of the last playoff game that Joe Thornton played for the Bruins. That's not good.
3. Goaltender Interference. The goaltender interference rule was created to stop players from intentionally pushing or blocking the goaltender in such a way that he would not be able to make the save. It was not intended as a safety measure. But after the Lucic hit on Miller last season this rule started to be enforced too broadly, in my view. As far as I'm concerned, when two players are out in open ice, fully aware of each other, and going for the puck, then contact is only fair. Last season we saw far too many penalties and suspensions that came on legitimate hits (see above) but resulted in injury. People get hurt. It's not always someones fault. The NHL should simply stick to their rules. One result of the "new and improved" interpretation of the goaltender interference rule was that far too many penalties were called on players who had been clearly shoved into the goaltender by their opponent. That needs to stop. More food for thought: many Bruins fans may not be aware of this story by ex referee Kerry Fraser about the goal that put the Bruins out of the playoffs. Consistency. That's all we ask. It it really that difficult?
4. Bruins Power Play. The Bruins may well have been the worst power play team to ever win a modern Stanley Cup. Last season they were no better, and it may well have been the difference in not making it out of the first round. Coach Julien has stated that they are going to work on the power play this season, so I'll be looking for innovation and ultimately improvement in this important area.
5. Tuukka Rask. A headline stated that the Bruins will be "just fine" without Tim Thomas. While this may well be true, some of us want more than "just fine." We want another Stanley Cup. Can Rask elevate his game? It's certainly possible. His talent is undeniable, particularly his speed from side to side. But his play has been inconsistent, he has suffered from injuries, and he has yet to prove that he can make the long haul. I was most impressed with his play when he first came to the Bruins. His positioning had machine-like precision and he had excellent control over his side to side movement. In recent years his style has changed to be more like that of Thomas, and I am not sure that's a good thing. I'll be watching for two things from Rask: consistently sharp play and some hint of the heart that made Thomas one of the Bruins greats.
6. The Bad Guy in the Media Eye. These days the Boston media have no more access to what's going on inside the Bruins organization than we do. This leads to some pretty poor behavior, one of which is the desire for a person to dump on when things go wrong. Tim Thomas made the perfect foil for them for years, but now he's gone. Who will they try to run out of town on rails now? Who will they make the snide remarks, innuendos and speculative trade rumors about? Will it be a player? Coach? The GM? The answer may be painful for some. My early guess is Tuukka Rask.
7. Nathan Horton. "Horty" was one of the reasons the Bruins won the Cup in 2011, even if he didn't make it to the end without being injured. He showed that he could be an unstoppable goal scoring monster in big games. But he has been plagued by injuries, including a season-ending concussion in January 2012. He claims he's back to normal, but the worry is that he's just one hit away from watching from the stands. His game requires a certain recklessness and I will be looking to see if retains his edge.
8. Dougie Hamilton. At just 19, this promising young rookie is looking to break into the NHL. He's played the last four seasons with the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL. It will be interesting to see how he performs and progresses, regardless of where he ends up playing this season.
9. The New Kids on the Block. There are other "new" faces at training camp as well. They include Ray Borque's son, Chris, Jay Pandolfo, Lane MacDermid, and Aaron Johnson. Will any of these guys stick around and make a contribution?
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Bruins and NHL are Back (Finally)
I haven't posted here since June because of the lockout. A lot has happened since then (probably about 30 posts worth). There were times in the last few months when I was so mad at the NHL owners that I considered vowing to not spend a dime on the NHL in 2013. Even before the lockout I almost decided to quit this blog. I almost canceled Center Ice. It's been tough. Since the last lockout ended I have seen nearly every Bruins game. That's a lot of games. Some of them really sucked, but the 2011 playoffs made it all worthwhile. I have to admit though, that after finally winning the cup it was getting a bit old.
Then the inevitable happened. It was windy and biting cold and I was on an outdoor ice rink with my stick and a puck, wearing my Bruins hat; that's when I remembered just how much I love this game. A few days later the lockout ended, and, well, here I am again.
Before we get to the long and the short of the upcoming 2013 season, I need to address Tim Thomas. I doubt anyone reading this isn't up on the story. Thomas decided to take the season off to spend time with family and faith blah blah blah. I get that. I get that he wants to start for the US Olympic team. I get that his father has cancer. I get that he may have realized that the fire wasn't there anymore for him. I get that his snub of the President caused a lot of bad feelings and that he probably felt a bit of a pariah. I get that after so many years as a pawn it must have felt good to take control of his own career for once. And I get that he probably realized that he'd end up playing the season for some team out west, maybe Anaheim or Vancouver (ugh). Toss in a likely lockout and, like I said, I get it.
But he didn't need to be such a classless jerk about it.
Tim Thomas should have been a man about it. He should have called a press conference and read his little statement about family and faith. Then he should have told everyone how being a Bruin was the best thing that ever happened to him, that he'd miss the city, the fans, and his teammates. He should have stood tall and answered the questions from the press. People still would have been mad at him, but it least it would have been for the right reasons. The only good to come of his cowardly posting to Facebook and then slinking off to Colorado is that I am sure professional athletes all over the continent have taken note not to make a fool of themselves like he did.
And the politics! Don't get me started. He's a professional athlete in the public eye. He built his career on the ice and there is no place for politics on the ice. He should have donated to his causes and kept his opinions to himself. His hubris was astounding; it boggles the mind that he believed for a minute that his speaking out would make enough difference to make it worthwhile. But the same can be said of the people who have posted hateful things about him. They are making the exact same mistake by allowing their disdain for his politics to cloud their view of what he did on the ice. He won us a Stanley Cup for God's sakes! I read one blog over the summer that made it sound like the Bruins won the Cup in spite of Thomas, not because of him. I suggest people with such opinions go back and watch the 2011 playoff games for a dose of reality. Going into game 5 of the Cup Final the Bruins were facing elimination. Tim Thomas would allow only three goals in the next three games, against a team that had scored 242 goals in the regular season--an average of three goals per game.
Getting back to Tim Thomas on the ice, how does his decision to sit out the season affect the Bruins most? Some have complained bitterly about his 5 million dollar cap hit. Despite giving up his 6 million dollar salary, 5 million dollars will count against the salary cap for this season. Fortunately the Bruins are more or less under the cap and they have the option of putting Marc Savard on IR, which would cancel things out, leaving them with room to add a free agent should they need to. Others have suggested that he denied the team his value in trading him and that he was being selfish. But loyalty goes both ways. How much loyalty does he owe a management that wants to trade him? I say giving them a Stanley Cup should be enough "value."
The real loss for the Bruins is the one everyone seems too angry to acknowledge. Tim Thomas gave the team a chance to win games night in and night out. Sure, Tuukka Rask is a very good goaltender. But there is a key difference between a good goaltender and one of the all-time greats. It is in when the goals are allowed, not how many. A great goaltender rises to the occasion. The bigger the stakes, the more stingy he plays. There is a reason Thomas started most of the games over the last two seasons, and it's not some sort of misguided deference to the more experienced goaltender. When it's late in the 3rd and the Bs are down by a goal and Tukka lets one in--that's when we will miss Thomas. Or when the Bs are up by one late and the other team ties it up. No matter how well Rask plays, at some point the guys are going to look back there and think of what Thomas did for them night in and night out and they will miss it. I was about to write that they don't have a stat for that, but in fact they do.
It's called the Playoff MVP. In the years since the Conn Smythe Trophy was first awarded in 1965 only two Bruins have won it. Tim Thomas and Bobby Orr. So don't try to tell me the Bruins won't miss Thomas.
Then the inevitable happened. It was windy and biting cold and I was on an outdoor ice rink with my stick and a puck, wearing my Bruins hat; that's when I remembered just how much I love this game. A few days later the lockout ended, and, well, here I am again.
Before we get to the long and the short of the upcoming 2013 season, I need to address Tim Thomas. I doubt anyone reading this isn't up on the story. Thomas decided to take the season off to spend time with family and faith blah blah blah. I get that. I get that he wants to start for the US Olympic team. I get that his father has cancer. I get that he may have realized that the fire wasn't there anymore for him. I get that his snub of the President caused a lot of bad feelings and that he probably felt a bit of a pariah. I get that after so many years as a pawn it must have felt good to take control of his own career for once. And I get that he probably realized that he'd end up playing the season for some team out west, maybe Anaheim or Vancouver (ugh). Toss in a likely lockout and, like I said, I get it.
But he didn't need to be such a classless jerk about it.
Tim Thomas should have been a man about it. He should have called a press conference and read his little statement about family and faith. Then he should have told everyone how being a Bruin was the best thing that ever happened to him, that he'd miss the city, the fans, and his teammates. He should have stood tall and answered the questions from the press. People still would have been mad at him, but it least it would have been for the right reasons. The only good to come of his cowardly posting to Facebook and then slinking off to Colorado is that I am sure professional athletes all over the continent have taken note not to make a fool of themselves like he did.
And the politics! Don't get me started. He's a professional athlete in the public eye. He built his career on the ice and there is no place for politics on the ice. He should have donated to his causes and kept his opinions to himself. His hubris was astounding; it boggles the mind that he believed for a minute that his speaking out would make enough difference to make it worthwhile. But the same can be said of the people who have posted hateful things about him. They are making the exact same mistake by allowing their disdain for his politics to cloud their view of what he did on the ice. He won us a Stanley Cup for God's sakes! I read one blog over the summer that made it sound like the Bruins won the Cup in spite of Thomas, not because of him. I suggest people with such opinions go back and watch the 2011 playoff games for a dose of reality. Going into game 5 of the Cup Final the Bruins were facing elimination. Tim Thomas would allow only three goals in the next three games, against a team that had scored 242 goals in the regular season--an average of three goals per game.
Getting back to Tim Thomas on the ice, how does his decision to sit out the season affect the Bruins most? Some have complained bitterly about his 5 million dollar cap hit. Despite giving up his 6 million dollar salary, 5 million dollars will count against the salary cap for this season. Fortunately the Bruins are more or less under the cap and they have the option of putting Marc Savard on IR, which would cancel things out, leaving them with room to add a free agent should they need to. Others have suggested that he denied the team his value in trading him and that he was being selfish. But loyalty goes both ways. How much loyalty does he owe a management that wants to trade him? I say giving them a Stanley Cup should be enough "value."
The real loss for the Bruins is the one everyone seems too angry to acknowledge. Tim Thomas gave the team a chance to win games night in and night out. Sure, Tuukka Rask is a very good goaltender. But there is a key difference between a good goaltender and one of the all-time greats. It is in when the goals are allowed, not how many. A great goaltender rises to the occasion. The bigger the stakes, the more stingy he plays. There is a reason Thomas started most of the games over the last two seasons, and it's not some sort of misguided deference to the more experienced goaltender. When it's late in the 3rd and the Bs are down by a goal and Tukka lets one in--that's when we will miss Thomas. Or when the Bs are up by one late and the other team ties it up. No matter how well Rask plays, at some point the guys are going to look back there and think of what Thomas did for them night in and night out and they will miss it. I was about to write that they don't have a stat for that, but in fact they do.
It's called the Playoff MVP. In the years since the Conn Smythe Trophy was first awarded in 1965 only two Bruins have won it. Tim Thomas and Bobby Orr. So don't try to tell me the Bruins won't miss Thomas.
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