2008 Boston Bruins thread

[Jason Harris 31]

I realize it's early, but did anyone else notice Brad Boyes has 9G and 2A in 10 games?

It was obvious last year that Boyes was slumping with the rest of the team. I thought trading him bordered on a panic move at the time, and it looks like Boyes is determined to prove that.

[chippa13 1844]

I wasn't too bothered with getting rid of Boyes. He was not only slumping last year but looked genuinely disinterested. The fight with Lydman looked like it might spark him a little but that was short-lived.

Obviously, if Wideman doesn't become a full-time contributor it will look like a bad deal, especially if being traded, for the third time I might add, was finally the kick in Boyes ass to become a NHLer.

[Jason Harris 31]

Yes, but two of the trades were essentially while he was a minor leaguer. (He had played one game for San Jose before the trade to the B's.) There's no doubt he had a terrible year last year, but I felt the B's cut bait too soon. And you may be right that being traded was the equivalent of the "twilight of his career" comment, but I'm concerned this trade will haunt the Bruins as being lopsided.

On a different note, Tim Thomas has been much better than I expected. I've thought of him as a 1A goalie, but he's been playing like a 1.

[Monty22 833]

I'm pleasantly surprised by Timmy's play as well. He's easy to root for due to his long road to the show, but I wasn't sure he could replicate/improve on what he did last year and was destined to be another in a long line of flash in the pan Bruins goalies.Good for him.

[chippa13 1844]

I'm always leery of Thomas playing number 1 minutes. Holes seem to appear when that happens. I like him much better as a platoon type of guy. Hopefully, Fernandez isn't out long because both play better in an alternating type of role.

[Chef23 0]

I thought Wideman looked pretty good last night. Hopefully he continues to play well.

[Monty22 833]

I'm always leery of Thomas playing number 1 minutes. Holes seem to appear when that happens. I like him much better as a platoon type of guy. Hopefully, Fernandez isn't out long because both play better in an alternating type of role.

Agreed. Thomas without a doubt wore down last year. Not only does Fernandez have to get healthy, he needs to find his game as well.

[Kevin 5]

It was definitely a panic move, as was the Thornton trade. Wideman is high risk without any corresponding high reward. He has more offensive tools than most d-men, but not of the magnitude to outweigh his weaknesses.

On another note, who the hell (if anyone) was Bochenski's off season trainer? As soon as I read that he had put on 20 pounds (there's no way that's all muscle without the use of banned substances), I knew he was in trouble.

Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau to the Calgary Flames for Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew was a good trade, especially considering Stuart was going to be a free agent.

I realize it's early, but did anyone else notice Brad Boyes has 9G and 2A in 10 games?

It was obvious last year that Boyes was slumping with the rest of the team. I thought trading him bordered on a panic move at the time, and it looks like Boyes is determined to prove that.

[Jason Harris 31]

Agreed. Thomas without a doubt wore down last year. Not only does Fernandez have to get healthy, he needs to find his game as well.

I watched the C's game yesterday and they posted a graphic of the myriad ways that Minnesota has helped Boston teams recently: Twins tendered Papi, T-Wolves traded Garnett, Vikes traded Moss, who burned out and became available.

Maybe the Wild's contribution to the B's is Fernandez will be a good caddy for Thomas.....

[DCott 0]

Tuukka Rask was just called up to replace Sigalet. He was 6-1 in Providence. Hope he sees some action, because he is going to be a very good NHL goalie

[Kevin 5]

Chara is vastly overpaid. I don't think he's that good. He's tall and has a hard shot, but that does not make you a franchise d-man. He's a slow skater, not that great of a hitter (he does not skate well enough for open ice hits), and an average passer. He's supposed to the team's best d-man, but he's -1 on the season (the only D-man on the team with a minus rating). He was -21 last year!!! He has six points on the season and zero goals (31st for dmen in the league for points), despite lots of pp time.

The first power play goal on Saturday vs. the Sens was entirely his fault. He tried to play the puck in front of the net on the penalty kill--he should have put Fisher on his ass. Last week against the Sabres he could not keep the puck in the zone on a power play and gave up a breakaway. He was unable to even catch up within the stick's length of the player--it was not Afinogenov. Last night he overcommitted and was out of position on Plekanec's goal.

He's worth the $4 million and change Murray is getting paid, but that's all. Murray is worth a bag of pucks right now.

[chippa13 1844]

Chara is vastly overpaid. I don't think he's that good. He's tall and has a hard shot, but that does not make you a franchise d-man. He's a slow skater, not that great of a hitter (he does not skate well enough for open ice hits), and an average passer. He's supposed to the team's best d-man, but he's -1 on the season (the only D-man on the team with a minus rating).* He was -21 last year!!! He has six points on the season and zero goals (31st for dmen in the league for points), despite lots of pp time.

The first power play goal on Saturday vs. the Sens was entirely his fault. He tried to play the puck in front of the net on the penalty kill--he should have put Fisher on his ass. Last week against the Sabres he could not keep the puck in the zone on a power play and gave up a breakaway. He was unable to even catch up within the stick's length of the player--it was not Afinogenov. Last night he overcommitted and was out of position on Plekanec's goal.

He's worth the $4 million and change Murray is getting paid, but that's all. Murray is worth a bag of pucks right now.

*obvioulsy, anyone who does a lot of penalty killing will suffer in the +/- category

Obviously, you should learn how +/- works before you speak.

[Kevin 5]

Yes, I should have--my bad.

Chara is also not in the top ten of combined hits and blocked shots.

Here is this year's Top Ten.

1. Mike Komisarek, MTL, 11 games, 39 hits, 40 blocked shots, 79 total points.

2. Anton Volchenkov, OTT, 10 games, 22 h, 46 bs, 68 points.

3. Greg Zanon, NASH, 11 games, 34 h, 30 bs, 64 points.

4. Garnet Exelby, ATL, 12 games, 41 h, 22 bs, 63 points.

5. Dion Phaneuf, CAL, 12 games, 45 hits, 9 bs, 54 points.

6. Mattias Ohlund, VAN, 12 games, 25 h, 27 bs, 52 pts.

7. Pavel Kubina, TOR, 13 games, 23 h, 29 bs, 52 pts.

8. Fedor Tyutin, NYR, 11 games, 34 h, 16 bs, 50 pts.

9. Brendan Witt, NYI, 9 games, 18 h, 31 bs, 49 pts.

10. Brooks Orpik, PITT, 11 games, 19 h, 30 bs, 49 pts.

As reported by the Edmonton Journal as of 10/31/07.

http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjour...defencemen.aspx

[chippa13 1844]

Gee, he's falling behind in 2 of the most subjective stats they have out there. I'm really concerned now.

[ThePurpleCobra 0]

they said Manny was put on IR does that mean his season is done like in Football?

[the1gwiz 0]

they said Manny was put on IR does that mean his season is done like in Football?

Nope. NHL rules state he's got to sit a minimum of 7 days, but can come off IR anytime after.

[Jason Harris 31]

What are people's thoughts on Thomas not making the All-Star game as a reserve?

Based on saves percentage and goals against, he clearly has had a better season than Rick DiPietro or Tomas Vokoun. I understand those two are the only representatives for their teams, but there isn't a rule that each team has to have a representative -- it's only a custom.

My fear for Thomas's sake is, at 33, this could turn out to be a career year for him, yet I think he has played well enough to earn a berth as an All-Star this year.

[chippa13 1844]

I voted for him as a write-in. However, the East is tough for goalies. I haven't looked at who is going but I assume it will be Brodeur, Biron, and one of either Miller or Lundqvist.

[Jason Harris 31]

It's Rick DiPietro as the Islanders' only representative and Tomas Vokoun as the only player from the Panthers.

[chippa13 1844]

Blech. I think the NHL really needs to reexamine the "player from every team rule".

[Jason Harris 31]

That's the thing. It's not a rule, it's a custom. But what I didn't know until this week is the NHL's Hockey Operations Department picks the reserves after consulting with the general managers. You can almost see how this could become politically motivated to appease every team.

[Chadd 916]

That's the thing. It's not a rule, it's a custom. But what I didn't know until this week is the NHL's Hockey Operations Department picks the reserves after consulting with the general managers. You can almost see how this could become politically motivated to appease every team.

And, more importantly, an attempt to include every possible television market.

[Jason Harris 31]

So true. I hadn't thought of it that way.

[bbruins8 0]

B's recalled Pelletier for their game tomorrow vs the Leafs...per Bruins website and NHL.com

[drisco487 0]

48 points in 40 games with providence, not bad