Unless this group can turn it around next season (which I do think is possible), we're pretty much effed. There's nobody available in free agency this year that would help us out. If there was a scorer on the market, I would trade Chara in a heartbeat... for a bag of pucks... just to free up cap space. I know it's not going to happen, but the dude is old, and well beyond his prime. Do we really expect he's going to stay healthy next year?!? Or is going to be another injury riddled, declining season? I think the latter is more realistic than the former. I would much rather they had moved him than Boychuck. Dougie is the new stud. He's got the confidence rolling. If we had Dougie, Seidenberg, Krug, Miller, Mcquaid, and then Trotman/Arnesson/picked someone up in free agency, I could live with that and would love to have that extra cap room for a scorer. I just don't know where they are going to get that guy from. Our defense really wasn't the problem this year, and we had a winning record without Chara in the lineup. We need scoring... and we need it bad.

Unless this group can turn it around next season (which I do think is possible), we're pretty much effed. There's nobody available in free agency this year that would help us out. If there was a scorer on the market, I would trade Chara in a heartbeat... for a bag of pucks... just to free up cap space. I know it's not going to happen, but the dude is old, and well beyond his prime. Do we really expect he's going to stay healthy next year?!? Or is going to be another injury riddled, declining season? I think the latter is more realistic then the former. I would much rather they had moved him than Boychuck. Dougie is the new stud. He's got the confidence rolling. If we had Dougie, Seidenberg, Krug, Miller, Mcquaid, and then Trotman/Arnesson/picked someone up in free agency, I could live with that and would love to have that extra cap room for a scorer. I just don't know where they are going to get that guy from. Our defense really wasn't the problem this year, and we had a winning record without Chara in the lineup. We need scoring... and we need it bad.
- mixturebill

I agree scoring is a must. I just don't like the D at all right now and going forward. There is no one in Providence. The drafting has been piss poor. I think Chara is very much still needed.

If Hamilton is the stud everyone thinks he is rather than turnover machine I saw this season then, 1st the Bruins need to sign him. Then he needs to step up and help with transitioning Chara out. That means he needs to discover playing in his own zone and fast.

Us Newfies take our drinking very seriously.

One of the only leagues where guys call for a change to smoke a dart and down a Black Horse
- MrBeanTown

I agree scoring is a must. I just don't like the D at all right now and going forward. There is no one in Providence. The drafting has been piss poor. I think Chara is very much still needed.

If Hamilton is the stud everyone thinks he is rather than turnover machine I saw this season then, 1st the Bruins need to sign him. Then he needs to step up and help with transitioning Chara out. That means he needs to discover playing in his own zone and fast.
- glove_was_stuck

Hamilton will take the leap forward. Hell, he is already putting up 40+ points. I think this year what you saw is the Bruins trying to rely on him a little bit too much in Chara's absence. And he did well for being "the guy" on the back end. Even when Chara did return, Dougie made him look better when he was out there.

I don't think he is a turnover machine. And he certainly didnt give the puck away as much as Chara did. All in all, Dougie did the best he could with the added pressure and what he was given to work with.

He does need to be signed. Still pissed Chiarelli signed Smith before Dougie. Dougie will be the cornerstone D man of this franchise in the coming seasons. Not all D men can handle pressure right away, and to be honest, he could have turned out to be a whole lot worse.

Played on one for 3 years.... Serious business
- MrBeanTown

The hockey or the beer?

Hamilton will take the leap forward. Hell, he is already putting up 40+ points. I think this year what you saw is the Bruins trying to rely on him a little bit too much in Chara's absence. And he did well for being "the guy" on the back end. Even when Chara did return, Dougie made him look better when he was out there.

I don't think he is a turnover machine. And he certainly didnt give the puck away as much as Chara did. All in all, Dougie did the best he could with the added pressure and what he was given to work with.

He does need to be signed. Still pissed Chiarelli signed Smith before Dougie. Dougie will be the cornerstone D man of this franchise in the coming seasons. Not all D men can handle pressure right away, and to be honest, he could have turned out to be a whole lot worse.
- dothedougie

I hope so. I like Dougie but he could be more physical too.

I hope so. I like Dougie but he could be more physical too.
- glove_was_stuck

Yeah, kid really isn't mean enough. What the (frank) is chara and lucic teaching this group????

Go smack a (frank)er upside the head in front of the net. Get that poop out of there!

Yeah, kid really isn't mean enough. What the (frank) is chara and lucic teaching this group????

Go smack a (frank)er upside the head in front of the net. Get that poop out of there!
- dothedougie

It's really all thats missing from his game. Experience will make him better as D-men take a little longer. See Hedman for example. Hamilton needs some snarl to his game. I hope he gets dumped over the summer and has something to be angry about.

It's really all thats missing from his game. Experience will make him better as D-men take a little longer. See Hedman for example. Hamilton needs some snarl to his game. I hope he gets dumped over the summer and has something to be angry about.
- glove_was_stuck

Ha! Yep, 50+ points, 300+ hits, 100+ pims.

Fantasy hockey dream.

Ha! Yep, 50+ points, 300+ hits, 100+ pims.

Fantasy hockey dream.
- dothedougie

OoOooOoo good call... he went in the 13th round in my draft this year... that could be a good pickup next year if he slips that low. It would be nice to have someone from the B's as I didn't have anyone from the team this year. The year before I did have Tuukka... and even though I'm a big Bruins fan anyways, that made games a bit more interesting to watch.

I agree scoring is a must. I just don't like the D at all right now and going forward. There is no one in Providence. The drafting has been piss poor. I think Chara is very much still needed.

If Hamilton is the stud everyone thinks he is rather than turnover machine I saw this season then, 1st the Bruins need to sign him. Then he needs to step up and help with transitioning Chara out. That means he needs to discover playing in his own zone and fast.
- glove_was_stuck

Just curious... what don't you like about the D right now? I'm liking what I'm seeing from Hamilton, Krug, Miller, and McQuaid. I thought Seidenberg strengthened up towards the end of the year too... his season started a little rough, but definitely improved over the season. By the end of the season I thought he was back to being the totally underrated stud he was last year.

Yeah, kid really isn't mean enough. What the (frank) is chara and lucic teaching this group????

Go smack a (frank)er upside the head in front of the net. Get that poop out of there!
- dothedougie

I don't know if he ever will though... he doesn't seem to be that kind of guy. Just look at him in his interviews. He's always this shy kid who seems awkward and innocent. Totally agree it would make a good addition to his game, I just don't know if he has that killer bone in his body.

I don't know if he ever will though... he doesn't seem to be that kind of guy. Just look at him in his interviews. He's always this shy kid who seems awkward and innocent. Totally agree it would make a good addition to his game, I just don't know if he has that killer bone in his body.
- mixturebill

Lucic should just cup check him in practice every day, keep him nice and pissed off for games.

Lucic should just cup check him in practice every day, keep him nice and pissed off for games.
- dothedougie

I think that has helped Dekeyser this year. He has been knocking the poop out of Stamkos all series whether there is an octopus on his head or not.

Lucic should just cup check him in practice every day, keep him nice and pissed off for games.
- dothedougie

You need to post something funny again so I can change my location to something that fits.

That's what she said

Just curious... what don't you like about the D right now? I'm liking what I'm seeing from Hamilton, Krug, Miller, and McQuaid. I thought Seidenberg strengthened up towards the end of the year too... his season started a little rough, but definitely improved over the season. By the end of the season I thought he was back to being the totally underrated stud he was last year.
- mixturebill

DISCLAIMER: Super long post. Couldn't really make my argument any other way.

I don't like their game in the defensive end and they were very easy to play against this season.

Chara battled injuries and fatigue all year and has been burned up and down the ice as result. I think he is not the player he was in the past but he is not "all done" like everyone is rushing to conclude. He will prove you wrong next season. Hopefully someone can either be added or step up to cut his minutes.

Seidenberg. Recovering from full knee reconstruction. Usually takes a full year. I have faith that the 33 year old fitness freak has a few good years left. He was playing better towards the end of year.

Hamilton. Great offensively. Not enough nasty in him. Needs to be more physical and needs to improve upon the turnovers and bad passes out of the D zone. Does not clear or cover guys in front of net enough.

Krug. Too small to be a top 4. Power play specialist. Kid has the heart just not the body.

McQuaid. When he is not injured, he is a mediocre #6 guy. I think Miller is a cheaper option with more upside. Having McQuaid in your top 4 like the B's did this year is terrible news.

Bartkowksi. Buh-Bye! Should have played anyone over this kid. I gave him another chance this year as underneath all the turnovers is a really good skater and puck mover. Not a fit for defense oriented system. Should have been replaced but to me that speaks volumes about the lack of defensive depth on the farm.

Trotman, Morrow, Breen, Warsofsky, Cross... These guys were used sparingly if at all. Even with the injuries Bartkowski got the nod over them. Not good.

The defensive core no longer has a shut down guy on it. How you don't see it as problem is sort of baffling. Even if the Bruins add one guy to boost scoring, it won't be enough as this is a weakened group and they did and will allow a higher volume of goals against. Again, a healthy Chara and Seidenberg make this much much better but another tough to play against d-man who is top 4 material is really needed.

If Hamilton is not going to be a tougher guy and more of a puck mover then the Bruins need a solid shutdown guy to compliment him. Or he needs to add that missing element to his game and be the elite defender he is projected to be.

How is it stupid to trade chara? Where's the logic? the guy makes 7 million a year at almost 40 years old to provide subpar defense. The only thing that would be a stupid move is another GM giving up something of value to get him

Besides, this is Bergerons team now
- TylerSeguin19

a 2nd round pick?

Deal?

DISCLAIMER: Super long post. Couldn't really make my argument any other way.

I don't like their game in the defensive end and they were very easy to play against this season.

Chara battled injuries and fatigue all year and has been burned up and down the ice as result. I think he is not the player he was in the past but he is not "all done" like everyone is rushing to conclude. He will prove you wrong next season. Hopefully someone can either be added or step up to cut his minutes.

Seidenberg. Recovering from full knee reconstruction. Usually takes a full year. I have faith that the 33 year old fitness freak has a few good years left. He was playing better towards the end of year.

Hamilton. Great offensively. Not enough nasty in him. Needs to be more physical and needs to improve upon the turnovers and bad passes out of the D zone. Does not clear or cover guys in front of net enough.

Krug. Too small to be a top 4. Power play specialist. Kid has the heart just not the body.

McQuaid. When he is not injured, he is a mediocre #6 guy. I think Miller is a cheaper option with more upside. Having McQuaid in your top 4 like the B's did this year is terrible news.

Bartkowksi. Buh-Bye! Should have played anyone over this kid. I gave him another chance this year as underneath all the turnovers is a really good skater and puck mover. Not a fit for defense oriented system. Should have been replaced but to me that speaks volumes about the lack of defensive depth on the farm.

Trotman, Morrow, Breen, Warsofsky, Cross... These guys were used sparingly if at all. Even with the injuries Bartkowski got the nod over them. Not good.

The defensive core no longer has a shut down guy on it. How you don't see it as problem is sort of baffling. Even if the Bruins add one guy to boost scoring, it won't be enough as this is a weakened group and they did and will allow a higher volume of goals against. Again, a healthy Chara and Seidenberg make this much much better but another tough to play against d-man who is top 4 material is really needed.

If Hamilton is not going to be a tougher guy and more of a puck mover then the Bruins need a solid shutdown guy to compliment him. Or he needs to add that missing element to his game and be the elite defender he is projected to be.
- glove_was_stuck

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- Fountain-San

DISCLAIMER: Super long post. Couldn't really make my argument any other way.

I don't like their game in the defensive end and they were very easy to play against this season.

Chara battled injuries and fatigue all year and has been burned up and down the ice as result. I think he is not the player he was in the past but he is not "all done" like everyone is rushing to conclude. He will prove you wrong next season. Hopefully someone can either be added or step up to cut his minutes.

Seidenberg. Recovering from full knee reconstruction. Usually takes a full year. I have faith that the 33 year old fitness freak has a few good years left. He was playing better towards the end of year.

Hamilton. Great offensively. Not enough nasty in him. Needs to be more physical and needs to improve upon the turnovers and bad passes out of the D zone. Does not clear or cover guys in front of net enough.

Krug. Too small to be a top 4. Power play specialist. Kid has the heart just not the body.

McQuaid. When he is not injured, he is a mediocre #6 guy. I think Miller is a cheaper option with more upside. Having McQuaid in your top 4 like the B's did this year is terrible news.

Bartkowksi. Buh-Bye! Should have played anyone over this kid. I gave him another chance this year as underneath all the turnovers is a really good skater and puck mover. Not a fit for defense oriented system. Should have been replaced but to me that speaks volumes about the lack of defensive depth on the farm.

Trotman, Morrow, Breen, Warsofsky, Cross... These guys were used sparingly if at all. Even with the injuries Bartkowski got the nod over them. Not good.

The defensive core no longer has a shut down guy on it. How you don't see it as problem is sort of baffling. Even if the Bruins add one guy to boost scoring, it won't be enough as this is a weakened group and they did and will allow a higher volume of goals against. Again, a healthy Chara and Seidenberg make this much much better but another tough to play against d-man who is top 4 material is really needed.

If Hamilton is not going to be a tougher guy and more of a puck mover then the Bruins need a solid shutdown guy to compliment him. Or he needs to add that missing element to his game and be the elite defender he is projected to be.
- glove_was_stuck

No worries on the long post... I don't mind a little reading. I hope you like reading too because this is going to be a long one for me to sell my point...

I do see the argument you are trying to make, and I do agree that they were too soft in their own end this year... I just don't agree that they are as bad on D as you are saying. Just looking at the stats... The Bruins were 8th best in goals against... not too far from the top of the league. However they were 8th worst in goals for. We were also near the top of the league in the amount of overtime losses we had. Turn 1 or 2 of those losses into a win, and we're in the playoffs. How do you do that? With someone who can put the puck in the net.

Piece by piece, I think they are in pretty good shape. I think you underrate a few of the guys, including McQuaid. He is a serviceable stay at home bottom pairing defensemen, and definitely better than just a "mediocre #6 guy." He's not flashy, but he doesn't mind bringing the nasty when he needs to, and he's someone that can be hard to play against in our own end. He's an effort guy... one that I think loves being a Bruin, and a guy I would like to see them hold on to.

I think Miller is another guy with a similar style. He's not bringing much offensively, but the dude is willing to put someone into the glass. We definitely missed him after he went out with his shoulder injury. I would welcome him back to the lineup next year. With him and McQuaid, I think you have a good 1-2 punch in the tough/nasty category, which allows some of the other guys to play more to their offensive strengths.

Another guy I think you're underrating is Krug... I think Krug is more than just a power play specialist. He isn't your prototypical top 4 D-man, but I think discounting him just because of his size is a mistake. He knows how to use his body, and while he is more valuable in the offensive zone, I don't see him as a liability in our own end. He's got the heart, and sometimes that outweighs size. I think he's done more than enough to earn middle pairing minutes.

I thought Seidenberg looked GOOD at the end of last year. Like really good. He was starting to make plays with his skates again, which was telling me his knee was starting to feel much better. I think he returns to top notch form next year. I do worry about him being traded though. I think it would be a mistake, but I could see it happening.

Dougie is going to continue to grow (he's only 21!!), and I think more physicality will come with that. I don't ever seeing him being the rough intimidating type, but he will gain mass, and be able to throw that around. He's our defenseman of the future, yet he's still doing a pretty damn good job for us right now. I think too much is being put on his shoulders too quickly...

Which brings me to the biggest hole in our D. Literally... and figuratively. Chara. There's too much pressure being put on Dougie, because Chara is not pulling his weight. Everyone wants to cut him slack because he is Zdeno Chara, but in my opinion he should just retire, and do so this year. Dude is 38 and washed up. His great play in the past in blinding everyone (including himself) to his terrible play of today. His knee is dunzo. He was never fast to begin with, but now he is even slower. His size made up for his lack of speed in the past, but now he is so slow, his size isn't even a factor anymore. He loves to try and play goalie and screen the crap out of Tuukka... and he is a turnover machine in our own end. It's absolutely horrendous. He may have been one of the greatest defenders in the game, but his time has passed. He never looked good this year... all season long it was "Just wait till Chara gets better," but it never happened. I understand he was injured last season, but with that frame, and his age, he's just liable to get injured again. I think you're going to see a lot more of the same next year, and it was ROUGH to watch.

Which brings me to my point, that they simply need more offense. They are a team structured around defense, but you can't win if you don't score. And last year... they didn't score. Again, I don't know where they are going to get that guy from, but if they could move Chara to help with that I would do it in a heartbeat. I'd be calling every team, starting with Edmonton. If we could get a Hall, Eberle, or Yakupov for something involving Chara, I would pull the trigger yesterday. Let someone else deal with an old guy trying to come back from an injury for $7 mil a year. There is no question he is in decline... there is no question he is bound to get injured again. And I just don't want to deal with another season (or worse yet 3 seasons) of "just wait until Chara gets healthy." Because it ain't happening.

But hey... this is just my opinion. If they keep Chara, I hope I'm completely wrong and have to eat my hat. But again, I just think who he was is making everyone blind to the fact of who he is NOW.

No worries on the long post... I don't mind a little reading. I hope you like reading too because this is going to be a long one for me to sell my point...

I do see the argument you are trying to make, and I do agree that they were too soft in their own end this year... I just don't agree that they are as bad on D as you are saying. Just looking at the stats... The Bruins were 8th best in goals against... not too far from the top of the league. However they were 8th worst in goals for. We were also near the top of the league in the amount of overtime losses we had. Turn 1 or 2 of those losses into a win, and we're in the playoffs. How do you do that? With someone who can put the puck in the net.

Piece by piece, I think they are in pretty good shape. I think you underrate a few of the guys, including McQuaid. He is a serviceable stay at home bottom pairing defensemen, and definitely better than just a "mediocre #6 guy." He's not flashy, but he doesn't mind bringing the nasty when he needs to, and he's someone that can be hard to play against in our own end. He's an effort guy... one that I think loves being a Bruin, and a guy I would like to see them hold on to.

I think Miller is another guy with a similar style. He's not bringing much offensively, but the dude is willing to put someone into the glass. We definitely missed him after he went out with his shoulder injury. I would welcome him back to the lineup next year. With him and McQuaid, I think you have a good 1-2 punch in the tough/nasty category, which allows some of the other guys to play more to their offensive strengths.

Another guy I think you're underrating is Krug... I think Krug is more than just a power play specialist. He isn't your prototypical top 4 D-man, but I think discounting him just because of his size is a mistake. He knows how to use his body, and while he is more valuable in the offensive zone, I don't see him as a liability in our own end. He's got the heart, and sometimes that outweighs size. I think he's done more than enough to earn middle pairing minutes.

I thought Seidenberg looked GOOD at the end of last year. Like really good. He was starting to make plays with his skates again, which was telling me his knee was starting to feel much better. I think he returns to top notch form next year. I do worry about him being traded though. I think it would be a mistake, but I could see it happening.

Dougie is going to continue to grow (he's only 21!!), and I think more physicality will come with that. I don't ever seeing him being the rough intimidating type, but he will gain mass, and be able to throw that around. He's our defenseman of the future, yet he's still doing a pretty damn good job for us right now. I think too much is being put on his shoulders too quickly...

Which brings me to the biggest hole in our D. Literally... and figuratively. Chara. There's too much pressure being put on Dougie, because Chara is not pulling his weight. Everyone wants to cut him slack because he is Zdeno Chara, but in my opinion he should just retire, and do so this year. Dude is 38 and washed up. His great play in the past in blinding everyone (including himself) to his terrible play of today. His knee is dunzo. He was never fast to begin with, but now he is even slower. His size made up for his lack of speed in the past, but now he is so slow, his size isn't even a factor anymore. He loves to try and play goalie and screen the crap out of Tuukka... and he is a turnover machine in our own end. It's absolutely horrendous. He may have been one of the greatest defenders in the game, but his time has passed. He never looked good this year... all season long it was "Just wait till Chara gets better," but it never happened. I understand he was injured last season, but with that frame, and his age, he's just liable to get injured again. I think you're going to see a lot more of the same next year, and it was ROUGH to watch.

Which brings me to my point, that they simply need more offense. They are a team structured around defense, but you can't win if you don't score. And last year... they didn't score. Again, I don't know where they are going to get that guy from, but if they could move Chara to help with that I would do it in a heartbeat. I'd be calling every team, starting with Edmonton. If we could get a Hall, Eberle, or Yakupov for something involving Chara, I would pull the trigger yesterday. Let someone else deal with an old guy trying to come back from an injury for $7 mil a year. There is no question he is in decline... there is no question he is bound to get injured again. And I just don't want to deal with another season (or worse yet 3 seasons) of "just wait until Chara gets healthy." Because it ain't happening.

But hey... this is just my opinion. If they keep Chara, I hope I'm completely wrong and have to eat my hat. But again, I just think who he was is making everyone blind to the fact of who he is NOW.
- mixturebill

read the whole thing. very insightful.

Crade Thara

read the whole thing. very insightful.
- Fountain-San

Thanks man I appreciate it!

Thanks man I appreciate it!
- mixturebill

no problem.

hopefully glove learns something from it.

no problem.

hopefully glove learns something from it.
- Fountain-San

Learning curve

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