Boston Bruins

[4T2]

Here’s a great article from Sportsnet about why the predicted demise of the Bruins may be a little premature

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...rgeron-krejci/

This team has been one of the premier teams in the NHL for the last 15 years. They have been managed exceptionally well and have iced a competitive team every single year during that time. This is all in spite of experts predicting their downfall since somewhere around 2015.

[Axeman33]

Remember last year when people were predicting they wouldnt even make the playoffs.

[2014olympicgold]

Last yr I thought they were toast. This yr I'm not guessing anything.

Here's your betting points of the Eastern teams:
Boston - 101.5
Buffalo - 92.5
Carolina - 104.5
Columbus - 74.5
Detroit - 86.5
Florida - 97.5
Montreal - 72.5
New Jersey - 103.5
NYI - 91.5
NYR - 98.5
Ottawa - 91.5
Philadelphia - 74.5
Pittsburgh - 98.5
Tampa Bay - 99.5
Toronto - 104.5
Washington - 86.5

Which means the playoffs predictions are roughly:
Metro:
Carolina - 104.5
NJD - 103.5
NYR - 98.5

Atlantic:
Toronto - 104.5
Boston - 101.5
Tampa - 99.5

Wild Card:
Pittsburgh - 98.5
Florida - 97.5

[ross10019]

Last yr I thought they were toast. This yr I'm not guessing anything.

Here's your betting points of the Eastern teams:
Boston - 101.5
Buffalo - 92.5
Carolina - 104.5
Columbus - 74.5
Detroit - 86.5
Florida - 97.5
Montreal - 72.5
New Jersey - 103.5
NYI - 91.5
NYR - 98.5
Ottawa - 91.5
Philadelphia - 74.5
Pittsburgh - 98.5
Tampa Bay - 99.5
Toronto - 104.5
Washington - 86.5

Which means the playoffs predictions are roughly:
Metro:
Carolina - 104.5
NJD - 103.5
NYR - 98.5

Atlantic:
Toronto - 104.5
Boston - 101.5
Tampa - 99.5

Wild Card:
Pittsburgh - 98.5
Florida - 97.5

Love those predictions EXCEPT I think the Sens and Sabres are neck and neck with the Panthers and one of them ekes it out. My money is on the Sabres.

Also Columbus is way too low - with the changes they made on D and Fantilli coming onboard, I think they surpass the Caps and stay in the hunt much of the season but ultimately fall short.

[Pengwin7]

I can't say I like the article.
Just about every sports team has journalists/fans that write about why their team will be good.
It goes like this:

1. Names players one by one, with positives about them.
2. Names prospects coming up.
3. Names players they could trade for.

Blah, blah, blah.
The models that a lot of hockey-numbers-people have these days don't lie.
Players all have some relative value, you add those up, you get wins - if players are healthy - teams pretty much finish within 10pts to either side of that prediction.
Easy peezy.

Yeah, Boston lost two good players in Krejci & Bergeron - but they still are very good in G + D + two top forwards & rising Zacha. They'll be OK.
I think they are still an Eastern playoff team. But I do think the whole East could be 98-108pts. It'll be tight this year.
If CBJ & OTT & BUF & DET stay healthy, and with Karlsson-PIT... you've got 13/16 teams in East looking strong. PHI, MON should be last by a ton... WAS unlikely to be playoff caliber unless Sandin becomes a sensation.

[kovalchuk17]

Bruins still have a loaded team, just a little weaker down the middle. They are a trade or 2 away from being as 'complete' as we expect them to be.

[2014olympicgold]

They are also now an injury up front away from an issue.

Their D and goalie depth is great, their forward top end potential depth pretty much starts and stops at Pasta, Marchand and Zacha.


I guess development of DeBrusk is there too. Coyle is depth scoring, and will he grow from a 40-50pt scorer with more responsibilites.

[ross10019]

Marchand is the new Captain of the storied Bruins.

[PenguinHunter]

Marchand is the new Captain of the storied Bruins.

I am assuming this was an easy option for the team.

However, from the outside looking in it is hard to imagine that a player that once did this:



Is now the captain of an Original 6 team.

[2014olympicgold]

Marchand is under contract for 2 seasons. Should be interesting what comes in 2025

[PenguinHunter]

Marchand is under contract for 2 seasons. Should be interesting what comes in 2025

I am thinking the Bruins realize their window is closing so they might as well give the old guy the captaincy and hope it can mount to some success.

Then in two years they will revaluate if Marchand is still around or if they re ready to rebuild and groom a new long-term captain.

[Axeman33]

Marchand is the new Captain of the storied Bruins.

I really thought it would go to McAvoy but I guess this is a reward of some sort for Marchand??

[Bender]

I really thought it would go to McAvoy but I guess this is a reward of some sort for Marchand??

Marchand is one of the hardest working and loyal members of the organization. Has been right next to bergeron his whole career and has been able to learn from him. He is fantastic with fans, media, etc and an amazing teammate. He was a very easy choice. Sure he is a wildcard on the ice, but besides that he really is a model teammate and leader within the organization. I imagine when his contract is up and he retires it will be McAvoy. Gives him a few more years to grow into the role.

[metaldude26]

How many licks does it take to get to be the captain of the Bruins?

[Axeman33]

Marchand is one of the hardest working and loyal members of the organization. Has been right next to bergeron his whole career and has been able to learn from him. He is fantastic with fans, media, etc and an amazing teammate. He was a very easy choice. Sure he is a wildcard on the ice, but besides that he really is a model teammate and leader within the organization. I imagine when his contract is up and he retires it will be McAvoy. Gives him a few more years to grow into the role.

I dont disagree with any of this statement and I am not saying he wasn't the right choice. I just thought it might go to McAvoy for some reason. Listen, I am from NS and have followed Marchand's career all the way along. He's far from a model citizen on the ice but off the ice, he's outstanding. I would assume he's a leader in the locker room too, and to me, that's the most important thing for a Captain to be.