DKH
The Bergeron of HF
- Feb 27, 2002
- 74,315
- 52,256
We now have a good size body of work to mull over since October 5 at 7 PM minutes before Opening Night.
The Bruins project to 97 points and a slot somewhere 5-8. A good run can all but cement them a bad week put them out.
The inevitable 3-5 teams every year get separated in this horse race regardless of their long shot or lofty odds and this year is no different.
Peter Gammons likes to tell the story around each Memorial Day of the baseball season (approximately where 1/3 of season is) how a old time GM told him the first third of season is to get an idea of what I got.
The second-third what I need, and the last third of the season to see if it comes together and works like hoped.
With that a quick look at what the Bruins have after 1/3 of season:
Assuming health
Goaltending is a strength - khudobin was fantastic when Rask struggled and Tuukka looks like he's back on track.
Which kids if any will earn their keep?
Heinen was 'meh' in his NHL debut and when a long 20 game stretch where he scored but 1 goal and the AHL and whispers he was maybe homesick.
He caught a second wind soon into the New Year and had a monster Playoff that carried over.
The games in the NHL taught him preparation and pace and his confidence in the AHL biggest games gave him the knowledge of what he needed to do and understand what he needed to do.
He's been the biggest suprise and projects as a key player going forward - nothing it seems he can't do well. Last night he showed he can slow the game down and consistently make correct reads and decisions.
Jake DeBrusk has not shown the overall consistency of Heinen but his future looks just as bright. He reminds me offensively of Michael Ryder in both an opportunist and quick sniper release. Ryder may have earned the inconsistency tag but he was a 5 time 30 goal scorer. I see DeBrusk more consistent and a very good playmaking wing that will become more evident as the games pile up the way they did for Blake Wheeler.
I am very high on Anders Bjork as well and the Bobby Bourne comp in style is something I'm watching but to move on (taking a Snow shoveling break- freaking December 10)
The first line with Pastrnak is a killer and Cassidy may occasionally drop 88 to Krejci during a game. When he puts those 3 on the oppponents top line they can both strangle the offense out of them and exploit a usual poorer defensive game found in the offensive elite
I love this technique
Krejci and to a lesser Backes are keys
They are a completely different team when those to play
There has been a lot of good things the past 2 months hopefully it will continue and with good health no doubt
The Bruins project to 97 points and a slot somewhere 5-8. A good run can all but cement them a bad week put them out.
The inevitable 3-5 teams every year get separated in this horse race regardless of their long shot or lofty odds and this year is no different.
Peter Gammons likes to tell the story around each Memorial Day of the baseball season (approximately where 1/3 of season is) how a old time GM told him the first third of season is to get an idea of what I got.
The second-third what I need, and the last third of the season to see if it comes together and works like hoped.
With that a quick look at what the Bruins have after 1/3 of season:
Assuming health
Goaltending is a strength - khudobin was fantastic when Rask struggled and Tuukka looks like he's back on track.
Which kids if any will earn their keep?
Heinen was 'meh' in his NHL debut and when a long 20 game stretch where he scored but 1 goal and the AHL and whispers he was maybe homesick.
He caught a second wind soon into the New Year and had a monster Playoff that carried over.
The games in the NHL taught him preparation and pace and his confidence in the AHL biggest games gave him the knowledge of what he needed to do and understand what he needed to do.
He's been the biggest suprise and projects as a key player going forward - nothing it seems he can't do well. Last night he showed he can slow the game down and consistently make correct reads and decisions.
Jake DeBrusk has not shown the overall consistency of Heinen but his future looks just as bright. He reminds me offensively of Michael Ryder in both an opportunist and quick sniper release. Ryder may have earned the inconsistency tag but he was a 5 time 30 goal scorer. I see DeBrusk more consistent and a very good playmaking wing that will become more evident as the games pile up the way they did for Blake Wheeler.
I am very high on Anders Bjork as well and the Bobby Bourne comp in style is something I'm watching but to move on (taking a Snow shoveling break- freaking December 10)
The first line with Pastrnak is a killer and Cassidy may occasionally drop 88 to Krejci during a game. When he puts those 3 on the oppponents top line they can both strangle the offense out of them and exploit a usual poorer defensive game found in the offensive elite
I love this technique
Krejci and to a lesser Backes are keys
They are a completely different team when those to play
There has been a lot of good things the past 2 months hopefully it will continue and with good health no doubt