3rd line Center or a Scoring winger

[Bruinfanatic]

A winger for sure

 

[missingchicklet]

A scoring winger, and it's not even close. I think the Bs will be fine at 3C with what they already have. JFK is looking promising, and you never know, there might be someone else in the system who will step in and show something as well. Would love to see JFK get an extended stint at 3C and Cave at 4C. That would make this team pretty solid down the middle. A scoring winger on the 2nd line has been a need for years now and has yet to be adequately addressed. Pretty sad.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Were always looking for a winger for Krejci. I feel like we should keep him with Marchand and Pasta and see if Bergeron can get something going with other wingers. I think we'll get vet stopgap 3C by the deadline. I'm not sure who the scoring winger would be. Im not enamored with Simmonds, Toffoli, etc. because they skate in mud, but I dont know anything better would be available

 

[TCB]

Scoring winger no doubt. Give studnicka a shot at 3c after he's done with world juniors

 

[TCB]

I think I’ve flip-flopped on this one. At the beginning of the year, I was saying 3c as I thought more stability but now I’m onto winger or someone who can play both positions. If we can have two lines that can flat out overwhelm the opposition that’s hard to pass up.
Ultimately, need both if going deep and maybe that 3c is in house, maybe not.
JFK has had some moments. I’d like to see TFRED for a stretch.

I fine myself doing this from game too game.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

I believe Dom posted otherwise. Something about number of injuries/recalls.

 

[Absurdity]

I went with Other.

I think it will be a given that Marchand, Bergeron, Pastrnak, DeBrusk. and Krejci will make up 5 of Boston's top 6 forwards once DeBrusk comes back on Thursday. Even knowing who 5 of the Bruins' top 6 forwards are, I still think there are questions to be asked. Do we see Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak together? Do we see the Marchand-Bergeron and Krejci-Pastrnak pairings? Will DeBrusk-Krejci-Pastrnak work, and if so, can someone already on the roster or in Providence fill in that lost spot next to Marchand and Bergeron? Vice versa, do we end up seeing DeBrusk with Marchand and Bergeron instead and someone on the roster or in Providence take that last spot with Krejci and Pastrnak? Or do we see Marchand and Pastrnak back with Krejci? So I think while adding a top 6 winger may be the solution, will it be a LW or RW and do the Bruins potentially have an in-house solution? I don't think they will but maybe do the Bruins have DeBrusk man the 3rd line and look at in-house options and trades for the remaining top 6 spots?

On the 3rd line center situation, I think the Bruins have a 3rd line problem in general which is important to resolve if they want to go anywhere in the playoffs. The Bruins currently have six bottom 6 players (Cave, Nordstrom, Backes, Kuraly, Wagner, Acciari) on their roster that are better suited to be 4th liners. There are also two top 9 players on the roster in Donato and Heinen who could also potentially take one or both of the spots in the top 6 depending on how things play out. If we look at a center for the 3rd line, apart from Backes, there really aren't any ideal options that are currently on the roster to fill that position. There's JFK who has looked great at some points and at other times like a rookie. There's Frederic who may or may not be ready this season to make the jump. He brings a skillset that would be welcome to the forward group. Then there's Studnicka who almost won a spot at training camp and looks very close to being ready to make the jump. I believe the Bruins will have to wait it out until Oshawa finishes their season which isn't ideal.

How far do the Bruins see their development thus far, and would it be worth blocking a spot for them now and potentially next season if they are deemed ready next season if not this year?

I do think the Bruins need to move some of their bottom 6 players. I also wouldn't mind Blidh getting a shot.

 

[RoccoF14]

Should be a both option.

This....

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

The Bruins have some serious asset mismanagement in their bottom 6. Backes making 6 mil to play on the 4th line is the biggest issues. And yes I realize it works for Tampa with Callahan but that's because their middle 6 is awesome and affordable. Their kids are what we wish our kids were so they can absorb a 6 mil 4th liner for now (but that won't last). With that said, it's not just that he's making 6 mil on the 4th line, it's that they desperately need a 3rd line C, Backes has been a C most of his career, and was brought here to play 3rd line C and yet they won't use him there. That's the real kicker. Like even as the 3rd line center he'd be overpaid at 6 mil but at least he would fill a major need. And tbh I don't think he's incapable of doing it. I just don't get why they don't try to get more out of him. If they refuse to do so then trade him and use that money in the top 6.

And with all that said, if you know you have a ton of prospects and you know you have a guy making 6 mil in the bottom 6, why do you go out and drop 2.25 mil on Wagner & Nordstrom and then let 4+mil sit unused in the cap? Like you're already playing with a handicap because of the Backes contract so you need to get more out of the remaining cap space you have but they're not doing shit with it.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

The Bruins have some serious asset mismanagement in their bottom 6. Backes making 6 mil to play on the 4th line is the biggest issues. And yes I realize it works for Tampa with Callahan but that's because their middle 6 is awesome and affordable. Their kids are what we wish our kids were so they can absorb a 6 mil 4th liner for now (but that won't last). With that said, it's not just that he's making 6 mil on the 4th line, it's that they desperately need a 3rd line C, Backes has been a C most of his career, and was brought here to play 3rd line C and yet they won't use him there. That's the real kicker. Like even as the 3rd line center he'd be overpaid at 6 mil but at least he would fill a major need. And tbh I don't think he's incapable of doing it. I just don't get why they don't try to get more out of him. If they refuse to do so then trade him and use that money in the top 6.

And with all that said, if you know you have a ton of prospects and you know you have a guy making 6 mil in the bottom 6, why do you go out and drop 2.25 mil on Wagner & Nordstrom and then let 4+mil sit unused in the cap? Like you're already playing with a handicap because of the Backes contract so you need to get more out of the remaining cap space you have but they're not doing **** with it.

It's mismanagement but not without the attempt behind it. David Backes, who has been a scoring forward and put up decent numbers was likely set to sit next to Krejci, who has meshed well with that big bruising powerforward everyone likes to wish for. Obviously Backes wasn't that guy, so he's now making more in a position than we should be paying for.

I honestly think we need to stop specifically trying to find a winger for Krejci and just find a Player that fits the Bruins moving forward. Maybe a young center/winger that's gonna grow with the team instead of continually wasting assets on stop gaps and bandaids.

 

[CellyHard]

Temporarily I think we need moves to address both positions but it’s still up for debate if the right long-term fit is there for a reasonable price for either one.

I marvel what Sweeney has done with our defense...it feels like recently that we were talking about RHD and Trouba until we hit on McAvoy and Carlo. Patience...defense has worked out amazing so far and I think the forwards may just be a season behind.

I’m looking for something like Zuccarello or Eberle for Cehlarik + 2019 2nd

Brian Boyle for Ryan Fitzgerald + Conditional pick in 2020

 

[dafoomie]

They need both and more. People are a little too precious about prospects who may not project to be top 6 forwards or top 4 defensemen when they can be used to get players who can help you right now. A decent game once in a while from one of those guys doesn't solve your problem.

You can talk about unrealistic expectations but there should be some urgency with Chara, Bergeron, Krejci, and Marchand getting old. Bergeron will be 34 this year, he missed 18 games last year and he's already missed 16 this year. Chara's still a linchpin at 41 on knees that were questionable before the most recent injury. They have to build something around the two first ballot hall of famers they have before they're out the door and that day is coming.

 

[bolt thrower]

We badly need a scoring winger for Krejci. The poor guy has to play with Heinen and Nordstrom as his wingers.
I think with JKF we have a good enough 3rd line center and adding a top 6 winger gives us the chance to move all the other guys down the lineup and some out of it, like Acciari and Wagner.

I would immediately trade any of our prospects for a top 6 winger, there's not one I would keep.

 

[Fenian24]

I know you hate Rick NAsh but who do you think is a better top 6 option, Nash or Heinen? Seriously for somebody who values speed as much as you do at the very least Nash is a better skater. Never mind more physical, bigger and has a chance of scoring with Bergeron or Krecji.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I know you hate Rick NAsh but who do you think is a better top 6 option, Nash or Heinen? Seriously for somebody who values speed as much as you do at the very least Nash is a better skater. Never mind more physical, bigger and has a chance of scoring with Bergeron or Krecji.

I wouldn’t want to rely on Nash to score goals. Before his concussion he had what, 18 on the year and trending down? Now he’s missed a lot of time.

 

[missingchicklet]

I know you hate Rick NAsh but who do you think is a better top 6 option, Nash or Heinen? Seriously for somebody who values speed as much as you do at the very least Nash is a better skater. Never mind more physical, bigger and has a chance of scoring with Bergeron or Krecji.

Nash is not the answer if the Bs want to win the Cup. He is a broken down player who sustained yet another head injury last year. Hell, he is not even playing at the moment because he is so concerned about his well being due to head injuries, and rightfully so. I highly doubt a guy who has missed half this season already, is very concerned over his future health, and was declining before he came to the Bs is going to be anything special. Heinen definitely adds more to this team overall at the moment than Nash would, but it's kind of silly to make that comparison because it's not an either/or with Nash and Heinen. The team needs a scoring RW for Krejci. Heinen and Nash are not the answer.

 

[Sevendust]

Are people seriously suggesting Rick Nash for this second rw? If yes, I cannot believe that they are really thinking its possible for an 35 old guy coming of a concussion who didnt train with an NHL team for something around seven months, to have any impact this season. I mean its a fast game nowadays. He must be lacking conditioning, timing, durability big time right now. Nothing that gets back very fast after a break like that.

 

[Flannelman]

The advantage to Nash is he is free.

But he’s not the core player who fills that top 6 role; he’s not the 3c. Nash becomes more of that 3rd line role who can play special teams and be a great garbage goal guy.

Ultimately a luxury; one they may be able to afford if:
the player is healthy and in game shape
And depending on the caphits of the other players the bring in

we’ve not seen any sort of news related to his health or game shape so I can’t be optimistic.

 

[BB88]

I know you hate Rick NAsh but who do you think is a better top 6 option, Nash or Heinen? Seriously for somebody who values speed as much as you do at the very least Nash is a better skater. Never mind more physical, bigger and has a chance of scoring with Bergeron or Krecji.

In what shape is todays Nash?

He's going to miss atleast half the season, and his game was already declining.

 

[BruinsBtn]

Why not both? A scoring winger is a pretty easy thing to find at the deadline and a 3rd line center should be too tough to track down either.

 

[Fenian24]

I agree Nash is by no means the answer I am just saying he is a better scoring option than the void that is Heinen where offense goes to die.

 

[ODAAT]

The C position is so vital in this NHL and I`m a big fan of possession, the benefit to start the play with the puck more often than not is the way to go

I`ll always take a C over a winger unless the B`s are in a spot where they didn`t need one but right now, they do IMO

 

[wintersej]

If they can get a winger at the Saad or above level... go for it.

If not, I'd say go get the #3C... but the rental market for wingers is so so so much better than it is for C this year. So then you start looking at guys that would be a "two year rental". And then the Coyle rumors make sense as someone who can adequately fill either hole for a couple seasons.

 

[Mainehockey33]

The C position is so vital in this NHL and I`m a big fan of possession, the benefit to start the play with the puck more often than not is the way to go

I`ll always take a C over a winger unless the B`s are in a spot where they didn`t need one but right now, they do IMO

Thats what I’ve been thinking too. Another strong center that can keep the puck in the offensive zone more often will help the team a lot.

 

[PlayoffBeard365]

For sure both are a need. Looking at last years playoffs we got out hit/out scored vs TB. Assuming our D corp is set and healthy, I say we need a C/F with size who can put the dang biscuit in the basket!