NHL Around the NHL 2018-19 IV

[ODAAT]

Defense sucks. Goalie not great. One scoring line. Coach made a big mistake in benching Hall for 23 out of 27 minutes a couple weeks back, that made the team worse. Second line should be a 3rd line. 3rd line should be a 4th line. 4th line should be in AHL. They get pushed around, a lot. Don't defend teammates like they should. Team is a mess.

Thanks Lou, seems like a far cry from last year where they appeared to be hitting on all cylinders. I understand holding players accountable and I don`t know what might have led to Hall being benched but 23 minutes? Crazy, how has Hischier been this year? Only treated to his talents for one season but he was a blast to watch

 

[Oates2Neely]

Good fit for the 4th line or not, he's a far superior player to Acciari. Even if they didn't have a spot for him last year (and they kinda didn't), this is the same team that gave &^%*n' Sean Kuraly a 3-year contract, but once again, couldn't find room for Vatrano.

Just more evidence that teams need to get away from this mentality that your 4th line has to contain three grinder-types, and letting those types of players take up roster spots just so they will move out better hockey players. We saw it with Connolly, we've seen it with Vatrano. Bruins need to stop moving out guys for peanuts (or nothing) just so they can retain the likes of Acciari and Kuraly.

I’m not so much an Acciari fan but I’d rather roll with Kuraly in a 7-game playoff series than Vatrano. I suspect Vatrano would be rendered nearly useless in a playoff series, unless of course he’s given PP time.

He’s not talented enough to be on the current Bruins top three lines, and IMO he’s not gritty/ smart enough to play on the 4th line. I was perfectly fine with the team cutting ties with Vatrano

 

[BruinDust]

I’m not so much an Acciari fan but I’d rather roll with Kuraly in a 7-game playoff series than Vatrano. I suspect Vatrano would be rendered nearly useless in a playoff series, unless of course he’s given PP time.

He’s not talented enough to be on the current Bruins top three lines, and IMO he’s not gritty/ smart enough to play on the 4th line. I was perfectly fine with the team cutting ties with Vatrano

Not more talented than Nordstrom, whose occupied a place for most of the season now in the Top 9?

I seen the 4th line rendered practically useless in last year's playoffs. Especially Schaller who was the player of the 3 (including Kuraly and Acciari) who was the best overall player.

Vatrano didn't look useless during his playoff appearance with Boston in 2016. Then again, neither did Kuraly or Acciari in that series.

The myth is that 4th line grinders all of sudden become more useful in a playoff game, while non-grinders are less useful. Back in the day that may of been true, now I think it's bunk. Your not winning a bunch of playoff games 2-1 anymore than you can win all sorts of regular season games 2-1.

 

[Oates2Neely]

Agree to disagree. Nordstrom in particular (5 goals this season) I find is a very good defensive player 5 on 5. He reminds me of PJ Axelsson with his ability to get his stick in lanes. Vatrano isn’t doing anything if he isn’t scoring. And he doesn’t score enough yet to deserve a spot in a playoff lineup.

Now in a playoff series you may look at the score sheet and not see the names of Kuraly Wagner Nordstrom often, but it’s not fair to say they aren’t impacting the outcome. Vatrano on the other hand, one glance at the box score and we know whether or not he was successful in any particular game.

 

[Chief Nine]

Gritty has to go

He's pretty brave knowing that one of those goalies wasn't Hextall

 

[Sheppy]

Gritty rules.

 

[gumgum]

Nordstrom is a better hockey player than Kuraly, Acciari, Schaller, and Vatrano.

 

[Alicat]

Watched Vatrano score his 9 th against Buffalo tonight. He has more goals than heinen bjork and Donato combined

He always had potential he just had to stop being lazy in the offseason.

 

[Alicat]

Gritty has to go

That whole thing is so Philly..

 

[Fenway]

That whole thing is so Philly..

 

[BruinsFanMike82]

 

[Chief Nine]

There has to be some really dark story behind this one...

 

[Fenway]

There has to be some really dark story behind this one...

Sabres waive Berglund with intent of contract termination

This is bizarre on so many levels

 

[Bruinaura]

That is a ton of money to walk away from

 

[Bruinaura]

odd season for them, really anticipated after their year in 2017/18 they would be a team who would continue to grow but appears not. I think if I`m correct you catch them alot, anything you can offer to explain their year and why it`s been so disappointing please and thanks.

Shud not of let MooRe go

 

[Bruinaura]

That's... interesting....

 

[Chief Nine]

Sabres waive Berglund with intent of contract termination

This is bizarre on so many levels

Yeah and it sounds like a lot more than just issues over benching. If things are so bad that he's walking away from his contract there has to be more than just him not getting along with Housley. Maybe Jack Eichel doesn't like him and made him leave?

 

[Gee Wally]

Its huge. Berglund agreeing to mutual termination leaves just under 13 million on the table.

Teamonly has cap hit for this year but then free and clear. Or so I’ve read.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

I've seen rumors that teams were inquiring about Berglund and that the Sabres wanted to move him.
I think the offers must have required that Buffalo retain salary, because they went the termination rout instead.

https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-rumors-december-19-2018/

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

There has to be some really dark story behind this one...

I thought I read something about how his agent didn't get his no-trade list submitted in time so he ended up being traded to one of the teams on his list and couldn't do anything about it.

If that's the case I can't blame the guy too much for refusing to play for a team he never wanted to be on in the first place.

 

[Chief Nine]

I thought I read something about how his agent didn't get his no-trade list submitted in time so he ended up being traded to one of the teams on his list and couldn't do anything about it.

If that's the case I can't blame the guy too much for refusing to play for a team he never wanted to be on in the first place.

Someone posted that on the main board, I believe it was a Blues fan so that might be what happened. Either way, for him to walk is really odd

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

Someone posted that on the main board, I believe it was a Blues fan so that might be what happened. Either way, for him to walk is really odd

ah, here's the story:
Patrik Berglund walks away from $12.5 million as his rocky Buffalo Sabres tenure ends

The day before the trade, Berglund's full no-trade protection on his contract expired and became a modified no-trade clause, which would have allowed him to submit a list of teams to which he would not accept a trade. However, Berglund didn't immediately submit his list to the club, and the Blues jumped on the opportunity to include him in their package to Buffalo.

sounds like a guy who had zero interest in playing for Buffalo in the first place.

 

[Chief Nine]

ah, here's the story:
Patrik Berglund walks away from $12.5 million as his rocky Buffalo Sabres tenure ends


sounds like a guy who had zero interest in playing for Buffalo in the first place.

Not at all. I bet if someone in the Atlantic picked him up he would be a beast against the Sabres lol

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

Not at all. I bet if someone in the Atlantic picked him up he would be a beast against the Sabres lol

if he could be had for cheap he wouldn't be a bad 3rd line option here IMO. one less thing they'd need to look for at the deadline.

 

[Over the volcano]

ah, here's the story:
Patrik Berglund walks away from $12.5 million as his rocky Buffalo Sabres tenure ends


sounds like a guy who had zero interest in playing for Buffalo in the first place.

That's a pretty shitty move by the Blues. Dark times in STL.