Boston Globe Bruce Cassidy interview about line combos

[pkunit]

Expecting one of Studnicka, Frederic, or JFK to fill the 3C void seems like a big ask. They have like 1 combined season at the professional level. Studnicka is a teenager 2nd round pick....

God forbid anything happen to Bergeron and/or Krejci for an extended time.

David Backes has played 90% of his career at C. Widely considered one of the top two-way C's of the western conference over the last decade. Yes, he's not what he once was. Neither is Krejci... Or any C in their 30's (excluding Bergeron of course). Definitely a weird situation.

Last training camp/pre-season they were pretty rigid making what they wanted come true. Bjork and DeBrusk in the top-6 was pushed heavily. Expecting the same this year.

I would go as far to bump Krejci down and find the best fit for DeBrusk/Pastrnak on the 2nd line. If the goal is to spread it out.... I don't like either with DK personally.

Studnika us for real. He's my guy!

 

[BMC]

You are making the assumption that Cassidy wants him in that position. How do you know?

I don't know anything of the kind. What I don't understand is why Cassidy won't put Backes at 3L center- it is the move IMO that makes the most sense, where Backes would be most effective. He should have done it last season . And I can't imagine Backes flat out refusing if Cassidy told him that's where he will be playing.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

I don't know anything of the kind. What I don't understand is why Cassidy won't put Backes at 3L center- it is the move IMO that makes the most sense, where Backes would be most effective. He should have done it last season . And I can't imagine Backes flat out refusing if Cassidy told him that's where he will be playing.

That is my point. You keep asking why Cassidy won't put him there. My point is how do we know Cassidy even wants him in that position?

 

[LouJersey]

That is my point. You keep asking why Cassidy won't put him there. My point is how do we know Cassidy even wants him in that position?

This has to be the case. It's baffling. I have no real basis for this, but Cassidy doesn't seem to be the biggest Backes fan.

 

[UncleRico]

It's possible, but likely other reasons.

Lmao no idea what this dude is blabbering about. Apparently since I’ve only been on this forum for 15 months, that means I don’t know what bruins fans were saying about the team before I joined this forum lmao.

 

[kdog82]

Backes is a great human being. This NHL has passed him by. I'd try trading him along with a pick or prospect for some other team to take him.

 

[Johnnyduke]

I'm also casting doubt on Bjork being a sure thing. I don't think he was great in the brief stint last year. I would think he has some catching up to do.

 

[Johnnyduke]

And I don't care about splitting up the top line. I think it's fine to try that at the start of the year to try and balance your lineup. And if it's not working out you can always put them back together.

 

[Son of Donegal]

I really enjoyed reading that article. Cassidy seems extremely down to Earth. Not a pure players coach, but certainly capable of and interested in developing young talent alongside the star players. I really like his honesty and transparency regarding the available slots and who he envisions battling for them. It's a breath of fresh air.

As for this coming camp, all eyes will be on Bjork for the RW position. People forget that he was primarily used as a checking/two-way forward for the national team on that stacked squad. It wasn't until he got to Notre Dame where he was given a chance to show his pure offensive game. Aside from his speed and creativity, the thing I absolutely love about Bjork is his ability to pick-pocket players on the back-check and create chances in transition. When you have Bergeron and Marchand, who are leagues best two-way tandem, having a player like Bjork who can create chances off the transition, similar to Pastrnak actually, could be reason enough to give him a long look this fall.

He isn't a big kid and he won't win a lot of physical battles, but he is sneaky and opportunistic, which fits pefectly in today's NHL.

I have high hopes for him.

 

[Glove Malfunction]

Signing the guy to such a huge contract is also one of the strangest things in many years. I thought we signed him to play center, but I guess he simply gets to play where he wants. This is right up there with the Belesky disaster in terms of plain stupidity.

This is perhaps the dumbest thing I've read on HF, and that's a pretty damned high bar. NHL players do not get to play where they want (with very, very few exceptions, and those ones are good enough to actually play there). They play where their coaches ask/tell them to play. If the team and Cassidy wanted Backes to play center, he'd be in the middle. Since's he's at wing, that's where the team wants him. It's that simple.

 

[Son of Donegal]

Given his past success, I can understand why folks want to slot Backes into the #3C position. I am not sure these same people would be thrilled with the end result, especially if you expect secondary scoring from that line. Backes, at this stage of his career, could possibly slot in as a defensive specialist to take D zone draws, clear the slot, block shots and support D for the breakout. When he was younger, he could support the breakout and either lug the puck out or join the rush the other way. Currently, I don't think he has the wheels to play as a two-way pivot.

So, if you want your #3C to be a shutdown center...Backes can get the job done. However, if you are looking for scoring punch from an effective two-way pivot, there are better options.

 

[mjhfb]

Given his past success, I can understand why folks want to slot Backes into the #3C position. I am not sure these same people would be thrilled with the end result, especially if you expect secondary scoring from that line. Backes, at this stage of his career, could possibly slot in as a defensive specialist to take D zone draws, clear the slot, block shots and support D for the breakout. When he was younger, he could support the breakout and either lug the puck out or join the rush the other way. Currently, I don't think he has the wheels to play as a two-way pivot.

So, if you want your #3C to be a shutdown center...Backes can get the job done. However, if you are looking for scoring punch from an effective two-way pivot, there are better options.

You're right, but its not so much his age; it's his health. He's only one year older than the 1C and no one calls him old.

 

[UConn126]

Given his past success, I can understand why folks want to slot Backes into the #3C position. I am not sure these same people would be thrilled with the end result, especially if you expect secondary scoring from that line. Backes, at this stage of his career, could possibly slot in as a defensive specialist to take D zone draws, clear the slot, block shots and support D for the breakout. When he was younger, he could support the breakout and either lug the puck out or join the rush the other way. Currently, I don't think he has the wheels to play as a two-way pivot.

So, if you want your #3C to be a shutdown center...Backes can get the job done. However, if you are looking for scoring punch from an effective two-way pivot, there are better options.

I'm tellin' ya, put Backes between Marchy and Pasta, then have Bergeron center two of Heien, Bjork, and Donato. That'll give us three very theatening lines.

 

[Son of Donegal]

You're right, but its not so much his age; it's his health. He's only one year older than the 1C and no one calls him old.

Agreed. Backes was never all that mobile to begin with. His first few steps are very sluggish now. The wing is a better place for him as he will not have to start so deep in his own zone on breakouts.

 

[Fenian24]

Signing the guy to such a huge contract is also one of the strangest things in many years. I thought we signed him to play center, but I guess he simply gets to play where he wants. This is right up there with the Belesky disaster in terms of plain stupidity.

The Backes signing isn't strange, he was meant to take Lucic's spot with more offense and better two way play, the move made sense, injuries and the game getting faster just over the past two years have hurt him. David Backes is still a good, all be it, overpaid player.

Beleskey was also suppose to off set some of the loss of Lucic's physicality, this also did not work out. Maybe signing Lucic too a 5 year 6m deal would not have been such a bad idea seeing as they still have not replaced his physical presence on this team and it is one of the missing components that concerns me about this season, besides not having a number 3 center or second line right wing.

 

[slim399]

Sign Nash 1 year 3.5mill
Move McQuaid for the cap space to do that
spread the wealth over all 4 lines.

Marchand-Bergeron-Bjork
DeBrusk-Krejci-Nash
Heinen-Studnicka/JFK-Pastrnak
Donato-Kurlay-Backes
Nordstrom, Wagner

Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Gryz-Miller
Moore

 

[Don Cherry]

Sign Nash 1 year 3.5mill
Move McQuaid for the cap space to do that
spread the wealth over all 4 lines.

Marchand-Bergeron-Bjork
DeBrusk-Krejci-Nash
Heinen-Studnicka/JFK-Pastrnak
Donato-Kurlay-Backes
Nordstrom, Wagner

Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Gryz-Miller
Moore

That has to be the softest lineup in NHL history.

 

[Blowfish]

Going to be Cehlarik unless he’s gone Bochenski on us.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

JFK and Frederic didn't look too close to NHL ready at the end of last year. I'd be stunned if Studnicka was the answer there as well. Very ambitious to think one of these three will be 3rd line center for us this year.

Fair enough.

But if any of the 3 have impressive camps I don't think twice about starting them there opening night.

Wish we could give Backes 10 games there. If he stinks move him to wing. He had a rough playoffs but his game was never based on speed and hes been fine in the regular season last couple years even if hes not worth 6 mil per. There is no excuse for not trying it for a few games.

 

[Fenian24]

I really enjoyed reading that article. Cassidy seems extremely down to Earth. Not a pure players coach, but certainly capable of and interested in developing young talent alongside the star players. I really like his honesty and transparency regarding the available slots and who he envisions battling for them. It's a breath of fresh air.

As for this coming camp, all eyes will be on Bjork for the RW position. People forget that he was primarily used as a checking/two-way forward for the national team on that stacked squad. It wasn't until he got to Notre Dame where he was given a chance to show his pure offensive game. Aside from his speed and creativity, the thing I absolutely love about Bjork is his ability to pick-pocket players on the back-check and create chances in transition. When you have Bergeron and Marchand, who are leagues best two-way tandem, having a player like Bjork who can create chances off the transition, similar to Pastrnak actually, could be reason enough to give him a long look this fall.

He isn't a big kid and he won't win a lot of physical battles, but he is sneaky and opportunistic, which fits pefectly in today's NHL.

I have high hopes for him.

I had high hope's for Rob Cimetta, Shayne Stevenson, Cam Stewart, Zach Hamill, Evengi Ryabchikov, Blaine Lacher, Jordan Caron, Etc, Etc, Etc....how did those turn out.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

I had high hope's for Rob Cimetta, Shayne Stevenson, Cam Stewart, Zach Hamill, Evengi Ryabchikov, Blaine Lacher, Jordan Caron, Etc, Etc, Etc....how did those turn out.

David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Torey Krug, Charlie McAvoy, Danton Heinen, Jake DeBrusk, etc. etc. etc..... How did those turn out?

 

[Top Shelf Wrister]

Are some of you serious about Backes at center? Arguably the slowest skater on the team and you want to move him back to center which he hasn't played on the reg for some time now and have him on the breakout below the hash marks? I don't see this as a viable option quite honestly. Hes not that guy anymore and to assume so is foolish. Slot him next to Kuraly and let Backes rub off on him ala recchi/marchand

 

[Mick Riddleton]

You're right, but its not so much his age; it's his health. He's only one year older than the 1C and no one calls him old.

It is his foot speed and reaction time that are aged beyond the game at 3rd line center, nowhere near Bergeron's ability at the same age. He is better at 4th line center or wing at best. He cannot be a offensive guy to drive a line if he is behind the play. As a checking 4th line center with younger guys that have the legs no problem. He is good at getting it out and chipping it off the boards, that will not cut it if we need more scoring.

 

[Son of Donegal]

I had high hope's for Rob Cimetta, Shayne Stevenson, Cam Stewart, Zach Hamill, Evengi Ryabchikov, Blaine Lacher, Jordan Caron, Etc, Etc, Etc....how did those turn out.

It sounds like you have made up your mind on Bjork. We'll find out soon enough as he is going to get a long look this year. Even if he hits a few speed bumps...last year was his first pro year. He has only played 39 professional games and has produced respectable numbers.

Besides the stats, Bjork offers something the Bruins can use. He's an aggressive, creative, skilled two-way player who can skate like the wind. He has the tools and toolbox. The only question is whether he can settle down and put it all together. He was buzzing around a bit too aimlessly last year leading up to the injury. He could stand to simplify his game a bit. If he lines up next to Bergeron and Marchand, he is going to face top line talent night in and night out. That is a big ask. It will be a great challenge.

I am rooting for him.

 

[DKH]

It will be interesting to see if Cassidy uses Backes again as a W/C at end of games and defensive zone draws

Sitting there he’s easily the best wall guy they have and a + draw guy on the goalie right side

Still has plus situational skills and although I’m not much of a metrics guy he’s got high ratings on some coaches love

I admit I separate the contract from the ice then pick out strengths and weaknesses and go from there

Going to be interesting to see where they use him and how

Does he get trusted minutes or buried

I have to disagree with the red ball nose/ big shoes crowd here that says he’s soft - guy is animal