Prospect Info: Bruins Prospects X - Stay on subject!

[UncleRico]

Really solid article
Bruins Prospect Embracing His Time in the QMJHL

Really hope the bruins nailed it with this guy. Having McAvoy, Carlo and Andersson locking down the right side of the defense for the foreseeable future would be huge.

 

[Dr Hook]

Really hope the bruins nailed it with this guy. Having McAvoy, Carlo and Andersson locking down the right side of the defense for the foreseeable future would be huge.

What a D corps in 2-3 years:

Gryz-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Urho-Andersson

In whatever combos

If Krug doesn't come back, then Lauzon or Zboril, Zech. Then there's Clifton. Looking good, Bruins.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

What a D corps in 2-3 years:

Gryz-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Urho-Andersson

In whatever combos

If Krug doesn't come back, then Lauzon or Zboril, Zech. Then there's Clifton. Looking good, Bruins.

Not sure I see Grzelcyk as a top pairing defenseman full time. All-in-all though, that's solid (if they hit on the rest). And who knows in 2-3 years, maybe they've hit on another pick that we don't even know about.

 

[ODAAT]

Not sure I see Grzelcyk as a top pairing defenseman full time. All-in-all though, that's solid (if they hit on the rest). And who knows in 2-3 years, maybe they've hit on another pick that we don't even know about.

Grizz perfect for 5-6, want no part of him being in the top 4

 

[Dr Hook]

Not sure I see Grzelcyk as a top pairing defenseman full time. All-in-all though, that's solid (if they hit on the rest). And who knows in 2-3 years, maybe they've hit on another pick that we don't even know about.

Yeah just a listing by position. I think he could do it, but he's a second pairing to me for sure, but yeah, however you mix and match that is a solid looking group on paper.

 

[Dr Hook]

Grizz perfect for 5-6, want no part of him being in the top 4

I think he's a top 4 guy, on many teams aside from the Bruins he would be. I don't think we see the best of him given the way Cassidy uses his pairings

 

[ODAAT]

I think he's a top 4 guy, on many teams aside from the Bruins he would be. I don't think we see the best of him given the way Cassidy uses his pairings

I thik he`d be a top 4 on many teams as well, doesn`t mean that`s where he`s the ideal fit IMO

 

[GoBs]

Too bad they couldn’t have kept Accari around
If they paid Heinen more in the 1.8 mill a year they probably could have kept Accari around
Not knocking Heinen he is 5 points short of 100 for his short career

 

[TCB]

Too bad they couldn’t have kept Accari around
If they paid Heinen more in the 1.8 mill a year they probably could have kept Accari around
Not knocking Heinen he is 5 points short of 100 for his short career

I can live without Accari, now not signing Lindholm and Ritchie and using that cap space to help re-sign Johansson would of been sweet.

 

[maxbme]

Looks like Curtis Hall is off to a good start with a 6g-1a-7p-23PIM-+5-9gp stat line. Leads Yale in goals and has already passed last seasons total in 15 less games. Does anyone know if he's playing C or RW?

He's mostly been playing C and has looked very good in his role. Solid penalty killer and is on their first power play.

Looks like Torchetti is out in Moncton. Can't imagine this is how the coaching situation the Bruins wanted Axel in.

Wildcats Release Torchetti

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Size might be slightly less concern now... but it still matters

You see guys like ovechkin and wilson and those washington boys come to town, and they abuse our boys sometimes. St louis was doing the same thing in last years playoffs

Can a team have 1 or 2 or maybe 3 exceptionally skilled smurfs and still win? I mean... exceptionally skilled?

Sure... now with the rules changed... the very best smurfs can find a spot.

But NO ONE is going to build a 'small' team intentionally. Smaller teams will target bigger players and get concerned it becomes a huge need

Theres a hell of a difference between finding room to fit a great small player on a team... or actively looking for more small players

When 2 players have equal skill... the larger player will still get the job

The average size of players will still get bigger every year

 

[ODAAT]

Size might be slightly less concern now... but it still matters

You see guys like ovechkin and wilson and those washington boys come to town, and they abuse our boys sometimes. St louis was doing the same thing in last years playoffs

Can a team have 1 or 2 or maybe 3 exceptionally skilled smurfs and still win? I mean... exceptionally skilled?

Sure... now with the rules changed... the very best smurfs can find a spot.

But NO ONE is going to build a 'small' team intentionally. Smaller teams will target bigger players and get concerned it becomes a huge need

Theres a hell of a difference between finding room to fit a great small player on a team... or actively looking for more small players

When 2 players have equal skill... the larger player will still get the job

The average size of players will still get bigger every year

solid post as usual friend. While I`d love to get a player with the combination of both size and skill, as we have seen if we are to look at the rosters around the league, the physical players are typically 4th liners or max bottom 6 players and there just isn`t many of them. There is a reason why a guy like Anderson in CBJ is likely on the radar of opposing GM`s when hoping to add size/grit.

If you/me/we did a check of all 31 teams, could we find, let`s say a dozen of those players? Guys who have size/muscle but more importantly, can actually play and contribute? I think many teams have a player or two who play with a physical edge but don`t do much else, Wilson, Anderson (whose offensive output this season is laughable), Tkachuk in Calgary are a few off the top of my head who can contribute but these guys are tough to find and I would imagine, even tougher to snag in a trade

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

solid post as usual friend. While I`d love to get a player with the combination of both size and skill, as we have seen if we are to look at the rosters around the league, the physical players are typically 4th liners or max bottom 6 players and there just isn`t many of them. There is a reason why a guy like Anderson in CBJ is likely on the radar of opposing GM`s when hoping to add size/grit.

If you/me/we did a check of all 31 teams, could we find, let`s say a dozen of those players? Guys who have size/muscle but more importantly, can actually play and contribute? I think many teams have a player or two who play with a physical edge but don`t do much else, Wilson, Anderson (whose offensive output this season is laughable), Tkachuk in Calgary are a few off the top of my head who can contribute but these guys are tough to find and I would imagine, even tougher to snag in a trade

What i hear you saying is the list of guys who we think of as monsters is short... i agree

But then i start looking at these guys who arent known as big and they really are

I mean guys like malkin and wheeler and kovalchuk and spezza arent going to intimidate anyone with violence but they are hulks

Dmen like bogosian and hedman and larson and hanifin arent considered brutes but you compare them to guys 30 years ago and they are giants

A guy like john moore is nothing special at all now... hed be like one of the 40 biggest players in 1975 when i became a fan

Big players drafted because they are big... still fail to develop often. Size alone doest guarantee success

I think success still comes from the size of the fight in the dog. Smaller players like fleury, marchand now, st louis... they had tremendous desire to work and battle for success

Small players can succeed these days... you cant just ignore that... but its still a bigger fight for them

A mediocre big man might still have a career... a mediocre small man never will

If you arent exceptiinally gifted as a small guy, sorry... the deck is still stacked against you and some big guy is going to get the job

 

[ODAAT]

What i hear you saying is the list of guys who we think of as monsters is short... i agree

But then i start looking at these guys who arent known as big and they really are

I mean guys like malkin and wheeler and kovalchuk and spezza arent going to intimidate anyone with violence but they are hulks

Dmen like bogosian and hedman and larson and hanifin arent considered brutes but you compare them to guys 30 years ago and they are giants

A guy like john moore is nothing special at all now... hed be like one of the 40 biggest players in 1975 when i became a fan

Big players drafted because they are big... still fail to develop often. Size alone doest guarantee success

I think success still comes from the size of the fight in the dog. Smaller players like fleury, marchand now, st louis... they had tremendous desire to work and battle for success

Small players can succeed these days... you cant just ignore that... but its still a bigger fight for them

A mediocre big man might still have a career... a mediocre small man never will

If you arent exceptiinally gifted as a small guy, sorry... the deck is still stacked against you and some big guy is going to get the job

for sure that deck is stacked against the smaller players and yep, so few of them who have sustained success, Gallagher, as much as I despise him is another in that category. While he wears the uniform I have grown to hate easily, I`d be lying if I very quietly admired the guy`s guts and willingness to never back down from going to the dirty spots on the ice

I`ve said it often here, you don`t have to be 6`3, 215 lbs to play a tough or gritty game, be willing to take a hit, not shy away from board battles, stand in front of the net, Chris Nilan talks to this on Kalman`s Skate Podcast

https://weei.radio.com/blogs/matt-kalman/chris-nilan-thinks-the-bruins-can-protect-david-pastrnak

 

[KillerMillerTime]

What i hear you saying is the list of guys who we think of as monsters is short... i agree

But then i start looking at these guys who arent known as big and they really are

I mean guys like malkin and wheeler and kovalchuk and spezza arent going to intimidate anyone with violence but they are hulks

Dmen like bogosian and hedman and larson and hanifin arent considered brutes but you compare them to guys 30 years ago and they are giants

A guy like john moore is nothing special at all now... hed be like one of the 40 biggest players in 1975 when i became a fan

Big players drafted because they are big... still fail to develop often. Size alone doest guarantee success

I think success still comes from the size of the fight in the dog. Smaller players like fleury, marchand now, st louis... they had tremendous desire to work and battle for success

Small players can succeed these days... you cant just ignore that... but its still a bigger fight for them

A mediocre big man might still have a career... a mediocre small man never will

If you arent exceptiinally gifted as a small guy, sorry... the deck is still stacked against you and some big guy is going to get the job

Since the '05 lockout the average height has stayed
the same but weight has declined for skaters.

Hockey players have always been the smallest of
the four major sports in large part to the demands and skillset of the sport. Its harder for a person 6:05-6:09
to effectively compete in hockey. The demands and skills
required are better suited to a player in the 5:11-6:03
population and there are far more people in the 5:11-6:03
range.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

What a D corps in 2-3 years:

Gryz-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Urho-Andersson

In whatever combos

If Krug doesn't come back, then Lauzon or Zboril, Zech. Then there's Clifton. Looking good, Bruins.

One of McAvoy, Carlo and Krug aren't top 4 D men
on STL, TB, Nashville. W/o delving into it if one more team has 2D men that belong in Boston top 4 post Chara they aren't even top 10% in the league. Honestly, Boston goaltending, Bergeron abd Marchand makes their D look better than they are.

I am not nearly as high on UV as lots of people here are.

 

[DKH]

One of McAvoy, Carlo and Krug aren't top 4 D men
on STL, TB, Nashville. W/o delving into it if one more team has 2D men that belong in Boston top 4 post Chara they aren't even top 10% in the league. Honestly, Boston goaltending, Bergeron abd Marchand makes their D look better than they are.

I am not nearly as high on UV as lots of people here are.

I’m a Vaakanainen guy

He’s 3 years away from being a top 4 on a Cup contender

I am fortunate enough to sit 2nd row directly in back of net Bruins defend 2X and watch him closely

needs to get stronger and put a few lbs on

he needs experience- couple hundred games

when all is said and done I think he’s gone to be very good

My comp watching limited but more then most is Eric Weinrich

steady solid balanced - great new wave game

 

[Deuce17]

One of McAvoy, Carlo and Krug aren't top 4 D men
on STL, TB, Nashville. W/o delving into it if one more team has 2D men that belong in Boston top 4 post Chara they aren't even top 10% in the league. Honestly, Boston goaltending, Bergeron abd Marchand makes their D look better than they are.

I am not nearly as high on UV as lots of people here are.

What are you even saying here?? You make an unclear (to me) point on the top 4 D then say UV is overrated. I don’t follow.

 

[BruinDust]

One of McAvoy, Carlo and Krug aren't top 4 D men
on STL, TB, Nashville. W/o delving into it if one more team has 2D men that belong in Boston top 4 post Chara they aren't even top 10% in the league. Honestly, Boston goaltending, Bergeron abd Marchand makes their D look better than they are.

I am not nearly as high on UV as lots of people here are.

Any one of McAvoy, Krug, or Carlo play in the Top 4 of every single team in the NHL. No team that I can see have 4 D-men better than any of these guys.

 

[HustleB]

One of McAvoy, Carlo and Krug aren't top 4 D men
on STL, TB, Nashville. W/o delving into it if one more team has 2D men that belong in Boston top 4 post Chara they aren't even top 10% in the league. Honestly, Boston goaltending, Bergeron abd Marchand makes their D look better than they are.

I am not nearly as high on UV as lots of people here are.

I'm trying to follow this logic but you are losing me.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Any one of McAvoy, Krug, or Carlo play in the Top 4 of every single team in the NHL. No team that I can see have 4 D-men better than any of these guys.

Let me clarify my point. Take TB, Nash, STL top 4
D and McAvoy, Krug, Carlo and say UV/Gryz and put together a top 4 COMBINED. Only 1 of Boston's D men
is going to be in TB/STL/Nash top 4. I am not saying McAvoy or Krug alone wouldn't.

Also talking post Chara here.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I’m a Vaakanainen guy

He’s 3 years away from being a top 4 on a Cup contender

I am fortunate enough to sit 2nd row directly in back of net Bruins defend 2X and watch him closely

needs to get stronger and put a few lbs on

he needs experience- couple hundred games

when all is said and done I think he’s gone to be very good

My comp watching limited but more then most is Eric Weinrich

steady solid balanced - great new wave game

I don't dislike UV, he will be top 4 dman, I don't see
an elite 1D or elite 2D. He has the potential I guess to max out as maybe a Stralman type D on the left side.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Any one of McAvoy, Krug, or Carlo play in the Top 4 of every single team in the NHL. No team that I can see have 4 D-men better than any of these guys.

no doubt none of them are 5th on the depth chart of any team... but the question remains do they compliment each others skill sets as a group and is the collective value of them larger then the sum of their parts?

i would argue also that krug shouldnt be trotted out there in the traditional usage that a top 4 dman gets... he will end up overmatched if hes getting too many d-zone starts against elite opposition.

overall, krug brings enough value to be considered one of the top 2-3 most valuable defenders on a team... but hes not well suited for defending in his own zone under preasure. using guys to their strengths is a good thing.

its like baseball... you bat your speedy guy who draws walks at the top of your lineup... you bat your muscel bound guy thats swinging for the fences and striking out a lot in the 4th or 5th spot in the lineup.

McAvoy and to a lesser extent vaakainen install confidence into me that they will be 20+ min all-situation dmen that do nicely fit the traditional definition of top pair dmen.

carlo and krug feel more like 'specialists' but ones that can add a great value when utilized to their strengths.

for as long as chara keeps playing... he too is a specialist now... he also is one hell of a great example for young guys to expire towards following his leadership. it screams that he could be an amazing bottom pair guy breaking people in.

once chara is gone... we have some guys im looking forward to seeing

zboril/lauzon both have intriguing possibility to work their way into the top 4 conversation... if either can make that jump then we can see krug falling into his comfortable role as a specialist on the bottom pair.

it leaves grzelyck and moore on the outside looking in. keeping 1 around until vaakainen gets established isnt the worst possible thing. but keeping both seems like an unnecesarry overkill use of our cap space.

axel andersson is starting to make noise that we have to factor him in at some point... im not sure I like the idea of him and krug together though... not sure he will fit behind McAvoy/carlo. meanwhile Clifton is in the mix and he does seem more like an ideal bottom pair guy behind guys like McAvoy and carlo.

to me its about mixing and matching a variety of balanced skill sets to make the whole unit achieve its maximum potential.

the very first guy in this mix that is at the end of his rope is kevan miller. Clifton is more affordable in the bottom pair... carlo is more skilled as a defensive shutdown guy. chara is moving into the role as guy who can fight the 1-2 times its actually necessary in any given season. and moore has the existing signed contract to hang around as the 7th dman for the time being.

I would expect kevan miller to be gone within a week or two of getting off the IR

 

[maxbme]

Initial lines at USA WJC camp. Beecher centering second line, Curtis hall 4rw. Pretty nice looking roster

 

[BruinDust]

Let me clarify my point. Take TB, Nash, STL top 4
D and McAvoy, Krug, Carlo and say UV/Gryz and put together a top 4 COMBINED. Only 1 of Boston's D men
is going to be in TB/STL/Nash top 4. I am not saying McAvoy or Krug alone wouldn't.

Also talking post Chara here.

I think your really overrating the defensive corps of those 3 teams.

What is so great about TB? They have two solid guys in Hedman and McDonagh. I'm taking McAvoy/Carlo/Krug ahead of any of their other 5 guys.

Nashville? Josi is excellent. I think Ellis like Krug is undersized and still yet underrated. Carlo is on par with Ekholm. Past those 3 guys their D-corps looks pretty mediocre.

St. Louis? Like TB they have two really solid D-men in Pietrangelo and Parayko. Faulk is overrated. Bouwmeester is still decent. I'd take McAvoy/Carlo/Krug over both. The rest of their group? Meh.