Confirmed with Link: Bruins Sign Chris Wagner

TB lightening hitting the Bruins non stop in the playoffs ... or did you forget already?

Wagner bone crushing hits on a few of those Tampa Ds , could have soften them up ...help the other lines do damage

it matters

 

I agree

Bjork, Donato are no shoe ins to be on the opening day rosters

2 possibly 3 spots are up for grabs . Whichever youngster comes into come in top shape, prepared should earn a chance

 

All Ducks fans loved this kid the worst trade of the year was Chimera for Wagner, the Bruins are getting a good one.

He played hard every single shift and played anywhere in the lineup. He was not afraid to hit anyone in the league and he was really good in the playoffs a couple of years ago against Nashville. Carlyle never plays the 4th line in Anaheim, so he was wasted last year. Great on the PK and face-offs too.

 

Excited for Wagner to show us what he's got and then some!

 

I like this signing...Wagner is going to have fun with Accari on the fourth line

 

Pound for pound one of the best hitters I've ever seen.

Despite his hit totals, I'd describe his style more as a 2-way forward than a grinder though. He has the tools to produce more than he has, but struggles with consistancy. Better on right wing than at center.

 

Wagner - Kuraly - Acciari seems imposing

 

That would be a fun line. I am worried that Kuraly is now our 3rd line Center,

Right now the 4th line is
Acciari-Wagner-Nordstrom

 

Tbh I’d rather play Backes at 3C than that...

 

Backes plays best in Missouri.

 

How would you feel about a Heinen-Donato-Backes line?

I think that could work, Heinen and Backes are both above average defensively. Heinen has also been a center so another thing to try could be Donato-Heinen-Backes. I think there are other reasonable options for 3rd line center other than Kuraly.

 

Donato-Backes-Heinen could also work, Heinen can play all three forward positions.

Would love to hear from Cassidy why exactly Backes doesn't play center, epecially if this is the group they go into camp with.

 

That could work as well.

For some reason I was under the impression that Backes preferred the wing now but I am not sure how true that is.

 

My favorite move of the day. I hope Acciari comes into camp healthy and looking to prove something - if he's fully healed from that groin injury, a Wagner/Acciari duo would be a fun grind line to watch.

 

Ya it makes no sense to not play Backes at 3C if they do nothing else to add to this roster before the season starts. The only justification, I guess, would be if they are dead set on giving 3C to Donato or even Frederic.

I see no value in playing Kuraly as our 3C...

 

I still think Backes is valuable to our team, but he's not fit to be a center...let alone 3rd line one.

Our system requires the center to be in front of the net in the defensive zone, but also lead the rush up the ice once we counter.

Backes is too slow for that and makes much more sense to use his size along the boards and on the forecheck.

I'm excited to see Wagner. Can never have enough heavy hitters on the 4th line

 

I think Donato is close to a shoe in. Bjork I would bet starts in PROV.

The guy I wonder about is Acciari.

Could very well be:

Nordstrom-Kuraly-Wagner

 

I can’t wait to see them in action. I legit have goosebumps thinking about it

 

He posted a photo on Instagram last night and he looks leaner than he did last year.

Then again, it could have been the hideous plaid pants he was wearing

 

Those pants

 

I think the sole purpose of bringing Wagner in was for his physicality, something all those players your mentioned lack. Wagner plays both Center and wing, and does so quite well, also I would take Halak over Khudobin eight days a week. As fans we somehow are able to convince ourselves that we know better than team management, management who spend countless hours watching and studying players through the league and world. I trust they know what they are doing, even if I don’t always see the forest for the trees.

 

we already know Heinen and Backes can play together and both are sound defensively, I would worry a bit about Donato`s attention to details in his own zone at this stage but if he were a 3rd line C, Butch can certainly give his line more offensive starts to help avoid too much D time

 

I think Cassidy feels Backes can't keep up with the pace at center

 

Which is odd given that he really isn't noticeably slower than Krejci who isn't exactly a speedster himself. For that matter, neither is Bergeron. Backes managed to b a top 6 center on a good team in St. Louis for many years, after all.