Pre-Game Talk: Bruins vs Colorado Avalanche 10/10 7pm

[Yeti34]

I've watched a couple of Avs games this year and MacKinnon is silky smooth.

He surprised me. He looks really good. Doesn't look like a rookie at all out there.

 

[hockeybpr25]

The Yeti didn't come here to ride the pine after losing his spot due to his injury. He plays for either Caron or Smith and will only lose that if he under performs, not because of injury. If I was CJ, I would move Caron to the 4th line RW spot, sit Thornton and put Soderberg on 3rd line LW. That is a much better lineup than having Thornton in there.

 

[ODAAT]

If this happened at the Bell Center....lawsuit time

 

[ODAAT]

He surprised me. He looks really good. Doesn't look like a rookie at all out there.

watch him in the face off circle

Huge Mack fan, big time struggles in the dot but your right, other than that, he`s played very well

 

[HuskyBruinPride]

The Yeti didn't come here to ride the pine after losing his spot due to his injury. He plays for either Caron or Smith and will only lose that if he under performs, not because of injury. If I was CJ, I would move Caron to the 4th line RW spot, sit Thornton and put Soderberg on 3rd line LW. That is a much better lineup than having Thornton in there.

I'd be all for sitting Thornton but only at the expense of a true upgrade. I don't see having Reilly Smith in over Thornton as any real improvement.

 

[hockeybpr25]

I'd be all for sitting Thornton but only at the expense of a true upgrade. I don't see having Reilly Smith in over Thornton as any real improvement.

And you can judge that based on watching him play two games? I think Smith will be a very pleasant surprise. I think you sit Thornton before Smith. If Smith doesn't play well then put Thornton back in and slide Caron up to the 3rd.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

And you can judge that based on watching him play two games? I think Smith will be a very pleasant surprise. I think you sit Thornton before Smith. If Smith doesn't play well then put Thornton back in and slide Caron up to the 3rd.

Merlot line is widely known as one of the best, if not the best 4th line. I say don't fix it if ain't' broke.

 

[ODAAT]

Merlot line is widely known as one of the best, if not the best 4th line. I say don't fix it if ain't' broke.

It`s been two games and they`ve shown nothing...time for a change

Not just known for but looked to as the model for a 4th, I`d wager more than a few teams have "tried" to follow the same recipe for success via the 4th line and most have come up miserably short in doing so

 

[Trap Jesus]

watch him in the face off circle

Huge Mack fan, big time struggles in the dot but your right, other than that, he`s played very well

He could be seeing a lot of Kelly as well. Could be a really rough night for him.

 

[ODAAT]

He could be seeing a lot of Kelly as well. Could be a really rough night for him.

Ducks/Preds first two opponents, neither with the depth of this team, we`ll see. Again, I`ve watched both games, kids played hardly like a rookie outside of the faceoffs, just struggling with the skill of opponents on the draws right now

 

[hockeybpr25]

Merlot line is widely known as one of the best, if not the best 4th line. I say don't fix it if ain't' broke.

And it would be a hell of a lot better with Caron on it versus Thornton.

 

[weaponomega]

And it would be a hell of a lot better with Caron on it versus Thornton.

Based on what?

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

The Yeti didn't come here to ride the pine after losing his spot due to his injury. He plays for either Caron or Smith and will only lose that if he under performs, not because of injury. If I was CJ, I would move Caron to the 4th line RW spot, sit Thornton and put Soderberg on 3rd line LW. That is a much better lineup than having Thornton in there.

agree 100%

 

[hockeybpr25]

Based on what?

The 4th line is the best fourth in the game because it has two players that would be on the third line on most teams. Thornton is and always will be a 4th liner. You add another 3rd liner to a line with 3rd liners on it playing the 4th, it becomes better. It's not that difficult to grasp.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

I wouldn't advocate permanently replacing Thornton on that line yet, but when facing teams that don't have any heavy hitters it makes sense to put Caron in that spot. What's the use in having all this depth and options if you don't use those options to match up with different style teams?

 

[Bmessy]

I wouldn't advocate permanently replacing Thornton on that line yet, but when facing teams that don't have any heavy hitters it makes sense to put Caron in that spot. What's the use in having all this depth and options if you don't use those options to match up with different style teams?

Totally agree. With injuries and such it could also give Spooner more time to play as well. Love ya Thornton, but some guys need more playing time.

 

[hockeybpr25]

I wouldn't advocate permanently replacing Thornton on that line yet, but when facing teams that don't have any heavy hitters it makes sense to put Caron in that spot. What's the use in having all this depth and options if you don't use those options to match up with different style teams?

No, I agree with that statement.

 

[weaponomega]

The 4th line is the best fourth in the game because it has two players that would be on the third line on most teams. Thornton is and always will be a 4th liner. You add another 3rd liner to a line with 3rd liners on it playing the 4th, it becomes better. It's not that difficult to grasp.

Go back to playing NHL 14.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Go back to playing NHL 14.

 

[qc]

The 4th line is the best fourth in the game because it has two players that would be on the third line on most teams. Thornton is and always will be a 4th liner. You add another 3rd liner to a line with 3rd liners on it playing the 4th, it becomes better. It's not that difficult to grasp.

Yeah Brad Richards really elevated that 4th line in NY last year.

You need to be of a certain mold to be a good 4th liner. Just because some players debut on the 4th to later become top liners (ie. Marshy), doesn't mean that using overqualified guys on a bottom line is a good idea. We're not talking about the Canadian Olympic team here.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

Yeah Brad Richards really elevated that 4th line in NY last year.

You need to be of a certain mold to be a good 4th liner. Just because some players debut on the 4th to later become top liners (ie. Marshy), doesn't mean that using overqualified guys on a bottom line is a good idea. We're not talking about the Canadian Olympic team here.

yes but the way Caron is playing lends to being successful on the 4th line for us. This isn't like saying Spooner would automatically make the 4th line better. Caron's a big kid who is strong on the boards, throws his body around and plays a strong cycle game. He'd likely fit in just fine with Campbell and Paille and provide an offensive upgrade over Thornton. You lose Thornton's leadership and physical presence to some extent, but that's why you don't scratch him forever, just when you don't need him to fight.

 

[qc]

yes but the way Caron is playing lends to being successful on the 4th line for us. This isn't like saying Spooner would automatically make the 4th line better. Caron's a big kid who is strong on the boards, throws his body around and plays a strong cycle game. He'd likely fit in just fine with Campbell and Paille and provide an offensive upgrade over Thornton. You lose Thornton's leadership and physical presence to some extent, but that's why you don't scratch him forever, just when you don't need him to fight.

Oh I agree with your take on Caron spot-starting on the 4th line if the matchup is good. I just don't buy hockeypbr's theory that if "you add another 3rd liner to a line with 3rd liners on it playing the 4th, it becomes better." There's more to it than that.

But as far as Caron for Thornton occasionally, I think it's a fine idea. Soupy Pie and JC could be pretty formidable out there.

 

[BergyMeister]

If this happened at the Bell Center....lawsuit time

Call...wait for it....911.

 

[KnightofBoston]

Go back to playing NHL 14.

Only suckers buy nhl 14 brah

 

[HuskyBruinPride]

And you can judge that based on watching him play two games? I think Smith will be a very pleasant surprise. I think you sit Thornton before Smith. If Smith doesn't play well then put Thornton back in and slide Caron up to the 3rd.

Well, obviously you can't get a great read on a player after such a time. But by that same logic have you seen enough of Smith in these 2 games to say he's a better option to have in the lineup than Thornton? I don't think so, personally.