The Athletic - Boston By the numbers: Offseason grades for all 31 NHL teams

[Fenway]

While I agree with this assessment, I do believe Sweeney will make a major move before the team heads to China. That said, I think third in the Atlantic is the most likely slot and then play either Tampa or Toronto in Round One.

By the numbers: Offseason grades for all 31 NHL teams


Boston Bruins: D

In: John Moore, Jaroslav Halak, Chris Wagner
Out: Riley Nash, Rick Nash, Nick Holden, Austin Czarnik, Anton Khudobin, Tommy Wingels, Tim Schaller

Net Value Added: -2.8 wins

The Bruins lost a lot of talented depth pieces this offseason though it was difficult to see them bringing any of them back. Riley Nash is perhaps the biggest loss as he was a key cog in the bottom six last season. It also hurts to see the other Nash go as the Bruins paid a very steep price to acquire him last season and he didn’t really pan out. Austin Czarnik looks like a diamond in the rough, too.

None of this will hurt the Bruins all that much as Boston has internal replacements ready to fill the void, but the team also didn’t do enough to get better going into 2018-19. The Bruins barely beat a Toronto team that landed John Tavares. Tampa Bay embarrassed Boston last season and is sniffing around Erik Karlsson. Even Florida looks like a team on the rise after acquiring Mike Hoffman. Boston? Well, it signed a bottom four defender to an inexplicable five-year deal, so that’s something.

The Atlantic will be a dog fight next season and while the Bruins will be in the thick of it, it’s a bit more difficult to see them at the top after a disappointing offseason.

​

Click to read more...

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

I will reserve judgment until the off season is over and see how the team plays during the season .

Not a fan of the Rex Ryan Buffalo Bills we won the offseason mentality.

Loser mentality

 

[McGarnagle]

I'm not thrilled with the way the off-season played out, but I don't think it's nearly as bad as this guy says. Besides, I think there's still another shoe left to drop before training camp.

 

[DKH]

While I agree with this assessment, I do believe Sweeney will make a major move before the team heads to China. That said, I think third in the Atlantic is the most likely slot and then play either Tampa or Toronto in Round One.

By the numbers: Offseason grades for all 31 NHL teams


Boston Bruins: D

In: John Moore, Jaroslav Halak, Chris Wagner
Out: Riley Nash, Rick Nash, Nick Holden, Austin Czarnik, Anton Khudobin, Tommy Wingels, Tim Schaller

Net Value Added: -2.8 wins

The Bruins lost a lot of talented depth pieces this offseason though it was difficult to see them bringing any of them back. Riley Nash is perhaps the biggest loss as he was a key cog in the bottom six last season. It also hurts to see the other Nash go as the Bruins paid a very steep price to acquire him last season and he didn’t really pan out. Austin Czarnik looks like a diamond in the rough, too.

None of this will hurt the Bruins all that much as Boston has internal replacements ready to fill the void, but the team also didn’t do enough to get better going into 2018-19. The Bruins barely beat a Toronto team that landed John Tavares. Tampa Bay embarrassed Boston last season and is sniffing around Erik Karlsson. Even Florida looks like a team on the rise after acquiring Mike Hoffman. Boston? Well, it signed a bottom four defender to an inexplicable five-year deal, so that’s something.

The Atlantic will be a dog fight next season and while the Bruins will be in the thick of it, it’s a bit more difficult to see them at the top after a disappointing offseason.

​

I cancelled my Hockey News subscription because of writers like this. I miss the Jets are a future dynasty and The Leafs Plan the Parade - and the Kessel trash cover 2 yrs ago no team could win with him.

When I saw who gave the Bruins this D grade I was relieved. GARBAGE

 

[DKH]

What a f***ihn surprise the author is a Leafs blogger

I hate hate hate the Leafs - I hope Montreal sweeps them in regulation

 

[BruinDust]

Says Toronto added Taveres, but forgets to mention they lost JVR and Bozak.

Gives TB credit for sniffing around Karlsson, but not actually acquiring the player.

Props up Florida for adding Mike Hoffman, whose nothing special really.

Dismisses the Bruins adding another quality defender in Moore, yup its five years but its a relatively low cap hit because its five years

Dismisses what most are saying is an upgrade at back-up goaltender.

And what Boston has in the system, not to mention further progression of the young players that comprised the most points by rookies of any team last season I believe.

People actually pay for the privilege to read assessments like this?

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

I actually don't think it's unfair. Bruins dropped $8M in cap space and didn't really address any holes from the season previous. $6.5M to guys I don't even expect to see on the ice every night.

That being said, I think I like Moore than most here (I simply dislike the term of his deal and the allocation of cap). I think Wagner is a big addition. I didn't feel backup goal was a hole, but Halak IS an improvement there.

I don't know. Assessment seems both a little harsh and fairly accurate to me.

 

[easton117]

While his assessment might be fair, he clearly has a bias in his writing style.

There’s something about Boston that grates the nerves of a lot of media guys out there.

About the only ones I don’t hear it from are Ferarro, McLennan, Lebrun and McKenzie.

McLennan actually makes me laugh on TSN Overdrive. You can tell he finds the Leaf hysteria too much. He douses a lot of the hot takes out of that town. That he’s doing it on a Leaf centric radio program is awesome. I can’t imagine what his twitter feed looks like

 

[Fenway]

While his assessment might be fair, he clearly has a bias in his writing style.

There’s something about Boston that grates the nerves of a lot of media guys out there.

About the only ones I don’t hear it from are Ferarro, McLennan, Lebrun and McKenzie.

McLennan actually makes me laugh on TSN Overdrive. You can tell he finds the Leaf hysteria too much. He douses a lot of the hot takes out of that town. That he’s doing it on a Leaf centric radio program is awesome. I can’t imagine what his twitter feed looks like

The Atlantic is a division of have and have nots. At the top you have Tampa, Toronto and the Bruins. At the bottom you have Ottawa, Detroit and Poutineville and Buffalo and Florida in the middle. I put Buffalo in the middle because they should start trending upward.

 

[The don godfather]

Halak and rask will steer us deep into the playoffs. Watch.

 

[easton117]

The Atlantic is a division of have and have nots. At the top you have Tampa, Toronto and the Bruins. At the bottom you have Ottawa, Detroit and Poutineville and Buffalo and Florida in the middle. I put Buffalo in the middle because they should start trending upward.

I don’t think the media for any of the teams representing the Atlantic should be running off about anyone else.

It’s approaching a decade since one of them last won a cup. That’s a significant stretch of winning nothing at all.

And if you are leading the league in time off since cup parades you should be asking nicely for your turn to speak. Like a toddler. At the adult table.

 

[HeartsAlive]

I think your perception of the offseason hinges on whether or not you think Debrusk and Heinen have cemented themselves as top 9 players. Personally, I think they have. I am entirely comfortable saying the Bruins have their top 2 LWs for the forseeable future in Marchand and Debrusk. I think Debrusk just gets it, he has a high motor, willingness and enthusiasm. I think his improvement alone will make up for half of Riley Nash's career high 41 points. To me, Heinen has a lower ceiling, but I would be comfortable with him starting the season as 2nd line RW.

Marchand-Bergeron-Pasternak
Debrusk-Krejci-Heinen
? - ? -Backes
Wagner-Kurally-Acciari
Nordstrom

That gives you 2 spots on the third line. Bjork Donato and Cehlarik all have NHL experience and are probably closest to sticking full time. It would be nice if one could play center but Fitzgerald, Frederic and JFK are looking to make the jump too and could split C duties with Backes. Two spots for 6 guys with reasonable top 9 ceilings, all ready or close to ready for a full time job in the NHL. I'm not even going to get greedy and specify dark horse candidates either. I think they could be a little tougher, but it will be a defensively responsible, smart and hard working forward group with depth and plenty of trade options going forward.

 

[AlpineLager]

Halak and rask will steer us deep into the playoffs. Watch.

 

[DKH]

Can we all agree the grading system from schools across the world to professional drafting should be updated?

It’s the 21st century and the old system is outdated.

It’s time to factor a variable that encompasses- sniffing around, kicking tires, inquiring, having the thought, trying, attempting.

Tampa gave us ‘cover 2’ in football but this is revolutionary and transcends sports.

Steve Yzerman ‘the Father Of Inquiry’

Two hockey writers (albeit Leafs bloggers) have factored in the Tampa Bay Lightning attempt to acquire Karlsson into their grade/analysis.

How awesome. Don’t get the player but get a passing grade.

Both Leafs Bloggers managed to take a shot at the 5 year deal offered John Moore. Yet the Father of Inquiry signs two FA to SIX year deals totaling $70 M

Result

Matt Carle - BO after 3 years
Ryan Callahan- 6 years 4th line 25 goals and they are trying to dump him

My experience is 80% of Canadian writers are Leafs homers who trash the Bruins.

If I want fair balanced coverage of the Bruins I will read my posts.

 

[ODAAT]

Says Toronto added Taveres, but forgets to mention they lost JVR and Bozak.

Gives TB credit for sniffing around Karlsson, but not actually acquiring the player.

Props up Florida for adding Mike Hoffman, whose nothing special really.

Dismisses the Bruins adding another quality defender in Moore, yup its five years but its a relatively low cap hit because its five years

Dismisses what most are saying is an upgrade at back-up goaltender.

And what Boston has in the system, not to mention further progression of the young players that comprised the most points by rookies of any team last season I believe.

People actually pay for the privilege to read assessments like this?

I pay for the Athletic because typically they produce some terrific articles, this isn`t one of them and it`s not just because of the grade this analytics "journalist" gave them but more for his assessments of other teams too. You brought up a great point, sniffing points for the Bolts for the Karlsson situation yet the B`s were, from all reports, in on both Kovalchuk and JT

I won`t declare the summer of 2018 to be the greatest off season summer in Bruins history and while they definitely lost some depth, it sounds like the signings of Wagner and Nordstrom are sound signings. Riley Nash, IMO, will never see 40+ pts again, a lot like Chris Kelly never sniffed the numbers he put up prior to the big deal he got.

I`m not a guy who likes Halak as the #1 goalie, I do however believe as a #2, could be a very sound upgrade from Dobby

Check out the author`s bio below, new way of looking at the game it says.....umm, yeah

Dom Luszczyszyn - The Athletic

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Since this article didn't shine a positive light on the Bruins, I am going to discredit the author as well.

 

[774EVER]

What a ****ihn surprise the author is a Leafs blogger

I hate hate hate the Leafs - I hope Montreal sweeps them in regulation

You have finally come over to the dark side. Welcome to the club!

BTW I'm sticking to my assertion that I'd rather Montreal had landed JT.

 

[mjhfb]

People can predict whatever they want based on a pre-season roster sheet, but the fact is most teams are pretty competitive now.
One injury can change everything. Injuries, and the depth to overcome those injuries without dropping too many points, will help more than many "predictors" focus on.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Of course it’s a Leafes fan, this is the most exciting thing that’s happened to the team in what, 14 years? Offseason grades and power rankings are meaningless.

 

[DKH]

Since this article didn't shine a positive light on the Bruins, I am going to discredit the author as well.

I start my research thus

1. Do I know the writer

2. Does he know more then me

Actually I would pretty much end up reading only myself, Stan Fischer, Matt Kalman, Larry Brooks, Fran Rosa, and Ty Anderson. I need more than 6....

2* Does he know 80% of my hockey knowledge?

3. Does he write a Leafs Blog?

4. Since the Taveras signing does he wear glasses like Kyle Dubas even with 20/20 vision

I hate trashing these people but as Derek Sanderson said so eloquently ‘I Got to Be Me’.

I was raised by nuns on honesty and fear of sin

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

I start my research thus

1. Do I know the writer

2. Does he know more then me

Actually I would pretty much end up reading only myself, Stan Fischer, Matt Kalman, Larry Brooks, Fran Rosa, and Ty Anderson. I need more than 6....

2* Does he know 80% of my hockey knowledge?

3. Does he write a Leafs Blog?

4. Does he know wear glasses like Kyle Dubas even with 20/20 vision

I hate trashing these people but as Derek Sanderson said so eloquently ‘I Got to Be Me’.

I was raised by nuns on honesty and fear of sin

If I followed that ruled I'd only be reading @Fire Sweeney 's posts almost exclusively.

 

[DKH]

If I followed that ruled I'd only be reading @Fire Sweeney 's posts almost exclusively.

Fire Sweeney is only allowed a half hour a week from the infirmary and he’s not he’s wasting his ‘free’ time dumping on a 112 Point team.

 

[EON]

I enjoy Dom's writing, he brings an interesting analytics perspective and his "WAR" (Game Score) model is unique. The grading system is maybe a little silly but he has a point, it's been a questionable offseason for Boston while Toronto has undoubtedly improved (Florida as well assuming Hoffman doesn't blow up the locker room). We'll see if Boston's young guys continue to improve and fill the holes.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

I just think that just because he's a Leafs fan, doesn't make his critique of the Bruins any less valid. Or (let's say) he was wrong about another team... Doesn't make him less right about THIS one.

I predicted the Habs would suck last season. I hate the Habs. I was still right.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I just think it’s hacky to say the Bruins failed the offseason because we didn’t make any trades for the sake of it and JT didn’t fall into our lap.

The Bruins are coming off a 112 point season with the most rookies in the league and others right behind (Donato, etc.). Their big weakness was lack of size on LD. They signed a decent guy to a good contract. Now they have insurance if one of the kids don’t make it.

This same hack would have probably gave them an A or B if they traded the farm for Panarin.

Might as well start handing out the John Tavares Cup for the team most dominant in July.