DKH
The Bergeron of HF
- Feb 27, 2002
- 74,404
- 52,629
It's early and Dustin Penner is still out there- but so far Peter Chiarelli by accident or planned has had a great day. Color me shocked at the money being spent and wait until the 4th, 5th, or 6th years of some of these guys kick in. There better be buyouts available in a few years or one very high Cap. Benoit Pouliot money has to come back to bite Edmonton some time? right? Today's yield was like food shopping hungry, stoned, and with wad of cash on you and then looking in the bag to find out you may have cleaned out the chip and snack aisle- and your wallet.
This is about Boston though and if Chiarelli can resist yard sales and 5 Below and stick to what he said in the paper about the kids he could be very happy in a few months. Save your money Peter, after seeing what Statsny got you know if Krejci ever gets out there he is looking at $8 M. You will probably have to give him your 'man's word NMC and likely 6 or more years so if that's the way to go resist and let the Wild and Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers spend away.
As for Boston being ascending down to the rest of the league after what I saw today the only thing ascending down will be a few teams to join our boys in Cap Hell and likely sooner rather than later.
I wanted Iginla to stay and he got one of the few contracts I could stomach today. The term is probably a year to long for Iggy, but he's in great shape, a proven scorer, good teammate, and to any kid coming up a legend you get to play with. All accounts he's a very nice man. So, yah, I would take him back and be happy. However, if Chiarelli can stick to his statements and go with a few of the kids I'll be happy because there is one an maybe two who I think can put a big dent in Iginla production, make the team younger, faster, even spunkier- even if it modifies the Bruins blueprint the past 6 years.
It all starts on the fourth line. The merlot line is dead. Its time to spruce up that place and get some young'uns with a resume heavy on the offense down there; and that means going with whichever one of your best prospects you believe in at center. I'm all for retaining Gregory Campbell but I'd make him a wing, five on five if paired with either Spooner or Khokhlachev. Campell can still take draws, be the defensive presence, but he can chip in by playing hard down low and going to the net, helping whichever one he is paired with.
Here is the tricky part. This team aint big enough for both of them and Spooner is ready- even if his 200 foot game isn't, his skill is. The Bruins coaching staff can work with him and having Doug Jarvis around is invaluable. I watched his entire career and he was as smart, tough, talented as you would find on a bottom 6. I hated the Habs but really liked the way this guy clogged lanes, thought the game and appreciated his skill level. He's not big but he is the NHL game played Iron Man and has 4 Stanley Cup rings. (my favorite thing about Jarvis is he was drafted 24th by the Maple Leafs who immediately traded him to Montreal for a hockey nobody). I trust either Ryan or Koko makes this opening night roster by Christmas will be playing an acceptable if not moreso 200 foot game if this guy is in charge.
The fourth line recent years has been good for about 25-30 goals; you put either one of these kids there and a winger with some offense they should be able to add 50% to that.
Watching both of these two in Providence it is my opinion that both are much better centers than wingers- neither has played much of it; and in Koko's stab at it, he last less than 5 periods and was benched and stuck back at center. But that is fine. The center is the most important offensive position and each of these kids has exceptional offensive ability. Khokhlachev is more a scorer, more a hound, more active, he's all over the place and he looks to make things happen. Ryan can skate and pass, more a playmaker, but he can shoot the puck quite well, and that would be something I would demand he put in his arsenal.
Koko could always go down and be first man up; Ryan to me is best up here or somewhere else. He needs to get his career going. He can play fourth line but also in your top two on the power play; just like Campbell can play fourth line and be in your top two on the Penalty kill and be very good.
You win down the middle in sports- and with Rask, the defense led by Chara and Seidenberg, and the emerging Hamilton and Krug, the Bruins are top 5 easy; a center group of
Krejci
Bergeron
Soderberg
Khokhlachev/Spooner
is pretty dynamic
I would be more happy to hear Peter Chiarelli to walk out and have a press conference and announce Ryan or Koko will be the fourth line center than we just signed Benoit Pouliot for $5 M or gave a 5/25 NTC to Matt Moulson (going to love that 5 M in his late 30's)
This is about Boston though and if Chiarelli can resist yard sales and 5 Below and stick to what he said in the paper about the kids he could be very happy in a few months. Save your money Peter, after seeing what Statsny got you know if Krejci ever gets out there he is looking at $8 M. You will probably have to give him your 'man's word NMC and likely 6 or more years so if that's the way to go resist and let the Wild and Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers spend away.
As for Boston being ascending down to the rest of the league after what I saw today the only thing ascending down will be a few teams to join our boys in Cap Hell and likely sooner rather than later.
I wanted Iginla to stay and he got one of the few contracts I could stomach today. The term is probably a year to long for Iggy, but he's in great shape, a proven scorer, good teammate, and to any kid coming up a legend you get to play with. All accounts he's a very nice man. So, yah, I would take him back and be happy. However, if Chiarelli can stick to his statements and go with a few of the kids I'll be happy because there is one an maybe two who I think can put a big dent in Iginla production, make the team younger, faster, even spunkier- even if it modifies the Bruins blueprint the past 6 years.
It all starts on the fourth line. The merlot line is dead. Its time to spruce up that place and get some young'uns with a resume heavy on the offense down there; and that means going with whichever one of your best prospects you believe in at center. I'm all for retaining Gregory Campbell but I'd make him a wing, five on five if paired with either Spooner or Khokhlachev. Campell can still take draws, be the defensive presence, but he can chip in by playing hard down low and going to the net, helping whichever one he is paired with.
Here is the tricky part. This team aint big enough for both of them and Spooner is ready- even if his 200 foot game isn't, his skill is. The Bruins coaching staff can work with him and having Doug Jarvis around is invaluable. I watched his entire career and he was as smart, tough, talented as you would find on a bottom 6. I hated the Habs but really liked the way this guy clogged lanes, thought the game and appreciated his skill level. He's not big but he is the NHL game played Iron Man and has 4 Stanley Cup rings. (my favorite thing about Jarvis is he was drafted 24th by the Maple Leafs who immediately traded him to Montreal for a hockey nobody). I trust either Ryan or Koko makes this opening night roster by Christmas will be playing an acceptable if not moreso 200 foot game if this guy is in charge.
The fourth line recent years has been good for about 25-30 goals; you put either one of these kids there and a winger with some offense they should be able to add 50% to that.
Watching both of these two in Providence it is my opinion that both are much better centers than wingers- neither has played much of it; and in Koko's stab at it, he last less than 5 periods and was benched and stuck back at center. But that is fine. The center is the most important offensive position and each of these kids has exceptional offensive ability. Khokhlachev is more a scorer, more a hound, more active, he's all over the place and he looks to make things happen. Ryan can skate and pass, more a playmaker, but he can shoot the puck quite well, and that would be something I would demand he put in his arsenal.
Koko could always go down and be first man up; Ryan to me is best up here or somewhere else. He needs to get his career going. He can play fourth line but also in your top two on the power play; just like Campbell can play fourth line and be in your top two on the Penalty kill and be very good.
You win down the middle in sports- and with Rask, the defense led by Chara and Seidenberg, and the emerging Hamilton and Krug, the Bruins are top 5 easy; a center group of
Krejci
Bergeron
Soderberg
Khokhlachev/Spooner
is pretty dynamic
I would be more happy to hear Peter Chiarelli to walk out and have a press conference and announce Ryan or Koko will be the fourth line center than we just signed Benoit Pouliot for $5 M or gave a 5/25 NTC to Matt Moulson (going to love that 5 M in his late 30's)
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