Boston Bruins Favorite Bruins’ Scapegoat

[smithformeragent]

As we approach the trade deadline, and some fans are eager to run certain players out of town, let’s reminisce about some of our favorite scapegoated or maligned Bruins.

Think players who were universally disliked or had a fall from grace and run out of town with pitchforks.

I’ll lead with two:

Glen Murray: One of my three favorite Bruins ever. Had an excellent second run here and became a lethal sniper, but by the end was despised by many.

He couldn’t keep up with the speed of the “New NHL” post lockout. I remember driving home from a playoff loss against Montreal in 2008 and the calls to sports radio were brutal.

Dennis Wideman: One of many “puck moving defensemen” brought in to fill a need more elusive than the Holy Grail. I think this one was a little more one sided. People hated this player passionately.

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[CDJ]

Wideman was maybe the biggest one I remember


Tbh I kinda liked him

Loui was a major whipping boy until his last season here

 

[sarge88]

Not sure if it fits the criteria…but I still hear/read a lot of people complain about Rick Nash…maybe more about the deal than the player, I’m not sure.

But he was a good player who just got hurt.

Similarly, Jagr was much better here than he got credit for.

He was very unlucky as it seemed like he hit about a dozen posts in the playoffs.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

The hate on Wideman was so over the top by the end. People were booing him at games for fun and hating him was almost becoming "trendy". It got a little embarrassing to watch/hear.

I'll plead guilty on Glen Murray. Going to live games throughout the 07-08 season and watching his shifts from start to finish was a jaw dropping experience. Jaw droppingly terrible. He was at half the speed he needed to be to be anywhere close to an NHL player in the regular season. In the playoffs, it was like having a 65 year old member of the alumni team out there.

For a lot of people, Tuukka was going to be their scapegoat until he won a Cup. Simply because until he did that, he "couldn't prove he could steal games like Tim Thomas".

 

[sarge88]

The hate on Wideman was so over the top by the end. People were booing him at games for fun and hating him was almost becoming "trendy". It got a little embarrassing to watch/hear.

I'll plead guilty on Glen Murray. Going to live games throughout the 07-08 season and watching his shifts from start to finish was a jaw dropping experience. Jaw droppingly terrible. He was at half the speed he needed to be to be anywhere close to an NHL player in the regular season. In the playoffs, it was like having a 65 year old member of the alumni team out there.

For a lot of people, Tuukka was going to be their scapegoat until he won a Cup. Simply because until he did that, he "couldn't prove he could steal games like Tim Thomas".

Good call on Tuukka.

Still the most under appreciated Bruin ever, IMO.

 

[Kegs]

I liked wideman. I’ll your wideMan and raise you a Micheal Ryder

 

[smithformeragent]

I liked wideman. I’ll your wideMan and raise you a Micheal Ryder

Good one.

People remember “the save” against Montreal, but he’d have given DeBrusk a run for his money in terms of frustration over streakiness and lack of production.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

People really hated on Jimmy Hayes for a while.

I hope some people learned from that.

 

[McGarnagle]

Good one.

People remember “the save” against Montreal, but he’d have given DeBrusk a run for his money in terms of frustration over streakiness and lack of production.

Ryder was the guy who would sleepwalk through entire stretches of the season but then in the playoffs would completely flip the switch. Debrusk has some of that in him but hasn't turned it on in the playoffs since the time Kadri tried to murder him.

 

[McGarnagle]

As for scapegoats, or at least in terms of players people here hated that I defended, Danton Heinen version 1.0. Dude's peripherals were off the charts, he made everyone better than they were without him on their line (including 37&63), but did it quietly without flashy numbers and a lot of people here hated him. He did slump through a lot of 2019-2020 but trading him for dipshit Nick Ritchie was one of the worst things Sweeney ever did. His second tour of duty seems to finally have earned him respect.

 

[UncleRico]

Tuukka was the scapegoat of all scapegoats. The offense was the issue the majority of those playoff series the Bs lost. It was just easier for people to blame Tuukka than an entire top 6 of players they liked.

 

[smithformeragent]

Tuukka was the scapegoat of all scapegoats. The offense was the issue the majority of those playoff series the Bs lost. It was just easier for people to blame Tuukka than an entire top 6 of players they liked.

Whether it’s the quarterback, the goalie, or the King of England, it’s easier to blame (or give all the credit to) one person versus acknowledging that an issue is much more complex.

 

[RoccoF14]

The amount of shit Charlie Coyle took, the year he was playing on 1 leg, was really unfair.

I don’t think he’s missed a game since he had his knee fixed…

 

[Bruinaura]

Good call on Tuukka.

Still the most under appreciated Bruin ever, IMO.

This thread is Tuukka's fault.

 

[CDJ]

As for scapegoats, or at least in terms of players people here hated that I defended, Danton Heinen version 1.0. Dude's peripherals were off the charts, he made everyone better than they were without him on their line (including 37&63), but did it quietly without flashy numbers and a lot of people here hated him. He did slump through a lot of 2019-2020 but trading him for dipshit Nick Ritchie was one of the worst things Sweeney ever did. His second tour of duty seems to finally have earned him respect.

Speaking of Nick Ritchie last I saw he was bullying SM-Liiga

He was a bit of a scapegoat for a bit (although that was mostly because he just kinda floated around most of the time)

Honestly if he wanted to he could probably make it back to the league as a 4th liner/enforcer, he just has no dog in him

 

[goldnblack]

Yeah Rask has to be #1

Joe Thornton was an interesting era too

 

[Alicat]

Chris Kelly got railed pretty hard for awhile simply because of his contract which was unfair. Play was decent but it was like he was a skating money bag out there for many.

Just remember that I was right about Ryan Spooner

Other scapegoats are definitely Tuukka, Jimmy Hayes, Charlie Coyle, Blake Wheeler comes to mind

 

[bwunderlich]

Aside from Tuuka, who wins this going away . . .would be any player who was asked to play above their pay grade (i.e., Hal Gill). Thornton was asked/expected to carry lousy swiss cheese teams on his back. Anything short of that was unacceptable.

I'd say today, rapidly coming up the outside is Pasta.

Some fan base . . .three players who at least get HOF consideration still don't measure up here

 

[Alicat]

Aside from Tuuka, who wins this going away . . .would be any player who was asked to play above their pay grade (i.e., Hal Gill). Thornton was asked/expected to carry lousy swiss cheese teams on his back. Anything short of that was unacceptable.

I'd say today, rapidly coming up the outside is Pasta.

Some fan base . . .three players who at least get HOF consideration still don't measure up here

One of the nicest guys too. Took everything in stride and has never begrudged B's fans.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Its been this way since the beginning of time and will always be. Pay me what these guys make and you can criticize me all you want, I will laugh every time I see that money transfer into my account.

Boo Fing Hoo

 

[Ladyfan]

As we approach the trade deadline, and some fans are eager to run certain players out of town, let’s reminisce about some of our favorite scapegoated or maligned Bruins.

Think players who were universally disliked or had a fall from grace and run out of town with pitchforks.

I’ll lead with two:

Glen Murray: One of my three favorite Bruins ever. Had an excellent second run here and became a lethal sniper, but by the end was despised by many.

He couldn’t keep up with the speed of the “New NHL” post lockout. I remember driving home from a playoff loss against Montreal in 2008 and the calls to sports radio were brutal.

Dennis Wideman: One of many “puck moving defensemen” brought in to fill a need more elusive than the Holy Grail. I think this one was a little more one sided. People hated this player passionately.

Muzz was great and a leader. He as always a favorite of mine.

Wides was a very good d man here for a while. Never hated him either.

Wideman was maybe the biggest one I remember


Tbh I kinda liked him

Loui was a major whipping boy until his last season here

I liked Wides too (loved muzz).

The hate on Wideman was so over the top by the end. People were booing him at games for fun and hating him was almost becoming "trendy". It got a little embarrassing to watch/hear.

I'll plead guilty on Glen Murray. Going to live games throughout the 07-08 season and watching his shifts from start to finish was a jaw dropping experience. Jaw droppingly terrible. He was at half the speed he needed to be to be anywhere close to an NHL player in the regular season. In the playoffs, it was like having a 65 year old member of the alumni team out there.

For a lot of people, Tuukka was going to be their scapegoat until he won a Cup. Simply because until he did that, he "couldn't prove he could steal games like Tim Thomas".

The hate on Dennis was stupid and embrrasing.

Muzz had a bone sticking out on his foot/ankle. Not sure how he got his skate on. Muzz was loved and respected by his teammates.

 

[Ladyfan]

If anyone hates Pasta, they are just stupid fans or Hab fans.

 

[dugg133]

If anyone hates Pasta, they are just stupid fans or Hab fans.

dude literally has been on the ice for like 50% of all bruins goals this season, and has directly contributed to like 43%. He basically is our entire offense, and some people were seriously talking about benching him for a bad penalty shot. It's so dumb.

 

[Ladyfan]

dude literally has been on the ice for like 50% of all bruins goals this season, and has directly contributed to like 43%. He basically is our entire offense, and some people were seriously talking about benching him for a bad penalty shot. It's so dumb.

Very "dumb".

Me thinks it is a weird agenda issue with the fools.