Former Bruins Noel Acciari (He’s a Panther 3 years, $1.7M/yr)

[missingchicklet]

How bad is Noel Acciari?

Is he the worst forward in the NHL?

Well among ALL NHL forwards this season who have played at minimum 400 mins. of ice time, he is DEAD LAST in points-per-minute played at 0.005.

Just to put that into perspective, Alex Stallock, a goaltender, who has played just 100 mins. more than Noel, has a points-per-minute played at 0.004

Matter of fact, every single NHL player who meets the Mins. played criteria (400 mins minimum) that has a points-per-minute played of 0.005 or 0.004 is a D-man or a goaltender. Acciari is the only forward.

I don't know if he's the worst overall forward, but he's obviously the worst forward when it comes to offense. It's incomprehensible why he gets the minutes he does. There are plenty of grinders out there who can play the minutes Acciari does and play respectable defense AND can rack up at least a decent amount of points just for being on the ice and making an occasional good offensive play. Sad thing is that Bruce has actually used him in the top 9. What the hell kind of ridiculousness is that? When you throw in the secondary scoring woes the Bs have, combined with the horrid 5 on 5 scoring, wasting a spot in the lineup with someone as bad as Acciari is simply a very poor coaching decision.

 

[BruinDust]

*****ing about a fourth liner not putting up points is like complaining that your top line doesn’t kill penalties.

Acciari knows his role and plays it - he’s expected to grind down opponents, and kill penalties. He’s doing that.

He’s 13th among ALL NHL forwards in hits and 14th among forwards ON HIS OWN TEAM for even strength icetime/game.

I completely disagree. This concept of a grinding forward whose ONLY expectation is to forecheck, hit and kill penalties is simply put, not going to work in today's NHL. It's done, extinct, no different than the one-dimensional enforcer.

Just to put the value of your 10th-13th forwards in perspective on the other end of the spectrum, here are the points per minute of Tampa Bay's 10-13 F. (Acciari was 0.005)

Erne - 0.049

Joseph - 0.035

Callahan - 0.025

Paquette - 0.022

I'm not expecting 4th liners to put up piles of points, but there is a bare minimum of offensive expectation for even 4th liners that Acciari simply cannot meet. You need to be able to get SOME offense out of all 4 lines and all 12 forwards. I don't expect TB like numbers, but FFS, there is a happy-middle ground somewhere.

 

[BadBruins]

I don't know if he's the worst overall forward, but he's obviously the worst forward when it comes to offense. It's incomprehensible why he gets the minutes he does. There are plenty of grinders out there who can play the minutes Acciari does and play respectable defense AND can rack up at least a decent amount of points just for being on the ice and making an occasional good offensive play. Sad thing is that Bruce has actually used him in the top 9. What the hell kind of ridiculousness is that? When you throw in the secondary scoring woes the Bs have, combined with the horrid 5 on 5 scoring, wasting a spot in the lineup with someone as bad as Acciari is simply a very poor coaching decision.

This is what bothers me the most.

Also hate the notion that he's needed for the PK. My biggest pet peeve is the specialty player. The PK would not miss a beat with whoever they decided to slot there. In fact, I'd argue that's where they should be expanding the role of Heinen, Cave, JFK etc. I also think DeBrusk would make a beastly penalty killing threat.

 

[BruinDust]

This is what bothers me the most.

Also hate the notion that he's needed for the PK. My biggest pet peeve is the specialty player. The PK would not miss a beat with whoever they decided to slot there. In fact, I'd argue that's where they should be expanding the role of Heinen, Cave, JFK etc. I also think DeBrusk would make a beastly penalty killing threat.

PK duty is the most coach-able thing in hockey. Pretty much every NHL forward has killed penalties at some point in their hockey lives. It's actually pretty basic for the two forwards at the top of the formation.

Then factor in a player like Heinen who they are trying to get going and build confidence, whose skill-set looks tailor-made to killing penalties, and it's mind-boggling why the Bruins would ever dress a forward strictly for his PK ability.

 

[missingchicklet]

This is what bothers me the most.

Also hate the notion that he's needed for the PK. My biggest pet peeve is the specialty player. The PK would not miss a beat with whoever they decided to slot there. In fact, I'd argue that's where they should be expanding the role of Heinen, Cave, JFK etc. I also think DeBrusk would make a beastly penalty killing threat.

And then factor in that he is on a PK that has been subpar this season. It's not like he's working wonders on that front. He hits a lot, which is fine, but do his hits really make a difference? I would suggest they don't. He's not some intimidating presence throwing big hits that make a difference in games. In fact he has trash recognition of when to hit and when not to hit. Puts himself out of position too much when he chooses to hit. He also doesn't fight, which makes him even more useless as a plug. One fight this year, and in that fight Horvat won.

 

[PB37]

PK duty is the most coach-able thing in hockey. Pretty much every NHL forward has killed penalties at some point in their hockey lives. It's actually pretty basic for the two forwards at the top of the formation.

Then factor in a player like Heinen who they are trying to get going and build confidence, whose skill-set looks tailor-made to killing penalties, and it's mind-boggling why the Bruins would ever dress a forward strictly for his PK ability.

I've seen you say this before and I disagree vehemently. Playing the PK is not as easy or plug- in-and-play as you make it out to be. Do players get coached on it? Yes. But there's a reason why the best defensive players play on the PK and the not so great defensive players stay off of it 99/100 times. You can be coached a system and style of play and be taught positioning, but it all comes down to execution and IQ. Some players don't have the mind or mentality for being a quality PKer.

 

[BruinDust]

And then factor in that he is on a PK that has been subpar this season. It's not like he's working wonders on that front. He hits a lot, which is fine, but do his hits really make a difference? I would suggest they don't. He's not some intimidating presence throwing big hits that make a difference in games. In fact he has trash recognition of when to hit and when not to hit. Puts himself out of position too much when he chooses to hit. He also doesn't fight, which makes him even more useless as a plug. One fight this year, and in that fight Horvat won.

Well said.

You point about his hits is spot on. Many of them are ineffectual and have very little impact on the outcome of a game. Very few actually result in the opposing team losing possession of the puck and the Bruins gaining possession. Most of the time his hits are after the puck is long gone, and like you said, put him out of position.

If by now fans can't see that Acciari is part of the problem I don't know what else to say.

I rarely criticize Sweeney, but whenever I see JFK, or Donato, or Bjork, sitting out with Noel Acciari in the line-up shows to me a lack of judgement on his part. The GM needs to take this blunt instrument known as Acciari out of his coaches tool-box.

 

[BruinDust]

I've seen you say this before and I disagree vehemently. Playing the PK is not as easy or plug- in-and-play as you make it out to be. Do players get coached on it? Yes. But there's a reason why the best defensive players play on the PK and the not so great defensive players stay off of it 99/100 times. You can be coached a system and style of play and be taught positioning, but it all comes down to execution and IQ. Some players don't have the mind or mentality for being a quality PKer.

Don't get me wrong, some players are better at it than others. And you'll typically use your 6-7 best defensive forwards, and it does give some of your scoring forwards a rest. And yup, there will be the scattered forward who has zero business killing penalties.

But it's highly coach-able, and zero reason to dress a PK specialist in today's game when you already have 11 other forwards on the team. And you don't need 11 to kill penalties.

It might of been fine to dress a 4th line PK specialist when the 4th line played 5-7 mins a game. Not to mention that back in the day, teams often roled just 2 PK forward pairs, so that PK specialist played half of every PK situation. Now he would normally just get 1/3 of the PK time.

But now that your 4th liners are typically in the 10-12 range, you need more out of them than specialist roles like PKers and whatever Noel Acciari is.

 

[PB37]

Don't get me wrong, some players are better at it than others. And you'll typically use your 6-7 best defensive forwards, and it does give some of your scoring forwards a rest.

But it's highly coach-able, and zero reason to dress a PK specialist in today's game when you already have 11 other forwards on the team. And you don't need 11 to kill penalties.

It might of been fine to dress a 4th line PK specialist when the 4th line played 5-7 mins a game. But now that your 4th liners are typically in the 10-12 range, you need more out of them than specialist roles like PKers and whatever Noel Acciari is.

Explain what you mean by highly coachable, because I'm not sure if I have the exact definition for it as you do. To me, a system that's highly coachable is something that anyone and everyone on the team can understand and take part in and the ones that can't handle it, aren't NHL quality players. The PK is not an area I would file that under... by far.

Look, at the end of the day, guys like Acciari, Kuraly, Wagner, Nordstrom, etc etc are all replaceable parts. The reason why they stick is because the ones that are better than them end up playing on higher scoring lines. The 4th line is and always will be the home of grinders, pk'ers, speedy guys with hands of stone, gritty sandpaper types, agitators, etc etc. A team's success depends on the all the parts functioning and it needs guys who are willing to do the dirty work. Typically a guy like Acciari is your callup from the minors or your spare 13/14th forward. Maybe they don't like the lack of preparation or the soft on the puck style of Bjork ( just saying it for the sake of the conversation ). Maybe they feel Acciari adds some sandpaper to a team lacking that sort of presence along the boards. Acciari's contributions are extremely limited but at the end of the day, if the team felt Bjork, Senyshyn, Cehlarik etc etc were better suited to play in the NHL, they would be here playing. I assume at some point, they will be.

I want my 4th line

1. playing with energy
2. hard on the puck and along the boards
3. defensively responsible
4. Muck and grind their way to scoring chances a couple of times a game

For the most part ( and especially of late ) our 4th liners are doing just that.

 

[BruinDust]

Explain what you mean by highly coachable, because I'm not sure if I have the exact definition for it as you do. To me, a system that's highly coachable is something that anyone and everyone on the team can understand and take part in and the ones that can't handle it, aren't NHL quality players. The PK is not an area I would file that under... by far.

Look, at the end of the day, guys like Acciari, Kuraly, Wagner, Nordstrom, etc etc are all replaceable parts. The reason why they stick is because the ones that are better than them end up playing on higher scoring lines. The 4th line is and always will be the home of grinders, pk'ers, speedy guys with hands of stone, gritty sandpaper types, agitators, etc etc. A team's success depends on the all the parts functioning and it needs guys who are willing to do the dirty work. Typically a guy like Acciari is your callup from the minors or your spare 13/14th forward. Maybe they don't like the lack of preparation or the soft on the puck style of Bjork ( just saying it for the sake of the conversation ). Maybe they feel Acciari adds some sandpaper to a team lacking that sort of presence along the boards. Acciari's contributions are extremely limited but at the end of the day, if the team felt Bjork, Senyshyn, Cehlarik etc etc were better suited to play in the NHL, they would be here playing. I assume at some point, they will be.

I want my 4th line

1. playing with energy
2. hard on the puck and along the boards
3. defensively responsible
4. Muck and grind their way to scoring chances a couple of times a game

For the most part ( and especially of late ) our 4th liners are doing just that.

PK for a forward is relatively simple, your 2 PK forwards move in harmony in response to what the offensive team is doing. Read and react. It's not rocket-science, and much easier than teaching 5 on 5 defensive coverage where the two guys out high will have to move more and anticipate better.

And I'm not talking about the other 4th line guys. For the most part I'm pretty satisfied with what they are bringing to the table.

My point of contention is specifically about Noel Acciari and how little he is contributing to this teams success this season.

You said it yourself, Acciari-like guys are 14th F/AHL call-ups. Here he's on pace to play 75% of the Bruins games.

 

[PB37]

PK for a forward is relatively simple, your 2 PK forwards move in harmony in response to what the offensive team is doing. Read and react. It's not rocket-science, and much easier than teaching 5 on 5 defensive coverage where the two guys out high will have to move more and anticipate better.

And I'm not talking about the other 4th line guys. For the most part I'm pretty satisfied with what they are bringing to the table.

My point of contention is specifically about Noel Acciari and how little he is contributing to this teams success this season.

You said it yourself, Acciari-like guys are 14th F/AHL call-ups. Here he's on pace to play 75% of the Bruins games.

Again, I think you are way over simplifying the penalty kill structure and the forwards roles getting the job done. It's a lot more intricate and hockey IQ intensive than you think.

Until someone from the Senyshyn, Bjork, Cehlarik, Fitzgerald, Blidh crop are better suited NHL fits, Acciari is going to have a place on the roster. I'm ok with Acciari because I don't think he hurts the club and he seems to be a team first player. Eventually, I would like to see a better player come along and take that spot when the times comes. For that role, I think Blidh is next in line to get a shot at some 4th line duty when it's available. In the meantime, hit and PK away, Acciari.

 

[elMatador]

For all the heat Heinen gets on these boards Acciari should get five times more. The guy should have been waived during the pre season camp. The fact he has already played in 34 games is a pure nonsense. The only thing he can do is to sacrifice his body on PK. His ability to close the gap on PK is pretty bad, his hockey IQ is very low, his skating average with random falls without any contact.
Most of the time I just think why he bothers to have a stick while on the ice as he doesn't know how to shoot or pass anyway ( last game 3 on 1 the most recent evidence). He would be at least a faster skater without it.

 

[BruinDust]

Again, I think you are way over simplifying the penalty kill structure and the forwards roles getting the job done. It's a lot more intricate and hockey IQ intensive than you think.

Until someone from the Senyshyn, Bjork, Cehlarik, Fitzgerald, Blidh crop are better suited NHL fits, Acciari is going to have a place on the roster. I'm ok with Acciari because I don't think he hurts the club and he seems to be a team first player. Eventually, I would like to see a better player come along and take that spot when the times comes. For that role, I think Blidh is next in line to get a shot at some 4th line duty when it's available. In the meantime, hit and PK away, Acciari.

I think were going to have to agree to disagree on this one bud.

PK duty may be hockey IQ intensive, that part I would agree with, but it's not intricate by any means.

And strong hockey IQ isn't something I would say is possessed by Noel Acciari. I'd bet you dollars to donuts that Heinen or Debrusk could kill penalties as good or better than he can and possess better hockey IQ than #55.

 

[PB37]

I think were going to have to agree to disagree on this one bud.

PK duty may be hockey IQ intensive, that part I would agree with, but it's not intricate by any means.

And strong hockey IQ isn't something I would say is possessed by Noel Acciari. I'd bet you dollars to donuts that Heinen or Debrusk could kill penalties as good or better than he can and possess better hockey IQ than #55.

I think you're selling Acciari short by a far bit here. He won HE defensive player of the year in 14-15 before signing with the Bruins. That's not something a dumb hockey player accidentally stumbles into. There's nothing wrong with how Acciari processes the game.

I do think Heinen could find a home on a 2nd or 3rd PK unit.

 

[BruinDust]

I think you're selling Acciari short by a far bit here. He won HE defensive player of the year in 14-15 before signing with the Bruins. That's not something a dumb hockey player accidentally stumbles into. There's nothing wrong with how Acciari processes the game.

I do think Heinen could find a home on a 2nd or 3rd PK unit.

Actually I think your right about Acciari's hockey IQ and ability to process the game (at least without the puck).

While I certainly don't think it's high-end, it's not terrible either.

 

[smack66]

I'm baffled by those defending or supporting acciari. I'm not sure where he would sit on the Providence team let alone with the Bruins.

 

[Over the volcano]

I'm baffled by those defending or supporting acciari. I'm not sure where he would sit on the Providence team let alone with the Bruins.

He’s a fourth liner making 725k - he’s at the bottom of the roster in even strength minutes/game, at the top of the roster (and league) in hits, he’s smart defensively and can kill penalties so the top lines don’t have to.

What’s baffling?

 

[BRUINS since 1995]

Acciari is in no way Wayne The great. But i don’t get the heat he is getting here. Let alone, Wagner and Acciari are the only physical presence up front. Lately i think they played pretty well. I already indicated being a Heinen fan... Acciari role differs and until we get an upgrade on him for the physical presence and pk he is bringing, i think he is there to stay.

 

[shoulders7]

He’s a fourth liner making 725k - he’s at the bottom of the roster in even strength minutes/game, at the top of the roster (and league) in hits, he’s smart defensively and can kill penalties so the top lines don’t have to.

What’s baffling?

Except that Bergeron and Marchand are the top 2 penalty killers on the team, and they are also on the top line; looks like they DO have to kill penalties, so your statement is just flat out wrong.

Acciari has the 5th most shtoi on the team among forwards, so not sure how he is doing anyone any favors? He isn’t exactly saving Bergeron from hard minutes.

I get it, you like Acciari, but I also get why others don’t. I don’t hate him, but when there is a healthy/full roster if he is anything more than the 13th forward it will be awful.

 

[BruinDust]

Acciari is in no way Wayne The great. But i don’t get the heat he is getting here. Let alone, Wagner and Acciari are the only physical presence up front. Lately i think they played pretty well. I already indicated being a Heinen fan... Acciari role differs and until we get an upgrade on him for the physical presence and pk he is bringing, i think he is there to stay.

1 goal this season and 1 primary assist in a calendar year for a forward averaging 12 mins a game will get you heat from fans.

What's baffling to me is how so many fans still think the value of the 4th line is the same as it has been for years. 5-7 mins a game, mostly just PK duty, etc.

You need all 12 forwards now pulling the rope BOTH defensively and offensively. Nordstrom/Wagner/Kuraly/etc. at least are chipping in here and there. Severely limited one/two dimensional forwards are a liability in the long-term success of any team.

 

[Dr Hook]

Acciari is in no way Wayne The great. But i don’t get the heat he is getting here. Let alone, Wagner and Acciari are the only physical presence up front. Lately i think they played pretty well. I already indicated being a Heinen fan... Acciari role differs and until we get an upgrade on him for the physical presence and pk he is bringing, i think he is there to stay.

He is probably getting more heat than a 4th liner deserves, except for the fact that he sometimes appears on the 3rd line and is also occupying a forward slot when the Bruins have young players they need to develop and see play in the NHL. Noel has the worst hands in the league, I think. How many times does he get the puck in and around the net because of his own hard work and the work of Wagner and Kuraly and just shoot into the goalie? Seems like at least once a game. Noel should have 6-8 goals by now and as many assists based on how that line has done overall.

I think about players like Anton Blidh who is having a good year in Providence, that plays the body and actually has some offensive skills who is in a contract year. Same with Gemel Smith who didn't get much of a shot with the team before getting on the Providence bus. Cehlarik is another one that needs another look with the big club. Noel is blocking young players and I don't think what he brings to the team is worth it. Cassidy clearly feels otherwise and so does Sweeney apparently.

 

[badbrewin]

I know what Acciari is and what he isn't (how profound), but that a backup goalie has 1 more point than him (in 11 less games played), is beyond comical at this point.

 

[missingchicklet]

I know what Acciari is and what he isn't (how profound), but that a backup goalie has 1 more point than him (in 11 less games played), is beyond comical at this point.

Yeah, it's beyond laughable that a team that is supposedly so deep with prospects and is trying to be a serious Cup contender is consistently playing someone who is one of the worst offensive players in the entire league. Hard to believe that the folks in the organization behind thinking Acciari is a good idea have enough mental aptitude to do what it takes to win a Cup in a league with ridiculous parity and a couple very elite teams in the Bs own conference.

 

[Over the volcano]

Except that Bergeron and Marchand are the top 2 penalty killers on the team, and they are also on the top line; looks like they DO have to kill penalties, so your statement is just flat out wrong.

Acciari has the 5th most shtoi on the team among forwards, so not sure how he is doing anyone any favors? He isn’t exactly saving Bergeron from hard minutes.

I get it, you like Acciari, but I also get why others don’t. I don’t hate him, but when there is a healthy/full roster if he is anything more than the 13th forward it will be awful.

I like him for what he is - and what he is is that 13th forward on a stacked team and a solid fourth liner on a good team.

That people are ripping that kind of player for not scoring goals this year is absurd.

As for Bergeron’s PK time - it says more about Bergeron than it does about anyone else on the club.

I know what Acciari is and what he isn't (how profound), but that a backup goalie has 1 more point than him (in 11 less games played), is beyond comical at this point.

It is pretty funny- can’t wait for the “play Halak b/c Rask has no points” arguments to start up.

 

[BruinDust]

I like him for what he is - and what he is is that 13th forward on a stacked team and a solid fourth liner on a good team.

That people are ripping that kind of player for not scoring goals this year is absurd.

As for Bergeron’s PK time - it says more about Bergeron than it does about anyone else on the club.

What's absurd is seeing value in this player and ignoring how little he brings to the table here in the 2019 version of NHL hockey.

Why can't you just admit that even 4th line players need to produce some level of offense. Nordstrom has done it, so has Kuraly, and Wagner.

He has 1 primary assist in almost a calendar year. If you can't see how absolutely ^&#^#&$&& brutal that is for an NHL forward given the opportunities Acciari has I don't know what else to say.