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I think the point was that you can be as one dimensional as you want, provided that dimension is defense. If it's on offense, you won't likely see the ice up in Boston.
Former Bruins Ryan Donato - II
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I think the point was that you can be as one dimensional as you want, provided that dimension is defense. If it's on offense, you won't likely see the ice up in Boston.
That was then, this is now w/r/t Bruins expectations for their players. Today neither PJ nor Shawn would be playing for the Bruins and I wonder how much longer Acciari can hang on. I certainly wish PJ had been able to score more goals, that might have extended his career with the Bruins.
Dr Quincy
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Great, find someone who says that and I'll agree with you.
Ideally you want a team of 20 well-rounded superstars.
That ain't happening. You have to fill out your roster with less than ideal players. SOME of those players might be 1 way defense first guys. SOME might be 1 way offense first guys. Good coaches use a player in a way that works with their strengths and limitations.
Seems to work ok with a coach 40 miles south of Boston.
Dr Quincy
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You'll never win a championship with a me first, offense only, won't throw a hit, doesn't like to work out, guy like Phil Kessel.
LouJersey
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I wonder if he ever found out where the weight room was?
PJ wasn't that one dimensional- he had some okay hands. He was better than Nordstrom, and he has roster spot. Getting 25-30 points from a third line defensive specialist is okay. But you're right it was a different era when players like Lehtinen were space oddities. Now teams seem to expect more of that, we as fans seem to expect it too.
BigBadBruins7708
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funny what playing with the 2 best players in the world can do for you
He stumbled across it when he was looking for where they hid the pies
To me the reason defensive specialists are picked over offensive guys is due to line matching.
In an away game if the other team is likely attempting to create a mismatch against a 3rd/4th line. If you haveprimarily one-way offensive guys on that 3rd line then I don't trust that they are going to spend much time outside of the defensive zone because of the skill they are facing.
Obviously in an ideal world you make the line more balanced with a mix of two way/defensive players, but then you are not getting as much out of the offensive guy as you would like - like we saw with Donato and to an extent Vatrano.
Ideally for me you play one-dimensional offensive guys in your top 6 exclusively, where the players they are with will likely mask the defensive deficiencies while getting the most out of them offensively. Unfortunately Donato was very inconsistent while playing in the top 6 as well which is why he found himself called down IMO.
Dr Quincy
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Phil Kessel Playoff Pts Per game before Pens: .955
Phil Kessel Playoff Pts Per game w/ Pens: .885
In other words- he's always been a great playoff performer.
If your point is: Great teams can have a roster on it that includes key players who aren't "2 way guys".... then thanks. That's my point too.
If the B's have one of the best (if not THE best) 1st line in the NHL that also plays 2 ways...... why can't they have success with 1 way offense like the Pens?
Dueling Banjos
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Dr Quincy
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The thing is.... we can actually look to see if this holds up.
No matter HOW good you are defensively, you don't want to be playing a lot in your own end. The best way to keep the puck out of your end is to have it in the opposition's end.
And remember, line matching only works on faceoffs. Most research now shows that the impact of a faceoff (in total... certain isolated faceoffs have more value than others) isn't that big as possession changes pretty frequently after the first few seconds.
If a player causes more time in the other end than his own, and if that is provable, then who cares which style he uses to get it done. If it's D first, great. If it's O first, cool. It's about results not style and being stuck in "a bottom 6 must be guys with no skill who hit and grind" is outdated thinking.
Donato´s road to NHL
Makes a US olympics team out of colleague -> scores 5 goals during 2018 winter olympics however 4 of them are against a dogs**t team of Slovakia -> turns pro and plays for Bruins straightaway -> plays 12 games of a regular season with a hot streak of 5G and 4A -> his play in 3 playoffs games is not worthy of mentioning -> comes to the preseason camp, has a patented wrist shot goal in China and the rest of camp sucks with the turnovers, lazy backchecks and no board battles effort -> makes the opening night roster despite not ready -> sent down to Providence after 11games -> called up after 10games in AHL , on his way up he doesn't forget to mention that he proved he is a NHL caliber -> after another 23 games is sent down to Providence again -> just before the trade deadline states that he deserves to be up with a big club -> gets traded to Minnesota
Can't remember anybody recently who has had an easier way than him to make Bruins.
His game is based on his wrist shot only, the rest screams to me Filatov so far. Instead of Filly didn't do rebounds is Teddy didn't do backchecks/board battles/physical play.
Makes a US olympics team out of colleague -> scores 5 goals during 2018 winter olympics however 4 of them are against a dogs**t team of Slovakia -> turns pro and plays for Bruins straightaway -> plays 12 games of a regular season with a hot streak of 5G and 4A -> his play in 3 playoffs games is not worthy of mentioning -> comes to the preseason camp, has a patented wrist shot goal in China and the rest of camp sucks with the turnovers, lazy backchecks and no board battles effort -> makes the opening night roster despite not ready -> sent down to Providence after 11games -> called up after 10games in AHL , on his way up he doesn't forget to mention that he proved he is a NHL caliber -> after another 23 games is sent down to Providence again -> just before the trade deadline states that he deserves to be up with a big club -> gets traded to Minnesota
Can't remember anybody recently who has had an easier way than him to make Bruins.
His game is based on his wrist shot only, the rest screams to me Filatov so far. Instead of Filly didn't do rebounds is Teddy didn't do backchecks/board battles/physical play.
RussellmaniaKW
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in this case literally the only "negative" comments that have been made publicly came from Donato himself, so...
If I was a betting man Id bet the house Marchand is gonna chirp the hell outta the kid when we play them next.
BronxBruin
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I think Donato will be a solid point producer in the NHL but he's the kind of player that will thrive during the regular season with a lot of ice time but once the playoffs roll around, he will vanish as the physicality and intensity ramps up...just my opinion.
Some valid points - and line matching can be done in game as well depending on the pace of the game. A guy who is more defensively aware is probably not going to be taken advantage of as much as an offensive player in a fast paced game with minimal whistles when they end up on the ice against say Crosby, Malkin, Matthews, etc.
As for the bottom point - you're right. The best D is good O as long as they sustain pressure in the offensive zone then who cares how it's done. I don't believe the bottom 6 should be only grinding players but at the same time I believe one dimensional offensive players belong in the top 6 to get the most out of them. I think it's a big reason why Vatrano didn't succeed here and Donato too - they need to be playing with other offensive guys, not 3rd or 4th liners.
RiverbottomChuck
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Another assist so far tonight, he made a pretty heady move along the boards to protect the puck. He is looking pretty good.
No matter the trade noise, one this is crystal clear from this one - Don doesn't feel obliged to pander to the old boy's club in Boston. That is a positive silver lining to this whole thing and nice to see. Kid grew up in the garden with Teddy, when Teddy was playing with Sweens so you know there's a relation there and business first on this one so good to see...
The don godfather
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Watch us trade zboril and he becomes a norris trophy candidate. Jeez donato looks like an all star right now. What bad luck this is.
BruinsFanSince94
The Perfect Fan ™
Coyle is going to do fine here, may even look like an all star compared to the way he was used on the Wild.
That whole line looks pretty good for them. Will be big for them if Erikson Ek and Kunin both take a step forward given opportunity
CombatOnContact
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Bruins needed to fill a hole at 3C and Donato was an asset in play. Sucks to lose him but he's now playing lose, nothing except himself and stats to worry about. I can see him going on a pretty nice run from here. This is no knock on him, I think its just the nature of a talented hockey player who felt maybe he didn't get quite what he deserved and now wants to prove it.
Would he have done the same if they didn't make the trade and slotted him at 3C? Course not...
Would he have done the same if they didn't make the trade and slotted him at 3C? Course not...
BruinsFanSince94
The Perfect Fan ™
I remember when Ryan Spooner produced at a 1.3 PPG pace his first 10 games in NY last season, and finished 16P/20GP (0.80 PPG). Then he came back to Earth and look where he is now. This is a common occurrence. Players ride a high of playing for a new team and produce quickly out of the gate. Is Ryan Donato really going to produce at a 1.5 PPG pace for the Wild? Lol..... He's a good prospect with a lot of upside. Can we not lose our minds that he's putting up points?
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