State of the Four June 2021 UFA
These are my opinions and grades and do not reflect 98.5 Sports Hub hosts or callers
I didn’t go to my first game till right before the December pandemic break - but went to most after and all 3 playoffs (that sound about right Susan
@Ladyfan)
NICK FOLIGNO
my initial reaction of signing ‘loved it’ ~ didn’t even cross my mind till signed just read he would replace Parise on the cheap and go play with brother on Wild
Season: it didn’t go as I planned, I’m sure management planned and definitely the player ~ this was a bummer because he was a long time favorite. He played better in the end but 2 goals and last out of 333? Forwards who played at least 750 minutes isn’t good.
He did play hard and was always upbeat but even a Gordie Howe hat trick couldn’t save his grade
It was a fail ~ F
DEREK FORBORT
The one time 11th overall pick ? and Manchester Monarchs was rumored so I wasn’t caught off guard like Foligno
Initial reaction: meh with a twist - he was a Manchester Monarchs and I had a 4 pack at that time - not a far ride from work and always a fun time. My kid loved those players skating out of that big inflatable lion ~ ah I miss those days
The early opinion was ‘why did we sign this guy’ as a I once a week heard, “he’s adjusting to a new system he never played with- less man to man he was used to and more structure under Bruce. Ok I get it and I always felt the Bruins current system kind of sucked - I like the man in man part- and thought Carlo would be better out of this current Cassidy system
Once I started going in January 22 after they started back up / and sitting right in back of the net the first and third I was surprised at Forbort willingly moving guys and the balls he showed eating pucks
He clearly wasn’t quick enough or skilled enough to handle a continuous or 17 minutes of an Aho Jarvis Svechnikov or Marner Matthews and especially Bunting
But placed in a third pair and as a PK or late in periods or end of games, yes.
I thought he was good at the end but when I heard Ken Daneyko discuss Forbort it made sense. Every team needs a guy like this who will do whatever to stop the puck and it never even occurred to me the analytics stuff where Forbort was altering shots from point and taking away the half wall shot on the PK allowing the Bruins to stretch their pK forwards a step or so
The best analogy I heard on Forbort was the specialization he brings comparable to catchers who are elite ‘pitch framers’ and blocking balls in dirt
Forbort is big but seems to expand and open up as he positions for a block - as I said he also alters shots he doesn’t touch
Because Daneyko brought him up early in series when I went to game 6 I was thinking ‘hmm let me check this out - and there he was not only blocking some shots but getting his man and himself out of the way using his upper body (not stick) for leverage and give Swayman a clear view
I would say Good which Is a B but Daneyko was a bad ass and stud in this area so I’ll split
B/B+
ERIC HAULA
Been following him a bit when in college but watched him a few times when with Iowa Wild ~ I loved his skating and played very good all 3 zones D; so when I was looking for a third line center in sim I traded some Bruins player
to the fantastic and deeply missed AOF who had Haula
Haula ends up flipping the script and scores 29 goals in a ‘I never saw that coming’
I’m a Haula guy and wanted him last summer so this was good.
Foligno at $3.8 M not good return - Forbort at $3 M solid to perfect but Haula left a good Mil on the table - but I understand he was coming off an injury
Very good player who was a perfect compliment to Hall & Pastrnak
I had an A~ but if Mike Johnson, Doug Wright and Biz Nasty like him
Grade: A
LINUS ULLMARK
I targeted him and correctly guessed 4/20 so I’m standing by this guy
Being honest
As I sat on couch first 2-3 months I was ‘um he looks shaky, unsure, all over the bleepin place - this may not go good’
But once Rask situation resolved and I got to sit in back and watch him play and hug Swayman, I was impressed - he’s good is his floor his ceiling outstanding
His final stats were
26-10-2 .917 sv 2.45 GAA
54 points in 38 games
117 points pro rated
That Is like a ridiculously good number
Grade : A~
@LouJersey &
@Saxon Eric
I talked to you two about these 4 guys but didn’t tell you I was doing this - text me your grades
