98.5 The Sports Hub With Pastrnak, DeBrusk Bruins Might’ve Finally Found Right Linemates For Krejci

[Chiz1982]

Looch is an asset, great to have on a team like Edmonton that can produce offensively, is a vet and can protect their guys. Still dont regret trading him though.

I think everyone forgets the first year Pastrnak played in the NHL, and was the year Spoons finally cracked the NHL lineup, it was towards the end of the season and they played on the same line together and the speed was dynamite. However, ever since then.... they have not played together. Sure its hard to justify have Spoons on the so called 1st line or Pastrnak on the 3rd line, however you want to look at it... but why not try to roll 3 even lines.

I propose... (starting lineup)

Marchand - Bergeron - Bjork
Vatrano - Spooner - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krecji - Backes
Acciari - Czarnik - Nash

Chara - Carlo
Grzelcyk - McQuaid
Miller - McAvoy

Furthermore to this... check out this article from the time period I am talking about when Pastrnak and Spooner played together. Interesting read from 2015 when they were a line of Lucic-Spooner-Pastrnak.

https://www.nhl.com/news/bruins-spooner-pastrnak-have-become-key-elements/c-757909

 

[LSCII]

The difference is styles between Pasta and DK is astronomical. It's a bad fit from the jump, regardless of whoever else is on that line. I get that they're trying to balance the lines out a bit, but again, one guy plays a speed game and the other plays a slowdown style. It makes no sense to me at all to put DK and Pasta together. Backes is a far better fit stylistically for DK and Spooner is the same to Pasta. That would give you 3 balanced scoring threats, IMO.

 

[ODAAT]

The difference is styles between Pasta and DK is astronomical. It's a bad fit from the jump, regardless of whoever else is on that line. I get that they're trying to balance the lines out a bit, but again, one guy plays a speed game and the other plays a slowdown style. It makes no sense to me at all to put DK and Pasta together. Backes is a far better fit stylistically for DK and Spooner is the same to Pasta. That would give you 3 balanced scoring threats, IMO.

Not necessarily disagreeing with you but I have to think when it comes to lineup decisions, Cassidy must speak to guys like DK/Bergy to get a sense of how they feel about the chemistry, or lack of between themselves and another player? If, say DeBrusk starts with DK, wondering out loud if that happens after this kind of discussion takes place? Not saying the player has the final say but a vet like DK I will guess is, at the very least, asked for his thoughts on various wingers and who he feels comfortable with?

 

[LSCII]

Not necessarily disagreeing with you but I have to think when it comes to lineup decisions, Cassidy must speak to guys like DK/Bergy to get a sense of how they feel about the chemistry, or lack of between themselves and another player? If, say DeBrusk starts with DK, wondering out loud if that happens after this kind of discussion takes place? Not saying the player has the final say but a vet like DK I will guess is, at the very least, asked for his thoughts on various wingers and who he feels comfortable with?

I'm sure he does. Even if DK is fine playing with Pasta, it simply doesn't look great on ice, IMO.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Maybe I’m just patient, but I think we should give the Krejci-Pastrnak combo a few more seasons to build some chemistry. They’re both Czech, so in theory it should work.

 

[Otherworld]

Just because Krejci and Pastrnak are both Czechs doesn't mean anything. They both make a ton of $$$ and if they do not mesh (which it seems like they don't) Cassidy has to find the right mix to get the most out of both of them if the Bruins are going to make the playoffs this year.

It will be very easy to beat this team if they have only one line that can score.

 

[northeastern]

Hopefully Krejci gets off to a really hot start, and builds some form of trade value.

Do we get the pleasure of spooner or jfk being a top 6 center? Neither are ready. DK isnt loved here but the Bruins need him. Centers are very important and there's no replacement pushing him out just yet

 

[BruinDust]

Maybe I’m just patient, but I think we should give the Krejci-Pastrnak combo a few more seasons to build some chemistry. They’re both Czech, so in theory it should work.

A few more SEASONS? So if it doesn't work the rest of this season, and the next, hey let's try it for a 3rd year, that'll do the trick.

And what does them being both Czech have to do with on-ice chemistry? That's like saying Belesky and Spooner should have great chemistry because they are both from Canada.

 

[LSCII]

A few more SEASONS? So if it doesn't work the rest of this season, and the next, hey let's try it for a 3rd year, that'll do the trick.

And what does them being both Czech have to do with on-ice chemistry? That's like saying Belesky and Spooner should have great chemistry because they are both from Canada.

I'm pretty sure that response was tongue in cheek and not seriously suggesting wasting 3 years on a combo that doesn't work.

 

[Mainehockey33]

A few more SEASONS? So if it doesn't work the rest of this season, and the next, hey let's try it for a 3rd year, that'll do the trick.

And what does them being both Czech have to do with on-ice chemistry? That's like saying Belesky and Spooner should have great chemistry because they are both from Canada.

Well it’s true Marchand and Bergeron have great chemistry because they’re both from eastern Canada. :sarcasticface:

 

[BruinDust]

Well it’s true Marchand and Bergeron have great chemistry because they’re both from eastern Canada. :sarcasticface:

Sorry I didn't pick up on the sarcasm in your original post.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Sorry I didn't pick up on the sarcasm in your original post.

No problem. Cassidy’s line choices are driving me nuts. He’s doing the things I hated most about Claude except in a different system.

 

[BruinDust]

No problem. Cassidy’s line choices are driving me nuts. He’s doing the things I hated most about Claude except in a different system.

Same here.

It's almost like Cassidy called up Julien and asked him what would he do.

 

[patty59]

Ya, weird, who would have thought that 2 coaches in the same league would have similar looking lines??

 

[Danton Heineken]

Do we get the pleasure of spooner or jfk being a top 6 center? Neither are ready. DK isnt loved here but the Bruins need him. Centers are very important and there's no replacement pushing him out just yet

I agree, they need Krejci this year. But if his contract isn't the worst in the NHL, it's definitely in the top 5. They need to get away from that mess of a deal.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Ya, weird, who would have thought that 2 coaches in the same league would have similar looking lines??

And it worked out so great with Claude the last few seasons they gave him an early retirement.

 

[Dellstrom]

Maybe I’m just patient, but I think we should give the Krejci-Pastrnak combo a few more seasons to build some chemistry. They’re both Czech, so in theory it should work.

While seasons might be a bit much, I agree that they should get some more time together. I don't think they're perfect for eachother and it'll take some time for them to develop chemistry (on ice, from what I've seen on Behind the B they're close off the ice and you don't have to look far to see how much Pasta idolized/es Krejci), but if they both play well it'll be hard for them not to produce together.

I remember being frustrated as all hell that they never left Lucic-Krejci-Seguin together... It seemed like they clicked really well. Pasta is better than Seguin was in 2012/2013, if DeBrusk can emulate Lucic's role just a little bit I think they'll get along well.

I agree, they need Krejci this year. But if his contract isn't the worst in the NHL, it's definitely in the top 5. They need to get away from that mess of a deal.

I disagree. His contract is far from good or even fair, but the only season Krejci has scored/been on pace for 60 points despite constant injuries and horrendous linemates was last season... 54 points. For 7 of the past 9 years he has scored/been on pace for above 60 points. Considering his linemates, that's pretty impressive. I take Krejci being overpaid by 1.5-2m over a player making 4-6m who contributes nothing every day. He's become really underrated around here. People seem to forget he can drive the offense when he's on his game, as rare as that can sometimes be. Hopefully he's healthy and ready to go.

 

[LSCII]

Same here.

It's almost like Cassidy called up Julien and asked him what would he do.

The reason I disliked Claude was because of his rigidity with rolling the same 4 lines out night after night, even if they weren't working. Cassidy is starting to drive me crazy with this same adherence to Pasta and DK, despite it being a blatant mismatch from the jump. Do the right thing and put DK with Backes and whatever other player you want, but get Pasta off that line. It's a waste of that guy's speed to keep him there.

 

[patty59]

And it worked out so great with Claude the last few seasons they gave him an early retirement.

Good one. We both know that Claude would have Schaller with Krejci instead of DeBrusk though.

I don't really remember Pastrnak and Krejci playing together a ton, they would get a few games here or there but that's about it.

 

[mjhfb]

Looch is an asset, great to have on a team like Edmonton that can produce offensively, is a vet and can protect their guys. Still dont regret trading him though.

I think everyone forgets the first year Pastrnak played in the NHL, and was the year Spoons finally cracked the NHL lineup, it was towards the end of the season and they played on the same line together and the speed was dynamite. However, ever since then.... they have not played together. Sure its hard to justify have Spoons on the so called 1st line or Pastrnak on the 3rd line, however you want to look at it... but why not try to roll 3 even lines.

I propose... (starting lineup)

Marchand - Bergeron - Bjork
Vatrano - Spooner - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krecji - Backes
Acciari - Czarnik - Nash

Chara - Carlo
Grzelcyk - McQuaid
Miller - McAvoy

I can see why you like these lines, and agree it would be worth a shot at some point.
I just can't see them doing it...

 

[PB37]

I agree, they need Krejci this year. But if his contract isn't the worst in the NHL, it's definitely in the top 5. They need to get away from that mess of a deal.

Say what? Krejci tied a career high in goals last year and and was third on the team in points with a rotating cast of wingers all season. Krejci's contract is nowhere near the top 5 worst in the NHL.

 

[mar2kbos]

Krejci did have a productive season with Kessel on his wing. I’d give a month and see how it goes

 

[LSCII]

Good one. We both know that Claude would have Schaller with Krejci instead of DeBrusk though.

I don't really remember Pastrnak and Krejci playing together a ton, they would get a few games here or there but that's about it.

They spent most of the end of last season playing together including the playoffs, no?

 

[Mainehockey33]

Good one. We both know that Claude would have Schaller with Krejci instead of DeBrusk though.

I don't really remember Pastrnak and Krejci playing together a ton, they would get a few games here or there but that's about it.

I don’t know how many games they played together last year, but it was enough to see that it wasn’t working. Just because Pastrnak plays better with a center that plays a speedy game isn’t necessarily a slight on Krejci. Splitting those two up would be better for both of them and the team.

A third line of Spooner, Backes and Beleskey isn’t much of a threat. Spooner will carry the puck into the zone before his wingers hit center ice, then Spooner will have no options, lose the puck and the play will go the other way.

Pastrnak has played best with guys that make fast decisions and play at a high tempo; Marchand, Bergeron, and Spooner. We need three lines that can score and not worry about the biggest names playing with each other because it looks best on paper.

 

[Bmessy]

I'm hoping that since Debrusk has some puck battle skills and a little more creativity than say, Beleskey or Schaller, he should work well with Krejci. Win battle, get puck to Krejci or Pasta, get to shooting lane or front of net, rinse repeat.