Put Lane Mac on the third line. It needs a bit more jam and size on it.
I thought Bourque looked clueless on the last PP of the night for the Bruins. I'm pulling hard for this kid and I want to see him do well, but he's showing why he's not suited for full time NHL duty. He's got a good motor and solid two way instincts, but he gets out-muscled and turned the other way A LOT. He has quick hands but it hasn't amounted to anything.
You want to cheer for the kid because he's a Bruin and because of his last name... plus he does work hard out there. But I find myself underwhelmed every time I watch him play.
Caron better get his game in gear first or he won't see the Mass border again.
Agreed. He still doesn't have NHL legs. Also, he thinks the game at the same relative speed. Slllooowwwww.
Comparatively, Bourque has proven to be a much better scorer at the level Spooner is currently playing at, also (though given more time, naturally)... just for an objective thought on the matter.
That being said, I'd like to see Paille on the 3rd line as well. I just like a combination of Kelly-Paille in general.
Caron better get his game in gear first or he won't see the Mass border again.
Your on fire in this thread eh GW?
Much agreed though. Unless he can ramp it up and have some consistency, he'll zach hamill the rest of his tenure. There's too much young talent coming up, that will be and are better then him. As we all stated in the pre season, this is Caron's year to prove he belongs on the big club. Otherwise, he won't have any NHL potential, not in Boston at least.
Lol at people calling for Caron. I guess nobody remembers the abysmal play of Caron for that giant December to beginning of March stretch where all he did was stick up the joint. He scored half his points in a 4 game stretch ( March 4 - March 10). Oh how quickly people forget!
Caron definitely needs to be pushed. Having said that, I can't remember a guy in my 30 years of watching Bruins hockey that has been less noticeable than Chris Bourque. I don't see how Caron could not be an improvement but I would also be open to other options. Which leads me back to the OP. Is Spooner a viable option?
I wouldn't rule out Spooner getting a look later on. ATM it is a clear hole in the lineup. I think Spooner could handle it, he seems to have that high level skill to translate to playing with NHLers.
If not then I bet Chiarelli will test the trade market at the deadline as this team can contend.
Caron definitely needs to be pushed. Having said that, I can't remember a guy in my 30 years of watching Bruins hockey that has been less noticeable than Chris Bourque. I don't see how Caron could not be an improvement but I would also be open to other options. Which leads me back to the OP. Is Spooner a viable option?
Put Paille on the 3rd for a bit. Activate MacDermid for a few on 4th line duty. Especially with Sabres and Leafs coming up.
I wouldn't mind this at all. But no way do i see CJ doing this.
The 3rd line needs a goal scorer with them. Pevs and Kelly are fast, solid in their own zone but we didn't get them for their offensive skills. A skilled guy in the offensive zone would do the line some good. Ryder could score, pou had some nice moves and a nose for the net at times. I dont think CB is the offensive threat that line needs.
I'm sure they would have much rather had Ryder back over the like of Benoit Pouliot or Chris Bourque, but when you're up against the cap coming off of a cup win in one year, and unsure of the cap in a lock out year you don't have much choice.
Which begs the question, how long can a balanced attack based on three scoring lines be successful? I suppose that depends on the organization's ability to replenish the NHL roster with young, cheap talent. If they can't sill the holes, then you no longer have the deep team like the one that won a cup and you become very ordinary.
I still think they were banking on Eric Cole and over judged what he would get in the open market.
A Peverley-Kelly-Cole line would be everything Clode wanted from the 3rd line.
Put Paille on the 3rd for a bit. Activate MacDermid for a few on 4th line duty. Especially with Sabres and Leafs coming up.
Could not agree more! Providing this isn't some agenda, of course!
Paille is a third liner playing on the fourth, I think. He's got speed and can throw a hit which causes turnovers and therefore scoring chances. Chris Bourque has speed but unfortunately he uses it to get to the low traffic areas. I say give Paille a decent shot with Pev and Kelly. It might even get those two finally going.
A bit off topic but (as others have touched on) doesn't this lead to a discussion of the B's scouting staff?
Picks such as Hamilton and Seguin are no brainers that he almost had to make but many of their other i.e. Hamill, Caron etc. were wasted IMO. Chia is probably the cream of the crop in terms of young GMs and I wouldn't want anybody else at the helm but regarding their scouting staff something seems a little...off.
Why rush the kid? It certainly won't stop the negativity threads, all that will happen is that people will crap on someone else after the first period, because there always seems to need to be a scapegoat, Bourque admirably playing the role now. Spooner has almost exactly the same AHL production this season as Bourque, let him learn his trade to the point that he excels at the level before promoting him.
Seguin is my favorite player, but im not going to not criticize him. He is playing awful and needs too wake up and play better. Dougie is my second favorite player and if he starts playing awful, i will criticize him too.
No one is above criticism in my book. Im a bruin fan first, favorite players second type of guy.
A bit off topic but (as others have touched on) doesn't this lead to a discussion of the B's scouting staff?
Picks such as Hamilton and Seguin are no brainers that he almost had to make but many of their other i.e. Hamill, Caron etc. were wasted IMO. Chia is probably the cream of the crop in terms of young GMs and I wouldn't want anybody else at the helm but regarding their scouting staff something seems a little...off.
Why is Caron a waste? It is WAY too soon to say that. He's coming off injury right now...What information are you basing your choices on?
Could not agree more! Providing this isn't some agenda, of course!
Paille is a third liner playing on the fourth, I think. He's got speed and can throw a hit which causes turnovers and therefore scoring chances. Chris Bourque has speed but unfortunately he uses it to get to the low traffic areas. I say give Paille a decent shot with Pev and Kelly. It might even get those two finally going.
Its an absolute agenda. Those 2 clubs (especially Buffalo) have beefed up just because of the Bruins. For those 2 games at least use the 4th line as muscle and
3rd line as speed.
Otherwise we are going to see guys we need on the ice in the box instead.
Kelly and Peverly haven't been great IMO but they are key penalty killers and aren't going anywhere.
The line isn't working with Bourque on it, and I think it is time to find somebody who does (I have my doubts that it will be Caron and not sure Spooner can get it done either but at this moment might be worth trying).
I think moving Paille to the 3rd line might be worth the experiment however I think Paille is a key part of the energy on the 4th line and is one of the reasons the 4th line is so good.
