And how did you like JAson Allison in the times of his great acquisition for Bruins in the 1997 - 2001 years... His score productivity indicates that he shouldn´t be so "bad" player and none benefit for the team, as many of you have outlined...
They looked like a pair of floaters to me. This is what MY opinion is. THE END.
Floating implies that you're not forechecking or backchecking and that simply isn't the case with these two. They've definately been less physical, and they're having a hard time setting up offensive plays.
One difference from last year is they dump and chase the puck less. Most people whine about that, but sometimes you have to do this to get something started in the offensive zone. This is where Bergeron and Boys have shined in the second half of last season.
They also were a lot more physical because they would skate hard for the loose puck in the offensive zone, creating more opportunities for big hits. This year they get caught up trying to stick handle through everyone at the blueline on the way into the zone.
All I'm looking at is the league's metamorphasis into a special teams league. It seems that most teams have guys who "specialize" in penalty killing. This team sorely lacks production on the powerplay and Allison can fix that.
Add one pp goal or even .75 pp goal per game and things may be a bit different.
They also were a lot more physical because they would skate hard for the loose puck in the offensive zone, creating more opportunities for big hits. This year they get caught up trying to stick handle through everyone at the blueline on the way into the zone.
This is exactly why I say they're floating. A good share of Bergerons scoring opportunities, as well as his teammates, came from the turnovers that he caused by throwing hits. He doesn't even need to throw a devastating hit, just one that causes the other player to cough up the puck.
If anyone thinks that he's been even close to the player that he was last year, or even his rookie year for that matter, I'd like to hear what makes them feel that way.
Patrice Bergeron is an excellent player *when* he's playing physical. He's not a flashy dipsy-doodling player, he's a good, solid, hard-working player *when* he's out there hitting and causing the turnovers that lead to scoring chances.
I also don't buy the "he needs Sturm" crap for one second. When Bergeron is on his game (like he always *used* to be) he makes the players around him better. They don't make him better.
To me, until he rediscovers his physical game (again, which made him so effective) he's nothing but a useless floater. So far this season he's taken a huge step back in what we all thought and hoped would be the season where he took his game to the next level and it's entirely because he's dropped the physical aspect from his game.
When/if he starts hitting again we will see the return of Patrice Bergeron, but not until.
I haven't been floored by their play either, but you think that anything less than big hits is floating? You're misusing the term.
I didn't say "big hits". In fact, I went out of my way that devastating hits aren't needed. He just needs to play his old style of hitting enough to cause the turnovers that lead to his lines scoring chances.
I bet if you could look back at his career so far and every goal that the Bruins scored while Bergeron was on the ice you would see him battling for a loose puck, getting it and either scoring or setting up the goal or hitting and causing the turnover that lead to the goal.
I'm very, very surprised that I'm the only one who sees that the problem with Bergeron is that he's not playing physical.
I don´t quite understand, why you are still writing that Allison isn´t good enough.
His score productivity tells me something else..
Tell me some other Bruin player, except Thronton or Murray, who has regularly scored one point per game, since 1997-1998 season.... Noone... It´s a sad reality
Thornton and Allison were the only stable high productive players of Boston Bruins since 1999.
I don´t quite understand, why you are still writing that Allison isn´t good enough.
His score productivity tells me something else..
Tell me some other Bruin player, except Thronton or Murray, who has regularly scored one point per game, since 1997-1998 season.... Noone... It´s a sad reality
Thornton and Allison were the only stable high productive players of Boston Bruins since 1999.
Los, I think you need to look at Allison's production since leaving the Bruins. He isn't the player he was when he played for us.
He has also suffered a serious head injury & other injuries, which have slowed him down even more, and he never had much speed to begin with. In today's NHL, lack of speed is a killer.
Los, I think you need to look at Allison's production since leaving the Bruins. He isn't the player he was when he played for us.
He has also suffered a serious head injury & other injuries, which have slowed him down even more, and he never had much speed to begin with. In today's NHL, lack of speed is a killer.
He almost had a point per game last year... But, the debate on how effective he is, is moot. He's not at all what the Bruins need, and they don't have the means to sign him right now.
This is exactly why I say they're floating. A good share of Bergerons scoring opportunities, as well as his teammates, came from the turnovers that he caused by throwing hits. He doesn't even need to throw a devastating hit, just one that causes the other player to cough up the puck.
If anyone thinks that he's been even close to the player that he was last year, or even his rookie year for that matter, I'd like to hear what makes them feel that way.
Patrice Bergeron is an excellent player *when* he's playing physical. He's not a flashy dipsy-doodling player, he's a good, solid, hard-working player *when* he's out there hitting and causing the turnovers that lead to scoring chances.
I also don't buy the "he needs Sturm" crap for one second. When Bergeron is on his game (like he always *used* to be) he makes the players around him better. They don't make him better.
To me, until he rediscovers his physical game (again, which made him so effective) he's nothing but a useless floater. So far this season he's taken a huge step back in what we all thought and hoped would be the season where he took his game to the next level and it's entirely because he's dropped the physical aspect from his game.
When/if he starts hitting again we will see the return of Patrice Bergeron, but not until.
Damn!!!!!!!!!! This makes twice this month I have to agree with you. More "body contact " is what we need and Bergeron and Boyes aren't providing it. I'm not talking about fighting but body contact, i.e., hitting someone. BUT..... we also need that forward who will, and does, start something.
This is exactly why I say they're floating. A good share of Bergerons scoring opportunities, as well as his teammates, came from the turnovers that he caused by throwing hits. He doesn't even need to throw a devastating hit, just one that causes the other player to cough up the puck.
If anyone thinks that he's been even close to the player that he was last year, or even his rookie year for that matter, I'd like to hear what makes them feel that way.
Patrice Bergeron is an excellent player *when* he's playing physical. He's not a flashy dipsy-doodling player, he's a good, solid, hard-working player *when* he's out there hitting and causing the turnovers that lead to scoring chances.
I also don't buy the "he needs Sturm" crap for one second. When Bergeron is on his game (like he always *used* to be) he makes the players around him better. They don't make him better.
To me, until he rediscovers his physical game (again, which made him so effective) he's nothing but a useless floater. So far this season he's taken a huge step back in what we all thought and hoped would be the season where he took his game to the next level and it's entirely because he's dropped the physical aspect from his game.
When/if he starts hitting again we will see the return of Patrice Bergeron, but not until.
I hate to say it, but I have to give credit where credit is due: as wrong as DC was about wanting to trade Bergeron & Boyes, he is right on target with this analysis of Bergeron's poor play this year. Admit it, he's been floating. The best backchecker and usually the first guy back on his line has been Kessel, of all people. Bergeron is not creating turnovers: he only has 2 takeaways so far this year. Again, to use Kessel as a comparable (because he's a guy you wouldn't think would rate highly in this department) has twice as many. On a night when the coach made it painfully obvious to his players that he wanted them to be more physical, Bergeron didn't register a single hit. In fact, he only has 1 hit on the entire season! To make matters worse, his face-off numbers are down significantly and he's missed more shots (19) than Boyes has taken all year.
So, if he's not hitting, he's not creating turnovers, and he's not backchecking, what's he doing? Floating. The real question here is: When will he get back to playing his game?
Maybe, he's just a slow starter, after all it's only been 9 games. Or maybe he's uncomfortable because of his linemates and position on the power play. Is it possible he's sulking over not playing with Sturm & Boyes? I'd find that hard to believe. Whatever the reason, it's time for the coach to send a message that he needs to get back to playing his gritty, well rounded game.
I hate to say it, but I have to give credit where credit is due: as wrong as DC was about wanting to trade Bergeron & Boyes, he is right on target with this analysis of Bergeron's poor play this year. Admit it, he's been floating. The best backchecker and usually the first guy back on his line has been Kessel, of all people. Bergeron is not creating turnovers: he only has 2 takeaways so far this year. Again, to use Kessel as a comparable (because he's a guy you wouldn't think would rate highly in this department) has twice as many. On a night when the coach made it painfully obvious to his players that he wanted them to be more physical, Bergeron didn't register a single hit. In fact, he only has 1 hit on the entire season! To make matters worse, his face-off numbers are down significantly and he's missed more shots (19) than Boyes has taken all year.
So, if he's not hitting, he's not creating turnovers, and he's not backchecking, what's he doing? Floating. The real question here is: When will he get back to playing his game?
Maybe, he's just a slow starter, after all it's only been 9 games. Or maybe he's uncomfortable because of his linemates and position on the power play. Is it possible he's sulking over not playing with Sturm & Boyes? I'd find that hard to believe. Whatever the reason, it's time for the coach to send a message that he needs to get back to playing his gritty, well rounded game.
Nice to see that someone can admit that I'm right rather than spew venom my way for calling out a floater.
I don't really want to trade him *unless* his new "style" is permanent. If that is the case then he's of no use to us at all, especially when you factor in his 4.75 million dollar salary.
Btw, I started a thread on the subject of Bergeron.
I didn't say "big hits". In fact, I went out of my way that devastating hits aren't needed. He just needs to play his old style of hitting enough to cause the turnovers that lead to his lines scoring chances.
I bet if you could look back at his career so far and every goal that the Bruins scored while Bergeron was on the ice you would see him battling for a loose puck, getting it and either scoring or setting up the goal or hitting and causing the turnover that lead to the goal.
I'm very, very surprised that I'm the only one who sees that the problem with Bergeron is that he's not playing physical.
Like with most situations you are making a knee jerk reaction based on a couple underwhelming performances. The season is 8 games old. Granted I didnt see his game against Ottawa where everyone says he was not good, but he has looked very good in other games. So you are really basing his performance on a couple below average performanced at the start of a very bad season to date. Give it time.
