All sports fans tend to scapegoat certain players (or coaches and management) on their favorite team. Bruins fans are certainly no exception.
In your opinion, who have been or are the biggest scapegoats in Bruins' history? Guys who got targeted fairly or unfairly for failing in key sitations or for real or perceived shortcomings.
If you want, you can also give your opinion on whether or not the scapegoating was fair.
All sports fans tend to scapegoat certain players (or coaches and management) on their favorite team. Bruins fans are certainly no exception.
In your opinion, who have been or are the biggest scapegoats in Bruins' history? Guys who got targeted fairly or unfairly for failing in key sitations or for real or perceived shortcomings.
If you want, you can also give your opinion on whether or not the scapegoating was fair.
Hal Gill does really come to mind. However at the time I think his game was quite poor, he has come into his own under good coaching. I really happy for him that he has found his game.
The biggest and most deserved scape goat ever on this team is Zhamnov. That guy was so useless. 1 goal... 1. That was it for a 4 million dollar player out of the lockout. He's the sole reason we got rid of Jumbo Joe and ended up drafting Phil Kessel. Had he played like he was expected to. I honestly think Thornton would still be a Bruin. MOC would still be the GM of this team, and we likely wouldn't be as good as we are today.
All the names above are good examples of scapegoats but nothing compares to what I saw happen to Mike Millbury his last year. One game I remember he hopped over the boards and was roundly booed (as usual) and then Taz called him back to the bench and as he skated back there was a very loud and prolonged mock cheer.
Gill was definitely 1 of them but must admit has turned into a decent player now
I'm surprised by this.
Hal Gill is same player now that he always was. He's still sloppy with the puck. He still makes the boneheaded play. He still takes the inopportune penalties at the terrible times.
His strengths are the same as well.
This is the definition of Bruins fans' tendency to maintain a "grass is greener" mentality.
Hal Gill is same player now that he always was. He's still sloppy with the puck. He still makes the boneheaded play. He still takes the inopportune penalties at the terrible times.
His strengths are the same as well.
This is the definition of Bruins fans' tendency to maintain a "grass is greener" mentality.
Well he never killed penalties the way he does now when he was in Boston.Agreed that he still can't make a pass in his zone and turns the puck over and over
Well he never killed penalties the way he does now when he was in Boston.Agreed that he still can't make a pass in his zone and turns the puck over and over
I'm still going to have to disagree. He was one of the bright spots on the penalty kill here. A rock in front of the net. With his long reach, he vacuumed up rebounds... and with the rules as slack as they were, he manhandled anyone who wanted to skate it in.
I believe he was stretched thin here, because he was counted on to handle ridiculous amounts of ice time. But at what he did well (which wasn't everything by any means), he did REALLY well.
I'm still going to have to disagree. He was one of the bright spots on the penalty kill here. A rock in front of the net. With his long reach, he vacuumed up rebounds... and with the rules as slack as they were, he manhandled anyone who wanted to skate it in.
I believe he was stretched thin here, because he was counted on to handle ridiculous amounts of ice time. But at what he did well (which wasn't everything by any means), he did REALLY well.
I agree. Hal was a good PK player in Boston. He frequently frustrated many A-players, especially Jagr. Left in his role, Hal was just fine in Boston. He fell victim to the Bruins-curse, assuming that big = tough, the same affliction that befell Joe Thornton.
I watched Gil lots in Ottawa and Montreal this year, and he's also very much improved.
I agree. Hal was a good PK player in Boston. He frequently frustrated many A-players, especially Jagr. Left in his role, Hal was just fine in Boston. He fell victim to the Bruins-curse, assuming that big = tough, the same affliction that befell Joe Thornton.
I watched Gil lots in Ottawa and Montreal this year, and he's also very much improved.
he was good when he played with Bourque... Once Bourque left it went all down hill...
I'm still going to have to disagree. He was one of the bright spots on the penalty kill here. A rock in front of the net. With his long reach, he vacuumed up rebounds... and with the rules as slack as they were, he manhandled anyone who wanted to skate it in.
I believe he was stretched thin here, because he was counted on to handle ridiculous amounts of ice time. But at what he did well (which wasn't everything by any means), he did REALLY well.
He was actually a solidifying force on the blue line after the Thornton trade, a major factor in the calming of the defense that allowed the Bruins to sneak to within 2 points of the playoffs prior to the Olympic break. I gave him an A in my season-ending report card and got understandably skewered for it. I was probably generous, but I was really disappointed that one of the three or four things that went well for that chaotic team was made such a scapegoat. I think it comes down to fans just sick of him being so slow, he became a signature personality, emblematic of their frustration, and they could never sift out how well he actually played for Sully in 05-06. I was a critic, but more so of how the Bruins needed more of exactly what he wasn't, and they especially weren't getting it with top-four guys like O'Donnell and McGillis. But, after they were gone, Gill's contributions were more important, and he didn't let his game go down with the team's. Granted, the Kings and the Flames dumped to his corner and made him look bad, but shortly after the Thornton trade they had yet to reformulate. By the end of the season, though, Gill was a bright spot and got next to no credit for that. I don't blame him for getting out while the getting was good.
Hal Gill was the only B's player I really was tough on.
I kind of feel bad now.
He was pretty much the worst player on the ice almost every game though. He would always screen the B's goalie and give the puck to the other team.
Hal seems to have improved and I am happy for him.
Muzz took far too much grief from this board. Unlike Hal fans at the game seemed to like Glen. I NEVER heard boos for Muzz. The other STH near me liked him. Yes his last year was rough ...but it was due to injury. I would like to see Glen as an assistant coach in the NHL. He was a leader on the B's.
Hal, Muzz,Wides, a little Timmy.. Tho I think Wides has become the Hal Gill, callers on 98.5 compare other players on Boston teams to Dennis Wideman when they have a bad game I am sure there are others but can't think of em
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2012-2013: The Cup Returns 6.15.11
I am sure there are others but can't think of em
