Junkyard Dog

Whiskey works just as well.

That’s the nicest thing I have ever heard you say about the Bruins.

I cannot detect one.

I saw this on IG. Looks like he was going at it with Casper the Ghost. Hard one to call.

It makes for interesting research but it's hard to compare to normal seasons, it was a weird year. McDavid had 105 points in 56 games that year but the following year he had 123 points in 80 games. That's 18 more points but in 24 more games. I apply the same sort of thought to McDavid that year as I do to Boeser, though McDavid eventually followed up 2020-21 season this year(but it's McDavid). It's harder to even give awards conclusively in a year like that. I took that year as something he could build confidence going into following years coming back but he faced more injury and setbacks. He's been like the Sami Salo of forwards. Then the father health issues. Both mental and physical setbacks. When Boeser is at his best he isn't a 3rd wheel or support player. He's a grade A scoring threat teams have to watch out for. I feel the setbacks are a major cause of him not being able to return to that sort of form(Confidence being 2nd). I am hoping being faster and lighter potentially that he is able to revamp and that find sort of starpower he had again. Come into the season with a fresh mindset. If he can be a 30 goal threat then we have 4 in the top 6... 2 per line... that makes for a strong top 6 group. But the clock is ticking. If he gets passed up by another winger outplaying him, and we have lots and lots of young ones, then he might not be here much longer. Right now I have him better than Beau/Garland but they could have a good year and Hog/Pod could surprise(and are cheaper/might have more bang for buck if having good years). This is a big year for him. Probably the biggest of his career if he wants to stay here.

That was the season Petey was out half the season was our main offensive weapon so that opened up room for others in terms of offensive opportunity. It was also a North division that only had 6 teams to play against which is hard to give merit properly. He played well with the opportunity granted given the circumstances but he isn't gonna get the same opportunities as he did back during that year, especially with Kuz added and Petey healthy. Not unless he steps up big which IMO he hasn't really done since his rookie and +1 seasons conclusively.

Never found his A-game after his wrist and back injuries either. Perhaps time heals. Close to doubling last year's goal total would be a great accomplishment. Hopefully getting lighter/faster helps his game. He needs to be more selfish too. Him being an elite 30+ goal scoring threat opens up ice for everyone, especially our other elite goal scoring threats. Only so many players to give so much space. If you can't give anyone on the ice space... well you're up shit creek without a paddle. I am weary as it's been a long time since we've seen Brock bring his A-game(pretty much early in his career) and it's now or never. He can't allow anymore people to pass him in the top 6.

October cannot happen any sooner.

EPD and EPC is what I dub them.

Pretty much. A short term 4C might not be bad too(maybe re-up Blueger if he works) as added depth and a stop gap/mentor for younger Cs like Aman/Raty. Our winger prospect depth is pretty good for the bottom 6 and that’s where we are gonna see the next influx of youngsters. Just give them a couple good Cs to work with for the time being. 2024 offseason trade one of Garland/Boeser(maybe one has a good year) and use that cap to further address. Petey has his line already and Miller can work with one of Boeser/Garland and then a youngster(Hog/Pod/Lekkerimäki?). The youngster Ds we have besides maybe Willander are probably 3+ years away from becoming top 4 D if they do(I reckon they’d be 3rd pair for a time prior).

To be fair having those things on your roster probably boosts Cup/Playoff chances. At the same time it require luck to acquire these sort of players since drafting/developing is the main way to require.

Once we get cap just spend it on 3C and 4C. Joshua is better suited for winger which is where he played well last year. Aman will take a few years to develop as a playoff worthy bottom 6 C and faceoff skills and would probably benefit well from having a veteran 3/4 C to learn from. Same goes with Raty. They both young and have limited experience in NA. Karlsson might be better suited for wing where he’s been utilized a lot. His game kind of fits well there too. Studnicka is the biggest long shot of the bunch.

Would try to acquire an actual 3rd C that fits what we need rather than try to put guys in spots they don’t belong in. Benning tried to do that a lot. Acquire guys and put them in spots with the expectation that they will be more than what they are. I understand cap restraints probably delay the process of acquiring an actual 3C but we shouldn’t try to take shortcuts this way.

It doesn’t help that they bring too many folks from other countries as well. Feds bringing them in and leaving it for the provinces and cities to resolve. Toronto’s new mayor has clapped back already. Their shelters are becoming full and some asylum seekers are beginning to be left out on the streets. It doesn’t help that US cities are also getting overwhelmed and shipping out folks to Canada. Passing on the problem. Canada needs more migrants with the right skills to fill needs we don’t have (like building trades) that want to stay here permanently and not jump ship to the states after coming here.

Canada's new national meme.

One of the problems under old management was acquiring players with the expectation that they can be more than what they are and have ever proven. I'd say in a perfect world we get someone better than Soucy in the top 4. I don't think he's top 4 on a playoff-calibre team. He's better off to carry a 3rd pair. While it's still early on my expectations come next off-season is that they look to acquire a higher quality partner for Hronek. This would allow Soucy to carry a 3rd pairing(potentially help groom a young D) and give us solid depth when injuries happen. At the same time we'll need a stop gap partner for Hughes(maybe Tanev?) next year. Ultimately chemistry is determined by seeing the players actually play together. We definitely got players that fit team needs though.

I do feel that finding the right fits for our roster does go a long way. Like Kuz for Petey was a pretty nice fit. If you can replicate finding those fits with our better players we elevate all parties.

I can't say for certain, nor do I want to put my name in either of your hats in your discussion. Don't want to invest my time do that research. Simply wanted to elaborate on that year for Hughes for folks to see and understand.

He did struggle immensely on the defensive end during his 2nd year and his even-strength play overall took a significant hit that year as well. Good in O-zone that year but worst than his first year and a whole lot worse in the D-zone and on rush D.

DET traded Hronek and Bertuzzi within a 24 hour period and were already sucking. Of course they were gonna continue to suck more. I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t already think that. @mll mentioned that Yzerman was already making moves to come out of a rebuild since 2022 hence my question to him above in regards with the moves of Bert/Hronek in 2023 That first they traded for Debrincat could be the Boston first which is probably a low first. They have the choice to give them either first. Remember they have two next year. I already mentioned that they are probably gonna be a slow rising team. A lot of their prospects are on the cusp and will take time. They also have one of the best prospect pools in the league and can use it as an asset pool in trade. A lot of teams in the East are gonna be on the come downs in 2-3 years where I see teams like Ottawa/DET/BUF on the rise. Time will tell. More needs to be done. Any judgements now aren’t really gonna be concrete or comprehensive. We’re just spitballing.

Those signings were in 2022. What was the thought process behind the Hronek and Bertuzzi trades in 2023? Fits with what they’re trying to build? Contractual reasons? Those were my guesses. I figure they are gonna be more willing to spend assets for quality players now. They had 5 picks in the first two rounds last draft and already had what was considered a good prospect pool prior to this draft. It’s a considerable amount of assets available for use if need be. They spent one first for Debrincat and have another next year.

Debrincat played 1 season away from Chicago. Larkin is better than Horvat. That’s not a good comparison IMO. Horvat is only really better on the draws. He isn’t better offensively or defensively than Larkin and Larkin has wheels. Kasper is more of a rounded player than Petey and Petey is a world class talent. That’s an unfair comparison. He just needs to be a good 2C on that team. They still have the assets to trade. This draft helped. They are more than capable once the deal arises and they always seemingly do as loyalty doesn’t seem that important for some star players. They have flexibility in acquiring players. They also got a lot of talent that could pan out into some solid pieces. Time will tell but they are far from being in the worst position in the east IMO, particularly in a few years from now

Gonna be a pretty hard drop though. Windows are closing for a lot of east teams. Enjoy their success while it lasts. I feel that the west will be the powerhouse conference soon.

They can trade, they have the assets and stars have been available that way. Look at the last Finals teams. A couple of the best players for those teams were traded for. I think there's more than Seider as potential star personally. Edvinsson and Kasper. They already have a #1C in Larkin too and I feel that he's elite as well. Debrincat also borderline star who's put up 40 goals twice before. They need more but I feel they're on the right track. Have to wait and see what else they do down the road.