While there may only be one quarter of it in the books, the 2021 season has gone in two very different directions for Charlie Coyle and Charlie McAvoy. Both of the BU products have been regarded as central pieces of the team over the past 2+ years. However, in this new-look pandemic NHL, only one of them appears to be backing that up.

McAvoy’s promising upside was rewarded last offseason (2019) when the team signed him to a 3-year contract worth $4.9M per year. He has shown continued growth over three seasons, and seems to be trusted with more and more responsibilities by the day.

The 2020 offseason would prove to be an even bigger opportunity for Chuck, as Torey Krug and longtime Bruins Captain Zdeno Chara left Boston to sign elsewhere. Chara has taken the lion’s share of minutes against other teams’ top lines for more than a decade, and Krug has been one of the premier blue liners on the PP for a number of years.

One might think that (at just 23 years old) all this added pressure, responsibility and ice time could result in some growing pains not only for McAvoy, but for the majority of Boston’s very young D core. Nope. One would be wrong. All that has done is quickly propel McAvoy into the conversation of one of the most dominant d-men in the league.

Through 14 games this season, McAvoy is third on the Bruins with 11 points (behind only Bergeron and Marchand) and leads all defensemen with a +5 rating. He had an eight-game point streak from Jan. 23 to Feb. 10 and has routinely played over 24:00 per game, which is good for top-20 league wide (logging such minutes in 8 out of 14 contests).

The talented and versatile McAvoy is on pace for potentially 40 or more points this season, which would set a new personal record. More importantly, if he keeps up this dominant play there may be a jersey “Addition” coming his way soon. By the way, he’ll just hit the often critically regarded 200 game benchmark in the upcoming outdoor game at Lake Tahoe.

While Weymouth, MA. native Charlie Coyle seems to have always been a Bruin, this is just his second full season in black and gold and the first of his brand new 6-year deal worth $5.25M per year. After an impassioned performance in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (9G and 7A in 24 games) it was easy to think of him as a Boston lifer, and even easier to justify signing him to the the lucrative contract he now has.

Unlike McAvoy, the 14 games we’ve seen from Coyle this season are a far cry from the 2019 playoffs. He has just 4 points and is a -3 thus far. Even worse, he’s currently riding a seven-game pointless streak, logging fewer than 16:00 in four of the seven games while generating just seven shots in his last six.

Coyle’s game isn’t all about the production on paper. At 6’3” 220lbs. he’s a great combination of speed and physicality. His play shines when he’s heavy on the forecheck and can maintain puck possession that leads to scoring chances. Unfortunately, those very attributes are what have been missing from his game lately.

Coyle has played with a variety of different wingers already this year, but as the third line Center he needs to be the one to dictate play and be a consistent presence in the lineup. I’m sure there were many considerations that went in to his current contract, one of which was probably forecasting the eventual (and now perhaps looming) departure of David Krejci. Krejci has always been one of the points leaders on the team as well as one of the more reliable Centers in the NHL. If Krejci does depart from Boston for whatever reason, we will need to see a better version of Charlie Coyle.

If Coyle can’t prove that he’s consistent and reliable, his contract may just end up being another sad statistic for the Bruins front office. Let’s right the ship now so that in four years we don’t have another guy on the wrong side of 30 making second-line money to be a fourth-line producer.

Jegs-

We are all still in a haze after that horrendous game 7 back in June. It has taken most of the summer to get the bitter taste out of my mouth, but today is the start of a new chapter. Here are some major themes I will be focusing on during the course of the 2019-2020 season.

First, let’s address the elephant in the room (or in this case the dinosaur), Zdeno Chara. I will be paying close attention to his decline and ineptitude on a nightly basis. I understand he HAS been one of the most dominant, intimidating D-men of the 21st Century, but he’s like 86 years old now. He is slow as molasses, and I will be the first one to point that out to you. However, my list of grievances with big Z goes far beyond his lack of speed. Every game I see him misplay pucks, try to force plays he can’t make, fail to clear the zone with little to no pressure, and frankly just put his teammates in compromising positions. I wish I wasn’t the only one around Boston with a brain that could point this out to you, but for now I’ll take the reigns.

Next, let’s just take it slow with Tuukka Rask. I have certainly contributed to some less than favorable opinions about him over the years, and I 100% admit that I wiped the record clean of all transgressions after the way he played in the 2019 playoffs. I am making a promise to myself and to all of you that I will not jump to any conclusions on the goalie this season. If he loses 5 straight games, so be it; if he goes on a 20-game unbeaten streak, great. Tuukka has a job to do, and so do all 18 of his teammates. Criticism will be for the performance on the ice, not for any speculation about personal turmoil, made up injuries, emotional distress, or lack of interest.

There are a couple of young forwards that everyone should be very excited about. While I’m aware this is no profound discovery, David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk can be two of the most electric scorers in the league. Pasta seems to really be coming into his own, and showed a huge improvement in his defensive responsibility toward the latter part of the season/playoffs. I think he’s truly getting comfortable in Boston and with his role on the team, and I look for him to run with it this year. As for Jake: I am looking for his emergence as a potential 30+ (maaaaybe even 40?) goal scorer. He has been a streaky scorer in his 2 NHL seasons, but if he can continue to improve his net front presence on the power play he could have 10-12 gift wrapped redirect goals. Speed, strength and youth needs to be the theme up front for this team.

And finally, our suddenly crowded D-corps. I am a big fan of Conor Clifton. I like his attitude, and his play on the ice has definitely been worthy of consistent playing time. I’d like to see exactly how the blue line duties are split up this season. Can Clifton continue to stay in the lineup even if the health of John Moore and Kevan Miller improves? Will there be a bit of a timeshare on the third D pair? Not only does Cliffy have the threat of veterans Miller and Moore taking playing time, but there are also young defensemen like Jeremy Lauzon and Urho Vaakanainen waiting in the wind if Cassidy decides to roll out some different combinations.

That’s all I have for now until I see some real games, but overall I’m feeling good about the start of the season. A nice 4-game road trip out west should set the tone for this group of guys to get it together and ward off complacency. Maybe if we’re lucky we’ll be done thinking about that wretched “Stanley Cup Hangover” by the time November comes knocking. Jegs-

Ahhh, as I woke up and took a nice deep breath of some crisp, fall air I realized that it’s October now. And that means that it’s officially hockey season! There is a little more than 24 hours to go until the first puck drop between our beloved Bruins and the Washington Capitals. Before we all buckle in as loyal fans, there are a few things to keep in mind about this Bruins team. Since I am such a thoughtful and considerate person, I’ve decided to breakdown the most important issues to look out for as the season gets going.

The development and growth of Boston’s young talent: I know, this isn’t the most profound statement, as anyone who has even remotely followed the team knows how bright the future is. That being said, there is a huge window of opportunity for a handful of players entering their second season with the Bruins. How they handle these opportunities will have a dramatic impact on the team’s success in 2019. Charlie McAvoy, Jake DeBrusk, and Danton Heinen were all regulars in the lineup last year, and have proven that they can handle an increased workload.

DeBrusk showed his speed, selflessness and grit last year on his way to 16G and 27A in his first season with the black and gold. He was also the most consistent player through 12 playoff games, scoring 8 points before the team was ousted by Tampa Bay. Look for DeBrusk to add to that point total in his sophomore season.

Heinen had some ups and downs in his first full season with Boston, but was able to limit mistakes while being responsible with the puck in all three zones. A red-hot December and January helped him on his way to 16G and 31A. The departure of journeymen like Riley Nash, Tim Schaller, and Tommy Wingels, and seasoned veterans Rick Nash and Brian Gionta means there will be higher expectations for Heinen; he will need to show that he can be a more consistent presence on the ice, and will likely be asked to center the third line as opposed to playing left wing where got comfortable last year.

At just 20 years old, McAcoy averaged over 22 minutes in 63 games. He did have to deal with heart surgery, as well as a sprained MCL which caused him to miss 15 games. Boston’s blue line still has some big question marks, with an aging Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug missing the start of the season with an ankle injury. McAvoy will be tested early and often with games against Alex Ovechkin, Johnny Gaudreau, and Connor McDavid (twice) in the first 2 weeks of the season. There will be some growing pains, but if he can stay healthy Charlie could blossom into one of the league’s premier defensemen.

Slightly further down the Bruins depth chart are talented wingers Ryan Donato and Anders Bjork. Both players got just a brief stint with Boston last year, but should presumably be slotted into more permanent roles this season. Bjork started last year as Patrice Bergeron’s RW, and played fairly well in the team’s first 16 games (3G, 6A) before struggling through various shoulder/neck injuries. Donato burst on to the scene in March, already a fan favorite. The second generation Bruin had led Harvard in the Beanpot, and then the Hockey East tournament, and shined for Team USA in the Olympics. The sky is the limit for Donato, but with just 15 NHL games under his belt it’s hard to tell how representative his impressive scoring (5G+4A=9PTS in 12 regular season games) output truly is. Much like McAvoy, there will be some growing pains for Bjork and Donato. It’s also likely for these players to be in a bit of a timeshare, as they are both more accustomed to playing left wing, with a left-handed shot.

Goalie play: Again, this might sound like I’m beating a dead horse, but the team’s ultimate success is largely predicated upon the performance of its goaltenders. We have seen what kind of offensive display this team is capable of, and there will be plenty of games that Boston scores upwards of 4, 5, 6, or more goals. I also expect the team to take care of business against the teams it should beat. However, what kind of goaltending will we see in the tight games against tougher competition? Can the Bruins pull out a 3-2 or a 2-1 victory?

In years past, people (myself included) have been quick to jump all over Tuukka Rask when he’s had a few bad games; calling for his head and asking for him to be shipped off. Last year the team had the luxury of outstanding play by backup Anton Khudobin. This season, however, we will see 14-year veteran Jaroslav Halak rotating in with Tuukka. Halak (who is 33 years old, and much like Dobby, is under six feet tall) is sporting a career GAA of 2.50 with a .916 SV%, and those numbers have been growing increasingly bad over the last two years. In his last 82 games with the New York Islanders, Halak has posted an inflated 2.99 GAA along with roughly a .911 SV%; not exactly anything to write home about. Now, Halak has at least had the experience of being a starter for many years whereas Khudobin has mostly been a career backup, so if the B’s coaching staff is looking for more of a 50/50 split in net he should be able to provide them with that. Unfortunately, if Tuukka does struggle I don’t expect to see Halak swoop in and be the Bruins’ saving grace. While he might be able to spell Tuukka for longer periods of time, I can see a situation where this team just has two subpar goalies. Their work will be cut out for them against the likes of Tampa Bay, Toronto, Washington and Pittsburgh which all have high-flying offenses coupled with vezina-caliber net minders.

Key players who could have an immediate impact: As I mentioned, Torey Krug will be out for what looks like at least 3 weeks or so, and that opens up a spot on defense. Rookie Urho Vaakanainen has been the preseason darling for this team, and is the early-season fan favorite coming out of camp. The 19-year-old from Finland was Boston’s 18th overall pick in the 2017 draft, and it looks like he will be the first in line at playing time with Krug sidelined. With all of the success that rookies have had here lately it’s hard not to get excited about another promising teenager getting a chance to shine, but let’s just pump the brakes a little bit. I’m looking for Vaakanainen to put together a few decent games, learn his way around the NHL and get comfortable in the zone; anything else beyond that is all gravy. Opening night against Washington will certainly be a baptism by fire, but luckily after that the competition subsides drastically with Boston’s next four games coming against Buffalo, Ottawa, Edmonton and Detroit. If the rookie can hang in there for the first 5 games it will go a long way in his development, no matter how permanent his role is moving forward.

The loss of Tim Schaller was hard for me to take when I heard he was signed by Vancouver early this summer. However, the addition of Chris Wagner takes a bit of the sting away. Timmy was a great fourth-liner that fit right into the culture in Boston. He’s a “local” guy from Merrimack, NH who didn’t really get a chance until coming to the Bruins. I’m telling you right now, by November Chris Wagner will be the next hottest thing in Boston. Anyone who knows how this organization likes to play and appreciates the guys that do the hard work will LOVE Wagner. Another local (he’s from Walpole, MA) coming home to play for the Bs, Wagner was finally given a serious chunk of playing time last year while in Anaheim. The Ducks dealt with a lot of injuries early last season, and with both Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler out of the lineup, he filled in as a second line center, even getting some PP time. At 6’0″ and 200lbs. Wagner is more at home on the fourth line and should be able to keep up his end of the bargain alongside players like Noel Acciari and Sean Kuraly. It will be good to know this team has some back-end stability, yet with enough skill and dependability to play up in the lineup as well, if called upon.

If the Bruins can stay healthy it should alleviate some of the strain that the team felt early last year. If not, look for the aforementioned scenarios to play out. If the team struggles and can’t get out of its own way, or if it continues to overachieve, you can likely look to these key factors as reasons why.

Jegs-

Boston has always been a blue collar kind of town; a place that appreciates hard work and grit. There may be no better place for those values to shine through than on the ice in TD Garden. The Bruins have long been a reflection of the city’s hard work and determination, and when a certain individual steps up and shows those traits it is only right for him to be praised and rewarded for his efforts.

Around this time of year, the type of praise that comes with all of that hard work is the Seventh Player Award. There are a handful of players on this Bruins team who will likely be considered for the award, and one could make a strong case for each of them.

Torey Krug: the fifth-year Michigan native has been a popular topic of conversation since the very first day he cracked the Bruins lineup. Everyone that hates Krug will tell you he’s too small to be given as big of a role as he has, and even though he has a great shot on the PP he’s a defensive liability. Everyone who loves Krug will let you know how his skill set allows the Bruins offense to flourish and how he is helping this fast young team become a contender. No matter which side of the debate you land on, it is indisputable that number 47 is having a career year. He is fourth on the team in scoring with 48 points and is on pace to break his personal best of 51 that he set last year. He is shooting the puck particularly well this season (13/156, or 8.3%) and on a team that has struggled with key injuries over the last several seasons, he is one guy you can count on to be in the lineup most nights, having missed just 13 games since 2013.

Jake DeBrusk: the rookie winger has been a consistent presence on the second line all year, and with the addition of Rick Nash he is blossoming at just the right time. As the son of long-time NHL journeyman and tough guy, Louie DeBrusk, Jake is no stranger to hard work and grit. The 6’0″ 188lb. DeBrusk is just 21 years old and looks to be well on his way to a promising and effective career in Boston. Through 63 games with the Bruins he has 14G, and 25A, and is a +11 with just 19PIM. Whether he wins the Seventh Player or not, the future is bright for this kid.

Danton Heinen: he has been another bright young piece for this Bruins team in 2018. Also a rookie, Heinen has earned a solidified role on the third line (and even a few games with Bergeron and Pastrnak) with his responsible, consistent play. The 22 year old British Columbia native has 12G and 27A through 62 games this season, and is a +9. If the voters have recency bias it will hurt his case for the award, as he currently has just 1 assist in his last 14 games, with a -3 rating over that span. Those are definitely subpar numbers, however his production through December and January was a big reason why this team succeeded at such a high rate. He has certainly shown that he is ready to play in the NHL, and as a 4th round pick he has seemingly developed earlier than expected; he should be in the conversation.

Riley Nash: it may have taken me a year and a half to warm up to him, but I’m finally a Riley Nash believer. He is honestly MY favorite to win the Seventh Player Award. Ok, he’s not going to be lighting up the scoresheet or featured on ESPN’s top-10 every week, but he is exactly the kind of blue-collar team-player that is cherished around these parts; he’s a “Belichick guy”. Sitting just 3 points behind the aforementioned DeBrusk and Heinen, Nash is already blowing away his previous career-high point total of 25. He’s only missed 2 games since becoming a Bruin in 2016, and has shown his versatility this year by centering all four lines at some point throughout the season (there are certainly VERY FEW players across the league who could pull that off so seamlessly). Nash really should be a fourth liner, but I have to give him credit for what he’s been able to do when promoted to a top-6 role. That alone ought to be a huge boost to his chances of winning the award.

Anton Khudobin: it isn’t very customary for a goalie to be the “seventh player”, but Dobby has made a pretty significant impact for the Bs this year. The coaching staff and management group has wanted to keep Tuukka Rask under 56-58 games, and with 15 games in the next 27 days there will be plenty of opportunities for Khudobin to add to his success this year. It isn’t too often you seen a backup goalie close in on 20 wins, but that is within the realm of possibilities for Dobby who currently owns a 15-5-4 record. While it remains a long shot that he will actually win the Seventh Player Award, you have to appreciate the work ethic he has displayed when called upon this year.

I hope this was helpful and informative, and I guess only time will tell if any of my predictions are correct. Until next time, Jegs-

I don’t know what it’s like to grow up in East Longmeadow, MA. I don’t know what it’s like to attend a local University where everyone knows your name and who you are. I don’t know what it’s like to be 21-years-old and play in the NHL for your hometown team that you’ve idolized your entire life. I imagine it’s pretty awesome.

I also don’t know what it’s like to be “that hometown guy” that everyone has an opinion of. I don’t know what it’s like to have to hear some nobody (like ME) criticize my life and/or career publicly. I imagine it’s pretty challenging.

Look, I’m not sorry for my opinions or for what my eyes see on the ice. But, I can understand feeling disrespected and attacked by someone who is on the outside looking in, and for that I apologize. Let me make it up to you Frank, and to all of your loyal fans and supporters.

“He’s a quick, diminutive skater who can blast the puck, but can also be a bit of a hothead at times and make some careless mistakes.” Sure, I could maybe be talking about Frank Vatrano, but doesn’t that sound like someone else we know? The similarities between Vatrano and Brad Marchand are really quite remarkable.

Both players stand at 5’9″ and are left-handed shots coming down the wing. Both players were given an opportunity to break out with Bruins at around 21-22 years of age after spending very little time in Providence. I realize I called for Frank not to be a “reckless jackass” on Tuesday night, but it wasn’t too long ago that Brad Marchand was flirting with that title himself.

Ok, I don’t need to be a rude, loud mouthed dickhead to Frank (again, I’m sorry), but my complaints about his game are mainly rooted in him taking too many penalties and not putting the puck in the net (which I want him to do btw!). If you take a look at the first 100 games for each of these two guys, it will actually become apparent that I shouldn’t really be complaining about Frank’s numbers. So, for all the other haters out there, here you go-

Brad Marchand: from October 21, 2009 to October 10, 2011 he scored 22G, 23A = 45 and had 79PIM (an average of just over 1 penalty every 3 games). This also included a number of major penalties; a trend that would continue for the next several years of his career, and would lead to a lot of mixed reviews and confusion about what kind of player he truly was. I know many of you remember that local townie that called him “that Maashmahnd kehd”, a sound byte which would become radio gold during that fabled spring of 2011. Oh, btw, he started his career on a 28-game goal scoring drought.

Frank Vatrano: from November 7, 2015 to November 26, 2017 he scored 20G, 11A = 31 and had 40PIM (an average of just 1 penalty every 5 games!). He did have a 25-game drought of his own from February 28 to October 30 of 2017, a span that extended from his final 16 appearances of last season through his first 9 appearances of this season. And for all of the so-called recklessness, I can’t for the life of me think of a time he’s taken egregious major penalties, or been suspended/fined.

Oh yeah, about those suspensions… this is now Marchand’s sixth suspension since 2011, totaling 19 games for his career. As Bruins fans we all forget about how many times he has played on the wrong side of the line, because he puts up 25+ goals every year. So I guess, that’s all we need to justify all of our love for Brad Marchand? (It is, let’s be realistic here) If he played for any other team in the league, we would all hate Marchand; we’d think he was an annoying little pest. Yet, somehow in spite of his questionable antics, he has become one of the premier scorers in the NHL, a leader in the Bs locker room, and a perennial All-Star. So why is it that Marchand has turned into the player he is?

Just two weeks ago we heard Marchand give some of his own insight into this, when Claude Julien visited the Garden for the first time since becoming the coach of the Montreal Canadiens. Now, I’m paraphrasing here, but I believe it was something along the lines of “Not a lot of coaches would have put the time in with me.” Marchy also had a few more luxuries as a young player that Frank has not, one of which is the gift of being a linemate of Patrice Bergeron‘s. In addition to Bergy, Marchand had all sorts of veteran leadership around him in the form of Chara, Mark Recchi, Andrew Ference, Chris Kelly, and even role players like the fearsome trio we so lovingly refer to as the Merlot Line. I even remember a story from the summer of 2011 (can’t place the source or author, but it might have been autobiographical in the Player’s Tribune). It was Brad Marchand discussing how his father came down on him hard after winning the Cup; he was partying and celebrating too much, and I guess pops had to step in and shorten the reigns on “the little ball of hate” he calls his son.

By no means am I suggesting that Frank’s dad isn’t staying involved in his son’s life, nor am I implying that this team has no veteran leadership. However, beyond Chara, Bergeron, Krejci and Backes, the core of this team is very young and still growing. He hasn’t been able to take advantage of that same continuity and stability in the lineup that was afforded to Marchand. Vatrano has been back and forth between Providence and Boston, and has dealt with 2 different head coaches (as has the rest of the team mind you) trying to help him find his way. This last stretch of games has been particularly staggering for number 72, as he’s only been in the lineup 5 times in the last two months. Since November 29th against Tampa Bay, he’s averaging just 8:47 TOI per game, and has 10 PIM to go along with just 8 SOG (he had only 1 shot in 4 out of 5). Frank, I say this as nicely as I can; you CANNOT expect to stay in the lineup when you have more penalty minutes than shots on goal!

Last Thursday against Ottawa was particularly frustrating to watch, when he took a slashing penalty in the first period and then a tripping call just 1:37 into the third. The latter forced Bruce Cassidy to bench him for the remainder of the game, resulting in a mere 7:10 ice time. Not only was Vatrano’s game shortened, but it put pressure on the rest of the team by having to play one man down and forcing several wingers to have to play extra shifts.

Ok, I know this is long just bear with me here (and if you made it this far, thank you and congratulations). This is the perfect time for Marchand to step in and help mentor Vatrano into the player he could be. Marchy has only served 2 games of his 5-game suspension, and thus will remain out of the lineup until at least February 7th against the Rangers. Like I said, he’s one of the leaders on and off the ice for the Bruins now, and while he’s watching from the press box Frank will presumably continue playing over the next 3 games (maybe it’s no coincidence that Frank is in the lineup in place of Marchand).

These two guys should be attached at the hip over the next week: drive to practice together, eat meals together, play video games together, whatever. Vatrano will be 24 in a month and a half, and with his entry-level contract expiring at the end of this season his potential career could be in the balance. When Marchand was 24 he had already won a Stanley Cup, had been to a second Cup Final, and had two 20-goal seasons under his belt. This is a great opportunity for growth for both players, and as a fan I can truly think of no better outcome than me falling flat on my face. Go get ’em boys!

This hasn’t been the greatest week to be a Bruins fan. Monday we all found out that Charlie McAvoy had heart surgery and will be out 2 weeks. Then, less than 48 hours later we receive the news that the league has decided to suspend Brad Marchand 5 games.

Charlie’s news just makes me sad, plain and simple; there are no two ways about it. I really hope it is “minor” and the rookie can get back to dominating the NHL as soon as possible. If this turns into a more long-term lingering problem it will crush my existence.

After a couple days to process it, Brad Marchand’s suspension isn’t the worst thing in the world. As a hockey fan, I’m a little disappointed by it because it makes the sport seem soft (I’m an old school kinda guy) for handing out such serious penalties for a less-than-malicious play. However, as a Bruins fan, it’s really a blessing in disguise.

The team has been on fire and it seems like they can do no wrong lately. Since November 15th Boston has won 22 of its 29 games, and has currently collected at least a point in its last 17 consecutive contests! There hasn’t exactly been a lot of turmoil for this young team in the past two months, and frankly this is just what the Bruins need. If there are going to be any struggles or slumps I would much rather them happen at the beginning of February than the beginning of April.

Marchand being out of the lineup means there is a BIG opportunity for Anders Bjork. The rookie played respectably for the first month of the season until an injury and inconsistent play eventually forced him out of the lineup. Now that the 21-year-old has another chance, we should expect him to have fresh legs and play with speed. If he is alongside Bergeron, like he was in the preseason, he can gain infinite experience even if only for 5 games.

I can’t stress enough how devastating it is to me to be without Charlie, but even that opens up some doors. Adam McQuaid just got healthy within the last few weeks, and has now played in relief of McAvoy and Kevan Miller for the last three games. He can reestablish himself in the lineup, and help bolster this Bruins roster heading into what should presumably be a decent playoff push.

It’s unlike me to be so blindly optimistic about the Bruins, but that just goes to show exactly how well this team has come together. They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Well, I say just stick to beer and watch hockey.

Jegs-

Anyone who thinks the “Crosby or Ovechkin?” argument is still a thing is a loozah. It’s not even close.

Alex Ovechkin: 1,078 points in 962 career games (1.12 ppg) with a +96 rating; 90 points in 97 career playoff games (.927 ppg). And, oh yeah, he’s won NOTHING.

Sidney Crosby:1,067 points in 825 career games (1.29 ppg) with a +155 rating; 164 points in 148 career playoff games (1.1 ppg); 2 Olympic Gold Medals, 3 Stanley Cups!

Enough is enough already. Anyone who still thinks they’d pick Ovie, just put it to rest. Sid isn’t a “diva”, you can’t claim to “hate the Penguins” and don’t give me the whole “yeah, but Ovechkin is 6’3″ 230lbs and can hit” nonsense. PUT UP OR SHUT UP, plain and simple!

Here in New England we’ve now upgraded from just plain old Nor’Easters to “thunder snow” and “bomb cyclones”. No matter what your local weatherman wants to call it, we had a snow day yesterday. With a team full of rookies and twenty-somethings, I’m sure a day off to play in the snow was more than welcome; I know as a kid I would have been out there sledding, building a snow fort or having fun with a snowball fight. Since we all missed out on a chance to watch a fun hockey game last night, it got me to thinking about certain players and how many games some of them have missed (not due to snow days). Some of the information I came across was obvious, but there were a few numbers in particular that stuck out to me.

There is only one player on the Bruins roster who has played in every game over the last 2 seasons, and it’s not Zdeno Chara or Patrice Bergeron. That same player is 4th on the team (+17) in plus/minus rating, behind only Chara, Bergeron, and Brad Marchand. Over that span, only Torey Krug has fewer penalty minutes amongst Defensemen (okay, so you know he’s a defenseman now). What’s an even more eye-popping fun fact: there are six rookies who have been regulars in the active lineup this season, he is younger than five of them. That player is Brandon Carlo.

The second-year D man has been flying under the radar a little bit this year, and many may say he’s regressed from last season. Fact of the matter is, he has been one of the most durable, reliable, and consistent players on this roster, and he just turned 21 a month and a half ago. Call me old fashioned, but I appreciate an NHL Defenseman who can actually go out there and PLAY DEFENSE.

By now, everyone knows who Charlie McAvoy is. Charlie (the only player who’s younger than Carlo btw) is a once in a lifetime kind of talent, and he’s going to be on highlight reels for the next 15 years. If you go an entire game without hearing Brandon Carlo’s name, it’s probably because he’s playing a really solid brand of hockey; when he’s on his game and doing all the right things, you won’t hear his name much. Hell, in the years to come he might be on the ice with Charlie in all of those prolific highlights I mentioned.

Carlo, and the Bruins are at a crossroads, however: what type of player should Brandon Carlo become? Personally, he kind of reminds me of a young Kyle McLaren (both players go around 6’4″-6’5″ and 210lbs, give or take a few, and came into the league as teenagers). It’s hard to ignore that Carlo came flying out of the gate as a rookie, scoring 1G and 1A on 5 shots and putting up a +7 rating in his first three NHL games. I think that’s why people assume he’s regressed this year. Well, I hate to tell you, but he’s played 117 games since that hot start, and if you haven’t been watching you’re leaving out a lot of other improvements to his game.

Bruins fans have seen several young Defensive talents come and go (Johnny Boychuk, Dougie Hamilton, Colin Miller), and I think it’s reasonable to have some concern that Carlo might be trending that way. There’s a big difference between the two latter comparisons and the two former. McLaren and Boychuk weren’t just speedy point men who could shoot the puck (don’t get me wrong, both could BLAST the biscuit), they could also stand guys up at the blue line, deliver big hits, and be leaders on a top D-pair.

Much like those 2 physical blue-liners of the past, Carlo has had a few tough mentors of his own here in his brief time as a Bruin. Chara, as well as veterans Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller play a disciplined defensive style that has clearly been rubbing off on Carlo. While I fully admit I can’t foresee him smashing any faces in any time soon, he has an increased role on the penalty kill, and overall more responsibilities have been made available to him when either McQuaid (83/120 games since 2016) or Miller (94/120 games since 2016) miss games. Further evidence that the coaching staff trusts Carlo is the fact that he is no longer paired with Chara, and can really take hold of a leadership role with Krug when the second unit is on the ice. Just for shits and giggles, here’s how all of these guys’ numbers looked as rookies:

Kyle McLaren: 5G, 12A = 17, 73 PIM +16 in 74 games in 1995-96

Johnny Boychuk: 5G, 10A = 15, 43 PIM +10 in 51 games in 2009-10

Adam McQuaid: 3G, 12A = 15, 96 PIM +30 in 67 games in 2010-11

Dougie Hamilton: 5G, 11A = 16, 14 PIM +4 in just 42* games in 2012-13

Kevan Miller: 1G, 5A = 6, 38 PIM +20 in 47 games in 2013-14

Colin Miller: 3G, 13A = 16, 39 PIM even in 42 games in 2015-16

Brandon Carlo: 6G, 10A = 16, 59 PIM +9 in 82 games in 2016-17

Clearly Dougie and Colin Miller are the most adept offensively of the bunch, but they also have the lowest +/- ratings. If Carlo can even put up 70% of what Dougie Hamilton has produced, while being a sound 200-foot player, he can cement his place on this team for a long time to come. If he puts on another 10-15 pounds, then all bets are off. This could very well be the beginning of a storm in Boston: not a Cyclogenesis, but a Carlo-genesis. ~That was probably corny, but I don’t care~ Jegs-

It turns out this Boston Bruins team is pretty damn good after all. For anyone who stuck it out and watched what was a stressful Oct/Nov, you were rewarded in December. Call it a Christmas gift, a Hanukkah gift, or an early start on a New Year’s Resolution; no matter how you choose to look at it, the Bruins have arguably been the best team in hockey over the last 5 weeks. You don’t believe me? There are countless reasons why Boston has been playing at an elite level (yes, ELITE), but it starts and ends with the leaders on the team.

If it’s confusing to figure out who the leaders are, the team has already made it easy for you by placing a “C” or “A” on their jerseys. I’ll be the first to criticize the dinosaur that is Zdeno Chara, but let’s start there. The Bruins Captain hasn’t really jumped off the page in many games this year, but he’s played in all 37 of the B’s contests and continues to eat up ice time. Chara and Defense partner Charlie McAvoy each averaged 22:09 TOI in the month of December. In 14 games Chara is a +8, while chipping in 1G and 3A. In those same 14 games, McAvoy has a +11 rating to go along with 7 points (2G, 5A). I’m well aware that Charlie is not currently a captain, but considering he’s a 20-year-old rookie who is playing well beyond his years, I don’t think it will take him long to earn a letter in the near future. The top D-pair is clearly playing as such, and the trickle-down effect has been evident as well. Oh yeah, by the way, all of those awesome Charlie McAvoy December stats are leaving out TWO shootout winners and a Gordie Howe Hat-Trick along the way!

Health has contributed to some of the team’s inconsistencies, but when all four forward lines look like they should this team is a different animal. Much like the Chara/McAvoy pairing, the top-3 Centers- Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and David Backes (who all conveniently happen to wear the “A”) have been showing their consistency over the month of December as well. I am as big of a Patrice Bergeron fan as you will find, but I have been a little critical of his production this year. Well, the proof is in the pudding. Bergy is playing at almost a point-per-game pace with 6G, 6A, and a +7 rating through 14 games. The perennial Selke candidate is also getting back to form at the faceoff dot, winning 163/286 draws (57%) to close out 2017.

While I’m still going to harp on David Krejci for missing so many games, he’s been good when he’s been in the lineup. Krejci has 3G, 4A and a +2 rating in 8 games since the beginning of December. Again, that’s just shy of a point per game; I just need to see him in the lineup more. Meanwhile, one guy whose toughness and resolve I will never question is David Backes. Backes has managed to play one more game than Krejci on the season, but he’s been in the lineup for good since coming back from colon surgery. In 14 games he has 7G and 7A, and is a +5. His heart and work ethic have especially gone a long way in leading this young locker room. Complimentary rookies Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen have both flourished in Backes’ recent resurgence, and the impact he has had on stabilizing the bottom-6 forwards is elevating the fourth-line play as well. Backes is a complete hockey player, and the Bruins are a more complete hockey team with him on the ice.

The biggest factor, however, in Boston’s recent success has been the play of Tuukka Rask. After picking up 22 of a possible 28 points in December, the Bruins now find themselves sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with multiple games at hand against most of the competition. Tuukka owns a 9-0-1 record over that span, accounting for 19 of the 22 points the team has earned. He has been absolutely lights out, posting a 1.20 GAA (with 2 shutouts) to go along with his .958 SV%. Bruins fans can’t complain about the offense either, as the team has 39 goals (almost 4 per game) in his 10 starts. Tuukka is making Thanksgiving seem like ancient history. Remember that, when he had twice as many losses as he had wins; when his backup had twice as many wins as he did?? If Boston can continue to get the Tuukka Rask from December rather than the one from Oct/Nov, it will be in excellent shape heading into the playoffs. Oh, and for any of you keeping tabs on Tuukka’s “pitch count”, he’s played in 65% of the B’s 37 games this season, putting him on pace for about 53-54 starts.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Jegs-

Wednesday Night’s matchup against the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning was quite the show. Admittedly, I, much like the majority of you puck heads out there, penciled this one in as a loss. It was far from it. Here are the three keys to Boston’s big win:

The Matchup Game. Head coach Bruce Cassidy was more than happy to load up the Bruins’ top line with Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak. The trio went toe-to-toe with Tampa Bay’s top line of Stamkos, Kucherov, and Namestnikov, and the former shut down the latter. In fact, the B’s forwards (with the help of Charlie McAvoy) were so good, that Tampa’s head coach John Cooper had to split up his three-headed monster after the first period. This game might have officially been the coming-out party for McAvoy, as the rookie defenseman logged a game-high 28:11 TOI (even outplaying Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman by almost a minute and a half) and showed up big on the score sheet with 1G, 1A and a +2 rating. The future has arrived everyone, it wears number 73.

Tuukka Rask. The Bruins #1 netminder finally got a big win for his team. It wasn’t a perfect game by any means, but hopefully it’s a step in the right direction for the 30-year-old Fin. The 3-2 victory marks just the fourth win of the season for Tuukka, and his first since November 6. Both wins were remarkably similar. The first included Rask making 24 saves on 27 shots (.889 SV%), while the Bruins took 34 of their own. The most recent included Rask making 19 saves on 21 shots (.905 SV%), while Boston fired 36 shots on net. It doesn’t make you feel very confident about Tuukka being able to stand on his head and steal a game for this team; those numbers certainly aren’t anywhere close to Vezina-caliber. Logic would suggest that if he faced more than 21 shots against the Lightning, eventually Tuukka would have surrendered the lead. There have been questions about the team’s performance in front of Tuukka this season, and luckily his teammates showed up for this one.

David Backes is the man. That whole question about the Bruins desire to play, well maybe it has to do with #42 being out of the lineup so much this year. He might have a semi-colon, but Backes still has a full heart. Sure, he’s getting a little old, and he may not be the fastest guy on the ice, but the way David Backes plays the game of hockey is exactly what the Boston Bruins have always been about. Just 27 days after colon surgery, Backes played 19 minutes, won 7 out of 10 faceoffs, and lead the team with 5 hits (no other Bruin had more than 2). While the scoresheet doesn’t look impressive (zero points, and a -1 rating), that doesn’t tell the whole story. In the six games that Backes has been in the lineup this year, the Bruins are 3-0-3, and have yet to lose in regulation. Clearly, his presence makes a difference in the way the team plays. Hopefully, he has put his colon issues behind him (pun intended), and this team can continue to bring the heat every night and be more consistent in the effort department. Let’s hope they don’t take the day off against a much lesser opponent in Philly this Saturday.

Jegs-