Now that the 2015 season for the Boston Bruins has come to a close and without a playoff appearance for the first time in the era of Claude Julien, it is time to re-tool this team for yet another run at Lord Stanley cup.
The biggest thing this team needs is an identity, without an identity, you are a team in disarray with nothing but chaos in front of you. Before the season of 2015 even started and the loss of Jonny Boychuk, simply because Peter Chirelli needed to free up some cap space? Now you have a team not knowing who’s next and a team who just lost a big part of it’s identity. Seriously though this whole identity problem started when they let Andrew Ference go to the Edmonton Oilers.
Andrew Ference may not have been the most talented I get that, but what he brought to the team in the form of an identity and team chemistry, goes a lot deeper than shooting a puck into any net at any rink you may be in. You don’t really need one player with 40 or 50 plus goals on the team, what you really need is, many players on the team with 20 plus and play hard every night, not only for themselves, but for each other on the team, the Bruins had this in 2011 and winning the Stanley cup, was a great reward for all their hard work.
Now that we mentioned Boychuk and Ference, another part of the Bruins identity and chemistry of this team was Sean Thorton, Sean didn’t just throw down the gloves for any fight, he knew when to throw the gloves and when to skate hard for the team, he was a huge part in the identity of this team and a part when you take that away, you have nothing but chaos and doubt.
Brad Marchand…… Ok I will give him do for his 24 goals this season, but that is it, he actually hurt the team more with his stupid play and dumb penelties at the wrong times, Marshy unlike Thorty did not know how to bring this identity and chemistry to the team, instead the team was in his way, for what he needed to do so he could pad his own stats. The reputation of Brad Marchand and the nickname ” the little ball of hate”, has become bigger than Brad Marchand the skater, with that said Marchands welcome mat has disappeared and time to let him go.
I get the fact the team of the Boston Bruins needs some changing, so they can compete moving forward in the NHL. Unlike some that think the Coach is first to go, I strongly disagree, cause Claude Julien coached this team to the best of his abilities and according to the team that was given to him by the GM Peter Chirelli and Chirelli only subtracted from this team, instead of adding in order to be better moving forward. Bringing up Kids from Providence isn’t always the answer when you lose quality players like Boychuk, Thorton and Ference, not too mention losing Chara and Kretchi to injuries for extended periods, when you have a coach like Claude and his system of Defense first, which you need all players of the roster to buy into the system, than you bring in young kids that only want to play in the NHL and get paid, now you have a team not buying into the system, that brought you success in 2011.
The first change of the Bruins would be Peter Chirelli, as he did nothing but subtract and give players ridiculous contracts, instead of adding quality players that would buy into the system in place and form a team identity, then form a bond and chemistry to their new teammates. the one player to me that is untouchable is, Patrice Burgeron, as he truly bleeds black and gold. other players that I wouldn’t touch goes as follows, Lucic, Kretchi, Soderberg, Eriksson, Pasternak,, Spooner and to rebuild the 4th line around Ferlin and Paille, everybody else is fair game in trade or the free agent market. It is time the Bruins put back in place, the system of Claude Julien, which worked in 2011 and can work in 2016, all you need is a team to buy into the system, and players that buy into each other with an identity and a chemistry. It is not about having one 40 or 50 goal scorer on your team ( although it would be nice), it is all about having many 20 plus goal scorers and a team that buys into the system, plays together with a chemistry for each other, plus strives for that identity that will bring them to the promise land, of once again bringing home to Boston, Lord Stanley cup.
” Hockey is a game that an Individual doesn’t win you a championship, it is all about the team and having a good identity of who you are”
” Patrice Bergeron may bleed black and gold, you give me an entire team of Patrice Bergeron’s and I will bring home a championship every year”
” The problem of the Boston Bruins does not start with Claude Julien. it starts with the subtracting of players, with no quality additions, by the GM Peter Chirelli”