Tuesday 5/28/24
In watching the Rangers-Panthers game on Sunday, I had a number of thoughts. These are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. They're not here because someone got hot at the right time. The speed of this game, the physicality--these are good teams and playoff built teams. I know they lost that game in OT, but Florida in particular is designed for the postseason.
Unfortunately, the Bruins are not close to either of these clubs. That the Bruins lasted for six games against Florida was a direct result of their goalie getting hot. Boston is in a lower class, and the Rangers would have smoked the Bruins if they had somehow advanced.
Having followed what's happened with the Bruins--in terms of what's been said, and what I can glean from that--I already know that next year's Bruins team will be the same as this year's was. Sure, some new faces, but the same deal, the same gist, the same coach, the same Care Bears.
It would not shock me if Ullmark was back and goalie hugs are happening again. I actually saw a comment from an adult who, presuming that Ullmark would be gone, said, "I'll miss the goalie hugs."
What the fuck, man.
I see fans saying how much they want Jake DeBrusk resigned, and I don't know how someone can be both a fan--as in someone who follows a team fairly fervently--and this, well, stupid about the team and its players. I think people like calling him "Jake-y." I'm serious.
He produced 40 points in 80 games in the regular season. Do you know how poor that is? Then everyone thought he was great in the playoffs for some, again, dumb, reason. He was a -5. That was the worst on the team.
And this team had Charlie "Here, would you like the puck so you can bury it in our net" and "Me? Shoot the puck? Perish the thought" McAvoy on it. At the Bruins' end-of-season press conference, GM Don Sweeney compared Charlie McAvoy to Ray Bourque. How high do you have to be to bring up Charlie McAvoy in conjunction with Ray Bourque in 2024? McAvoy is a hell of a lot closer to Mike O'Connell than he is to Ray Bourque, and even still, O'Connell was a headsier and better player.
One of the announcers for the Oilers-Stars game on Friday remarked that the Stars were all about team, and no players cared about their individual stats, and team was number one, all of that. Are people supposed to believe statements of this ilk? These are professional athletes, who are compensated based upon individual performance. It's a business. I'm all for helping the team to the best of one's abilities, but to say that players don't care about numbers is naive or dumb or both. Asking people to believe that is...maybe not so dumb, because people will believe anything. Their favorite thing to believe is what someone else tells them.
Those numbers matter for a fourth line guy. You don't think the team brings up stats at contract talk time? Or in arbitration? Like they wouldn't hold it against you if your goal production dipped?
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