Seems short sighted considering Pasta needs a deal. Bergeron is still great, but it’s not like these moves even ensure Boston is a playoff team this season.
Boston picked up a lot of points last year because of how bad the bottom of the Atlantic was. Every team behind them has improved this off-season and the Bruins are without McAvoy, Marchand and Gryzelck for maybe upwards to a third of the season, if not longer. I just don’t see them as anything close to a lock to make it as a WC.
Ottawa has a LONG way to go still. Even with the adds that defense is still putrid and Cam Talbot has never been a goalie that does well behind a bad defense.
Boston could finish 5th or 6th in the division this year. Wasn’t a great team last year. Is aging. And is without a ton of their best players for a long time going into the season.
I agree Boston has the potential to fall back. Tampa at some point will slide… how many games have their players played over the last three years? Toronto on the other hand are well rested… but goalie situation is murky. I actually think Murray will play well for them. He wasn’t awful with Ottawa he just had questionable motivation. Sens and Detroit both improved, Florida will take a step back with that D group and Montreal is tanking.
Bedard looks incredible. After some underwhelming 1OA picks the last few years he looks like the first player that could step in and dominate since Matthews/McDavid.
He is really good, the size will be a bit of an issue for him. He is a little notch below these guys imo but he is very very good. I see him as a better Mitch marner. Which is incredible. Another comparison is Patrick Kane
Who is your second best D? Which Florida prospect do you feel will step in and have a Sanderson level impact?
Sanderson is considered the best young D not in the NHL. He is expected to step into the second pairing and play 18-20 minutes a night. Does Florida have that type of prospect?
Right up there with Power, Edvinsson, and Hughes, yes. But the point remains, it’s a little presumptuous to presuppose his impact when he’s never played a game.
Power has played in the league tho. Sanderson hasn’t. Disagree. We all knew Power would step in and have an impact as a rookie. Nothing wrong with supposing Sanderson will have a similar type impact. The point is… does Florida have a young D like this to step in?
They don’t. But they also have Aaron Ekblad who is far better than chabot at this point and forsling is better than anyone other than Chabot. Outside of Sanderson who is a complete wildcard, I’ll take Florida’s depth over ottawa. So yeah. I’m pretty confortable saying Florida’s D>Ottawa because Ottawa’s is one of the worst in the NHL
Zub is better than anyone on Florida other than the oft injured Ekblad. Chabot has never had a Weager level D playing beside him. Let’s see how smooth Ekblad is this season without his crutch.
Setting yourself up for disappointment by overrating your D. Also, who is the Weegar level D playing next to Chabot this season?
Waiting for the fake Michigan where the guy chucks it between the legs as the goalie throws everything at the near post
IIHF refs are notoriously dreadful but man are they bad in this US/Sweden game. Letting the US get away with anything, especially away from the puck.