Mailbag: On Seguin at center & other answers
Lucic’s maturity and smarts have always been in ample supply since making the NHL as a teenager, and I think if anyone can apply the lessons of a season like last year and build off them it’s the bulky winger. I don’t think last year’s health issues will be a factor this season. Lucic’s only concern will be sticking to his game – physical forechecking and forming a net-front presence – and blending with a pair of linemates that suit his game. He could wind up anywhere from the first line to the third. He could be on the power play or watching it. This fourth year, the first of his second contract, will be a huge window on what Lucic’s future holds as far as role and potential.
BK wrote: I think one of the more exciting things to look forward to this year is the play of Krejci. I am hoping that this is the year he makes the jump from an above average centerman to an elite player. However, my question to you is will Krejci ever be the player the Bruins dream of if he continues to play with Ryder and Blake Wheeler? I feel like they hold him back and we saw this when he was centering Miro Satan.
MK: Krejci’s brief stint of success with Satan last spring aside, it was pretty obvious that Boston’s centers were all going to be held back by their lackluster load of underperforming wingers. That’s not to say that Krejci wasn’t partially to blame for his dip in offensive totals. Like Lucic, Krejci had to learn about playing through pain and coming back from injury. And there was also a dose of complacency that set in after Krejci’s breakout season in ’08-09. If Krejci can get back to working hard all the time and playing with determination, he should be able to make his wingers better rather than being held back by his linemates.
Whether Krejci will be back between Ryder and Wheeler this season remains to be seen and will be determined by so many different factors. There are ways that trio could work again. You start with Wheeler picking up his game and adding some semblance of physicality to his play. On the penalty kill, Krejci and Wheeler have always flaunted fantastic chemistry, and there’s no reason to believe they couldn’t find that 5-on-5 again.
As for Ryder, he needs to get back to basics and play with the fire that left him last season. His ability to get open and get off a shot seems like a perfect fit to play alongside a center of exceptional vision like Krejci. No doubt, you’ll see many different permutations of line combinations this fall and the Wheeler-Krejci-Ryder might be given another chance to find its ’08-09 form.
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….I think it’s time to use some younger cheaper players with speed on the 4th line to see who gels the quickest…it’s a puck possesion game,with the scorings woes of last season,we need someone to get the puck,the longer we have it,the more chances to score..
When you are looking at 1st year pros don’t overlook Souve. Speed to spare, great hands, tons of energy and this kid can put it in the back of the net.
//But he had a 20 point drop off which is a lot even for most players playing though pain, so that is where the criticism would come in.//
There were more times than I could count last year when Krejci set up Wheeler and Ryder with perfect passes that went for naught. When you’re a playmaking center and your wingers both struggle with season-long slumps, it’ll certainly affect your point total.
Glad you got your crystal ball working Matt(above poster, not Kalman), now I dont have to worry about Ryder.
I’m not sure who Coburne is, but you obviously have a good handle on how the season will play out.
Those of you waiting for Ryder to light it up will be waitng a long time. Though, it is a contract year, so maybe he tries just a little this year, which would be twice has hard as he tried last year.
I would demote Ryder when Sturm comes back and demote Campbell to make room for Caron/Coburne if play warranted it. The entire 4th line is really demotable in case Caron/Coburne make a splash.
Wow David.
Tough call on mentioning Whitfield and then he goes out for the year.
Dont mention me in any of these Comments.
Not that I warrant it anyway.
I think you make a very good point about playing through pain, you just can’t perform at 100%. I think that’s supposed to be a reason why one might see a decrease in production. I’m an athlete as well so I know how it feels. But he had a 20 point drop off which is a lot even for most players playing though pain, so that is where the criticism would come in. however, I think he will be better for the expereince and it’s hard to say we were a worse team with an injured Krecji than we would be with a healthy Whitfield. I really respect what Krejci has done even injured, so I expect he will get better next year.
Using “complacancy” to describe Krejci is blatantly unfair. He came back at the earliest possible moment from his surgery (four months to the day), and had no training camp. I watched him closely at a couple of games I went to in November/December and it was obvious he wasn’t himself. He finally started looking normal around New Year’s.
Easy for us to say he had to learn to play with pain. It’s more difficult when you’re telling your body to do something and it won’t cooperate.
Sometimes I think hockey players should either complain more about their injuries so media and fans comprehend what they’re dealing with, or just forget trying to play through it, because all they’ll get in return is criticism.
demoted = demote
For all the ripping that happens on Ryder, Matt makes a good point. IF Ryder can have an up year, then things will look much, much brighter even without a new winger. Enough to garnish a new contract, maybe not.
Man this team looks good – but it also has a ton of unanswered questions. Can we get to the games already?