Caron/By S. Bradley
With my “wonderful” Dell XPS M1330 laptop only willing to work half-days right now, there isn’t much time to blog more than just a quick mailbag each night.
So here’s another edition of the TheBruinsBlog.net mini mailbag:
Steve wrote: Who would you predict to be the Brad Marchand the 2011-12 Bruins, as in a rookie/prospect making a significant impact that was not expected. Tyler Seguin is expected to make an impact this year, but Jordan Caron/Ryan Spooner/Jared Knight?
Matt Kalman: Well, let’s keep in mind that with Seguin expected to be a fixture in the lineup, Benoit Pouliot expected to be given every chance to play until he loses his job, and Joe Corvo imported to replace Tomas Kaberle, there might not be any room for a “Brad Marchand” this year. Nonetheless, Spooner and Knight seem one more year away. On a lesser team, one or both would be logging top-six minutes even at 19. But the Bruins just don’t have the space to give those guys the necessary time to develop their games in the NHL.
Caron is an interesting case. He obviously held his own in the NHL last season and was inconsistent in the AHL. I think the reason for his Providence struggles were two-fold: he needs more skill around him to be successful because so much of his game is intangibles, and after playing a key role in the NHL playing in the AHL was a bit of a letdown. The year of experience, and the opportunity to practice with the NHL team during the playoffs, had to help Caron immensely. We know head coach Claude Julien loves him (not because he’s French-Canadian) because he’s a hard-working, responsible player who does exactly as he’s told by the coaches. If Marchand comes back better this coming season (and with a strong head on his shoulders) I could see Caron plugging into Mark Recchi’s old spot with Marchand and Bergeron and Pouliot battling for just third- or fourth-line minutes.
Tom Donington wrote: How do the players in the room feel about the acquisition of Corvo, along with his baggage? I understand they’re not in the room right now, but will it weigh on certain players (like a Andrew Ference) or is there a real feeling that stuff outside the room/in the past doesn’t matter to the other guys? I guess without having seen much of Corvo (other than the job he and Dennis Seidenberg did on the Bruins a few springs ago when I coveted him as a player, not knowing about his legal past), I’m curious regarding the type of person he is and if he’s reformed enough that I can feel OK rooting for the guy, or if he’s still an absolute creep.
MK: Sounds like someone’s been listening to mid-summer sports radio. Here are my feelings about this matter, without having firsthand knowledge of Corvo’s recent off-ice activities. Obviously, I can’t answer for the Bruins players right now, but general manager Peter Chiarelli and his staff have been pretty judicious about making sure there are no bad apples in that dressing room.
Now as far as the incident with Corvo in question, it happened nine years ago. He’s played a lot of years since then and seems to have been accepted by his teammates. He skated many years in Carolina for a franchise that’s run by conservative people and is very image-conscious in a conservative area. There were no incidents reported.
So now he comes to Boston and because the incident happened here and because there wasn’t much to talk about on sports radio for a week in July, people start to worry he won’t fit in. If Corvo proves to be a poor fit, it’ll be because he can’t adjust to the system or fails to utilize his shot. Barring another incident, I don’t see something that happened nine years ago affecting how he fits in with the Bruins’ chemistry.
Bryan wrote: Do you see the Bruins giving Dougie Hamilton a 10-game tryout in the NHL this fall before sending him back to juniors – if not for actual playing time, just enough to whet his NHL appetite?
MK: Bryan, it’s simple: No way, Jose. Hamilton will come to camp, hang with the big boys, maybe even get in an exhibition game, but there’s no reason to give him a 10-game tryout. The Bruins are deep on the back end and if there are injuries, the likes of Steven Kampfer and Matt Bartkowski are next in line to get in there. Hamilton is at least two seasons from being NHL-ready, so in the fall of 2012, maybe you give him a tryout. But for now, it’s all about development and that will be in junior for a full season, with maybe even a date at the World Junior Championship.
I could absolutely see Seidenberg wearing the ‘A’ also, but I think I would put it on Ference before him. Obviously, as fans we don’t see everything, but AF seems to be very much respected in the locker room and isn’t afraid to say what is on his mind.
agree w/ tcl. give af the 2nd a.
campbell would be my 2nd choice.
Jim,
Fair points. He isn’t the only one to do something stupid (kane beat a taxi driver for example) and any assault is detestable in any form.
Just remember, he’ll be here for a year or two tops. If he doesn’t work out, he may even be traded and because he does play a lot like kaberle, but hits more and is worse defensively, we will run him out of town sooner than not for not meeting expectations. He isn’t part of the core and never will be. He’s here to get us to Dougie and no more.
Matt,
I really like your blog, read it routinely and often add my two cents so I have to take exception to your response about Corvo’s past.
While I acknowledge and respect your need to have access to the Bruins management and players to run your blog I can’t help but be disappointed that you and other members of the media didn’t ask Bruins management about Corvo’s past. Frankly, I applaud Mike Felger for his actions and would remind you to “not shoot the messenger”.
As a result of Felger’s show we know that Corvo assaulted a woman several inches shorter and close to half his weight. She was not a man “in drag”. We also know that Corvo was convicted “not accused”. Corvo was found criminally liable and paid a settlement in civil court. Keep this in mind, he was forced to leave the restaurant, had time to think about it and then came back and assaulted the woman. Corvo punched the woman in the face and then kicked her while she was down. So, lets stop making excuses for his actions.
The Bruins made a mistake in not acknowledging Corvo’s past and making assurances that they did their homework concerning his more recent behavior. IMO the Bruins should have addressed this situation openly at the press conference where his acquisition was announced.
I believe in redemption and I don’t expect professional athletes to be “choir boys”. But I do expect our professional athletes to be good citizens. And redemption involves recognition of past deeds. Joe Corvo simply can’t walk away from his past and the Bruins are foolish for not seeing that.
I hope that Corvo behaves well and contributes to the Bruins. But I’ve got to say adding this guy to “my team” leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I think Ference gets the A. I think this even more after watching the recent NHL DVD (both in his interviews and while he was mic’d during some of the games).
I think Thornton is well liked and re3spected by the team and the fans, but Thornton has said mutiple times that he doesn’t really want the A in one fashion or another.
As for rookies-I really don’t see any of Spooner, Knight or Hamilton making the team this year. I mostly think the 7th D-man is likely Kampfer’s and the 13th forward will be Caron. I think there are some Povidence players who may push during camp for those slots, but in the end I think Caron and Kampfer get the permanent roster spots. Knight and/or Spooner seem the most likely to get the 10 game try out.
Agree with David on the rotating “A” – a great idea and solid way to promote leadership up and down the roster. The Alternate role is always ambiguous to begin with. Some teams will have the A take a leadership role behind the scenes, such as leading video sessions, teambuilding opportunities like the Lake Placid trip and incentives in practice (picking the payoff drills). For others it’s just a badge to slap on the “leaders”.
I say rotate it and give it actual teeth with some of those perks. It gives more individuals an opportunity to buy into the program, and has worked well in the past.
KingBoston, that rumor was debunked. It was a 100% woman.
As much as Thorton garners respect in the locker room, He isn’t out on the ice a whole lot, which is something I’d like someone wearing an “A” to be. Sidenberg fits well, but I think what Julien might do is have a rotating “A” as he did two years ago, giving it to a player he wanted the rest of the team to emulate for the month.
Great discussion question Steve M. Much better then that of Corvo’s character.
There are a few players on next years team who deserve and would do a good job with the A, but I feel that Thornton’s dressing room presence, role on the ice, the league wide respect from both players and zebras that he has, and that he’s a fixture in the community both in and off-season, that he’s the best fit.
Krejci would be a good candidate, he is developing into a great all-around player and leader
Yeah couldn’t argue with SeidenBeast wearing the ‘A’ either.
Not that I was there on the evening Corvo was accused of attacking a woman at a Boston bar while a player for the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs, rumors leaked out after the incident that the “woman” was found to be a man in drag, perhaps igniting Corvo as it might most men. Just something to keep in mind for those concerned about the incident, and keep in mind his clean record since, as Matt writes.
Also I vote for the 2nd “A” to go to Seidenberg.
Steve M and Pierre
There are a number of Bruins that would be worthy of an “A”. I think anyone of the guys that comprise the s0-called fourth line is a worthy candidate, but my vote would be for Campell. If they chose another defenseman, I would pick Sidenberg.
Matt
I like the idea of Caron playing with Bergeron and Marchand. I think he be good at digging out the puck and he is not afraid to go to the high traffic areas in front of the net.
Steve – I was wondering the same thing. I nominate my man A.F. for the second ‘A’. But Thornton wearing it would be pretty cool.
Good stuff M.K. – I am missing hockey during these dog days.
Matt, I had forgotten to write you for the mailbag so I will just send it here –
Who do you think gets the ‘A’ that was on Recchi’s sweater? Any chance it’s Thornton?