Final media availability for the 2016-2017 Boston Bruins occurred yesterday afternoon at their practice facility, Warrior Ice Arena. This season wrap-up usually entails a round-up of injuries and the true nature of them.
#NHLBruins end-of-season availability taking place today. pic.twitter.com/on2TDodOPO
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 25, 2017
- Let’s start with the most surprising. Top-line center Patrice Bergeron revealed that he’s been battling a sports hernia from the beginning of the season (remember he also played for Team Canada in the WCH). Sports hernias are painful tears in the tissue of the abdominal wall of the lower groin and not uncommon among hockey players who often travel on the ice at a good clip and often need to twist around in their play.
Patrice Bergeron said he was dealing with a sports hernia all year. Surgery could be an option.
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) April 25, 2017
Should we be more surprised that he played in 79 regular season games and the 6 playoff games or that he did that and is a Selke finalist.
- Adam McQuaid who put together the highest game total of his career this season was derailed in game 2 against the Senators with a neck injury.
Adam McQuaid had a neck injury.
— Fluto Shinzawa (@GlobeFluto) April 25, 2017
Of course, Quaider wants to stay in Boston.
Adam McQuaid hopes he’s not picked by the Vegas Golden Knights. “I can’t imagine playing for another team.”
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) April 25, 2017
- Torey Krug was close to a return, hoping for a chance to at the second round. He had a knee injury and despite some reports that it was an MCL, I couldn’t confirm the true nature of his injury. It doesn’t matter- he doesn’t require surgery and he’ll be good to go in October.
Torey Krug hurt his knee.
— Fluto Shinzawa (@GlobeFluto) April 25, 2017
- David Krejci also had a knee injury sustained in game 3 when he collided with Chris Wideman. He was also due back in the second round.
David Krejci hurt his knee. Targeted the second round for return.
— Fluto Shinzawa (@GlobeFluto) April 25, 2017
- Brandon Carlo confirmed that he has a concussion and he’s still not symptom-free and he had to weigh playing in the playoffs versus his long-term health.
“Every day was a whirlwind.”
🎥 Brandon Carlo on his first NHL season, the concussion that ended his year, and his offseason plans: pic.twitter.com/3vLeybE8QI
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 25, 2017
Since Carlo is planning on sticking around Boston for the summer, perhaps he’ll play in the Foxboro Summer League. I know someone who would love to watch him play hockey on Tuesday nights during the summer.
- Finally, Tuukka cleared up his injury situation.
Tuukka Rask said early-season injured was groin; missed late-season Brooklyn game because of back injury
— Matt Kalman (@MattKalman) April 25, 2017
Other Odds and Ends:
- Zdeno Chara spoke with the press about the season and the youth infusion. He also talked about his future.
“The way that the younger players really stepped up…especially in the playoffs. It’s a great sign.”
🎥 Zdeno Chara on the Bruins’ future: pic.twitter.com/UeJfBD3TVh
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 25, 2017
Zdeno Chara confirms he wants to sign a new contract after this current one ends in 2018.
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) April 25, 2017
- Ryan Spooner didn’t think he performed poorly this year and expressed his desire to return.
Ryan Spooner: “I want to be back here.”
— Fluto Shinzawa (@GlobeFluto) April 25, 2017
- Matt Beleskey admits he had a bad year. Truthfully, he seemed off in the beginning and the knee injury pretty much derailed him. He’ll definitely be better next year, he promises.
Matt Beleskey says this season is not who he is. Guarantees that it won’t happen again.
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) April 25, 2017
- Last but not least, the fine trade deadline pickup, Drew “New Guy” Stafford, would like to return.
Drew Stafford says he hopes to be back in Boston this next season! #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/VdwsA6Ulpw
— The Pink Puck (@ThePinkPuck) April 25, 2017
Good morning, pals!
Hi friends.
I’m sick. But I’ve got some big news coming down the pipeline. I had an interview at an early college high school last week, and I’ve started the process with the district’s HR department. There’s some things that still have to fall into place, but it looks like I’m going to have a full time job in the fall! Yay!
ESPN is imploding today. It’s crazy.
Congrats!
Wohoo!
ESPN is blowing up their hockey coverage. LeBrun, Burnside and MacDonald have all be let go this morning.
I didn’t think ESPN covered hockey.
Articles online, yes. Mostly, no.
They’ll still have Buccigross and Melrose.
Whoops, Buccigross gone, too, though his contract was ending this summer.
ESPN is just blowing up. Ed Werder is gone, too!
The radio said they expected to purge 100 people at ESPN today. Werder was the first name that leaked out.
I guess I went in thinking it would be some lower-level people, not the big names. Yeesh.
Yeah, not to say the company didnt have it coming to them for becoming the fox news of Sports, this is what happens when you dont invest in the future. Stupid of them not to be the first ones to buy rights to online streaming, if your tv viewership is dropping figure out where its going and why. Its a shame cause you want to have pride in companies that make it big in your state…but i have zero pride in what ESPN produces.
now if only NBC would get rid of Pierre.
I find it interesting where they’re firing people when they need to stop hiring football “analysts”. I know it’s the money maker for them, but they’re become less about spots and more about NBA/ NFL.
Oh, and paying stupid amounts of money to “talent” like Stephen A Smith and the hundreds of others that used to be print reporters.
Stephen A Smith the reporter was awesome. Stephen A Smith the talking head is horrible.
They pay him $3 million per year.
Problem is its become the MTV of the sports world…at some point they got away from what made them different and just started hiring people that knew how to be obnoxious on air to stir controversy.
I dont know a single person that respects sports that wants to listen to someone like Skip argue for 4 hours on tv about his opinion. How about hiring the people that have insight and do actual reporting like Benjamin and actually just report sports and the news of sports when it happens. You dont need 6 ESPN channels if you arent actually showing sports on them.
This.
I wonder what the term on Cassidy’s contract is. Nothing has been released. Doc and I agree on a 2-year deal. I want to see what a full season gets you before committing to a heavy deal.
Woooooooooooooo!!!!
About damn time.
I can remember that we talked about Bergy’s being off a few times during the podcast this season. I figured it was a leg issue, maybe a high sprain. To know he was going through something much more painful explains a lot.
Toucher ad Rich brought up the fact that Krejci didn’t talk about the UBI that kept him out of games. I wonder what was up with that.
I heard that it was a level-3 nipple strain. (Very painful – usually the result of a particularly vicious ‘titty twister’ attack)
If I had to guess for reals… I’d have to assume a mild concussion – which – given his having a concussion history – is something that he might not want to advertise.
I’m going to decline comment on the first part. Maybe? on the second.
My landlord is doing the equivalent of The Big Dig around my apartment. So much fun waking up to ALL THE CONSTRUCTION in the morning.
Also woke up very tired from my dream. I flew to Tokyo then flew to Boston for the Polish Fest. Tried to say hi to phony but she ran straight to the pierogi line because she was afraid they were going to sell out so GH and I went to try and find a cake we wanted to try. Then I tried to meet up with GH and phony later at a bar but I kept going to the wrong one. I also went swimming at one point throughout all this.
Is it possible to have jet lag from a dream because I think I have jet lag.
You definitely have dream induced jet lag. Anytime you fly from Tokyo to the East Coast, especially in dreams, you get it.
Your landlord needs to stop it right now.
Also, you must know I’m pretty picky about cakes. And the kielbasa pierogies will have to be descended upon quickly or they’ll run out.
This dream was just a plan. Good on you for starting early.
ALL THE KIELBASA PIEROGIES WILL BE OURS!
NONE FOR ANYONE ELSE!
but…i want some….
YOU CAN HAVE SOME!
tanks! i missed out on the meat tubes at the Oktoberfest party
DOES THIS MEAN YOU’RE COMING TO POLISH FEST WITH US? THAT WOULD BE SO BEST!
When is this? Depending on my deadlines with work i may be able to make a trip.
Sunday May 7th in Dorchester, I think.
EWWWWW DORCHESTER….EWWWW I93….EWWW lol.
FINE MORE KIELBASA PIEROGIE FOR US!
I missed out on the Oktoberfest party.
We can have another when you learn how to say Spätzle.
I got six months to work on this.
Sure.
That’s a lot flying for one dream! Hope the in-flight entertainment was good
Who wants to see a very dorky me get beat up in a punk rock music video? It will cheer you up.
Yes please!
I think I’ve shared it before, because it was filmed years ago. It popped up in my newsfeed yesterday and I laughed. NOTE. Lots of cursing so watch it on mute. And then watch and listen to their other song “Crosby Sweater.” It’s clean and fun for the whole family.
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They guy who beat you up looks like someone who lives in my town.
He’s from Boston. We watch games together.
To be fair to the guy, you did try to hit him first!
What the hell dress is she wearing? It looks like it’s all bloodstained, like maybe she got it from her pal Carrie after prom.
I have no clue. It does look like blood though.
Fun fact! Her and I were discussing leprosy
I love discussing diseases. I don’t know much about leprosy at all so I’m sure that was a fascinating conversation.
She did not give me her number.
So, you were discussing leprosy and she was hoping you would stop.
seconded
If Chara comes back on a cheap contract, I’m all for it.
I’m guessing he wants to ride the youth wave when it rolls in. I don’t blame him. If you see a Cup window opening, might as well go for it, even if it means a reduced role.
I dont blame him either, I just think with the sheer amount of talent we have in the system there isnt room for Chara come 2-3 years. The other issue is that Chara will never say no to having to play, hes like Pedro in the playoffs…sometimes a player is so competitive he stays in when he shouldnt, as long as coaching is smart enough to limit his mins and not treat him like a 24+ min player anymore i would love to have him be someone to help the kids learn how to be better.
Final words on these guys:
Crazy that Bergy is perfect on ice even when he isnt perfect in body. One day i would like to See him in playoffs in full health and just type in the god mode password and just destroy everything.
Good to hear that Stafford thinks kindly of the situation here, not only did he not have said that he wanted to stay here he could have just said he was going to test the waters and see what happens.
Chara…no. Just…no. You still have two years left, se how you feel then. I hope to Hell that Cassidy recognizes that Chara needs to be playing second line mins.
I understand the Beleskey hate this season because the 3rd line was a ghost out on ice but I really don’t think it was fair. When other players have gone down with knee or leg injuries the general response is “it’ll take a year for him to get back into the mindset that he can play at full speed again.” With Beleskey it felt like people thought he was a free agent signing that people didn’t want to begin with and expected him to come back and score a point a game or else trade him because they didn’t like him to begin with. Last year when the team practically gave up and looked like ice sculptures he was out there sacrificing his body and playing hard and had a career high in assists. I hope Cassidy finds a center for him that can compliment his game because Spooner was not that center.
And that brings be to Spooner. I think the boyband song “Bye Bye Bye” best suits what is going to happen to you. If you think you didnt have a bad season and cant tell the media “theres definitely room for improvement that i need to work on in the off season” hope for a fresh start in the Knights, otherwise youll be centering Smith in FLA, i shall you the dotted line….because you guys definitely werent a solid line with the Bruins. Little sad that Claude or Cassidy never tried to bring back the magic of the Lucic/Spooner/Pasta line but considering that for your career the only two times people noticed you was one month of no DK and the PP halfwall….you cant say..yeah i did good.
I kinda feel for Quaider, thinking GM wise…hes the most likely to goto the fucking knights (unless they feel malcomb is their guy) and after hearing him say “i cant imagine myself with any other team” I kinda feel bad. This is one of those guys who knows who he is but is loyal to no end. As much as i was not ok with his contract when it happened i understood it at the time because LOL no D. Now that we have an opportunity to move him he had a fantastic year for his money and somehow under Cassidy we saw that he was hiding a lil something under Claude all along, i still think you have Killer showing he too is better then what we gave him shit for and AGAIN Sweeney showed us he knows more then us when it comes to the worth of his players. With the youth coming up Quaider is the obvious odd man out (not including Morrow because…nacho duty is not a career) but its kinda like seeing Thorty go in a way….He is one of the last of a regeme of players that dont give a fuck about anything but their team and players and after losing Fernuckle, Thorty, Boychuck… its kinda sad in a way to see him go too if it happens. But alas, we will get new Cocky assholes that love boston…and it will be lovely.
Actually only one year at $4 million per. He’s UFA for 2017-18.
Killer had a great year but I still don’t like the term on his contract. It’s not an expensive one by any means. If he can continue to play this way or even better for three more seasons, he’s a great value third piaring guy.
Bye, Spooner. Too many young guys waiting for a shot to keep you here.
Cassidy named head coach. Quite right, too!
Good, nice to see that the bruins are sticking to the game plan. Nothing worse then a management that comes up with a new plan before the old ones can even start to show dividends… (fuck my life)…i really do have faith in Sweeney at this point to inject youth and have a competitive team while the Bergy window is still open.
Yes, I was hoping they would give him a chance to coach a full season!