So many things we could talk about today involving current and former Bruins. However, I feel like today is a good day to talk about the goalies. Currently, the Bruins have three goalies in camp after assigning Dan “Don’t Call me Darth” Vladar to the Providence training camp.
Bruins assign Daniel Vladar to Providence.
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) September 27, 2017
Malcolm Subban remains in camp, outlasting presumed third-string Zane McIntyre. Subban was the top-rated North American goaltender prospect when he was selected 24th overall by the Bruins in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He has shown promise at the AHL level and has rocky outings with the big club. A terrible laryngeal fracture in February 2016 presumably has impeded his progress the past couple of seasons. Someone who has shown such promise should be given as many chances as possible. It was a surprise when Bruins GM Don Sweeney qualified him and then signed him to a new deal this summer, one that mirrors the contract of fellow goalie McIntyre with one exception- Subban has to clear waivers to make it back to the Providence club.
Over the summer Malcolm was tasked with working on his game, especially his focus in-game.
What the Bruins had to like about Subban in this game was that he didn’t get too high or too low in his own mind, especially after that aforementioned string of high-quality saves that got the blood flowing in the third period, and he continued to battle with an aggressive style that the B’s have asked him to bring to the crease every night.
“It was tough. I wouldn’t get shots, then I’d get a flurry, then no shots,” Subban said of a night that was up-and-down only in the volume of chances against. “I wasn’t getting too many consistent shots, so I was just trying to stay focused even after that and just trying to keep playing my game and stay focused pretty much. Stay focused, stay focused.”
Clearly, the big club wants to take a good look at Subban before placing him on waivers to Providence. Although Anton Khudobin has done nothing to lose his job, he’s less likely to be claimed from waivers after being sent down.
One goaltender that is a lock for the team is everyone’s favorite Finnish net minder, Tuukka Rask. Tuukka spoke with a reporter from ESPN a couple of weeks ago about the team (he has a good feeling about it), the changes to Finland’s hockey programs, how all the kids want to be Patrik Laine, and the NHL.
ESPN.com: You’ve played in a few different leagues. Do you think the NHL is a goalie-friendly league?
Rask: [Immediate laughter]. No! Do you?
ESPN.com: I just wanted to see your reaction.
Rask: They’re probably trying to take our masks off!
ESPN.com: What changes would you recommend?
Rask: They can stop cutting down our gear. It’s definitely not goalie-friendly, though. You can ask any goalie in the league and they’ll tell you the same thing. But it’s fun, we love it. I would be fine with that, cutting the gear down. Really. Just don’t chirp me when I let in four or five goals. And I can’t say, ‘Hey, it was the pants. My gloves are too small.’
The best part though was when Tuukka talked about what he liked about Boston. It has been said before by European players and it will be said again.
ESPN.com: What do you like most about the city of Boston?
Rask: It’s easy to go anywhere. It’s got that big-town feel, but it’s manageable, sizewise. It feels very European. It is very European. That’s why we have fallen in love with that; we feel like it’s our own. You’ve got the water around you, and these historic buildings. I love it.
I like that Tuukka and I want him to have a Vezina-caliber season.
I like Malcolm, too, and I want him to have a great season wherever he ends up playing.
I couldn’t wait for Pie Fest, so instead of fixing the lawn mower I made apple pie and banana bread!!!
I applied for a couple jobs this week. It was very scary to do. It’s not like I’m desperate to leave my existing position but it’s been a tad dull and unfulfilling and it is slowly drifting away from the technical elements which I was hired for. However I make good money and it’s a mile and a half from home. My salary requirements combined with my ever present self loathing keeps me doubting I’ll even get a callback but I’m just really… I dunno, I needed to put myself out there for my sanity.
Good luck!
Thanks!
Ugh. Been there, do— still there.
It never hurts to check out the job market. I always found it easier to get employment when I already had it.
……….what is this?
http://i.imgur.com/okJrnp8.gif
The hell?
Weird. I recognize the name on the gif — MiG is a habs fan who can actually be pretty reasonable wrt Bruins. Have no idea where he’s going with that.
I kinda like it?
….what is this?
I don’t know, but it’s freakin’ scary!!!!
Morning all. Decorative Gourd Season is back on.
I have been a klutz this morning and have been walking into everything.
Also, note to self: Whenever I work myself into a big panic thinking I messed something up at work, it usually turns out I didn’t mess it up at all and I stressed myself out over nothing.
Try walking into a bar. I find that usually makes everything better.
Ha! I should try that, though they might already think I’m drunk.
Touche, sir, touche! (Just imagine the accent marks are there, okay?)
Im been thinking about doing traditional turnips ….they are far more creepy.
Good Morning Pals!!!
We made it through summer!!! Autumn is starting right now!
Getting very excite aboot ockey, eh?
Malcolm Subban – I think his athletic ability has never been in doubt. Goaltending is a head game. Tuukka has had his mental issues along the way. Need I mention Andrew Raycroft? There are a million examples. If Malcolm can get his head together, he could be the shit! Of course, if my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle (my Dad told me so [over and over]). We shall see. (evil laugh).
Andrew Raycroft mention means I think of that awesome commercial he did with Patrice way back when.
Going out to jerry rig the mower.
Okay, coffee.
omg that commercial is precious
Baby Bergy, awww
He definitely grew into his good looks.
And I love that the next video suggested for me was his interview with Steve Dangle. One of my favorites.
For. Sure.
“Au revoir Patrice! ‘Ave a good game!”
“Nice place, I wondemtu”
wow.
I know it’s only the preseason. I know I shouldn’t get my hopes up. But omg the Habs are so bad and I can barely contain myself.
This is Pierre McGuire ranting about how bad the Habs are _before_ their loss to Toronto last night:
http://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690/mcguire-i-would-get-right-into-his-face-1.869110
That Joe Morrow is being considered at all for the Habs’ bottom six should tell you everything.
They had their top line, their top defensive pair, and Carey Price going against what can best be described as the Toronto Marlies last night and they lost 4-2. 0-6 so far in the preseason. I can’t wait for Tony Marinaro on TSN 690 this morning.
. I can’t wait for Tony Marinaro on TSN 690 this morning.
Oh yes! I’ll be listening!!!!
https://twitter.com/GreerFried/status/913226939078516736
hahahaha
http://i.imgur.com/gl1iZGo.gif
I swear it sounds like Pierre had been drinking before that interview.
Who knows? Maybe he’d do better as a forward.
Er, I meant bottom pair. Doh.
Good morning!
I agree with all these points.
I still shake my head that they started him in the game against the Blues.
Me too. WHY NOT THE OILERS, CLAUDE?
It’s like they were trying to fuck with his head.
The Blues were not a strong offensive team. Oilers had RNH, Hall, Yak, Eberle vs Blues who had Backes & Oshie. The Oilers were a much more offensively minded team. The Bruins skaters kept the puck in the other end, sheltering him hard in that Blues game. Malcolm only had something like 7-10 shots to defend.
His faceplant was entirely on him, not Claude.
If he couldn’t handle that situation, then he wasn’t close to being ready.
Huh, I thought Edmonton wasn’t that great that season. I must not be remembering good today.
The Oilers went 24-44-14 that year (2014-15), so they were pretty bad. But it wasn’t for a lack of offensive tools.
Pretty much.
Conventional wisdom was Oilers bad / Blues good therefore Blues = harder team to play against, but the Oilers’ big problem was that their team defense was abysmal, not their offense.
So my contention is that for a goaltender, it probably wasn’t a harder challenge.
I have a feeling he may have been trowing a stink in the minors saying he should be in the NHL and the team didnt think he was ready and was like “ok you think your ready? Lets see how ready you are.”