Brandon Carlo finally revealed how he felt about his contract situation on that most important of news outlets: Instagram. He did so in such a dry manner, one in which our own resident geologist who doesn’t have time for us anymore, described as “his self-aware humor is very Hal Gill-esque”. It must come with the jersey number.
.@1996_Carlo on his first practice of training camp: "It feels great to be back around the guys. You see the faces you haven't seen for quite a while. It's a brotherhood here, it's like seeing family." pic.twitter.com/lg5A3YijiL
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 18, 2019
Among his teammates that expressed happiness with Carlo (and McAvoy) joining camp was this guy:
.@kurals9 on the signings of Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo: "It just feels good to have the majority of the group back…we're happy to have those two…they're the next wave of leaders on this team." pic.twitter.com/3KYl2t9mdE
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 18, 2019
Even Bruce Cassidy expressed his pleasure with having the team back together.
🎥 Bruce Cassidy discusses the signing of Brandon Carlo, the #NHLBruins center depth, and the play of Jeremy Lauzon: pic.twitter.com/2NBt8MmBX9
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 18, 2019
Now on to camp. Patrice Bergeron doffed the red no-contact sweater and is wearing a normal one, signaling a return to normal action by the season opener.
Let’s talk about the crazy lines of camp. It seems Group B has most of the known starters, as IW pointed out to me on Saturday. Group A looks like a bunch of guys fighting for a roster spot with the occasional starter.
Group B Lines
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Carey – Krejci – Ritchie
Bjork – Coyle – Heinen
Nordstrom – Lindholm – Wagner
Frederic – Steen
Chara – McAvoy
Krug – Carlo
Grzelcyk – Zboril
Breen – Kampfer
Rask
Keyser
Group A Lines
Blidh/Koppanen – Kuraly – Backes
DeBrusk – Studnicka – Kuhlman
Cehlarik – Gaunce – Lantosi
Lauko – Shen/Asselin – Fitzgerald
Lauzon – Clifton
Zech – Didier
Vaakanainen/Sherman – Petrovic
Halak
Lagace
Tonight, the Bruins travel down to Philadelphia to play Gritty the Flyers. If you want to catch the action it’s available on NHL Network, NESN, and on radio on 98.5 the SportsHub.
At least I get to see one of my boys tonight.
*swoons*
Busted Nose Kuraly makes me feel things.
Me as well. But also this picture was the first time I realized I liked looking at him.
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ben+Harpur+Ottawa+Senators+v+Boston+Bruins+ZzlxtyHRlOcl.jpg
Took me awhile to remember Bjork vs Blidh.
Had to look up Cehlarik & Vaakaneinen
50 is Gaunce, 57 (Shen?, Studnika?)
6 Petrovic
79 Lauzon, 75 Clifton
56 Didier (or possibly Axel Anderson) , 59 (Cooper Zech?)?
The numbers I can’t remember are probably on the practice roster sheet we got on Saturday
Supposedly there’s a Robert Lantosi on tonight’s roster?
Also
41-Halak
35-Lagace
Found a copy of the training camp roster online
57 – Robert Lantosi (AHL) – actually was in the Devils game but I didn’t notice him
68 – Jack Studnicka
51 – Shen (not on Kalman’s list, but I saw on another roster)
59 – Cooper Zech
also FYI
62 – Oskar Steen (was the most dangerous guy on the ice in the Devils game, but no one has claimed he would play tonight)
Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day which is better known in these parts as IW’s birthday!
Happy Birthday IW!
Morning all. Leaves are turning. Wore scarf and gloves this morning. Must be getting close to hockey season! Oh wait, it’s going to be 80 on Sunday? Okay, then.
I can add a new job title to my resume: city council campaign treasurer.
Why do I do this to myself?
My dad is the Waitsfield, VT cemetery commissioner.
My dad sells grave stones
Also, I want to be buried in Waitsfield, VT, and have a Salisbury rose marble headstone
I’ll put in a good word with the commish.
Did you think you were volunteering to be Champagne treasurer?
That sounds like a job I would like. I would do it very well.
Artist’s rendition of that situation:
Accurate
I worry about secondary scoring this year, but our D should be better. You have to wonder though, is this Z’s last year?
I know it’s coming but hockey without Z is going to be really weird.
Hi Pals!
)
Competition in the D corps! Good problem to have! It’s going to be tough to crack the big club line up, if you’re a cub! The DeBrusk, – Studnicka – Kuhlman line should be fun to watch. We might see that line again in the future…. two, three years down the road, maybe? The future’s so bright….
I’m really going to try hard to work today…. of course, if it doesn’t happen \_0_/ … my pay is the same!! (not much
Saw someone on Twitter saying that while it’s great to get the RFAs locked up the team hasn’t been strengthened over the off-season. It’s a fair point but I do think the D looks stronger this year with a (hopefully) healthy Vaakanainen and natural progression from some of the other youngsters.
It’s a fair criticism. However, with an immoveable bad contract, $3+ million in dead cap space, and a limited amount otherwise, there’s not much he could do this year. He could lose his morality and throw someone on Robidas Island but that’s not the Sweenius we know and love.
It’s a good team and maybe this year they’ll be even better. I just hope they rest Bergy some more.
Well, yeah, the team ‘hasn’t been strengthened’, but they were a top-3 team all last season with lots of injury-related absences and an unstable 3-C position. They have since picked up Charlie Coyle and gone to game 7 of the cup final.
So I’m not sure what they can reasonably be expected to do within a salary-cap constrained league. Meanwhile, they’ve got more experience in their younger players and a lot of depth to draw upon in the AHL.
I expect them to be at least a top-4 team this year.
I’m curious how the Leafs make out. They addressed their 2 biggest weaknesses when facing the Bruins – they got rid of Kadri – who would was easily goaded into penalties/suspensions and Gardiner, who was taken advantage of mercilessly. Also, Auston Matthews actually showed up in a couple of the games during their last playoff run. I think their record won’t be as good as last season, but they may have found the combination to win a series vs Boston.
If the Leafs had managed to win that Game 7 it’s not a big stretch to see them winning the Cup last year. Will be interesting to see how they get on this term. I love our games against them.
And Happy birthday!