I play hockey with a lot of fat guys these days.  None of them backcheck in the 3rd period.

Therefore...;)

In response to Fletcher1's comment:

1st few shifts everyone looks awesome.  I know where you are coming from fletch.  

I should clarify my position on Nathan. A decent player who plays both ends of the ice. But for a guy that size, with those skills (3rd over-all pick) I just think he is a perpetual under-achiever. Yes, he had a very good play-off run, and without him the B's probably don't win, but so far this season... I just don't think he's ever going to be an impact player again. Let's face it,  most of us would be the same after the hit he took. 

His best year in Boston, on a VERY good line, he got 26 goals. It just seems like he was capable of so much more. Is 40 goals expecting too much? He's got the tools to do it. 

It'd be unfair to just pick on Horton. From the few games I've seen, Krejci seems to be setting the table nicely, but Lucic isn't finishing, or crashing the net to create scoring chances. Tame is the word. So yes, he needs to amp it up a bit too. Maybe he needs to beat some poor sole up to get going. Maybe all teams are leaving him alone as to not wake the beast. I don't know. 

 

 

 

This post has been removed.

Horton should be busting his butt for his next contract, and unless he has a stellar playoff, it's probably not going to be here. I'm not sure he has any real trade value, but we may find out. 

In response to mxt's comment:

Like Dez said, it takes time to come back from severe concussion, maybe if his numbers are down this year due to that, the Bruins can get him at a good price in the off-season and reap the benefits in the future.

In response to mxt's comment:

PC won't trade him. And some crazy GM will pay through the nose for his services come July 1. This is Horton's last season in the spoked B.

In response to jmwalters' comment:

... so if they were to extend his contract for a figure that would make another gm happy - reckon a trade would happen then?

I don't recollect another sign then drive (to the airport)

Muckler did it to Hossa.  Signed him and then dealt him to the future Jets for Heatley.  Now, that wasn't the NBA sign-and-trade where everyone is in on it.  Hossa was stunned.  It may have been....

 

GM suicide... (cue suspense music).

 

Based on last year's pace, Lucic would have had 17 points in 23 games.  He's three points back.  Horton's off by more than that, but as many have pointed out, he's recovering from a major injury and a much longer layoff than anyone else on the team.  Krejci is one point off of his career best pace.  Would now be a good time for them to find another gear?  Yep.  Is it essential that they do?  Probably not.  Barring a huge collapse team wide, the Bruins aren't likely to finish below 4th this year even if the first line holds at this pace.  They can lose a few more games in the second half.  What you want now is to have them in good shape for the playoffs - yes, even now, that probably is the more important goal than catching the Scabs or padding stats.  This year, it's a double marathon.  Fat Daddy needs to pace himself for the sprint to the finish.

In response to BadHabitude's comment:

Hope this doesn't happen or I would be wrong on both of my assertions.....the shame!! :)

In response to jmwalters' comment:

I was actually thinking of Shup as Rodney Dangerfield...."Triple Lindy", Doing something...well Shup like! Reverse the bad, full-60min-jinks the Bruins have put themselves into. But Shuper does "Triple Lindys" all the time, he's just good like that.

 

In response to SanDogBrewin's comment:

Were you adjusting your tie when you typed that?

For some reason, I've never pictured SanDog as a guy who wears a tie. 

In response to Bookboy007's comment:

hawaiian shirt and flip flops?

In response to jmwalters' comment:

Teachers wear clip ons but to go with the shirts n flop flops, it's I nice straw hat.

In response to SanDogBrewin's comment:

heh...you made me laugh out loud, scared my cat. Won't be seeing her for a while.

Sterotyping teachers is not a good thing, never wore a bow tie, sandals, or a flowered shirt worth of Bill Murray.  OMG I am the first to agree the bash brothers are not doing their thing on the first line.  Somehow I am not concerned, afterall, despite the shorten season, it is the mid season malaise!  During the playoffs the wingers can bash! All shall be fine as long as the Bs have another defenseman and a third line winger/centerman.  

In response to islamorada's comment:

You're a teacher too? What is the appropriate attire for an educator in the Granite State nowadays? It's been a few years since I have been back, I almost feel like a traitor....

My prescription for what ails the line of Lucic/Krejci/Horton is the same one I would prescribe for the Bruins' oft-maligned Power Play;

To get the LKH line's nose for the net back, send them out, in tact, as the #1 Power Play Unit. (Followed by the Marchand/Bergeron/Seguin, in tact, as the #2 PP Unit)

This would allow the LKH line to rediscover their 'mojo' with the man advantage - and - would allow the MBS line to make even better use of the chemistry they are obviously already sharing.

 

 

 

 

In response to Fletcher1's comment:

It's not that I don't want to backcheck, I'm cherry picking.

 

Am I the only one praying that the KLH line goes off today? It would make this thread legendary. Then, years on, we can all sit around the campfire tell our grandchildren about the "Reverse Shupe".