Miller Signing Shows Bruins Out of Touch with Fans; B's Miss in '16 Draft Again

The Boston Bruins first move of the offseason after missing the playoffs for the second straight year was to promptly go out and resign unrestricted free agent to be Kevan Miller - one of the B's most unpopular players among fans.

Not only did GM Don Sweeney resign him, he doled out a princely figure to a bottom pair D-man at best or even a healthy scratch on a good team, inking Miller to a ridiculous four-year $10 million contract. The move was lambasted by fans on social media.

Miller also is completely counter to the type of modern, speedy puck-control mobile defenseman the league is trending to and the Bruins are in need of to complement Torey Krug, the B's top puck mover and playmaker from the blueline who finished in the top 20 among league defensemen with a career-high 44 points. Krug also was among the Bruins' puck possession leaders, finishing second only to Patrice Bergeron in that category.

Every stat regarding Miller runs against this trend, not to mention the horrendous highly visible turnovers in nationally televised games. Although his overall play improved a bit in the latter portion of the season, Miller still finished with a lousy Corsi at 44.4% (shots and missed shots for versus against while on the ice) and 33 turnovers on the year - numbers that show he's not at all the type of puck possession guy the Bruins are looking for to help them push the pace, keep it out of their own end and control it into the opposing team's zone.

He did finish with 164 hits and 123 blocks, but those can also be indicative of having to defend often in one's own end and not being able to break it out cleanly and consistently to the forwards.

In 71 games, he finished a respectable +15 with 5 goals an 13 assists and at 6'2", 210 pounds adds a physical presence as well as a willingness to drop the gloves, but he will turn 29 in November and the contract just seems two years too long and a million per year too much.

Miller is also essentially a carbon copy of another 29-year old B's defenseman - Adam McQuaid, who was locked up for 4 years at $11 million last summer. McQuaid is also poor at possession and breakouts, finishing with a 43.4% Corsi and 27 giveaways in 64 games, but at 6'4", 212 pounds brings hits (142) and a willingness to block shots (121) and fight when needed. Tying up $21 million into two guys who will be well into their 30s by mid-contract and who are bottom pair defenders is duplicative and makes little roster-building sense. They are more of an indication of the B's still being stuck in a bygone era when size and brawn was more valued than it is in today's high-flying speed game.

The Bruins could have instead waited it out a little more on Miller, saved the money and tried to take a serious run at top UFA defensemen like Alex Goligoski or Keith Yandle. They still could.

"I think we need to look for another transitional D-man. We need to continue to transition the puck better.'  - Bruins GM Don Sweeney

Even with Miller in the fold Boston is still in need of a second defenseman this offseason, and more of the puck-moving variety to give the Bruins mobility in the lineup in addition to Krug. Especially with Zdeno Chara, 39, (46.4 Corsi and 87 turnovers) and Dennis Seidenberg, who turns 35 in July and had just a 42.9 Corsi, falling prey to the same types of breakout struggles at times as Miller and McQuaid.

“I think we need to look for another transitional D-man,” said GM Don Sweeney on the Bruins website. "We’re also looking outside, at the marketplace (through free agency or trade), because we need to continue to transition the puck better.”

However Boston cannot afford to trade any more of its young players or top prospects after years of poor trades and drafts. It needs to hold onto them. It does have two first round picks and a second in the upcoming draft, as well as some decent middle tier prospects, but is probably much better off holding onto its picks and going the free agency route as well as building from within.

If the B's let winger Loui Ericksson, who had a good season in a contract year but will turn 31 in July, walk in free agency and another team overpay him this offseason, they could take that money saved and try to make a serious run at a D-man in free agency or see if some of their defense prospects are ready come camp time.  They also still need to resign restricted free agents Krug and Colin Miller. The latter may be the Bruins' best internal answer as the secondary puck control defenseman to support Krug since he's got good speed, a good shot and possession numbers (54.5 Corsi and 16 points in only 42 games).

“We’ve had talks with [impending restricted free agent] Torey [Krug] and we’ll find, whatever term that ends up being, we’ll find a contract for him," Sweeney continued. "But we’re looking for balance. We’re also looking for players like Colin Miller to take the next step. We’ve got younger players that will hopefully push, and that’s what you want. 

The Bruins mid-first round draft position actually may end up offering better value on offensive prospects at that point rather than on the blueline, so going all in on the Kevan Miller signing is just another head scratcher in a long series of them since the B's lost the Cup in 2013. Trading Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton and Johnny Boychuck, missing out on key prospects in the draft, dealing away too many picks, mishandling assets and resigning 4th liners and journeymen role players to bloated multi-million dollar contracts are among some of the others.

It would be great to see an exciting, skilled fast young team out on the ice with a couple superstars and elite scoring, but it remains to be seen whether the B's will get there anytime soon when their first, most urgent and seemingly biggest priority was throwing $10 million at a 5-6 level defenseman.

UPDATE: 2016 NHL DRAFT Notes... The Bruins management and scouts continued this mind-boggling trend in the 2016 NHL draft when they bypassed on right-shooting, gritty 1st round-ranked dynamic scorers 5'7" RW Alex DeBrincat and 6'1" C/RW Pascal Laberge with their 29th pick to go way off the board and instead select big defensive center Trent Frederic who was projected to go in the mid to late second round (he was ranked from 47 to 58 on major draft boards). While Frederic projects to be a third or fourth line center down the road at the NHL level, DeBrincat (three straight 50-goal, 100-point seasons) and Laberge (tough two-way player who can both score and make plays) are legit first rounders who have the potential to be top-six forwards and would have been excellent value picks at number 29. Frederic could have been taken much later in the draft. The Bruins did take solid value players with both their 14th overall pick and 2nd rounder in defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Ryan Lindgren, but seem to continue to take one step forward and two steps back in a league that is quickly getting faster and more skilled and just don't seem to be on top of things when it comes to scouting or managing assets. Giving up all of the picks they did in last season's deadline trades (including their 2016 3rd and 4th rounders) instead of moving veteran assets for more picks also hurt them in the draft, where they ultimately ended up with only six selections. After going well off the board in the first round of the 2015 draft, as well, and passing on elite prospects such as Kyle Connor, who has gone on to become one of the top NHL prospects in the country, the Bruins' leadership continues to be a cause for concern to the team's fanbase as the B's seemingly continue to miss out on exciting players while the rest of the league scoops them up and seems to be quickly passing Boston by.

With 14th Pick Boston Bruins May Get Chance at Big Right Wing Scoring Machine Julien Gauthier

Despite picking in the middle of the first round again at the upcoming June 24-25 NHL draft in Buffalo, the Bruins may just luck out and end up with an elite level prospect in the form of a 6’4”, 225-pound power forward who can score -- Julien Gauthier.

The 18-year old right-shooting Quebec City native is a scoring beast on the right wing who can do it all - skate, stickhandle, shoot, even be a threat on the penalty kill - and he scored 41 goals this season for Val-d’Or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in just 54 games.

In fact that may be the only reason why Boston may have a shot at him with the 14^th pick. He was ranked 4^th on mid-term draft boards in January by both Central Scouting and ISS, but was injured by an illegal hit that kept him out for some games and slowed him down for a bit after a strong start. He finished the year dropping to a final ranking of 12^th among North American skaters by Central Scouting, and 21^st overall by ISS. Other prominent boards rank him anywhere from 10^th to 20^th, so the B’s may have a good chance at him.

He would fit Bruins President Cam Neely’s desire to find a right wing this offseason with size and passion who can also play. The B's are additionally searching for defense and backup goaltending, but already have a plethora of high-end blueline prospects and the potential in the July free agency period to further add to that mix. If Gauthier is still available at 14, he'd be a high value pick as a top player on the board while also filling a key need. “I’d like us to get a little bit heavier on the right side,” said Neely during a Bruins press conference April 20. “I think we need that element on the forward group.”

Gauthier would fit that bill and then some. He’s been playing ahead of his years in the QMJHL since he was 15, when he led all players his age in points with 29 and helped the Foreurs capture the league title. He followed that up with a 38-goal, 73-point campaign in 68 games in 2014-2015 before loading up with 41 goals, 57 points and a career-high +24 this season. He was also the only first year draft-eligible player selected to play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in Finland this season, where he contributed two assists. He received additional top-shelf international exposure playing in the Canada-Russia All-Star Junior Super Series, and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Top Prospects game.

“I think he’s probably one of the best athletes in Canada for his group of age, with the way he’s built. He's a power forward with hands.” 

 - Val-d'Or Foreurs coach Mario Durocher 

“Not many draft-eligible teenagers possess a type of overwhelming arsenal of characteristics like [Gauthier], who has literally dominated his age group within the CHL in each of the last three seasons,” according to The Draft Analyst. “Blessed with a solid build, good speed and a strikingly accurate shot, [he] validated his rightful place among the world’s elite amateurs a few years back. His stick is always in the right position, whether to receive a pass on the rush or in the slot. He uses his size and reach to his advantage beyond puck protection. He’s difficult to defend in front of the net because he can alter shots heading in a variety of directions. He keeps defenders further away from the net because he doesn’t have to be close to the cage to fight for rebounds.”

Gauthier possesses the rare qualities of having great size, and being a great skater, stickhandler and shooter with an excellent eye and drive for the net at the same time. He is also willing to learn and continue to grow, has a huge ceiling, and is close to being NHL-ready given his strength and maturity. “I think he’s probably one of the best athletes in Canada for his group of age with the way he’s built,” Val-d’Or coach Mario Durocher said on Sports and Moore in late January. “He’s a power forward with hands. He can score goals, he’s got good hands, he’s got a great shot, and he likes to shoot and he likes to score.”

According to Elite Prospects, Gauthier has drawn well-deserved comparisons to big NHL sniper Rick Nash with his “imposing frame, dazzling puck skills, and the drive to win. [He is] an explosive power forward who boasts an elite-level skill package, takes nothing for granted and plays with a hard-nosed work ethic. [His] willingness to play physical and win battles in his own end makes him a vital asset, stepping up at the game’s key moments. Exceptional skating ability allows him to stay with, if not ahead, of each unfolding play. Refined puckhandling skills allow him to maintain puck control at breakneck speeds. [He’s] a prolific scorer whose attitude and innate abilities will constantly propel him into dominance.”

The Bruins have got to like the size, skill and determination Gauthier brings, and with the need for an elite-level talent on the roster, if he’s still available at 14 the B’s would be wise to snap him up. him the best Quebec-raised power forward since Steve 

Boston Bruins Promising Defense Prospects Lining Up at Gates for Next Year

With the Bruins top puck mover and powerplay quarterback Torey Krug expected to miss the start of the 2016-17 season recovering from shoulder surgery, Boston has a temporary opening on the blueline for a young defenseman to lead the B’s charge on the man advantage and breaking out of the defensive zone.

It may be short-lived as Krug’s recovery time of six months should put him back on the ice by mid to late October (he had successful surgery on his right shoulder April 21, according to the Bruins website), but the Bruins will need a second puck mover anyway as poor breakouts, defensive zone turnovers and getting hemmed inside their own zone were the Achilles Heels of several bad losses including the Winter Classic and the season finale bowout of the playoffs. So one or two new mainstays in the defensive lineup are possible, in addition to Krug when he returns.

"We have gaps in that area. At times we didn't transition the puck as well as we'd like out of our own end." - Bruins GM Don Sweeney

Krug was one of the few consistent bright spots on D, as he posted career highs in points (44), assists (40), shots (244) and blocks (94) and finished second on the team in average ice time per game at 21:37. He showcased his breakout ability, quickness, poise with the puck and playmaking skills as a top NHL offensive defenseman, finishing 19^th in the league in points by blueliners while leading all B’s defensemen in scoring and a 58.1 % Corsi  - which indicates a high puck possession ability as it shows Boston gets many more scoring chances than opposing teams when Krug is on the ice. In fact, only Patrice Bergeron had a higher Corsi for the Bruins than Krug.

Other B's defenders struggled mightily at times during the season in getting the puck out smoothly and in helping Boston push a new emphasis on a quicker pace to adapt to the league's new speed trends. Zdeno Chara, 39, still led the team in minutes played at 24:06 a game, which is probably 2-3 too many, as he posted the highest number of turnovers in his Bruins career with 87 and his lowest Corsi at just 46.4%. He still managed 134 hits and 123 blocked shots and a +12, but if the Bruins are hemmed in their zone all of the time it makes it tough to transition to offense or control the play.

Dennis Seidenberg, who turns 35 in July, had a career-low 42.9% Corsi, while unrestricted free agent to be Kevan Miller (44.4% Corsi and a career-high 33 giveaways) and Adam McQuaid (career-low 43.4% Corsi and career-high 27 giveaways) also struggled with puck possession, breakouts and turnovers at times. All three had decent numbers of hits and blocks but again part of that is due to being stuck defending in their zone for more time than playing in the opposing end. The Bruins tried to address the issue at the trade deadline by picking up John-Michael Liles, 35, who has a career 54.2% Corsi and was a 40-point a year blueliner in his peak years, but it didn't pay off as he finished a -7 with 12 giveaways, only six assists and a 48.1% Corsi in 17 games with Boston while the B's gave up a bundle of draft picks for him.

"We have gaps in that area," said Bruins GM Don Sweeney during the team's season-ending press conference last month. "At times we didn't transition the puck as well as we'd like out of our own end." 

Some B's defenders also had trouble with coverage at various times, and were slow to pick up forwards or track the offensive play into their zone from a defensive perspective. "At times our group wasn't as galvanized defensively," Sweeney added.

Candidates to cover for Krug and perhaps stay on when he returns and maintain a role on the second power play include Colin Miller, 23, who had 3 goals and 16 points in 42 games as a rookie for Boston this season while adding 45 hits and 36 blocked shots. He also had a solid 54.5% Corsi, has a wicked slapper and brings excellent speed from the back end that can help Boston tremendously with clean breakouts and pushing the pace quickly up ice to the forwards.

Former Dallas 1st rounder Joe Morrow, 23, also brings some speed from the blueline but had ups and downs with turnovers and only 7 points over 33 games for the B's this season, while showing flashes in generating offense at times - including a nice stretch prior to the Liles trade where he started to look like a legit NHLer.

The Bruins also have several promising young defensemen on the way. Boston's high picks with a lot of potential from last June’s draft include fleet-footed two-way defenders Jakub Zboril (13th overall) and Jeremy Lauzon (52nd overall) and more defensive-minded but solid skating 6'5" Brandon Carlo (37th overall), as well as offensive blueliner Matt Grzelcyk (2012 3rd rounder) and 6'4" college free agent signee Rob O’Gara (ECAC Best Defensive Defenseman in 2014-15) - who all should get extended looks in camp.

Bruins President Cam Neely identified defense as a top priority, in addition to finding a heavy, skilled right wing and backup goalie as the team’s top three offseason needs.  

“Hopefully some of the prospects that we have drafted and that will come in for development camp in July, hopefully one or two will pop for us,” said Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs last month on the Bruins website. “Providence is (also) stacked right now with the kids we sent down and given the kids we signed out of college. We got some really good 'grade A' prospects that are on the way. I expect one or two of them to be on our roster come October.”

The Bruins may also try to go after a free agent defenseman like Keith Yandle or test the waters on draft day deals. They have two first round picks and a second rounder in the upcoming June NHL draft, but are probably better off hanging onto all of them as they need to continue to replenish their prospect pool after years of neglect and trading away high picks and young stars like Tyler Seguin that have set the team back a few years. 

Although they have recently drafted promising forwards such as Zach Senyshyn and Jake DeBrusk and also have college free agent signee winger Frank Vatrano, they could further use a gamebreaking elite level scorer that they may want to try to pry from the draft or free agency, as well.

Boston Bruins Young, Fast Ryan Spooner Part of NHL Speed Train of Now and Future; Developing, Keeping B's Center Wise Investment

Midway through the third period with Boston leading Pittsburgh 2-1 at TD Garden in a close late February battle between two teams fighting for the playoffs, Adam McQuaid blocked a shot and Ryan Spooner took an ensuing pass deep in his own zone just shy of the right faceoff circle.

Spooner quickly turned up ice with the puck and as if he was shot out of a cannon, exploded like a rocket by two defenders through center and into the Penguins zone, drawing one down on the left side before laying a perfect pass across the goalmouth to a wide open Jimmy Hayes for an easy tap-in score. The Bruins never looked back, pulling away for a 5-1 victory.

It’s that explosive skating acceleration from Spooner, breathtaking speed and skill with the puck in full stride that brings fans out of their seats. The Bruins were thrilled to see things finally pay off for the large majority of his first full NHL season after the team invested significantly in his development since drafting him in the second round of 2010. Boston needs his off the chart speed, pinpoint touch passing and game-breaking ability in its game, and he’s one of their few emerging young players who has the ability to supply it.

Spooner scored nearly 50 points and had a long stretch where his confidence, puck possession ability, creativity, playmaking and speed soared before he tailed off a bit near the end of the year - perhaps in part due to a lower body injury and becoming a little rundown in his first full NHL season, notching only 9 points in his final 22 games although he continued to push until the end and had a nice assist leading a rush against Detroit in the second to last game. “It’s something that I need to get used to. It’s definitely not an excuse, I’m in good enough shape, I wish I could have played a lot better,” he said on the Bruins website in April after the B's season ended, clearly disappointed. “The stretch between December and February I felt good. [So] some of the challenges for me I guess was just being a little more consistent. I think as a whole I had a fun season. It didn't end how I wanted it to.”

Spooner was among a group of several young Bruins who gave the team a new look this year and promise going forward with more speed and youthful energy. It paid off in stretches where the Bruins were able to run with fast teams. “That experience they got this year is going to be valuable going forward. There’s a reason for our team to grow here with those guys having the experience and knowing how to handle those situations better next year,” said coach Claude Julien during the Bruins year-end presser last month.

The team just needs to get more consistent as a whole, while adding or integrating a couple new pieces to their defense, as well as a backup goalie and scoring winger.

'Spooner and Senyshyn are both from Ottawa and have skated together previously in local offseason leagues, so the idea of the two of them speeding up ice on rushes is an exciting one'

For the large majority of the season Spooner was an impact player. Highlights included a career high 4-point game in December and an incident that drew universal praise from teammates and endeared him to Julien when he dropped the gloves and was willing to go with Patrick Hornqvist after the Pittsburgh winger lit up Dennis Seidenberg with a big corner hit.

More importantly, his defense seemed to improve throughout the year as he became much more reliable at backchecking, covering in front, digging pucks out of the boards, coming back to strip it away and use his speed in counterattacks. He also was more aggressive on the forecheck and pressuring to pull pucks out of corners to set up teammates. His face-offs improved as the year went along, as well, and while he finished a respectable 43% he’ll continue to work to lift those numbers, his plus-minus rating (career -7) and winning even more physical battles.

Offensively, the 5’10”, 184-pound left-shooting center finished with 49 points on 13 goals and 36 assists in 80 games – good for 5^th on the team in points and tied for 3rd in assists. Those are really solid numbers for a third line center making just $950,000 a season (next year will be the second of a two-year contract) who often played with different wingers and is still on the upswing at just 24. He’s part of the B’s new youth movement to incorporate their own drafted players and college free agents onto the roster, and recover from overpriced contracts for veteran role players that handcuffed the team in recent years. Trading away promising MVP-potential youth like Tyler Seguin also mortgaged their future, so Boston needs to hang onto bargains like the speedy, skilled Spooner and maintain pace with NHL trends favoring fast, young players.

Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs said last month on the Bruins website that young impact players with lesser dollar amounts are key to a roster balance that also allows some flexibility to compete in free agency. Spooner fits that mold perfectly.

“Having to acquire players is harder than drafting and developing, getting them into your lineup,” added Bruins President Cam Neely on the Bruins site April 20. “We had quite a gap of saying, ‘OK, these guys are ready to come in and play now.’”

With the NHL favoring more offense, speed and skill through a series of rule changes over the last several years, including the institution of obstruction penalties and elimination of two-line offsides, Spooner’s high octane skillset is key for the Bruins in keeping pace with the rest of the league in moving with these trends. Puck possession is another crucial piece of it and Spooner is among the team’s best, ranking 3^rd with a 56.9% Corsi (shots, attempts and goals for versus against while on the ice) behind only Patrice Bergeron and Torey Krug. He’s also a whopping 57.8% for his career.

Spooner further led Boston in shootout goals and percentage, going three for four on the year, helping the B’s improve to 4-2 in shootouts from 4-10 the previous season.

But it’s Spooner’s elite speed and ability to rush the puck in full flight through center ice or drive up the wing to get a shot on net, spot and lay a pass out for a trailer, stickhandle by a defender to gain entry into the zone, or work the halfwall on the powerplay where he can impact the game the most. If he utilizes his hard wristshot and drives the net just a little more often to keep defenses honest and complement his excellent passing skills, and lift his goal total to the 20-range he could become a top force in the league. He put up 162 shots, a little off the previous year’s pace when he had 73 in 29 games.

While the Bruins have invested in teaching the offensive-minded Spooner the two-way Boston system and he ‘gets it’ now, he has certainly put the work in. After putting up 113 goals and 259 points in 230 junior OHL games, he racked up 136 points in 150 games in Providence and gradually worked his way into the Bruins lineup. He initially covered for an injured Chris Kelly, notching 11 points in a 23-game stretch during the 2013-14 season before solidifying his role at the end of 2014-15 in another injury call-up in which he never looked back. He now has 78 points over 136 NHL games, with his average ice time per game rising each year from 12:49 in 2013-14 to 14:32 last year and 15:08 in 2015-16.

Spooner Gives Bruins Valuable Lineup Flexibility

Spooner also gives the Bruins needed lineup flexibility and depth. He has the ability to play a top-six center role and has filled in very well for pivot David Krejci on two occasions, once two seasons ago when he put up eight goals and 18 points over the last 24 games to cement his spot in the lineup and again this past season when Krejci was sidelined in January with an injury and Spooner notched 11 points in eight games during his absence.

That ability to play a top line role when needed becomes even more important with Krejci, now 30, undergoing left hip surgery April 25 and expected to require five months to recover, according to the Bruins website. That would put his recovery date around September 25, just a couple weeks before the regular season opens. Krejci had similar surgery on his right hip six years ago.

Spooner additionally can play wing as an option for Julien if he wants to stock a line with offense to generate more scoring.

As the most experienced, fastest and skilled young center in the Bruins system, Boston would be wise to hang onto Spooner for not only this season but years to come and benefit from the investment they’ve made in him as he’s only going to get better. What’s exciting is the prospect of pairing him with another speedster and upcoming player like 19-year old right winger Zach Senyshyn, the B’s 2015 15^th overall pick who torched the OHL with 45 goals this past season. Spooner and Senyshyn are both from Ottawa and have skated together previously in local offseason leagues, so the idea of the two of them speeding up ice on rushes is an exciting one. At 6’2”, 195 pounds, Senyshyn may also match Neely’s desire to bring some ‘heaviness’ to the wing at the same time, or the B’s may try to add a big winger in free agency, as well. Spooner also had good chemistry with another speedy, skilled young Bruin in winger David Pastrnak when they were lined up together a couple seasons ago.

Pastrnak brings similar speed and quickness, and an array of moves, particularly once he’s already inside the offensive zone.  After a rollercoaster first half in which he was hurt early in the season, returned for the World Junior Championships with the Czech Republic and worked his way back to form, he started to take off in the last quarter of the season after finally being injury-free. He showcased his dynamic skill and speed with penalty shot and breakaway goals, and was often the B’s best forward in the final stretch, buzzing around in the offensive zone creating multiple chances. In addition to finishing with 15 goals and 26 points in 51 games (5 more goals than last year and a pace of 24 over a full season), Pastrnak led Boston in penalties drawn per game with 1.3 -- something the B’s desperately need more of to increase their powerplay chances.

The Bruins need young, fast, skilled players like Spooner and Pastrnak, and others on the way like Senyshyn to add to their emerging speed train in order to match the league’s top big wheels for years to come.

“Some of the kids that we were fortunate enough to draft even as recently as last summer may come in and have a very good impact on our NHL roster,” Jacobs said. “Hopefully one or two will pop for us. I think there are brighter days ahead.”