Boston Bruins: A question for Joe Haggerty
Nov 12, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman
Stephane Robidas(12) tries to block a shot by Boston Bruins forward
Simon Gagne(12) on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender
Jonathan Bernier(45) during the first period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Haggerty over at Comcast New England has been their ‘Bruins Insider’ for the last few years. He’s been known to write some solid articles about the Black and Gold (He has also written articles(Trading for P.K.Subban or trading away Zdeno Chara) that have inflammed the fan base.). Love him or hate him, he’s known for giving honest information on the Bruins, and I had a chance to throw a question at him, courtesy of his HaggBagg on Twitter. I posed this question (Before the Bruins went to Toronto and got obliterated by a Maple Leafs team that was determined not to be embarrassed in the Air Canada Centre again.).
Once everyone is healthy, do you see any more shakeups with the forward lines in Boston?
Joe Haggerty: “I still think they want a big body on the right wing with Milan Lucic and David Krejci similar to what they’ve had in the past, so that would likely cause a bit of a shakeup if they were to introduce a veteran player to the group of 12 forwards. Seth Griffith has been pretty good and is showing he can definitely hack it at the NHL level, so it will be interesting to see where he winds up if he keeps performing at a high level for the Black and Gold.”
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“I think there may also be some changes forthcoming for a fourth line that hasn’t been very consistent, or given the team much energy in the early going this season. I like Simon Gagne as the veteran extra guy that can play up and down the lineup, but I’m still not sold that Gregory Campbell will be centering the fourth line for the long haul this season. Daniel Paille has also been very quiet over the first month. I totally understand why Claude Julien has been loyal to some guys that have done great things for him in the past, and he may yet get rewarded for it if he sticks with them.”
“But it might be time to turn that bottom forward line over to the kids as the Bruins planned to in training camp.”
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Well, we saw the kids in action last night. While they can handle the weaker teams in the NHL well, they weren’t ready for an explosive Toronto offense that chased Tuukka Rask out of net just a few minutes into the second period. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of Gagne playing in Boston. I didn’t see him being able to put in the minutes and perform at the NHL level. He’s doing all right at the moment on the fourth line though.
Claude Julien has been known to be loyal to players that have worked hard for him. (When Peter Chiarelli isn’t resigning players like Shawn Thornton, or trading away Johnny Boychuk for some draft picks and some magic beans.) While the fourth line hasn’t been stellar, I can’t see Julien moving them in favor of young blood this season.