Boston Bruins: The Fourth Line Needs a Right Hand
By Jay Peterson
When it comes down to who is the most NHL ready to man the fourth line for the Boston Bruins in the upcoming season, Chris Kelly, Max Talbot and Zac Rinaldo seem to lead the pack. However, the one problem that comes with these three playing together is that they are all left-handed.
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Now, there are plenty of defensive pairings in the league that include two players with the same stick hands and maybe, at times, there is a full forward line with the same stick hands, but when you think about all of the quick thinking and unnecessary awkward passes that comes with playing with players with the same stick hand, it is something that you would rather avoid than tackle head on.
With right-handed players like Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Jimmy Hayes, Brett Connolly and David Pastrnak set to play as top nine forwards, we look to Brian Ferlin and Seth Griffith as our next right handed players that have spent some time on the Bruins roster. Both forwards have a playing style that matches the typical expectations of a fourth line and are both young players with potential to improve, something this line is currently lacking.
Feb 22, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Brian Ferlin (68) warms up prior to a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory
: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Switching between these two players, depending on who is playing better, would be a good strategy for the Boston Bruins coaching staff. Both Ferlin and Griffith have a cap hit of less than $900,000 ($875,000 for Ferlin and 759,166 for Griffith respectively, as seen on salary cap website General Fanager), so there would be no financial issue in rotating them. Plus, they are both restricted free agents next offseason, so it is important that the Bruins see what they’ve got in both players.
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While I do want the two players to share the fourth line right wing position, I do not want the player that doesn’t play to be sitting on the bench. That healthy scratch spot will belong to either Max Talbot or Zac Rinaldo. I expect that whoever doesn’t make the team at the end of training camp, between Ferlin and Griffith, will be playing big minutes in Providence.
I believe that Chris Kelly will be a mainstay on this fourth line in the center position, which means that Max Talbot and Zac Rinaldo, would be battling each other for the spot on the left wing. This would be a wise approach by the coaching staff since the line as a whole will be much more effective if they have a player who is comfortable with playing on the right side.
With Ferlin and Griffith constantly competing for the right wing position, and Talbot and Rinaldo constantly competing for the left wing position, the Boston Bruins will be provided with a fourth line that has the best players available in their system playing every night. Here’s hoping that both Brian Ferlin and Seth Griffith are ready for the extra responsibility.