Boston Bruins: Stick With The Young Defense
By Jay Peterson
Boston Bruins: Stick With The Young Defense
After allowing a total of 19 goals in their last four games, it’s a miracle that the Boston Bruins were able to pick up two wins in that time. With numbers like this, one would initially look to the goaltending for explanations, but this time around, it is not the goalies that I would blame.
In yesterday’s goal filled game against Detroit, Tuukka Rask made numerous point-blank saves allowing the game to stay close before inevitably being pulled from the game by Coach Julien. It wasn’t based on Rask’s performance but more likely on the frustration that was building up for the goalie due to the number of times her was left out to dry by his teammates.
Patrice Bergeron being injured for the last couple of games has also hurt the team, but most of the blame for these embarrassing goals against totals will and should be put on the defense. It was believed that, between young restricted free agents, Colin Miller, Zach Trotman and Joe Morrow, someone would step up this year and play a larger role on the team.
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With Adam McQuaid, not surprisingly, suffering another injury this year, the chance for any of them to break out was offered even more so by the Bruins staff. Unfortunately, none of these players have consistently shown that they belong in this league. General Manager Don Sweeney‘s plan was to build and compete internally so that the Boston Bruins did not have to spend more money signing free agents. We all knew going into this season that it was going to be a rough year for the defense, but, recently, it has almost been unbearable.
The Boston Bruins are sitting in a playoff spot and are on pace to secure that spot come April. However, lots can happen in two months and I’m sure that the team’s defense is being assessed, with the trade deadline fast approaching. So, should the Bruins go out and find a top four defenseman that may or may not solve all of their problems, or should the team stick with the players they have and allow them to continue to gain experience like they have been doing all year?
It has become a more difficult decision in recent weeks, but I have to say that if Don Sweeney backs out of his plan now, the whole season’s approach would be all for not. Trotman, Morrow and C. Miller have all shown signs of promise and, as said above, the Bruins remain in the hunt, even with McQuaid out. Whether the Boston Bruins make the playoffs or not, these are the three defenseman that the Bruins have acquired and invested in and that needs to be seen through.
All three defenseman are restricted free agents, along with Torey Krug. There is no doubt that Krug will receive a hefty bonus, but if the other three young defenders continue to play unremarkably and inconsistently, they could be signed to less than they should have deserved. This would help the Bruins in cap space and could allow them to acquire some help during free agency period.
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However, if one or more of these players step up and play a big part in helping the Bruins make the playoffs, then they will deserve a big raise and the Bruins won’t need to search for extra help because one or more of their prospects has gone pro. Making the playoffs is huge for player development and will give these three young players a chance to experience what playoff hockey is like.
The way things are going right now, it would be smart of Sweeney to give all three of these defensemen the same contract that Ryan Spooner got this past summer, 950 000 dollars, or less, for two years. It can be argued that Spooner’s year last year with the Bruins was much more impressive than anything any of these defensemen have done thus far, so this type of contract should not be something for them to argue about. This gives all three defensemen another two years to develop and, chances are, one or more of them will be worth much more than under a million dollars by the time their contract is expired. This has already been the case for Spooner.
Whatever direction contract negotiations go in, it is risky, but important, to keep going for the rest of the season with the same defense group that the Boston Bruins have right now. NHL experience is not acquired overnight, unless you’re Connor McDavid, and if we are expecting our prospects to become key members of the team one day, we need to give them time and chances to get use to the idea.
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