Bruins HC: Sabres Had No Push

[WildCard]

Ott was pre-tank. And traded before the kids were here. Pominville was Botteril’s hire so he’s the equivalent of closing the barn door after the horses got out.

 

It really boils down to Gionta, Moulson, and Gorges. Not exactly a murderer’s row of leadership reputation. And Gio was shown the door because the kids didn’t like being told to do the right thing.

 

That doesn’t take away from your last paragraph. Drafting and development has been negligent as well.

The tank was 2013-2015, Steve Ott was named Captain to start the season 2013. I can see your Pominville point, but it's still an attempt to fill the veteran void that many claim a tank created.

 

Nobody here or in the entire hockey universe claimed Gorges, Gionta, and Okposo weren't good moves specifically to bring in leadership. Even Byslma was an attempt to bring in leadership. Even Ted Nolan was again an attempt to bring in leadership.

 

We failed, miserably at it, there's no doubt. But we tried to bring in leaders

[Marvelo]

O’Reilly is the guy whose trade has the potential to improve this team the most.

 

I'd trade O'Reilly before Kane but after Okposo.

[StuckinFL]

O'Reilly is a massive disappointment this season.   He looks completely out of shape, he's slow, lagging behind the play most nights.    His first couple seasons here he was a determined puck hound, creating chance after chance off the forecheck..    now he looks gassed after 15 seconds, shoulder slumped over, head down trying to catch up to the play from behind like he has sandbags strapped to his legs.  

I couldn't agree more.

[Taro T]

They didn't acquire leaders, they acquired veterans.  Not nearly the same thing.  And none of them, save Gionta, came from winning organizations.

 

I'm going to go back to the environment that Sidney Crosby walked into as a rookie.  He had Lemieux, LeClair, Gonchar, Malone, Palffy, Recchi and Odelein in the dressing room on his first day of training camp.  All of them were past their prime, but they were leaders and they were guys that Crosby would have looked up to and in awe of right from the starting gate.

 

Instead of putting players that command respect in place before Eichel and Samson showed up, we were too busy trading for injured wingers and moving goaltenders that showed a pulse.

 

Gonchar definitely signed after Sid was selected. Not worth the effort to figure which others you listed were also. (Not trying to be difficult, just realistic.

 

And which goalie, other than Halak who refused to suit up, showed a pulse & was moved? Neuvirth? Would like to have kept him, but he isn't exactly Price or Murray.