Post by 210 on Dec 31, 2003 22:52:43 GMT -5
Sullivan On The Hot Seat
By Darryl "210" Hunt
SPECIAL TO BRUINSCAGE
People often talk about baseball being "a game of numbers". Well, hockey can be too.
15.6 = the Bruins power play percentage, which is 13th in the NHL.
81.5 = the Bruins penalty kill percentage, which it 27th in the NHL.
8 = the number of shorthanded goals surrendered by the Bruins, worst in the NHL
4 = the number of Bruins wins over the last 20 games.
Based on the talent on this team those numbers are simply unacceptable. How can a team that has players like Joe Thornton, Sergei Samsonov, and Glen Murray be so bad? How can a team with penalty killers like PJ Axelsson and Brian Rolston suddenly become one of the worst in the league at it?
Watching Boston play it's become obvious this teams has lots of problems, not limited to a lack of effort during many shifts and a total disregard of fundamentals. Excepting players like Nick Boynton, Travis Green, and Patrice Bergeron nearly every player on the Bruins' roster is playing far below what was expected of him. Things have been so bad the Bruins recalled journeyman Ted Donato from Providence. Donato is playing with his 7th NHL team since the beginning of the 98-99 season where he was traded away by the Bruins.
While a lack of talent can be excused, lack of effort and preparation is squarely the fault of one person--head coach Mike Sullivan.
Sullivan was considered one of the hardest working players during his 11 year NHL career and it's shocking that he doesn't seem to implore that in his players. Time and time again we see the Bruins be out hit and out hustled, which leads to being out scored.
Boston's fast start has helped keep them in the play-off hunt. Should this poor play continue there is a very good chance the Bruins will fall below 8th place and will be playing golf in early April. Not only will Sullivan's job be on the line but Mike O'Connell's too. And like last season we may see an early dismissal of the head coach in an attempt by O'Connell to keep his job.
But it may be far too little and far too late.
It will probably take 82 points to make the playoffs, or a .500 record. Currently the Bruins are at 41 points. Do they have the talent to get to 82? Of course they do.
If they have the heart to do it is another question entirely.
Darryl Hunt covers the Worcester IceCats for www.icecats.com and Blues prospects for www.hockeysfuture.com
By Darryl "210" Hunt
SPECIAL TO BRUINSCAGE
People often talk about baseball being "a game of numbers". Well, hockey can be too.
15.6 = the Bruins power play percentage, which is 13th in the NHL.
81.5 = the Bruins penalty kill percentage, which it 27th in the NHL.
8 = the number of shorthanded goals surrendered by the Bruins, worst in the NHL
4 = the number of Bruins wins over the last 20 games.
Based on the talent on this team those numbers are simply unacceptable. How can a team that has players like Joe Thornton, Sergei Samsonov, and Glen Murray be so bad? How can a team with penalty killers like PJ Axelsson and Brian Rolston suddenly become one of the worst in the league at it?
Watching Boston play it's become obvious this teams has lots of problems, not limited to a lack of effort during many shifts and a total disregard of fundamentals. Excepting players like Nick Boynton, Travis Green, and Patrice Bergeron nearly every player on the Bruins' roster is playing far below what was expected of him. Things have been so bad the Bruins recalled journeyman Ted Donato from Providence. Donato is playing with his 7th NHL team since the beginning of the 98-99 season where he was traded away by the Bruins.
While a lack of talent can be excused, lack of effort and preparation is squarely the fault of one person--head coach Mike Sullivan.
Sullivan was considered one of the hardest working players during his 11 year NHL career and it's shocking that he doesn't seem to implore that in his players. Time and time again we see the Bruins be out hit and out hustled, which leads to being out scored.
Boston's fast start has helped keep them in the play-off hunt. Should this poor play continue there is a very good chance the Bruins will fall below 8th place and will be playing golf in early April. Not only will Sullivan's job be on the line but Mike O'Connell's too. And like last season we may see an early dismissal of the head coach in an attempt by O'Connell to keep his job.
But it may be far too little and far too late.
It will probably take 82 points to make the playoffs, or a .500 record. Currently the Bruins are at 41 points. Do they have the talent to get to 82? Of course they do.
If they have the heart to do it is another question entirely.
Darryl Hunt covers the Worcester IceCats for www.icecats.com and Blues prospects for www.hockeysfuture.com
