From: patchman@wpi.WPI.EDU (Peter Bruce Harper)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey
Subject: Bruins, Canadiens, Adams in general
Date: 11 Dec 1992 18:24:19 GMT
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: wpi.wpi.edu



I've followed some of the recent discussion about the Adams division and
particularly Montreal and Boston.  I am a Canadiens fan and a part-time 
Bruins hater (I will get outrageously insulting if I'm talking to someone
who has no idea what they're talking about or if I'm just goofing), but I
am capable of realizing the strengthes and weakneses of a team.

What I'd like to attempt to do is to discuss the strengthes and weaknesses
of each of the teams in the Adams Division.  Serious discussion is welcomed,
in fact, incouraged.  Flames can be directed to rec.go.fuck.yourself as I 
have no use for comments about how the water is affecting my brain.  Not to
mention that I live in Massachusetts, closer to Boston than to Montreal.

Anyways, here we go:

Boston Bruins:
Strengthes:  Extremely explosive offense.  The likes of Juneau and Oates can 
put on quite the show.  I like to watch these two in action, although I have
trouble 'liking' them because of who they play for.  They are great players,
but I would question if Juneau can keep up the pace.  He became the leading
scorer when Lindros was injured.  And let's not forget that goalies can win the
Calder without scoring many points (Felix Potvin).  Beyond Oates and Juneau 
they have Kvartalnov (sp?), Leach, and Ruzicka (sp?).  Kvartalnov was doing 
great when he was on the Oates line, but has dropped off considerably now that
he is on the second line, particularly since returning from his throat 
problem.  Leach is consistently decent.  Not as good as Oates or Juneau but
posses a great slap shot.  Will probably get 40 goals this year, 35 at least!
Ruzicka is inconsistent at best.  One game he'll get 5 points, then he'll
get 0 for the next 3.  They need more consistency from him.  Bourque also
contributes, but no where near what he did last year.  Other than him, not
too much to be said about the defense offensively.  I would say that the Bruins
have one of the top 10 lines in the NHL,  but they do need more mixed scoring,
more than just the occasional goals from guys like Donato and Heinze.
On defense the Bruins are fairly solid.  Bourque is unquestionably one of the
best ever, but he's looking a little off this year.  He's still solid but he
seems a little more shaky this year.  David Shaw  is a great defensive defense-
man.  Don Sweeney has also been solid on the Blue line.  Wesley has been
decent, but is still subjected to the occasional lapse, like deflecting the
puck into his own net.  Other than that their corpse is somewhat aged.

Weaknesses:  I'd have to point out the Rookie scoring and say that if it keeps 
up the Bruins can go far, but if not, they may be in trouble.  The Bruins 
forecheck well and aren't afraid to go into corners for pucks, but I notice 
that if you hit them back you can knock them off their games (see loss to 
Buffalo 7-2 in the Aud earlier this season and to Washington).  They could use
a little more scoring from their other lines (more than just their 1st line).
Penalty killing has been good with Dave Poulin and Ted Donato, but they need
more offense on even-strength situations.  Goaltending could also become a
problem.  Moog has been playing well this year, but not what he has been the
last few years, and Reggie Lemelin is just old.  True, Rej has had some great
games this season but the slightest injury and he's done for.  Overall they
have decent goaltending but it could become a problem should something happen 
to Rejean.  (True, this holds for any team, but at Reggie's age he is more
prone to get injured).

Overall:  Boston has got great offense from their first line, and decent 
scoring from their second, but the constant shuffling of Ashton and others as
scratches doesn't help to steady the 3rd and 4th lines for some scoring.
Defense is solid but doesn' tgenerate a whole lot of offense.  Goaltending is
good but should have an eye on it at all times.  Oh yes, as far as depth in
Providence, yes they have scored the most goals, but they also allowed the
most, in fact, last I knew they had allowed more then they had scored.  I'd
question Featherstone on D too.  Seems a little shaky to me.  



Buffalo:  
Strengthes:  Lafontaine line is definately one of the top lines in the NHL.  
Mogilny is a great puck-handler and he can FLY!  Andreychuck and Hawerchuck
also add alot to this spectacular offense, not to mention Donald Audette who
was contributing alot prior to his injury.  Defense is fair at best with their
number one man being Petr Svboda.  Overall the offense on this team could
potentially make up for the only fair defense.


Weaknesses:  Defense is only fair and goaltending is just plain BAD!  They need
to get a steady #1 if they hope to make it anywhere in the playoffs.  If they
can get an established number one they should be a contender to take the Adams 
Division, but I'd question them in taking the Cup due to past playoff problems.

Overall:  Great offense, but is it great enough to compensate for the 
devensive/goaltending lacks?  Only time will tell.  If they can continue to
beat Boston they may be able to make it out of the first round of the playoffs
this year (2-0-0 vs. Boston so far this season).



Hartford:
Strengthes:  Well, there aren't too many to speak of.  Pat Verbeek is a good
player, but doesn't have much to work with in terms of line mates.  Patrick
Poulin has promise for the future, and has been doing quite well, but also
suffers from a lack of supporting cast.  Not much hope for the Whale to
squeek into the playoffs this season.  Sean Burke is a good goalie as he
proved in New Jersey, but also is suffering at the hands of an extremely
lacking defense.  Except for Zarley Zalapski there is much worth note.

Weakneses: Loss of Cullen hurt, should have tried to get more for him.  Overall
he wasn't helping the team much though.  Need more defense and offense.  They
seem to have lost everything by trading Ulf and Francis to Pitsburgh, not to
mention Dineen to Philly.  All of their trades seem to have done much more harm
than good.

Overall: Well, they won't be last thanks to Ottawa, but that's about it.  
Without more scoring and more defense they're hurting.  Goaltending is alright
but a better backup would help.  Burke is capable but is taking a shelling!


Montreal:
Strengthes:  The first obviously is thei rgoaltending.  Patrick Roy is still
one of the best there is, and he has yet to hit the age where most goalies
hit their prime.  Offnese has improved due to Demers allowing the Defensemen
to carry the puck and get more involved in the play.  Even with the increase
in offense, Montreal's defense is one of the stingiest, it's goaltending sits
atop the league overall.  Offense is doing well even without the defense's
help.  Players like Muller, Savard, Damphousse, LeBeau, and Bellows brings
back the offense which all but disappeared under the watchful eye of Pat
Burns.  The Forwards still have some back-checking as well with guys like
Guy Carbonneau and Mike Keane.

Weakneses:  Montreal once again has one of the worst power-plays in the league,
and although they score enough goals to compensate while at even strength, this
could hurt come playoff time.  Have to watch mistakes by the defense who are
still young, but continue to mature and still are quite good.  Montreal can
actually come back and win a game if their behind this season.  A luxury that
seemed to be gone altogether the last few years.  Backup goialie Andre 
Racicot has been suprisingly good this year, but how much does he owe this to
the defense?  And how long can he keep it up?


Overall:  Montreal has a great team this year and should have some great 
battles against rival Boston.  Playoffs should be particularly interesting
since it's not a lock that it will be Montreal and Boston for the Adams
final this year.  If it does end up Montreal and Boston the habs better hope
that Roy isn't worn out like he was last year.


Ottawa:  
Strengthes:  About the only good thing about Ottawa are Darrin Rumble and
Norm MacIver.  Sidorkiewicz also turns in a decent perfromance every now and
again.  Sylvain Lefebvre (sp?) has also been doing alright, but not well enough
to give the Senators much hope.Other than that - look out last overall - here 
we come!

Weakneses:  Everything other than what was mentioned above.  Perhaps Tampa Bay
had the right idea in drafting experience rather than youth and hoping for the
future to be bright.

Overall:  Basement bound.  Don't think I'm just beating on the team because I
don't like them.  They're just really bad.

Quebec:  
Strengthes:  Quite the turn around since last year.  They have decent 
goaltending in Ron Hextall, and a good, youthful offense.  That could be the 
key for Quebec.  Their offense is still young (Sakic, Ricci, Nolan, Sundin) so 
even if this isn't their year to make a big impact then they do have great 
promise for the future.

Weakneses:  Defense is still somewhat shaky even after the addition of 
Steve Duchesne.  Improvement on this could really make the difference between
3rd or 4th place and 1st or 2nd.

Overall:  Offense is great and should have many great years barring any big
injuries or stupid trades.  With a stronger defense this team could be the
next Pittsburgh.

I know the most about Boston of all the teams, although I do not claim to be an
expert by any means.  Just hoping to start some interesting and non-flame-war
type conversation.  Anyone who can provide more information on the individual
teams, please do, I'd like to learn as much as possible.

-Pete



*************************************************************************
*  "I am the Lizard King,          *   Peter Harper                     *
*   I can do anything!             *   Worcester Polytechnic Institute  *
*        - James Douglas Morrison  *   Worcester, MA 01609              *
*                 Poet             *      patchman@wpi.wpi.edu          *
*              (1943-1971)         *      patchman@hongkong.wpi.edu     * 
*************************************************************************