BEAR for the volcano?

[alta]

At 23 this will be his 5th season. The age would indicate he has room to grow, but after four seasons I haven't seen the type of improvement you'd expect from a player this young. He wouldn't be the first player to vastly improve with a new team, he wouldn't be the last either

[richkrt99]

According to reports from the Caps practice today Burakovsky was on a line with Backstrom and Oshie and Vrana was on the first line with Kuzy and Ovi.  Interesting, I am looking forward to seeing how those lines look tomorrow against Calgary.  Stephenson is on a line with Eller and Connelly and Smith-Pelly is back on the 4th line with Dowd and Jaskin.  Also Bowey is in for Djoos. 


Playing with Backstrom and Oshie, Burakovsky should get plenty of opportunities to score.  I am hoping he makes the most of it.  Also Vrana’s speed should open things up for Kuzy and Ovi and that could be a dynamite line.  Hopefully it won’t be too much of a defensive liability.

Well I stated earlier (somewhere, sometime) that Bura is never going to "blossom" on a third or fourth line.  He is a top line skills type guy.  He hasn't "earned" that chance, but putting a round peg in a square hole hasn't exactly helped him blossom either.
Hopefully he will have success on the second line - I think that actually is the best fit for him and I like Stephenson on line 3 also.  I was curious about seeing Vrana on the top line.  He has some wicked speed and good shot.  Hopefully this works out as an improvement for all four lines.


Willy's absence is driving this....making due with players that are available.


Bura BETTER make the best of this....otherwise it's in the Volcano with him.


Of course, I used to campaign for Vrana to be moved also (traded), but I like him now....just hope he can continue to improve.


Djoos is pretty much on my s-list also.  I just can't get over his size -  he's playing with heavy weights and he's a fly weight.  You can't be a successful D man in the NHL at 160lbs.  He just gets pushed around.  I want my D to push people out of the crease, not the other way round.

Why again does the font size change when I hit the backspace key?

[PUCKNRUSH]

Of course I was glad to see Bura get on the board, finally, last night. Every breakout, from a slump, must always start with that first goal! As with any recovering player, we shall see!


The issue with Bura has never been about skills, speed, or talent. He’s been blessed with some natural gifts! The issue has ALWAYS been CONSISTENCY.
Erratic production problems are always hard to pinpoint. With Bura, whether scratched, reset, or injured, it all goes into the equation. Rierden just shed a little more light as to how he’s dealing with Bura, at last nights post game interview.
Rierden said, and I’m paraphrasing, that looking at Andre, it’s all about “chances for, versus chances against”!  Adding that for a guy like Bura, the differential should not be EVEN, but rather tilted to the offensive side, and I think we’re getting closer to that!


The media, had asked Rierden to comment on Bura’s performance, having just scored a goal, looking to get some Bura praise from the coach. Rierden obliged, but also added the above comments as some kind of neutralizer.  IMO, I heard some subtle, restrained, frustration in Rierdens voice, when saying the part about the differential “shouldn’t be even”.


For me, watching Bura this season, I still see the lost puck battles, and handling issues, but far worse is that he still appears “alone” out there on the ice, in his overall style. That the teamwork and line chemistry he tries to show, feels forced, and unnatural, almost as an afterthought, that occurs to him because he knows he “has to”!
Last nights awesome pass from Dowd, behind the net, leading to a great shot and goal by Bura, is an example of teamwork being jammed down Bura’s throat.  Don’t get me wrong, Bura made an extremely talented shot, at a sharp angle to make that goal! Awesome talent to do that!  But if you think that Andre realized that it actually TOOK A TEAM EFFORT to produce....just check his post game interview out, specifically when asked about his goal!  Nothing but “I this”, and “I that” all through his response!  What a team player, I say!!🤣😂🤣


Rush

[alta]

So Bear took a half step back from the edge with the goal a couple games ago, but he's still right there. I say he's trade bait for a defenseman or a hotel room..

[alta]

if Carlson doesn’t get his head out of his ass he may be bumped to the front of the line

[alta]

hey Burt, come up here and check out the view

[4 Caps]

Burt with the winning goal, good for him.  He made up for his bad giveway that led to Arizona’s first goal.  The kid has a terrific shot but he needs to get it off quicker. 

[Mickstix]

Burt fell in the volcano a while back. He just hasn't realized it yet.  Wonder if they can hide him somewhere until 2020 as Seattle bait? 

[PUCKNRUSH]

Burt fell in the volcano a while back. He just hasn't realized it yet.  Wonder if they can hide him somewhere until 2020 as Seattle bait? 

Agreed on the volcano, Mick.
2020 pushes the patience envelope too heavy, for me. LOL. Glad for his GWG, but it stops right there!


I watched Burakovsky’s post game chat last nite. To his credit, he ACTUALLY said he had a bad game. He also didn’t bother to glorify his GWG, and said that he was just glad the TEAM got a win!


Ive paid particular attention to Bura’s post game comments, especially starting last year, through to the present. This is the FIRST time I’ve witnessed him have this fluid of a humble tone to his whole interview.  I compare it to a dog that just got scolded for something. A very “tail between the legs” style to his words last night.


Still, though, I don’t see him getting the chemistry of line play, although on a different one last nite. He’s got more goals than assists this year. Its one thing for Ovi to do that, not Bura.  I’m going to look back over his history to see how his assists versus goals ratio pans out. Backy epitomizes a team player, just check his stellar assist numbers.
Bura has to show some good cycling contribution, and way better linemate acknowledgement! With all his natural ability, there no excuse for it. Some puck handling 101 would also help! LOL


Rush

[Maacoshark]

    I'm surprised Burakovsky admitted he had a bad game. I already said in the get not to get excited about the gwg because he still had a bad game.

[Beaglefan2]

I have always liked Burakovsky, but am getting tired of his boneheaded plays.  I actually think he has as good, if not better, skill set as Vrana - he just doesn't have the desire.  Vrana has a motor that doesn't quit.  Not so much with Burt.

[PUCKNRUSH]

I have always liked Burakovsky, but am getting tired of his boneheaded plays.  I actually think he has as good, if not better, skill set as Vrana - he just doesn't have the desire.  Vrana has a motor that doesn't quit.  Not so much with Burt.

Hey Beags!
Yes, and just compare/contrast the way Vrana and Bura have responded to their corrective “resets”!
They have both been disciplined by Trotz last year.


Bura’s general “growth”, as a maturing hockey player is, at best, a stymied, revolving, blurry, anybody’s guess, type of progress. We see his obviously stellar skill set, peek its head out from time to time, but it certainly can’t be said to be a reliable showing, even with the most optimistic view! Putting coaches, players and fans, in an uncomfortable “will he, or won’t he”, type of impatient frustration!


Vrana, on the other hand, his growth has been most obviously northward! He’s becoming exciting to watch, more and more often, and contributing as a linemate, with a decent mix of solo goals, and some wicked passes for assists! IMO, you can see him maturing as the season goes on!


It’s funny because as I’m posting, we just beat Columbus, 4-0, in a great team effort WIN.
Bura didn’t score but I thought he had a better game this time. Although he had his typical number of puck giveaways, at the boards, or entering the zone, he also created some better time and space for himself and his linemates. GO FIGURE, buddy! LOL
TTYL Beags!


Rush

[Maacoshark]

    Bura did take 2 very dumb penalties late in the game in the offensive zone. Can't take a penalty at that point in the game unless you are stopping a high danger scoring chance. He has zero hockey IQ. So I would consider this another bad game for him.

[4 Caps]

    Bura did take 2 very dumb penalties late in the game in the offensive zone. Can't take a penalty at that point in the game unless you are stopping a high danger scoring chance. He has zero hockey IQ. So I would consider this another bad game for him.

I think the lack of hockey IQ is the main reason he has not developed the way it was thought he would.  His decision making is atrocious and he doesn’t anticipate the play.  Unfortunately I am not sure hockey IQ is something that can be developed, you either have it or you don’t.  He has size, he is a great skater and has a terrific shot but he just doesn’t have the smarts. 

[DC_1908]

He was a best-player-available,that had a skill set that is a commodity, in position and roles we had a surplus of, iow he was drafted as a trade asset.


We’ve hung onto, and resigned him for to long and his value is dropping fast.  The sooner we get something for him the better

[Maacoshark]

He was a best-player-available,that had a skill set that is a commodity, in position and roles we had a surplus of, iow he was drafted as a trade asset.


We’ve hung onto, and resigned him for to long and his value is dropping fast.  The sooner we get something for him the better

    We should trade him for a player like Reeves. Instead we will probably hang on to him.

[DC_1908]

    We should trade him for a player like Reeves. Instead we will probably hang on to him.

They shoulda done that two years ago.


But now, he is counted in the “keep the band together” marketing scheme. and a fast-offense only Euro that has skill can be market to a naive demographic, so damn right we’ll keep him.


Zulu’s his low hockey IQ, mistakes, and turnovers keep the games “entertaining”

[Mickstix]

But now, he is counted in the “keep the band together” marketing scheme. and a fast-offense only Euro that has skill can be market to a naive demographic Reigning Stanley Cup Championship Market, so damn right we’ll keep him.

Not that I don't agree about Burt, but had to fix that for you.. 

[Surreylily]

I have to wonder if Bear is being sat because negotiations are in progress with someone.   It could just be because he's a dumbass, of course.   

[Maacoshark]

I have to wonder if Bear is being sat because negotiations are in progress with someone.   It could just be because he's a dumbass, of course.   

   Do you think we could get that lucky that we ship him off? Hope so