Jaffe On Toucher & Rich: Bruins Have No Identity
BOSTON (CBS) - The hometown hockey team is not doing very well.
In fact, if the postseason were to start today the Boston Bruins (15-13-2, 32 points) would not be participating.
There's a lot of problems and many things need fixing, with no clear solution in sight. Captain and top minutes-getter Zdeno Chara (knee) is back from injury, but even his presence has not paid immediate dividends -- the B's are 0-1-1 since his return, and David Krejci (lower body injury) and Adam McQuaid (thumb) remain sidelined as well.
NESN's Billy Jaffe called 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich Tuesday morning to help sort everything out, and what's obvious to him might also be clear to you as well.
"The Bruins are trying to figure out what they are, and they're a team with many deficiencies," Jaffe said about their lack of identity.
"Even without Krejci and McQuaid they know they're missing something, and they're struggling with this adversity right now. There's no pill that's going to cure this overnight, and there's no trade that can change it. They need to get guys back healthy, and then maybe a trade or two can get them going even better."
It's only mid-December and it feels like the Bruins' season hangs in the balance.
The team is reeling, and really struggling to score goals. The B's rank in the bottom third of the NHL in goals per game, and with a young, inexperienced, and at times shoddy defensive unit in front of him, Tuukka Rask looks nothing like the Vezina winner of last season.
So how do you fix it?
"Well I think they're going to try and acquire a bigger player that can skate. I think they're going to try and acquire one guy who has the Bruins identity, someone who's able to play an aggressive game with some good speed that can create space for others," said Jaffe.
"It's easier said than done, but I can see them trying to make a bigger deal to help get that Bruins identity back. I can also see them adding a defenseman when it's all said and done."
The Bruins will try and turn around their misfortunes Tuesday night in Nashville when they take on the 19-8-2 Predators. Dave Goucher and Bob Beers will have the coverage starting at 7:30pm right here on 98.5 The Sports Hub!
Listen below for the full interview, including Jaffe's take on the mumps outbreak in the NHL:
MORE BRUINS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON
