Haggs: Bruins Turning A Corner, But Still Need Help
BOSTON (CBS) - The Bruins are winners of four straight, and look to make it five Thursday night at home against the New York Rangers.
98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich were joined by CSNNE's Joe Haggerty Thursday morning to talk some hockey, starting with the revelation that is 18-year-old rookie David Pastrnak.
Haggs has been high on Pastrnak since training camp, and with four goals in his last two games we're starting to see what Haggerty's been talking about.
"I could tell he was pretty special [in the summer] and I'm definitely being proven right now, but more than anything else it's a good thing for the Bruins. Like I said yesterday, he's got skills to pay the bills," Haggerty said of the Bruins 2014 first round pick. "We'll see if he can handle the NHL at 176 pounds, but all the offensive skills are there."
There was some question as to whether or not the Bruins would keep Pastrnak up at the NHL level, but that decision seems like a no-brainer at this point.
Pastrnak has helped fill the right wing void left by Jarome Iginla on the top line, and even though the Bruins appear to be turning a corner, Haggerty believes the team still needs to make some additions by the trade deadline on Monday March 2nd (3pm ET).
"I think the priority is still to get a veteran right wing, preferably a guy with some size and the ability to score goals; physicality with some scoring ability. I do think they still need to have a veteran to hedge their bets, even though they do have Pastrnak. I think that's very important."
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Frankly, Haggs indicates it's too much responsibility to put on an 18-year-old, and it's almost unfair to put such lofty expectations on the kid.
"With Pastrnak there's going to be peaks and valleys the rest of this year. He's going to be up and down. Consistency is going to be a difficult thing. He's going to hit a wall because he's now playing more games than he's ever had before in a season, and I think it's inevitable that the performance is going to even out as he tries to fight through fatigue and other things. He's the youngest guy in the NHL, so there's going to be issues there."
However, like Tyler Seguin did his rookie year after being inserted against Tampa Bay in the playoffs, Pastrnak can still help you win some games, and maybe even steal a series.
"If he explodes offensively like he did the past couple games a few more times during the season, then that is going to help the Bruins win some games. If he can do it in the playoffs, that could potentially be the difference in a series," said Haggs. "But I still think the Bruins need a right wing and a defenseman."
The NHL All-Star break begins Thursday, January 22nd, and the Bruins have four more games before the week-long respite. Hopefully the B's can carry some momentum into the break, and get ready to trek through the stretch run.
"I buy that they're stabilizing, playing the way they should and now back into the playoff picture. Their best players are playing much better. I think that's the one thing that's been a tell-tale sign that they're playing better," said Haggs. "Zdeno Chara's playing really well, Milan Lucic is playing really well and the Bruins are now 8-2-3 in the 13 games since David Krejci came back. The best players are being their best players, and helping to lead the way."
Listen below for the full discussion:
Hear every game of the 2014-15 Boston Bruins season on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the Boston Bruins. Pregame coverage with Dave Goucher and Bob Beers begins 30 minutes prior to every game!
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