Babcock feels Bruins are 'legit contenders'
/Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock on the Boston Bruins, via CSNNE.com, following Saturday's playoff elimination.
“We’re not there. This team that we played today is like we used to be in ’08, ’09, and ’07. They’re a legit contender with a good depth and good experience. I think it’s just overall depth. They’ve got good players,” said Babcock. “Some teams have got a real good team, and their goalie gets you started, gets the opposition started. This [Rask] kid doesn’t get you started. Not only does he stop the puck, he plays the puck good, so it’s harder to get in on their D.
“Their back end is left- and right-hand shots. When you set up a team, if you can have left- and right-hand shots, it makes it way easier to move the puck through the neutral zone. They’re at the right time. I assume people are going to start getting paid around here too, and then that gets in the way. The cap has gone up enough in the NHL that it helps you keep your players. A few years ago, you couldn’t keep them, they just left. But obviously Pete and Claude have done a real good job here, and they look like they’re a real solid team. You want to keep it as long as you can.”
Source: Joe Haggerty, CSNNE.com
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