2009-10 Rink Wrap: Matt Bradley

I can’t believe I’m finally the first to vote/comment! Come on, ya’ll… show some love to Mr. Offense. He may not have been a goaltending killer like he was in last year’s playoffs, but he sure showed up when it counted in the regular season and would have probably done so, too, if BB would have managed his lines better against Montreal!

And I give him a 7. He performed beyond my expectations offensively.

Just noticed it, but shouldn’t it be “From Alzner to Walker” at the top?

Gave Brads the 10. He did have the best season I could’ve imagined from him. I dunno, even matching this year next season might even be 10 worthy.

I was going to give him a 9 until I saw that +/- per 60 number, so I knocked it down 1. Rated him high not only because he produced more, also took fewer PIMS and saw almost double the SH TOI/G than last year.

For a 10 I’d guess he’d have to maintain something close to the production while increasing his role (and success) on the PK.

Here’s a stat that Becca chose not to include, but which I think is super:

Bradley only committed six minor penalties all season and had the best minors-to-minutes-played ratio among the team’s forwards, averaging more than 140 minutes of ice time per minor. That’s pretty impressive, given his role.

The way I see Bradley: does putting him on the ice against the other team’s fourth line cause them fits. I think the answer is yes. Does he give the team a spark with some muscle, a few good hits and quality forechecking? Often. I’d like to see him continue to improve in that area next year as well as become a serious PK’r. That’s his next step.

9. Career year, but not a 10 because of that scoring inconsistency. But, yeah, what a season for him; I was jumping up and down like some 12 year old fangirl who just saw Mike Green walk by when Brads scored his 10th goal.

I gave him a 7 – I expected him to score 8-10 goals and to be the one to stand up to the Carcillos of the world. Where he beat my expectations was the skate-at-top speed across the ice and jump on Downie – and not just that, to tell coach to get him on the ice so that he could do that as he knew that Ovi and Downie were about to get out of the penalty box and go at it.

But I didn’t go higher because I expect him to do much of what he did. He is that awesome. And I have the signed Brads jersey to prove my love.

I gave a 7, he gets +2 for offense +1 for being likable and a -1 for how terrible he is at fighting once he is in the fights.

So really an 8 for hockey ability and -1 because he has to go practice with the speed bag.

Career year, clutch play, great teammate. Overall I could hardly ask for more from a 4th-liner. That being said, I knocked him down a point for his lack of consistency on the offensive end.

Had I gone through the exercise of determining my expectations for Bradley and the rest of the Caps, I would’ve said 16 to 20 points for Bradley would be great. The fact that he won 5 games on his goals is badass.

There is no reason not to believe a similar season can be attained. 20+ points.

I give him an 8. He didn’t have the perfect season but it was solid.

To get a 10 next season 10+ Goals, 30 points and for him to win a fight against Carcillo without bleeding.

8 for me. i was very concerned that brads would be doing a lot of nacho duty this year. however, i was pleasantly surprised by his play this year, and not just due to his frequent imitations of gerry cooney. never seemed like he was scoring the 5th goal in a 6-2 win…seemed like his goals came when it mattered most. he was the consummate fourth liner.

his penalty killing numbers support his value, although i imagine being the best rated PK’er on this team is like having the best SAT scores at the trucking academy.

of course, his willingness to do what it takes to support his team is what makes him so valuable. other intangibles include his willingness to wear the mark messier “kazoo” helmet (and still get a concussion), his use of bandages made from recycled caps stanley cup finals playoff tickets, and his awesome appearances in caps videos.

for next year, he would need to duplicate/improve upon his performace from this year and lead the team back to pk respectibility in order to approach a 10. of course, as will all the players, no 10 can be given if the team flames out again in the playoffs.

It’s hard to overachieve in a role like Brads’, but he did. His goals were clutch, he was absolutely stellar on the PK (if underused), he was our lone defender in fisticuffs (or at least our lone competent defender…), and like J.P. pointed out was as clean as a whistle in the PIM department. There just isn’t much more you could ever want out of a 4th liner than that stuff. I just made myself rethink my vote… 9?

I rated Bradley an 8. Career high goals and assists exceed expectations for any player, but especially for a fourth-line grinder with just over 11 minutes TOI/60. A goal and two assists are more than I would expect from a fourth-liner in one round of the playoffs also, though Bradley sort of spoiled us last year with two goals in one game against the Rangers. I felt he was reliable on the PK and had one of the best 4-on-5 ratings among regular PKers. He also won two of his five fights this season (or so they say). That is an improvement from last year, in which he went 0 for 9. I bumped him up half a point for taking a vicious cheap shot from Daniel Carcillo, escalating Bradley’s folk-hero status. Bumped him up another half point for jumping in to defend Ovechkin against Steve Downie, further escalating his folk-hero status. Plus, #needsmorebradley is not only awesome, but also allowed me to finally figure out what the heck Twitter hash tags are for.

To get a 10 next season, Bradley would have to produce another career season in scoring, earn more time on the top penalty kill unit, and lay off the pre-game anticoagulants.

Maybe I’m being a bit too harsh, but this is pretty much what I expect out of a fourth-liner, with the uptick from 5 to 6 on account of his scoring production.

I wasn’t going to give the perfect score to anybody due to the early playoff exit, but Brads’ move to keep Ovie from dropping the gloves earns him the extra point. Plus, it’s nice symmetry with his 10-goal season. Now it’s Bradley’s turn to prove me wrong (i.e “best year I could imagine him having”) and net 11 next season.

I gave Bradley a 7. I expected him to be mostly solid (for a 3rd liner or 4th liner) with a few gaffes here and there that make us remember that he’s still a bottom-6 forward, but he was more solid, especially on the PK, than I would have thought. He forechecked hard, and I don’t think we ever criticized him for not “waking up to play.”

His +/-ON60 I see is mostly a product of lost offense (the D is better with him on than off), which is kind of good, except that coming into the season I thought he’d score more. I’m seriously thinking now an 8 would’ve been better.

A must have player on any roster that has higher aspirations than winning the division in a romp / the President’s Cup / just a round or two? a bunch of individual awards.

A ten for 10 = do the same thing, with more consistency.

Getting 10 goals from a 4th liner is outstanding production. My expectations were probably 7 goal 17 pt kinda season, so he didn’t blow that away, but significantly better. His willingness to get beat up earns him extra credit, as does his protection of AO and his PK. Was VERY close to a 9, but ultimately he didn’t get it because he didn’t exceed my expectations by that much…I love everything he provided (grit, pk, timely scoring, etc) but none of it was all that unexpected for me.

Jade seems to have special fondness for the grit factor that Brads brings. I gave Bradley an 8. I think 10 goals was more than expected, and I think the style with which he intervened to save Ovie was unexpected. The 4th line as a whole was better than expected and Brads has to get some credit. I’d like him to be a bigger part of a more successful PK to get him to continue his 8 and above performance.

I think this particular poll is more a referendum on what the expectations for Bradley were before this season than it is his actual season, though. If you’re newer to the Caps, you came in rooting for Ovie and the stars and guys like Bradley exceed your expectations.

If you’re an older Caps fan, you’ve become more accustomed to his brand of grit and may give him more of a 5,6,7.

And then are some who are just big time Bradley fans because of his candidness and grit and you give him a 9 or 10.

Started him at a baseline of six, just because I like him. Plus one for the double-digit goals, plus one for the PK performance, plus one for Downie. The rest of his year, including the Advanced +/- numbers, were essentially in line with what I’d expect from a 4th line winger on this team.

It’s a soft 9, but I’m a softie for Brads.

To get a 10…maybe 15+ goals, 45+ points, good PK, good grit and a good playoff performance. I’m making up for the 9 with essentially impossible standards for a 10, I guess.

Docked him a point for the unprofessional nickname slip heard around Caps Nation that has continuing lasting effect.

more or less what is expected from him.

Dan Carcillo gave him a one because he doesnt play old’time hockey like Danny Carbomb does.

The Caps need a badass! Someone like Lucic would help

To get a 10 next year he’d have to keep up his stellar PK work, improve that +/- per 60 and put up some offense more consistently – say to the tune of around 15 goals and 30-35 pts. He’ll of course also have to continue to fill his 4th line role of providing grit and energy and giving the opposing D hell on the forecheck.

if he had the best year you could have imagined him having, give him a 10

Honestly, this is probably the best possible year I could imagine from him. 10 goals, 24 points, 5 GWG, all more impressive than I would expect from him. He was very low in minor penalties taken, which is hot shit for an agitator/gritty 4th liner. He was pretty money on the PK. I mean, you could really ask no more from him. He had the best season I could imagine him having, and was above expectations pretty much across the board.

Maybe it’s a little high, but based on the voting rules, I had to give him a 10 based on what I saw, what I expected from him, and what I think he’s capable of.

7 but I i should have put 8.. the grit should get him the extra point. Plus, I bet if they tallied all the hard cats over the years, Bradley would top the list.

If the Caps trade bradley I may have to disown the caps.. umm.. for a few months ;)

I wonder how he’d play with Perreault. The double Matt line. Bradley could charge in and little Perreault could just just trrow a harness on top of him and ride him in. TALEY HO!!!!

Bradley’s playoff shot percentage is a little off.

(On a related note, I gave Brads an 8).

7 seems reasonable, but i clicked too fast and should have said 8, because he really exceeded what I expected of him and what I thought he was capable of doing. His speed, his relentlessness, his utter dedication to the team, his teammates, the game, the fans, and even the environment, make Bradley a true gem. He’s a fan favorite because he’s authentic, and you know that the guy you see is the guy you get. I’ve always had a soft spot for Bradley, and I hope he remains a Cap for a long time. He’s indispensable in the locker room. Bradley never takes a shift off, never gives up the opportunity to land a check or stick up for someone, and comes ready to play every night. He bleeds like the best of them (hemophiliacs, that is). Some guys could leave or get traded, and I’d wish them luck. If Bradley left, I’d keep a vigil.
Flying in on Downie was the stuff of legends, and will be remembered for decades to come, and when people forget, it’s our job to remind them. If I go to war, I want Bradley with me. And a shit load of gauze.

So if we re-sign Flash, we’ll have 5 LW’s all ready to go next season.

Ovechkin
Laich
Flash
Chimera
Gordon

i’m usually on the low side of the scores, and i’ve never been a particularly zealous fan of brads. but i do think he’s come very close to performing to the max of his abilities (given his role and his minutes). i put high stock in his PK work, since overall the PK was a point of frustration this year for the caps, and since i’d never considered him to be in laich’s or gordon’s class 4-on-5. add in the doubling of his (admittedly meager) prior season’s goal-scoring output, plus a single bonus point for flying to his captain’s defense against downie…and i get all the way to a 9. i felt fully confident when bradley was on the ice this season, and that hasn’t always been the case.

to score a 10 from me next year, he’d have to continue to perform on a hopefully overhauled PK, and notch a minor increase in regular season scoring (13-15 goals, 28-30 points) to go along with a customary strong postseason.

Yea, gave him a 9 myself.
Pretty much for the same reason’s as everyone else has.
I am glad JP mentioned his meticulously careful play which only resulted in 6 minors.
Broke 10 goals, consistent forechecking, PK warrior, obviously the “heroics”
Stepping in for Ovechkin, taking on from Carcillo, also his
EPIC bloody fight vs the Rangers, where he came back and scored the GWG.
Honestly, what more can I expect from a 4th-liner.
And yes, Brads has always been my favorite Capital so a “9” might be running a little high, but hey he had a bitchin year.

For him to get a 10 next year, he is going to have to work on his scoring touch a bit, at times he has Chimera-like hands of stone. I can recall a couple games this year where Brads was on pace for a 25 goal season, and he would get these golden chances, and whiff, or throw it high, then I was reminded that he was a 4th liner.

A 30-35 point season, continued PK performance, and consistent “gritty” work.

He might be an 8, but his ride’s a TEN!

Gave him an 8. I was on the line between 7 and 8 and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

A 10 would be a 20 goal year from him.

I can’t say whether or not we should keep him. Right now I’m inclined to keep him another year or two if he’s willing to take a short term deal but if some of our prospects (specifically SDR) develop real quickly maybe they force Brads out. That said though, I’m not looking to get him pushed out; you can never have too many Brads-type players (and for the same reason I wouldn’t mind re-signing Walker right now).

btw, becca’s discussion questions are really good:

With one year left on his contract, does Matt Bradley have another career season left in him?

yes, i believe he does. i have to hope the 5- and 7-goal years are behind him. but he really managed to raise his game in three straight postseasons, and i do wonder if he can keep it up.

What do you see his role being next season?

no different. walker is most likely gone, and bradley is slowly acquiring the experience and punch that led GMGM to acquire walker in the first place.

What would you like to see Bradley improve on in 2010-11?

i don’t think he needs to improve his scoring rate with his role on the team, but it’s not impossible. i wish the team as a whole would score more SH goals, and bradley is as good a candidate as any.

What will it take for him to earn a 10 rating next year?

answered above.

Besides expecting him to score on the Hank Lundqvists and Ryan Millers of the NHL (read: score on the league’s top goalies) and to put his bottles and cardboard in the proper recycling bins when visiting Toronto, I didn’t have a lot of expectations for Brads entering the year. And since he exceeded his personal bests in goals,assists and points I can’t say I was disappointed at all.

He provided some of the year’s most memorable on-ice moments (the Downie scrap protecting OV) and off ice moments (the Jizz slip in the between period interview with Al Koken) for the Caps.

A 4th liner who knows his job, does it well and almost always puts maximum effort. I would be happy seeing a 4th line with him and Boyd Gordon (at C) next year and someone else (either Walker or Kyle Wilson come to mind even if neither are true left wingers). For him to reach 10….keep doing what he does and reach 15-20 goals

Not just because he wears the number.

• He scored goals in double figures for the first time (and half of those were game winners).

• He is willing to get in and mix it up with someone like Clowney Downie to protect the team’s star. Yes it is his job and he does it well

• Is willing to make a diaper run and do it on TV no less

• Understands physics

• Works harder than anyone to get his results

• Able to rip cars apart with his bare hands

• Was the source for the best Caps hash tag for the season (per Corey… read the Caps forwards grades he wrote up.) #needsmorebradley

• Gives Henrik Lundqvist nightmares, and when he’s not scoring on Henrik, he’s scoring on Marty Brodeur

• Is from Stittsville…how can you not love that?

I expected a good effort and maybe 3-4 goals, and perhaps 20-30 nights where he’d be a healthy scratch. Instead, on a team that is loaded with talent up front, Brads played in 77 games, scored 10 times, led the team in fighting majors (admittedly, he isn’t a great fighter, but he answers the bell).

How could he not get a 10?

He gets the Full Bradley.

I’d like to see something like 8/15/23 with some more blocked shots and a fight win next year to approach a 10 – while keeping his penalties drawn/taken ratio where it’s at.

Check. I’m docking him to an 9 because of his mid-season lull, but this is pretty much exactly what I said I was looking for this season.

Same criteria for next year – a 5 is a 5/7/12ish year, good PK/checking line D, 10 is this year but a bit more consistent and an uptick in 5v5 +/-.

-d

Outperformed my expectations on offense, scored some big time clutch goals. Solid player all around and was not one of the issues on the PK. Would have loved to have seen him chip in with a big time goal in the playoffs but it wasn’t to be other than a late one in Game 2.

I definitely think he has another good year left in him, and to get a 10 next year I’d like to see similar offensive numbers, maybe a little better with more consistent scoring. Also I’d love to see some hero goals from him come playoff times.

ok, seriously, which 3 clowns voted “1”?

He, by pretty much any metric, had a career year this year. Career bests in goals, assists, points. Half his goals were GWG. Not sure too many guys with double-digit goals can say the same. Was a huge part of the dump-and-chase style that won us games 2-4 against Montreal in the first round. Now if he would just remember to stay in his corner, THEN shoot, we’ll be good next year for another career year.

So I’m a little late to the party on this one, but I’m giving a 10 for number 10

I couldn’t imagine him having a better year than this one. He met his stated goal at the beginning of the year in goals, stepped in to save the Captain, made the goals that he did score count, and drew a nine-minute powerplay that started a blowout against a team I dislike so much, the result of the game put me in a good mood for an entire weekend.

I may be a little biased here (see: my avatar), but I just don’t think he could have done any better this year.

Way late, had a crazy day yesterday. Pretty much echoing a lot of others’ sentiments. But how was this not posted? (I know it’s not from this season, but it’s one of my all-time favorites.)