Bruins Offseason & Draft Plans With Judd Sirott

Bruins Offseason & Draft Plans With Judd Sirott

Here we go. Welcome back to Boston has entered the chat. Travis Thomas, George Bi, and Jud Serat, our guy here to talk Bruins off season with us. Good morning to you, my friend. Good morning. Great to see you guys. Great to see you. Great to see you, Jud. I love this shirt. How about that? Little Marona, little soccer love here. A little bright and early for us here. So, look, let me ask you this. Obviously, a ton of things to talk about as it pertains to the Bruins this off seasonason, but I want to start with the coach because you kind of have to start there, right? What’s your gut on that? Obviously, you know what we do around here. We get inside information sometimes. Sometimes we don’t. I don’t have any feel for who the coach is going to be. Do you? What do you believe the Bruins will do at the head coach position? I have no idea which direction they’re going to go. What I think I can tell you guys is that there’s going to be an exhaustive search again. You know, that was that was essentially the process that the general manager, Don Sweeney, underwent um after Bruce Cassidy left and and he named Jim Montgomery the head coach. And you’ve got a lot of different options. You’ve obviously got established guys uh in Peter Lavlet or Rick Tockett’s name has obviously surfaced and and then you have uh some younger coaches who’s going to be able to break through. There’s a name um some of these guys are still coaching right now in the Stanley Cup playoffs. There’s a a guy named Mitch Love who’s on the staff in Washington. Uh Spencer Carbury was I think every team would like to be able to find okay who’s the next Spencer Carberry, a good young coach who can do that stuff. His name has popped up. Mark Sabard’s name has popped up. I know uh there’s a guy named Misha Donskov who’s on um Peter Dbor staff uh in Dallas, so he’s popped up, you know, plus you have two in-house candidates that are still going to be considered and Joe Sacko and Jay Leech. So I I think it will be an exhaustive search. And my guess is I have no idea when that guy will be named, but I think the Bruins I think they’d like to get that guy in place before the draft takes place at the end of June. Yeah, it’ll be a pivotal season coming up. They go into the retool, they get younger on the roster. In your mind though, I mean, you need a good head coach. You also need that leader in the locker room. We don’t know who the captain would be next season, but we know Charlie Makavoy, David, Lindholm, all these guys that have been leaders for the team. In your eye, who would make sense to step up or who do you see becoming, whether it’s the sea on the sweater or not, being that new guy in that dressing room to carry on the spoke to be? I I I don’t I I I think all of those names have to take part in what’s in what’s going on. Uh, you know, I was actually going back and and kind of reviewing some of the stuff that Don Sweeney had mentioned after the trades were made uh in early March and then um when he had a chance to debrief at the end of the season. I think that they understand that they completely changed the leadership core. Um, and that said, I I I think what was clear in in going back and listening to what Donnie had to say was that they need to be able to reinforce and and surround David Posterno and and Charlie Mackoy, Jeremy Sway, and the other veterans that are in that room with the right people. And two of the names that he mentioned from two years ago um were Kevin Shatenkirk and James Van Remack. And the idea is that those were the type of veteran voices that came in and really helped that group. Um because if if you really think about the Bruins and think about the 23 season when they set um the National Hockey League regular season record, I I think the season after that, the Bruins had anticipated that’s when I thought we were really going to go through, this is Don Sweeny’s words, yeah, that’s when I thought we were really going to go through this transition. But a guy like Brad Marshian did such a fabulous job as the beacon for that franchise and the culture as the captain of that team. I think there were a lot of people that were surprised how good that team was um and Don Sweeney tried to build around that. So a lot of the transition that you’ve seen this year. I think the Bruins thought they were going to go through the season before. But all of those players really have to help. And the other thing that George mentioned that I think is a good point. What type of coach do you need to have? And and what type of influence does that coach need to have in the room? Because if you go back and and and you sort of go through Clo Julian, Bruce Cassidy, Jim Montgomery, the room ran itself at that point with guys like Zedane Oara, Patrice Berseron, Tukar Rasque, um Brad Marian, etc. That group, David Cr, I don’t want to leave him out. You also had a great secondary crew of leaders. Tory Krug’s name definitely pops in there that the coaches for the most part they left the room to police itself. Well, now it’s a little bit different because some of the leadership has changed. And I think one of the questions that that um when Nessen was doing the coverage of of uh the end of season press conference that that was addressed with with Cam Neely. So, what type of coach do you need? Do you need that coach to have much more of an influence in the room? And I think that they probably will at this point where the franchise is at. We saw the roster go from one of the older rosters and what I liked about it got young and it is a long-term roster build. Bringing a guy like Casey Middlestack, good pro player and this is something where that’s where the coach because I don’t think it’s a long-term roster build. I do think that the Bruins want to get back and be in the mix in the playoffs next season. That said, you know, they’ve had a chance to refurbish some of the pieces. You can choose the R word that you want. um you know for the most part and yes you need an infusion of young talent. I think the other thing that was kind of clear in listening uh to what was said at the tail end of the season whether it was right after the regular season ended um or after Charlie Jacobs and Cam Neely and Don Sweeney had addressed the media is that they need much more internal competition whether that’s from the goalending position. You know Jonas Corposello should have played more. I think that there was a feeling that he needed to push Jeremy Swamman a little bit more, but but that’s what made the Bruins so successful, whether it was the goalending position, defense, or at forward. They need more of that in order to fuel that internal competition and make this team better down the road. And I want to correct real quick when I say the long-term rebuild. I think more of long-term foundation so they don’t do this again in two to three years. And that’s why I think when you get younger, you get faster, you set up that foundation where it’s not going to be every three years, kind of bottom out, go back up. It is what the Bruins are. Playoffs every year, 10 years, Stanley Cup contenders every year for long term. But I see what you’re saying. Yes. You know, I mean, you bring in a guy like uh Fraser Mitten, who’s a great example, and he’s going to be a really good player, I think, for this organization. But but to your point, George, if you sort of take a look, so the Bruins have one first round pick this year. Um they have two first round picks next year. If Florida advances and they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, they will have two first round picks the year after that. So that’s five first round picks over the next three years. Now that said, the Bruins might not necessarily keep all of those picks. You know, those are assets for you to use, whether it’s a trade. Uh I know one of the things that you you guys might want to bring up is uh I I think the idea that there will be offer sheets that are out there uh in the National Hockey League. We saw that last year with the St. Louis Blues. The math is a little bit different. We can get into some of that, but but you need to be able to have your own picks uh to be able to make some of those deals. And the Bruins, to your point, well, this is the opportunity to sort of restock. I think there was a stat uh over the last seven years, the only team that has picked fewer times in the NHL draft has been the Winnipeg Jets. to the Bruins. Listen, they’ve used those assets to try and get players to get them to a Stanley Cup title, you know, and at some point, and we’ve seen a lot of organizations who’ve been good for a long time, whether that’s the Red Wings or the Blackhawks or the Penguins, uh the Kings are another example. At some point, they need to restock some of those picks and some of those players within their system. You’re making me feel better, brother, cuz I’m going to tell you something. It is dark times right now. on the heel of a championship. It’s dark times for the Celtics with injuries. It’s not looking like they’re going to repeat. Certainly, the Red Sox were trying to get out of 500. Can we figure that out? The Patriots are in the midst of a rebuild. But you are given some words of optimism here of positivity in terms of the Bruins. We’re not even using the rebuild word. It’s like a retool almost, right? Whatever. Or yeah, revamp. Refurbish. You know, refurbish. You can use you can use the R word. I will say here the last couple of nights as a Boston fan, you know, watching what’s gone on. I mean, you know, Javier Bayz with a walk-off extra hitting three-run blast obviously seeing what’s going on in the next Celtics series and seeing Jason Tatum go down. It’s been a little bit tough. Uh, but to go back to your point with the Red Sox, just to d, you know, diverge a little bit in baseball, let’s talk ball. We could talk a little bit of baseball here, but I I I think in baseball, I know 500, you want to be better than 500. And the Red Sox are better than a 500 team. But I think history has shown that if you’re able to go, you know, even into early July with a 500 record, you’re still going to be in a hunt for the playoffs. And a lot can happen from that point forward. This team is certainly better than what they’ve shown, but as long as they’re right around where they’re at, they’re going to be in the mix. When you look at what this offense put together for the Bruins this past season, you look at the defensive construction. Hey, knock on wood, get healthier. Elias Lindholm shouldn’t be dealing with anything that he’s, you know, suffered an injury before the season began. Hampus Lindholm will be back out there on the ice. What is the addition you think this team needs to make in a player? not a particular name, but what do they need to add to make that top six better or maybe the blue line better? Well, I think one of the things that the GM Don Sweeney had talked about was that they wanted to address things at wing. So, if you look at the way that the Bruins are currently constituted down the middle, uh they have Elias Lynholm uh at center along with Casey Middlestat. You made the trade uh with Colorado during um during March and you pick him up. Uh you know, then you have some questions as you lead into the bottom six. You’ve got Fraser Mitten in the mix. Mark Castelick has obviously played a lot of a lot of the middle, but he’s also a guy who can play on the wing. But I think for the Bruins, can they add a dynamic piece at wing? So, three of the names that will probably come up, you know, as you look ahead to unrestricted free agency. Mitch Mner is probably the biggest name. Um, and Toronto certainly going to be challenged to keep him. Uh, even though the salary cap is going up. There’s another guy in Nikolai Eers. I don’t know, but you guys are watching the Jets and and the Dallas Stars. Nikolai Eers is a really good player. He’s had some health issues over the past, but he’s dynamic and he’s fast. Brock Besser will be another name that will pop up. Uh he’s a right shot, been playing in Vancouver. Um he’s a really good player and a goal scorer, but he’s going to be available. And then if the Bruins, if we’re going to go dive back into offer sheets and the possibility, there are a couple of restricted free agents that I’m sure are going to generate a lot of attention around the National Hockey League. Gabe Valardi is another one. He’s playing for the Winnipeg Jets. Um he was picked up originally from the LA Kings. He’s a good right shot winger who has some versatility and he can play on the power play. think when you’re talking about some of the additions that the Bruins want to make to add some skill, add some speed, they also want to be able to to see if they can influence their power play because the power play, use the Bruins word, uh last year it was dormant almost all of last season and that’s something that they need to correct. We only have two minutes left, but I wanted to ask you because when the draft order was announced, Bruins fans were like, seven? Are you kidding me? What do you see this team doing at seven overall? Is that a bad place to be or a decent place to be? You can definitely pick up a good player. I mean, Quinn Hughes was a was a seventh overall pick. A guy like Dylan Cousins, who’s a really good player, was a seventh overall pick. Ivan Prov, who’s a really good defenseman. He was taken by the Philadelphia Flyers. He’s in Columbus right now. He’s a good pick. Um, so you can get a good player at that level. And the Bruins haven’t picked that high, I think, since 2010 when they picked up Tyler Sean. But, but I want to go back in the big picture because we talk about offense and some of the additions that the Bruins have to make. I think the identity of this team is still the way they defend and that was the biggest issue for the team overall last season. Yes, you can talk about the power play and the offense and some of the issues that they had in their depth uh as as far as the forwards were concerned, but they didn’t defend the same way. If you can defend, you’re going to give your chance, you can give yourself a chance every night and you can put yourself back into the playoffs. Yeah, that’s the identity that the Bruins have to get back to. Yeah. And you look at the defense Charlie Makavoy His Lindholm. They weren’t together after the Four Nations. Quick one I want to ask our producer Ethan won’t kill me. I promise. But it was your first season as voice of the Bruins with us at Nessen. Obviously a longtime radio voice of the bees before. How was that first season, man? I had a blast and hopefully that came through during every broadcast and I I can’t tell you how fortunate I was to be able to work with a guy like Andy Brickley. Uh you know, Brick’s been doing the games for about 30 years, you know, but it’s also a veteran crew. with Brian Zachello, our executive producer, Rose Morian Wheeler, uh Pat White, and so many really talented people. Camera, audio, graphics, TV, everybody who’s in the truck, they made it so easy. So, for me, uh I I’m part of a team. Radio is a little bit different. TV is a team sport, as you guys well know. So, it’s finding your niche and trying to bring out the best in everybody that’s around you. Yeah, you did a great job. Not a ton of highlights last season. You were one of them, my friend, and we appreciate you coming on with us. The goal score, the goal calls are always electric. Always electric. Yeah. Hey, look, the Socks lost another close game last night. We’ll hear from the players and George and I will break down what the heck went wrong again on Boston has entered the chat when we come back. Come on, roll with us.

The Boston Bruins have an important offseason ahead of them. GM Don Sweeney and President Cam Neely have the NHL Draft to look forward to at the end of June. NESN play-by-play announcer Judd Sirott joins Boston Has Entered The Chat to discuss what moves the Bruins need to make to get the team back on track for next season, including who should be the next Captain of the Boston Bruins?

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