The Future Bruins Are More Exciting Than The Current Bruins  | Bruins Beat

The Future Bruins Are More Exciting Than The Current Bruins  | Bruins Beat

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And welcome into the Bruins Beat presented by Prize Pix. Go use that promo code CLNS to get $50 back when you play your first $5 lineup. We’re also presented by CLS Media. Make sure to go check out all our great stuff. Bruins Ringside YouTube channel. Subscribe. We got podcast, Poke the Bear, Bruins Beat Pucks with Hags um throughout the offseason. And then obviously Patriots Press Pass, Celtics All Access, all that great stuff. Make sure to go subscribe to those channels as well. I’m Evan Marinowski joined today by Court Leand. Court,
hey buddy.
What is up?
I think I ran out of fingers trying to count how many podcasts the LNS has.
It’s too many. You need the You know, you need multiple hands at that point.
Um, how have you been?
I’m good. I’m good. It was It’s Um, you have your holiday tomorrow and we had our holiday on Tuesday, which is weird. At least you got yours on a Friday. Ours falling on a Tuesday this year was just it threw a monkey wrench and everything. Yeah, it’s tough when like I know down here it’s tough when the fourth lands on a non Thursday or Friday, but I would also say and I might be in the minority with this. I’m not a huge fan of holidays where you feel like you have to do something like New Year’s. It’s like you got to go to a New Year’s Eve party and it’s like those are always kind of the the like most average things you do. And I just and maybe it’s because I don’t have a vacation house. I don’t have a place I can really go to on the fourth. So I’m not like, oh, I’m going, you know, to Maine or the Cape or wherever. So, um, I love I like the fourth. It’s a nice little break, but um, in terms of like, you know, days on the calendar, it’s not it’s not high on the list for me.
Yeah. I thought it was like the big deal in the US. Like everybody
It is America. Oh, it is for most people. Like do the whole thing.
Yeah. And it’s not even so much that. It’s for me it’s more so just like oh we got to do something and
yeah that’s like I I agree with you on New Year’s like New Year’s I the greatest thing that ever happened is becoming a dad because I was like oh I got the kid I can’t
can’t go sorry guys yeah sorry it’s like it’s like Halloween and I hate going to Halloween parties it’s just my thing and so oh every year I’m like oh it’s my birthday sorry I just want to do something for me sorry have fun though have a good time enjoy well around here the best part is like people be like we should go to uh this bar or this, you know, uh nightclub on New Year’s. I’m like, “Oh, Last Drop.” Oh, yeah. Nast would be an elite New Year’s spot. But it’s the best when people are like, “Oh, I want to go to, you know, this bar or wherever.” And I’m like, “Okay.” Like, “What’s that entail?” Oh, the tickets are like $100. Yeah.
I’m like, “All right, well, I’m all set. I’m good. I don’t need to spend
That’s like the price of a Bruins game,
literally. Literally.” And the question is like, “Is it worth it or not?”
Oh, well, I guess we’re gonna Look at that. you alluded to everything we’re going to talk about.
We’ll dive right in. Um I usually I said this to you before we started recording. You know, every guest I usually have like a rundown things I want to hit on. Um I’ve learned when it’s you and I, we just kind of go and we see where it takes us and we end up in a in a spot.
Um how do you feel about because obviously you have the draft, you have the free agency, um dev camp just wrapped up. Um so we can kind of touch on some of those prospects if you want to. Um, where h what’s your barometer? How are you feeling right now about the Bruins?
I went from trade deadline where I thought I was like, “Oh my god, like this is it’s changing. This franchise is changing. This is happening. They’re doing the thing that every team we all as like armchair GMs because that’s what we are. Oh, as RGM GMs were always just like trade this guy, trade this guy. Like I’m going to trade the whole team.” And then Don Sweeney did it and there was still that contingent that was like, I can’t believe he traded Brad Marshian, blah blah blah. This is terrible. And even at the time when you think about it, Marshian was injured, all that. Marshian doesn’t win a cup. I don’t think people would cry as much. I’m happy as is a pig and poop that he he went and won a cup. Like heck, my wife wants a Marian Florida shirt. That’s fine. I’m all with it. But I thought Don Sweeney did a masterful job at the trade deadline.
It actually gave me a sense of, okay, you know what? The season stunk. It is what it is. I I thought originally they should have done the tear down when Berseron retired and Ki retired. I was like, this is the year you have max value on these players. You move him. But Don Sweeney did a great job. The value he got for Charlie Coyle that Carlo couldn’t even recoup two months later was unbelievable. The value he got for Brandon Carlo a first in Fraser Minton like oh my god. Like he did phenomen even the value for Brad Marian he’s injured 37 years old. Everybody thought he was done even though he had a great for nations. I was a little weird by everybody thinking that. And they still got a first round pick. So, we’re fine. The draft comes. I’m trying to paint a picture here. The draft comes. They draft James Hagens. Like, I’m surprised you’re not even jumping up and down just by me saying his name.
I’ve run out of energy at that point.
I am I am with you though. You have made me a a believer. So, like he’s our Justin Bieber now, and I’m a believer. I think I’m all in on him. I I do think I think you said it the other day with Connor like he’s coming into BC next year. He’s going to be 190 pounds. He’s going to score a ton of points. He’s not going to have those two wingers um what Leonard and um who wer
Yeah. He’s going to be the guy scoring goals instead of the guy addition.
He’s going to find a new Arsenal in his game. I’m all in on James Hagens. The Boston Bruins getting him at seven is still crazy to be totally honest. It still weird. Um, but I think they would have got a great pick if they had picked in the top 10 period, but still great draft and then getting more in the second round. I was all in. I was like, “Oh my god, we they kept talking about new era.” Don Sweeney was saying all the right things and he said juice. He’s talking about his juice that he got and I was like, “Oh man, like Tanner Jano.” And I know it’s beating a dead horse, but what were they thinking? Like I don’t get it. I they spend so much money and Pete Blackburn changed some of my my take on this. He did a great talk about uh talking about how much the Bruins spend on bottom six compared to the top six and it’s crazy and they do it year after year. And I think they would have had a fine free agent if they don’t sign Tanner. I don’t think anybody would be mad. Even if Jano got like a two-year deal, I think the the vitrial that we have towards them right now wouldn’t be there. There’s some that love this, think it’s the greatest thing in the world, and they’re like, “He’s he’s going to punch people in the face. He’s going to beat people up,
and I will I put out a a stat the other day. Um, the top 10 teams in fighting last year, only two of them made the playoffs.”
I saw that.
That’s a good one.
It’s crazy.
It is. And it’s not surprising either because I think you and I are in lock step on kind of where the game is, not even just where it’s headed.
Uh, I’m with you in free agency. I mean, the dust has settled. We’re a couple days away. a couple days removed from it. Um I don’t understand the five years on Jano. I think there has no moves on the first two years it was reported. I don’t understand that. Um I you know throughout the year it’s funny because I had said you know they’re missing veteran guys in that room. It’s clear that they’re missing you know guys they had before who were veteran voices and kind of keep things together and guys that Makavoy and Postnot can lean on as budding leaders and they didn’t have those this past year. So getting some character guys at this free agent like the free agency class stunk. Getting some character guys good. Like you want to get Corali? Sure. ACmont fine. Like you know as oneoffs terrific. And and you know I’m I’m in agreement with you. Like if Jano was a one-year deal or a two-year deal it’s like okay cool. Like take a flyer on him. He couple years ago had a really good year. You hope he forchecks hard and makes an impact and this and that and sure fine. But I al together and and the other thing core too is like you have you you got all these bottom six guys at free agency. You also have a bunch of bottom six guys on your roster currently like you qualified Johnny Beecher, you have Castellic, you have Houston Dino, uh you even throw in like Potra and Mitten are young guys. Not saying they’re fourth liners, but third line looks pretty good for them. Like that to me is where I’m like
I I like like the reality is that 3.4 million on Jano is not going to hamstring them. I mean that’s not this isn’t the backest contract or anything like
it’s comparable though. You can compare it.
Yeah. I mean it’s the same uh
and also I looked it up. It is a first two years no trade and then it’s modified no trade for the remainder of the deal. That’s the that’s even better. And that’s where it’s I don’t I don’t understand that. Why was that 5 years? Um, I’m wondering if someone in there thinks that there’s a ton of untapped potential, but he is 28, so I don’t know where that untapped potential is. Court, I don’t know either. It’s It’s actually gotten worse every year. Worse every year.
Yeah. And and I my big takeaway like since the dust has settled and I’ve read different columns and I’ve had time to think and all these different things, they know they’re not going to be good next year. I think they know that. They know that they’re not going to be great and they know that this is going to take time and they just need to be better at communicating it at saying look this is a process and I think this I I to me it comes down to the draft. You heard a lot of rumblings. I don’t think there were any like confirmed reports but rumblings about the Islanders in that seventh pick or another team in that seventh pick. And when I think of like even just use the Noah Dobson example, right? Like would you do for seven or or things like that? I think they got trade offers uh for that seventh pick that probably had established players in them that could have added to Lindol and Makavoy and those and those guys and tried to win now. And I think they went the other alternative route which I think is correct in saying no let’s go get the best prospect available which ended up being James Hagens and let’s commit to that route. Let’s commit to to um you know as Cam Neely said building back better and you know bolstering your prospect pool and all those different things. And I think I think that’s the right mindset to have. But I think that’s my big thing is that they’re not like I’ve said best case scenario they’re they’re contending for a wild card spot um with guys on this roster being better next season. But I don’t like I I that’s that’s the biggest thing to me is that they are not I don’t think they’re going to be a good team next year. And I don’t think I’m saying anything new by saying that, but I think free agency really drives that home. Yeah. Well, Elliot Freeman reported they got calls on seven and every time they got a call, they just said no. And the Islanders really tried to get it. I’m I I wouldn’t doubt that they tried to move Noah Dobson for seven and something and the Bruins
exactly what you said, Don Sweeny’s like, does he make our team better? Yes, but does that even matter? And I look at a lot of what they did where Sweeney is like he said, what did he say? He said, “Well, we’re going to win a lot of 2-1 games. We’re going to win a lot of two-1 games. We’re going to play hard, and the goal is to make the playoffs.” And I’m sure the goal is to make the playoffs for him because that’s his job. He’s got two years left on that deal. But if they finish in the bottom percentage of the league again, I wouldn’t doubt him being fired. And which is crazy because I’m actually in the club where I don’t think he’s done a bad job. And I think there’s more to all the signings. I think both Arvidson being traded for and Jano being signed had a lot to do with the new coach, but I also think that that Cam Neely had it’s all over that Tanner Jano thing. Oh yeah. Um it’s just just way too much. But I I look at everything they did and I just I I don’t understand because yeah, the wild card they’re going against the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators and I look at those two teams and I say Montreal’s a better team as much as I want to hear it. Yes, we have a better David Pastnack is better than anybody on the Montreal Canadians roster, but Montreal has two solid young goalenders. They have a two guys on the back end now that can be power play specialists and they’re going to have their PP1 and their PP2 are going to have a guy who can move the puck on the back end. Lane Hudson’s crazy. They’re going to have Cole Cfield. They’re going to have Suzu. Like they have a very good team, Demidov. Like they’re they’re very good next year.
Their rebuild has worked. Their rebuild worked.
They did. Their retool. Yeah, they’re they’re more of a rebuild. I also thought it was interesting. Did you see what uh Bluml’s quote was about the Boston Bruins? I had a choice between two rebuilds, Pittsburgh or Boston. And I chose Boston because I passed next call. But he said I had a choice between two rebuilds. And he said Pittsburgh and Boston. So the players, as much as Don Sweeney says it’s a retool, and I I still think it is until you trade Pastnack and Makavoy, it’s not a full rebuild, but the players look at Boston Bruins as a rebuild. So, the players going into this don’t Making the playoffs is gravy. And I’m going to be selfish here and always got my GM hat on, my my my GM couch hat. They don’t make the playoffs, they have a better chance of getting McKenna. So, like, okay. Like, I’m all in.
Well, that was one of the things like me and and Connor Ryan and Scott Mclofflin, and Ty Anderson were kind of like discussing this week at dev camp was like, where are they picking next year? like where with with their own first round pick. You have the Leaf’s first round pick and that’s probably somewhere in the 20s hopefully like 20 21 flat on their face with no MNER. Never know. You never know. You called it by the way Marner to Vegas. That was always
I know. It’s almost like I knew that one. Yeah.
Crazy how that works.
Um but then you know in terms of where the Bruins pick
I think realistically it’s like what 13 14 overall. I think that’s probably like the most realistic if things to 15 anywhere in that range.
Y but it’s not out of the question that they’re in and amongst the lottery where we’re sitting here, you know, 10 months from now saying, “Huh, be nice if they could get like the fifth pick or they’re, you know, the seventh worst team next year or whatever.” And in that case, you mentioned a thing just uh recently or just now about Sweeney potentially being fired if they don’t make the playoffs this year. You really think he could be out if they don’t make the playoffs? He the way he you get two different the way Cam talks. Cam talks about the future. Don talks about the present which is something I noticed in after trade deadline day after the draft and after this last press conference. The quotes from Cam are all about the future and the quotes from Dawn are about we’re going to win games one two uh two-1 games. We’re going to be tight but we we think we’re a playoff team. That we’re bringing these players in to play the right way. I honestly worst cliche. It’s almost like I’m giving 110%. When people say play the right way, I’m just like that makes me want to throw up. Like they’re in the NHL. They they they play the right way. Like please stop saying that. But
um he keeps saying things about the present. I I’m not saying it’s a guarantee, but the Jacobs are not going to want to have no playoff revenue two years in a row. Like they’re not cheap anymore. is everybody loves to say they’re cheap, but they also don’t want to miss out on the money if they do not get the, you know, the next four nations whenever they announce the home cities, which I still think is, oddly enough, I still think Boston might get it again. It’s probably or it’s going to be New York if the there’s going to be a US city. You’re going to have you could have Buffalo and Toronto, but I or you have I I don’t know how they’re going to do it if they’re going to split between Canada and the United States unless they do the West Coast, right? You could have Vancouver and so anyways, but the Jacob’s not getting all that. Yes, you got your um they’re gonna get to split the gate on the uh
stadium series this year,
but they want that revenue and bringing guys like Corali back and Tanner, you know. Another thing about Tanner, he fights and that brings puts people in their seats and they made people think rah like we want to be with the Bruins. They’re changing their jerseys this year. Another thing I was like, oh, I’m so shocked that they were doing that. But anyways, but they’re uh that’s a lot of revenue that they’re getting on this team. So, you got to look at the two factors. Don Sweeney pretty much kept saying like, “We expect to make the playoffs.” I don’t know why I keep saying it because I look at this roster and I’m like, “Okay, Victor Arvdson’s your second line rightwinger.” I was I was just trying to before we started this, I was like, “Okay, your top line is geeky, Lynholm, Pastor.” Everybody keep see a lot of people putting these things together and they have Zack and I don’t understand. Literally at the very end of the year, Lynholm and Pastasterdak and Geeky was one of the best lines in the NHL in the last month.
Legitimately, yes. You don’t break those three up and it seems like you’ve unlocked Lindholm too with with putting with Postro uh which which didn’t happen at the beginning of the season and then he goes to the World Cup and he’s on fire again. So, you keep those three together. Then your second line is Casey Middlestat, which is that’s a thing. Um with Victor Arbertson and Pavlo Zaka
and that’s what scares me when I look at this lineup. You mentioned Matthew Potra. I thought James Hagen’s being drafted said Matthew Potra’s done.
Where is he fit? Yeah. Unless rightwing
because Fraser Mitten’s your third line center.
This is this is what I keep going back to is and I tweeted this after the free agency of free agency like all these bottom six guys coming in. You’re taking you know you’re you’re not taking the spots of young guys but you’re limiting how much they can move up in that lineup. Where’s that leave potra? Like Frasier Mitten you went out and acquired. You liked him. You like where he’s at. He fits as a third line. Like that’s what kind of his profile as a third line with Conor Badard and Mlin Celerrini. Did not see that coming.
That’s right. He was training together. Yeah. Yeah.
I saw that. And so, but like you’re right in that like if Patrick wants to play right wing, if they like Potra right wing, then that makes sense. You know, we can probably find a spot for him. But
I don’t know. There’s no spot at center. There’s no spot.
There’s no spot at center. You’re not putting him as your fourth line center. And even if you wanted to, you still have Castillic. You have Beecher. you now have Corali like you have Hagens next year not this year people
Hagen’s next year I agree with you I’m in complete agreement there
um and you know I don’t think Potra’s ready to be a a top six center yet and even if he was you said it Hagen’s next year Elias Lindholm now you have Zaka and Middlestat as well would you would you trade Matt Potra right now or would you wait and let camp play out and see how things go from there I think Matt Potra could help you acquire a guy on a team that has an expiring deal on his entry level that’s looking for a big raise next year and the Bruins could move Potra on something else to a team that’s not in the playoffs that have like like the Montreal Canadians getting no adoption this year was it just he fell into their lap and that happens every year where a team like the Islanders who are not in contention that are doing differently I wouldn’t say San Jose I think San Jose is they’ve gotten to that echelon where they’re they’re just building a roster and they signed Orlock today
so much oh my god made so much sense for them today. But there are teams that could be in a different trajectory that are looking to dump a guy on an entry-le team and not giving him a raise. I think Potra later on in that season can be that guy. Can’t Don Sweeney kept talking about trades and then actually only does one and then does a bunch of signings. Still kind of annoyed me, but don’t say one thing and then do the opposite. I would think that he’s still exploring trades and I would think Matthew Potcher is probably one of his biggest trade assets right now. most valuable if you’re going to be packaging a pick and a player. He’s a guy where people are like, “Well, yeah, like we’ll have him in our organiz.” I just I look at their death chart now and I just don’t see where he fits. I was talking to Dominic Tiano about it and he said, “Yes, Matthew Potra played right wing and junior. He keeps saying in interviews that he never played right wing. He definitely played right wing and junior.” Okay, so now he’s your third line rightwinger. So then where’s Lysel fit in? You have two guys that need to play in the top six for them to be effective. Who are you choosing? And and are they effective enough to be top six wingers in the NHL?
Correct. You just brought in Arvinson. You just pretty much told everybody you don’t think they are. At least the coach doesn’t
because you brought in Victor Arvinson. And I guess yes, Arvinson is not
nothing special, but I still think he can get you like 10 to 15 goals this year. And that’s nothing to shake a stick at. They needed offense. It’s the only thing they got, which is just hilarity in itself. Maybe Blumel. I still think Blume Mel is like this sneaky good signing. I am intrigued by him.
I’m very intrigued by Blumel because one, his comment about Pastnack making the phone call to bring him here. I look at what he did down in Texas last year. He is just all he is is gas and scoring. That’s all this guy is. He’s fast as lightning and he scores goals. And so I’m like, well, that’s exactly what the Bruins need. So if he comes out of the camp and he’s your third line right winger again one the Providence Bruins are going to have Lysel Potra they’re going to have a good team but I would think that your third line is going to be Husadino Minton and whoever takes that third spot on the right side because as you know I everybody keeps putting him in on the third line he’s not he’s a fourth liner people stop this I know five years for a fourth liner it’s like Lu Marillo’s running the show you just have Castle and Jano on your fourth line just punching people all the time.
Yeah. Yeah. I that you know again like and and and look like I I I said it earlier like with the veteran leadership and veteran presence like if Tanner Jano can bring a little bit of that. We know Corali can if ACont can like all right there’s definitely value there because you know it’s a if you’re not going to be in the playoffs or you know at least you have that in the room but it’s not it’s not worth five years uh with two uh no trades uh or no trades in the first two years. It’s just I don’t think it’s worth that. Arvitz is interesting because someone mentioned this idea to me. I forget who it was. I I don’t want to sound like I’m stealing the idea, but um Arbitson has one year left at 4 million. And I am curious, Court, like people keep mentioning, oh, what if you know you could deal Acimon at the deadline or Corali at the deadline, let’s say, if they’re having good seasons and get a team to overpay for them. But like if Arvdson does well for you and is productive and shows himself as a you know can play on the power play and all these different things and he shot first.
It’s an interesting trade deadline. He he 100% I I I talked about one of my videos. He’s a fifth round pick that now was a third round pick. Easy at the deadline. As long as he’s got 10 plus goals and a team needs a little bit of offense. They need something. They need some they need some scoring on their third line for the playoffs. Victor Arbertson could get you a third round pick no problem. Maybe even a second round pick at the
I was going to say I think he could get I think he could get you more. Like the deadline’s weird. People forget how wild it is. Like I could zeal in a first round pick. This is the craziest thing ever. We’re just kidding. Yeah. Arvitzson a guy who can step in and be on your second power play unit on your third line as a right winger. Like I could see him get getting a second and a prospect or like could a team be crazy enough to give a first? Wouldn’t shock me. I I think he’s a great I I think you’re bang on like I think he’s definitely at the trade deadline he gets moved. there’s no reason to resign him because then you’re really saying that Lysel all these guys and I I would I would Murculoft getting uh a qualifying offer was only asset management they have no aspirations for this kid too too long they talk about his qualifying offer he is gone as good as gone they’re going to try and he’ll be a guy they’ll try and trade
for pieces and I think Matthew Potra is that other guy I think Lysel they they really hope can have a great camp and be something but maybe doesn’t make the team out of camp now because Carali is your fourth line rightwinger. Like I just look at this roster and I’m like where are these people fitting? I think there’s a spot on the third line rightwing and that is it. Like I don’t know where else there’s a hole because Beecher that rotation on the fourth line between Carali Castellic and Jano. Well, this is what I keep going back to is like I think these free agent moves, these free agent signings signal that they I don’t know how much they believe in their young guys. Lysel, Patra, Mirculoft.
Um, even Mitten like he just went out and got Mitten and was he was up.
They believe in him.
They really do. Third line.
I think they clearly do and he was up at the end of last season and they acquired him in that Carlo deal. Like I I have no doubt they believe in him, but they did go out and get a ton of guys who could do what he’s going to do. And my whole thing, Court, is like if you’re going to have this year where you’re it’s like a bridge year in a sense. It’s a retool year. I want to see what young guys can have, what we can bring. And you can’t have a roster full of young guys. I get that. But like, I better see one of Mitten or Potra in the lineup for most of the season or at least getting a considerable amount of games. You want to see what you have before a guy like Hagens comes up. And maybe they believe I don’t know if Potra can do it. I don’t know if Lysel can do it. I don’t know if Murcul can do it. And I think it these moves certainly signal that.
But or do you do Middlestat
who was a throwin in the coil deal which is hilarious. Everybody’s always like, “Well, he was the piece.” I was like, “No, Zeller’s in the pick. We’re the piece.” They just wanted Middlestad’s contract out the door and we took it.
Yeah. Yeah. No, absolutely. I want to continue this. I want because this is an interesting thing on trades and we’re looking ahead, but I think people enjoy that.
Well, there’s not What else are we going to talk about?
Well, that’s what I mean. Yeah,
that’s what I mean. It’s it’s this is the fun stuff. Speaking of fun stuff, our friends over at Prize Pick Prize Picks have added the Flex Play, which means you can still cash out if your lineup isn’t perfect. You can double your money even if one of your picks doesn’t hit. On Price Pix, you mix and match player projections from different sports. Combine your favorite basketball players with players from baseball, hockey, esports, and much more. Price Pix offers Venmo, Apple Pay, Mastercard, and more for quick and easy deposits into your account this sports season. And you’ll be listening to this on a Friday, and it is Flex Friday. Make sure you opt in and tap the check box in your lineup builder to be eligible for the protected play. Choose squares from any game on the board. And if your lineup does not win, you get your net losses back in promo funds up to your promo limit as soon as the lineup settles. So download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. That is code CLNS to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. Prize picks run your game. Run your game over at prize pickics. Um court. Funny. Actually, at Dev Camp, a person there came up to me as they were leaving the leaving Warrior and they’re like, “Uh, do I have a brand new big long pod for uh the drive down to the Cape?” And I was like, “Well, I’m actually recording it probably right after you drive down to the Cape, unfortunately. So, hopefully this will be out by then because you and I you and I can go for a long time.
We could talk and shop.” Um I it is interesting though like with this I everyone’s putting out roster projections and lineup projections and I think on D it’s fairly clear. I mean Harris is probably your seventh D. You also have Callahan. Um so again I’m f Harris I’m fine taking a flyer on that. Like I’m I’m okay with that.
But he shoots going into free agent and going into the draft. We’re weak on the right side and we need scoring. I think they address scoring and speed at the draft. Oh yes.
I also think they should have drafted a goalie. That’s just my opinion. But because we knew we were losing bus uh uh Brandon Busy, but whatever. It’s to each their own, but they still didn’t they haven’t addressed the right side in free agency at they haven’t addressed it anywhere. And which is interesting. And Harris I think is hilarious because when I talked about it, I was like, “Oh, I bet you there’s going to be someone in my comments that knows him because he’s from Mass. Two people.” Lo and behold, two people I had two people say, “Really great guy.” I was like, “Okay, that’s what I got. I got told he’s a really great guy.
There you go. Sure.
That’s he was he was before my time with the New England Hockey Journal because he played for Kimble Union. So
I don’t know much about him to be totally honest, but everybody seems to be really happy about this guy. But I it it does the whole cliche of the Boston Bruins only draft kids that either go to BC or they are from Massachusetts is never going to go away because they continue to do this. I still think if they can find someone for the right side in a trade, I think they need to do it. I think hey if you can move Pat Potra or anybody just you need help on that right side.
Well this was going to be my point was like so they go out they they keep Yoki Haru um on a short you know three year three times three you know
people aren’t bad enough about that one but continue.
Well what’s interesting is like this is my thing right like when I first saw that I was like oh man but then I look at where they’re at as a as a team as a roster. We talked about they’re sort of this middling retooling essentially kind of rebuilding team 100%. I think they are
3 years, 3 million. 3 million is not insane. Like that’s the thing like and the cap is going up
big time.
But but to your point, that’s where if you’re going to deal a potra and a pick or a Mercur or whoever and a pick, right D Young who you project high. Correct. That’s to me that’s where you’re adding and you need help on the wings and you know Hagens certainly helps you down the middle but like right shot D because they didn’t get that. I thought they were going to get that in the second round but then in the second round from picks like 33 to the early 40s were like all the big right shot D went. So they didn’t even have a sha a shot at it. To me I’m in agreement with you. If you’re going to deal potra and a prospect or potra and a pick, you do it for a right shot D.
And for everybody like yelling at us right now because we keep saying Potra, it’s we’re just you could add in Mercul in Lysel and it’s unfortunate, but
this is what’s going to happen to get this guy and you So if you want
do what we do everybody right now, just go into Puckedia and start looking at teams that have a a guy that’s coming off an entry- level deal. It’s a right shot defenseman on a team that’s probably going to move him because they either draft or they’re going into the playoffs and they they need somebody else into the lineup. That’s that’s where the Bruins are going to get this guy. They’re going to get him on a team like like the Islanders who lucked out, got first overall pick, so that no Dobson became expendable. There’s there’s going to be a team like that next year that can’t afford to do the entry level deal on somebody and the Bruins are going to get lucky and be able to take them. We’ll see what happens. And people Jack Eel is definitely signing with the Las Vegas Golden Knights. I’ll
that dream is long gone.
That dream was long gone about like 3 months ago. So that was never happening.
Definitely happening. Whenever that happens, it happens. But please get that out of your head. The the the years of being able to get people at UFA are gone.
I think that what we saw this year is going to happen continuing over and over and over again, especially after the year before where Nashville’s and the Bostons of the world all got burned and teams are like, “Well, forget this. We’re not doing this anymore. So, we’re going to sign our guys after their entry level deals or right before they hit UFA and that’s about it. And whatever’s left is just going to be pieces. So, I I don’t see what they’re they need to make trades. That’s the only way to fix this team.
Trading and drafting
are your two drafting is the biggest and then trading right after. I a Bleacher Report put out an Instagram post like a 10 slide one and it was like look at the free agent class next year. It’s like Eel Capri off McDavid. It’s like Paneran. 95% of those guys are ressigned throughout this season. Like you think McDavid’s really hitting free agency. He like Jack Eel has a perfect spot in Vegas. He has Mitch Marner now on his right. He’s got Noah Hannah in there. Like
his favorite coach is Bruce Cassidy. He said he changed his career. Yeah. He’s going to leave. He’s coming back.
And Rasmus Anderson, he’s he’s a right shot defenseman. He ain’t coming to Boston. What did he just say in Calgary? I only want to go to Vegas. So if you don’t trade me, I’m just going to sign there next year. So Vegas already knows that Rasmus Anderson wants to play for them next year and they don’t even have to try and go get him. If he doesn’t want to come, sure, we’ll get you the next year. That really does show you the value of saying, “We’re just going to be all in all the time.” And Vegas is a great spot. Guys love it. Uh it’s a a fun fan base and it’s a great arena and all those different things, but they’re always allin. You know, when you go to Vegas, you’re not going to be randomly rebuilding the next year or retooling the year after like you’re contending. And now that you have Marner and Eel and Hannah and all these guys locked up that I don’t blame guys for wanting to go to Vegas and you have Bruce Cassidy like you have a it’s a good organization. Like if I’m a player I get to go live in Vegas. I get to go live in nice weather all season or all year and a good team. Why would I not go to Vegas?
No tax state
also that big deal. Well and so so is Dallas and eventually you know Nashville. I look at everybody was like, “Oh, the Bruins need to do this.” No one was coming here. Everybody was like, “Oh, they got to go get Nikolai Elers.” There was no way Nikolai Eelers was coming here. Unless the Bruins wanted to overpay. They just had to overpay to get Tanner Jano. Yeah. According to Frank Sal, there was 12 teams. They just had to overpay on term and dollar NAV to get Tanner Jano. They would have had to have paid a guy like Brock Besser like $10 million to come. They had a chance. the only one they had a chance on. I’ll still say this.
If Marshian doesn’t resign with the Florida Panthers, I was 100% sure he was coming back.
And I know we talked about, but I was just like I way too many things were telling me,
tea leaves, I’ll call them, that he was coming back. Like it was there was no chance he was coming to Toronto. He was just going to come back to Boston. And I was like, “Oh my god.” So when I started seeing on the internet, I’m like, “Oh no, it’s gonna happen.”
Well, yeah. because well I saw Pierre LeBron tweet on I think it was Sunday like oh Bruins and Maple Leafs if the Panthers don’t resign him and I’m like oh boy all right and then like there were even like this was never reported but like Utah had a ton of money and they would have wanted a culture guy. I think he wanted to stay on the East Coast but like there were they probably would have overpaid for a guy like Marian. I completely agree with you on this free agent class. I was never married to any of these guys except for Marner. I love to I love to p piss people off with the Mitch Marner stuff. Obviously, as I said, then he was never going to actually come here, but you should know.
Chance in hell.
But Eers, Eblad, Besser, I’m not dying for those guys long term. Like I I just wasn’t. I mean, Eblad helps you in the short term, but that’s a long contract. Uh he was what, 8 time 6.1? Like, he ended up signing for way less AA than I thought it actually. Ridiculous less. But like, oddly enough, it was the Spinning Checkers podcast when I was like, they’re all coming back. when they all did that pool interview and they’re all like, “Ah, we’re all coming back.” And I’m just like, “Marian is one thing Marian is, he’s not a liar.” And he said at that bar when they when he was at the elbow room and someone was filming and he didn’t realize it and he was like, “I’ll be back.” But we’re going for another one. We’re going to win four cups. He said, “I’ll be back.” And then he said it again on Spitting Chicklets. He was going to be back. He knew he was back. They were just trying to figure it out. Yeah.
He was coming back. When Bennett said I Bennett told his deal at a bar, he knew like a week ago. I I still laugh about the whole tampering thing that they talked about with Martyr because I still go back to the Montador interview on spitting chicklets from last year where he said he won the Stanley Cup and his agent was already talking about him going to Seattle when he he goes it was the craziest thing ever. We’re at the Elbow room that light that night and my agent’s texting me about Seattle’s offer and I was like okay. But the NHL’s like, “We’re going to make an example of the of the of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.” When Montador literally just gas lit everybody and was like, “Well, I got a text the night before.” Because they all do, but then Toronto extorts.
Yes.
To get that hilarious.
I look at the Boston Bruins and I don’t see doom and gloom. I don’t. Everybody’s all freaking out about this team and that’s fine. If you can get over the fact that they’re not going to make the playoffs and if they do it’s gravy, then your expectations change and you’re going to be okay because the Boston Bruins aren’t in the Detroit Red Wings. Um, even the Montreal Canadians when their rebuild just took too damn long. I think Hagens jumpstarted them and it’s phenomenal. They got so damn lucky being able to draft him at seven. But they also got lucky in a bad draft year. the top eight players were centerman and they got one of them. Let’s be honest, if they didn’t get Hagens, they were going to get Roger McQueen because we all know who that’s who they were going to pick if it was because that’s just the Boston Bruins. But and he looks great too already in camp, but that’s fine. This is development camp and I wanted to ask you questions about that after, but development camp is what it is.
Well, I wanted to say about McQueen. From what I heard, I don’t think McQueen was ever a big guy for them.
Really? He was. That’s what I’d heard. Yeah.
Very interesting. And I was stunned.
Who’ they take out? Bradley Martin. They wanted him.
Brady Martin.
Brady Martin. They definitely wanted him. The
guy Martin would have been a a guy. That would have been a real
real bad. I think that was I think that him and Caleb De I think Dier was their number one choice.
That’s who when they originally had their pick number five. I think that’s who they thought they were getting cuz they scouted him more than anybody else. And then when they moved down all of a sudden I was like, “Okay.” Then I thought it was Brady Martin.
I thought that’s who they were going to get because they I don’t think they ever thought they were going to get James Higgins otherwise his name would have been on the back of his jersey. I completely agree and that’s what stunned me too was like I think they were stunned. I was stunned. Um and I agree with you on the not doom and gloom because I was at dev camp all week this week and they are not the 30 they’re not the 30th ranked prospect pool anymore. like James Higgins is your number one clearly. Um, but then you know again like Dean Larno actually had a pretty good prospect camp. Not saying he’s going to be anything, but like he actually had a pretty damn good dev camp. He had a he was really good and noticeable.
Didn’t know he broke his hand last year
on Thursday. I didn’t either.
I didn’t either. But like again you have guys like Will Zeers. Uh this third rounder from this year Cooper Simpson had a really good dev camp. Like that might be something. I’m not saying going to be, but like
the defenseman that didn’t even have a pitcher, all of a sudden we find out he’s a Bruins fan for life and the guy’s amazing. Where did that come from?
Court, this kid’s good.
This is this is this is a smoother skating Mason Lai. That’s what I saw. Like, not saying he’s going to pan out, nothing. But that kid knows how to handle a puck. Good skater. Um has supposed to look good. Like they had a lot of guys that were like, “Okay, which is better than last year when everybody was talking about lunch bail guys like he’s going to be a fourth liner.” Like that was the most hilarious thing. All the excitement that came out of development camp last year. I’m like you guys are you guys are you’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Scraping the bottom. And that’s how they’ve drafted. They’ve drafted for guys that have uh higher floors instead of higher ceilings. And I even think like when we talk about guys like Patra and Lysel doesn’t really fit in this as much. But the younger guys that I think have been, you know, top prospects for the Bruins in years past. It’s been guys who it’s like, oh, he’ll be a third liner in the NHL. Oh, may maybe he’s a a second liner. We’ll see. And whereas I think it’s changed now. Like they had a first this year. They had two seconds. You get Will Moore who’s his consolidated ranking was much higher than where he ended up going at 51. And it’s like you’re starting to you have legitimate prospects here. You add Frzier Mitten and Will Zeers at the deadline who by the way Will Zeers amazing kid. Amazing personality.
Sounds like it.
Like really fun to talk to. Loves uh loves the loves talking. Um, and just on the ice, incredible patience. Like Cord I always say with kids, like he’s not the best skater, but when you can slow a game down, that’s almost translatable to any level, I find, where that patience, that ability to just let the game come to you, that’s you can project that and Zeers has that. And honestly, Cooper Simpson has that as well where it’s just like that ability to slow a game down, doing what you want, letting people react to you instead of you reacting to the game. Those two seem to have it. Now, again, not saying these kids are going to be, you know, Jay Gensel and frigin Taylor Hall, but you the the future is not bleak. There is legitimate reason to be excited for the future this coming season. I don’t know if I’d put that there. Yeah. Um, as you said though, it it’s you want to see, you know, can Elias Lindholm be a 60 plus point guy? Is that too much to ask? Like that’s what you’re looking. Can Jeremy Swayman get back on track this year? And then I think in 26 27 is when you are um you know Hagens comes in most likely and you’re on conclusion he comes in that next year.
It feel it certainly feels that way. If they make the playoffs, he plays. He’ll he’ll be here. He’ll he’ll Makavoy. They’ll burn a year because he’ll because the his interview,
I’m sure you were there. When they talked to him today, I was like, he is he is wanting to make this team this year. If he talks one more time about though that he’s 190s, I think I might lose respect for the man. Like, stop saying that. Like that’s like I’m 190 pounds. I’m going to make this team. That is not the threshold to make the NHL. Stop talking about it. But he won’t stop talking about it.
But I will give him this. He’s the size isn’t as big a thing with him. He did throw some hits around like in the in the battle drills. He’s got he’s not small. Like he’s 5’10. He’s got hutzah, but he’s got he’s he’s got muscle. He’s got muscle. And I think that’s a that’s an encouraging thing. And it hasn’t taken away from his speed, hasn’t taken away from his hands. So I like again I’m with you. Like I I you mentioned this earlier like I think at BC this year he’s a 50 60 point guy. I I don’t I wouldn’t even doubt it. So, you know that BC So, your number one center is Hagens.
Yep.
Your number two center is Moore.
Your number
Well, it’s funny. Well, we were I was talking about this with Connor like Will Moore potentially. I They’ve brought in I think they’re bringing in some CHO kids as well. I don’t have it in front of me, but like could one of them step in?
All on the radio here in Ontario. It’s all about all the kids that are going to jump ship and go to the United States for hockey. That’s what’s happening. Yes, we’re we’re covering that heavily at New England Hockey
for their last year. What they want to do is they want to some of them if they haven’t been drafted, they want to pull they want to get the loophole. So they talked about this on the radio yesterday here in Toronto. These kids who haven’t been drafted, if they didn’t get drafted and they want to hop back in, they can go play in college, get drafted, and now they can control their own destiny of where they play. Yeah. And Court, this is the other thing that I think people didn’t fully realize with this draft class. Like, okay, James Hagens didn’t have the same year as Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, all those, you know, former freshman, and he had 37 points in 37 games, which is actually really good for a kid who started the year as a 17y old,
but college is now looked at as a higher level than the OHL or the Dub or the Q, obviously. And it’s like because these kids are trying to go to the NCAA. Like the NCAA used to be a developmental type league. It’s not that anymore. It isn’t. like you have the best of the best looking to come there. You know, Gavin McKenna is trying to go there next season. Like
as Canadian, hold your horses, but yes,
I know. I know.
I I see it more as a you’re going to get all the guys that get passed up in the draft and they’re like, “Well, I’m not going to get passed up my next time. I’m going to go play college and then I’m gonna get I’m gonna get my ticket and that’s going to get me in.” because there’s a there’s a strong pattern with certain teams in the NHL that are drafting college kids only be and I think the players are seeing it now so they’re going because they’re seeing where kids are going to get drafted. Um I do think the OL is a little bit watered down and I think a lot of that has to do with the way the kids are coming in. The kids are coming in way too young in the OL. I think
Oh yeah.
I just think they come in too young. So that
I think they’re coming in young everywhere though. I mean even and I get I understand James Hagens this week saying you know oh god I want to be a brew and all these different things. I get it. But I hope that’s just talk because I hope he understands that you can’t skip levels. You can’t like development takes a different path for everybody and for him it’s very very clear that a a second year at BC is needed. And when you start jumping over things like I always I always use Kale Mar as the example. If Kale had just gone to Colorado after his freshman year,
I’m not sure we’re seeing the Kale Mar that we see now.
Fair.
I’m not.
And like that that and that to me is the thing. And I and and back to my point, I’m not trying to diss the OHL or anything because
I just had to, you know, as a Canadian I couldn’t let it go.
I get it. I get it. But I also think it just I don’t know if people viewed Hagens’s season fully correctly. I’m not saying he had an amazing year. Like I I keep going back to like I saw him at the Bean Pot and I didn’t really notice him much in either of those games. Um and I think that’s important to note, but he didn’t have a bad year. Like you know, hearing Felgar be like, “Oh, he had a bad year.” It’s like, “No, he didn’t. He had a really good year.”
Can I ask for everybody listening and yourself, how is it that he’s allowed to be on the radio and no one just just laughs at him? If in Canadian radio that doesn’t work
like we don’t have the shock jock for sports. It just doesn’t work. No one gives a damn because we get Elliot Freriedman and Jeff Be like that’s who we get on the radio. Everybody that you’re like, “Oh, that’s the guy I ever listen to for stuff.” Well, that’s my radio. Like that’s every day.
It’s funny because I listen to it and laugh,
but there is a large segment I know
of Boston fans who like and it’s not not like I’m not blaming them. No, they’re in the car for two hours. They’re they’re they’re one-hour drive home and they’re listening to that and then they go home and they, you know, they’re not reading a bunch of sports stories or listening to podcasts. They just listen. They turn on the radio and listen and that’s how they get their information. And so they think, “Oh my god, BC stinks. Like Hagens is terrible.” All they do is drop local kids and that’s how that happens. And like it’s just on the radio, you know? Well, I don’t if I think if if it was a standalone Bruins podcast, I don’t think Bruins fans would be seeking it out, but it’s on the radio, so you listen and that’s I guess how that works. So, I always find it’s very intriguing to me. It’s very intriguing.
What what annoys me is when people say, “God, there’s not enough like Bruins content. There’s not enough Bruins talk um out there, you know, because because the radio 985 and EI don’t spend a time on it on the air.” I always want to be like I I always want to be like
almost every car now has Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth or you can hook up your phone to it and there are a million Bruins podcasts and there you know again there’s like Bruins dieards like you the YouTube channel that you can watch and consume and your videos are like 10 minutes or less oftent times. Yep. quick and easy and that and like that to me always I I never like you can plug your phone in like I don’t know
yeah like for me like I I can turn on the radio and pretty much guarantee that I’m going to get hockey no matter what any time of the year but I get a lot of Leaf stuff out here so I will in the morning I’ll be like okay JD Buckus I think he does a great job even though he’s a huge homer that’s fine I it’s interesting um here in Toronto how they the the narrative on what they’re doing to Mitch Martner it’s probably the funniest thing I’ve ever seen Because
I saw Scott Wheeler’s tweet and I got kicked.
Oh my god. I was just like, what is wrong with you people? You are dashing this guy for exactly what you love and praise Aston Matthews for is probably the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. Like, dude, does no one see the irony of like this guy doesn’t show up in the playoffs, but this guy right here who doesn’t show up in the playoffs, even worse, he’s my best. He’s the best. Like, what’s wrong with you? But
I I personally I listen to a Bruins podcast. I’ll listen to what Chaos or or even YouTube. You can you can listen to it like it’s a radio. Like I’ll do that like the hockey guy and stuff.
That’s what I listen to because hockey great. He’s the one with the whiteboard, right? In Vancouver. Very nice.
Fantastic.
I I do that myself because you can get the content, but when I’m in Boston and stuff like that, which you know, once a year I come there,
I find it discouraging because I think Boston should is a hockey town. You have some of the best college hockey in the world is in Boston. You have a fan base that loves their hockey team, yet your TV is like ESPN, which is that’s you might as well just not like it’s it’s terrible. TNT is great. I I think those people are doing a great job. I think where Tai is on the Sports Hub, I feel bad. Like I always see Tai, I’m like, you have one of the smartest hockey minds in all of Boston and you don’t put him on the radio.
I will never enough.
I will never get I will use the word enough.
I will never understand. his live reaction of the Tanner Jano signing is probably the best thing I’ve ever seen and that was awesome. And I don’t understand I don’t get it either. Um I you know I get that it used to be a Patriots town here but the Patriots haven’t been interesting in years and that’s what I that’s what I don’t fully grasp. But the good thing is like Court with you with Bruins die hards you have a really good uh group of fans that a large group that watch your content. when you come on here, all the comments are like, “We love court. Court court’s awesome.” And we thankfully at Bruins Rinkside here on YouTube, like a lot of uh a lot of, you know, dedicated people that watch every episode and comment and it’s awesome. Make sure to go subscribe um to both Bruins die hards and Bruins rankside. But like that’s I I don’t understand it. But I you know I guess in the grand scheme of all of the four sports teams. Like I think they they look at it as well. It’s the fourth team in town which I think is wrong. But the Bruins are one of the number one selling merchandise in all of the NHL. The reason and people get annoyed and in Toronto they say it all the time. Well I know we’re having an outdoor game. Must be Boston and Chicago. The reason this continues to happen is one Boston’s one of the biggest TV markets. Unfortunately, like the Stanley Cup finals was great and all, but the ratings weren’t that good. If the Boston Bruins are in the Stanley Cup finals, the ratings are through the roof.
Yep. This is what I know. Boston has one of the biggest fan bases across all of North America. I would almost say one of the biggest in the world. They always say the Rangers and I I I disagree because here in Toronto, no one cares about the Rangers. It’s definitely like the Toronto Maple East, but Boston still has a contingency, Montreal Canadians. And I find it very weird that at the the people were saying, you know, at the free agents this year, like they didn’t want to come here.
And I believe it. Um there’s that new millionaire tax that kicked in last year that I guess a lot of people are realizing it’s an extra 4%. So that’s a lot of money that’s coming off your paycheck when you’re you’re coming here to Boston. But you still have the guys when they do sign here, like as much as we’re dogging on Tanner, you know, his interview like he said all the right things. Victor Arson, they all said the right things. Like this is an historic franchise. we want to come here. So, I do think with the influx of youth that you saw at development camp that you’re all excited about and I will say this as someone that can’t go to development camp and as of right now the whole like not a lot of Canadians were not coming to the United States for a while. It just it is what it is and planning originally coming this year. I’m sensing a different excitement from development camp this year than I think I’ve seen since Makavoy. Like since we heard about all these other guys that were coming because the positivity that comes from yourself and every it’s all positive vibes coming out of of development camp and you’ve mentioned but who I’m gonna ask you a question. I’m going to just turn the hat here. Who you’ve mentioned some couple guys but who is the one that you were like I didn’t see that coming? Like who’s the guy that were like, “Okay, like he’s coming out there. You watch them every day. Who’s the guy that like I didn’t see that coming?”
Uh like at Dev Camp.
Yeah.
Blar didn’t know who this kid was. Like who is he? Elite prospects takes like a you know five minutes to find him. Um the Bruins couldn’t even put a photo in his draft thing.
Exactly. And to me like I look at him and I’m like, you know, I I was saying this to Mark Dber. In today’s day and age with the internet, it’s so rare to find to to find like a diamond in the rough like a guy that no one else was looking at, no one else knew. He wasn’t even taken in the CHL imports draft. Like that to me, his ability
next year. I don’t think it’s decided yet. I don’t think it’s decided yet. Don’t quote me on that, but I don’t believe it’s decided yet.
Is it a a university? No, I think it’s probably going to be somewhere in junior. Um, but to me, he was he was someone that I I did like, who is this? And suddenly he’s out there dangling, great skater, like clearly raw. Raw as hell. Like needs work for sure, but like the foundation’s there of like, all right, there’s something to build on here. I get why they drafted him. Simpson’s another one out of Minnesota high school hockey this year. Played, I think, nine games with Tri City in the USHL. Scored seven goals. uh after the season ended like he was what what surprises me court is like these kids come from like rarely do kids come from like the prep level or the high school level and they jump right into a dev camp and usually if they do they can be a little hesitant because it’s a big freaking jump
like LNO last year
like LNO last year and one of the things on Simpson that I that I kept hearing was he sort of got ice in his veins like in the sense that he doesn’t really like feel anything he just plays his game no matter who he’s playing against he’s going to do his and he did that. He’d cut to the middle with defensive bearing down on him and he would calmly protect the puck and look for an outlet pass or look for a lane to the net and his just ability to play his own game and play his role and his style. I think there’s something there like do you know and again I can’t say it enough. I I don’t want to sit here and proclaim that these are NHL guys, but in the past bunch of years, you know, I was at all those dev camps where it was, as you said, well, this guy is gonna be a good fourthlininer. Oh, this guy could maybe be something, you know, this is the number one center, blah, blah, blah. Like, it’s different now in one year. And I give them credit like they they kept their picks. They added more. They went out and traded for prospects. And that’s why, like we keep saying, like this this Bruins regular season coming up is not going to be fun and highflying. But if you can get through this year, things are greener in the future. Whether it’s obviously Hagens, uh, Will Moore is going to probably take
two years at BC. Zeers, like I was saying to Contra, what’s Zeers at North Dakota? Probably two years. Will Moore’s probably two years, maybe three, uh, at BC. Um, Chris Pelosi looked a lot better. Again, I don’t like I think he projects more as like a middle six, potentially bottom six center, but like he’s he looked a lot better. I I also say Laterno looked a lot better. Like, and I said it earlier in this show, I’m not going to sit here and say like, “Oh, Dean Latero, what a steal. They nailed the pick.” But he at least should be someone productive in at BC next year if he’s not buried in the lineup. Like, he’s got great hands. He He was way more physical this year than last year. He was, you know, going up against Costadinsky.
Well, he had a broken hand last year. We just didn’t know.
It’s a thing. That’s the thing. But so, yeah, like if if Lerno, like Connor and I were talking about this at Dev Camp, if Dean Lerno ends up being something like your your prospect pool, it’s all different now. Yeah. Like if he’s a third line center for the future, you’re laughing.
Yeah. Oh, god. Yeah. I mean, we again,
big third line, turn him into a two-way guy who just chips away at everybody and melts you down.
Yeah. Yeah. And that’s why, like, you said it perfect with like the vibes are higher with the prospects. That’s that’s where the the the good vibes.
Would you Does that mean we’re going to lose Passion Act? Because now it’s now we could get into the nasty conversation because it’s it’s a real one because everybody’s like, “Oh, this and that.” Mike, but if you’re David Passion, do you want to wait? Because I look at this team. I think Don Sweeny’s going to have he’s got two years, right? He’s a dead man walking. Let’s be honest. Regardless of what he’s a dead man walking, unless they figure it out. So, if you’re Don Sweeney, I was looking at names. So, here’s some names. So, there’s Brandt Clark and there’s Nick L uh Lunquist who’s out of uh Dallas. Two right shot defenseman that are actually good, but they’re both on expiring deals and their teams are going to have a hard time resigning. We already know Bran Clark’s they’re trying to trade him because they know LA is like we can’t figure this one out. It’s too hard to sign. Brand Clark’s a puckmoving D. I think he’s the perfect guy where the Boston Bruins make a lot of sense.
He makes way too much sense. So you look at that the Boston Bruins could make deals with the guys that they know aren’t going to make it this year. We’ve got all these guys. We got Lonel. We haven’t even talked about him. Like that’s the guy I’m going to be doing a video on. That guy could make the Bruins this year. We haven’t even talked about him. Lysel. No lum lum. What’s his name? He played in the world.
Lucklis.
Luck Melis. I say it always in
everybody’s forgetting about the guy that Wayne Gretzky was saying. Look, well, one of the best players in the tournament.
I know.
Are we We’re all forgetting about this guy and he’s a UMass guy like me. I should But I’m saying I’m laughing at all the rosters everybody’s putting out right now. And I I still think it’s too early because you still need to have these guys go to camp. But this is the first time where I look at from an out outsiders perspective just watching you guys cover it and looking at everything and watching all the videos everybody’s posting which I love and that’s as a Bruins fan like you don’t just use Twitter you could find out everything you want like everything is there and I’m watching all these videos the first time I was like they’re actual players usually I see these videos I’m like come on guys I think you’re just you’re just you’re just saying this guy’s good when they’re not really good but that’s fine but I’m watching it I’m like oh my god like these guys could be something and I look at the future of the Bruins and they start slotting in. I’m like, “Okay.” Who’s going to be gone?
Now, is David Pastnac ever going to get to play with James Higgins? Yes, I would hope so. But if you’re going to lose one more year, I’m not I’m I’m just trying to have a hypothetical here.
I like this because I’ve been thinking about this too in the sense and I’ve said I’ve said this for a long time of like he’s in his prime. You can’t waste these prime years now. If they’re straight up with him and they get
2930, we got time.
And they got But here’s the thing. If they’re straight up with him and they get him on board and say, “Look, David, it’s going to be a year of middle of the pack to lower in the pack in the NHL, but James Hagen’s going to come in next year. He’s going to be your center. Like, there’s reason for hope. We’re going to, you know, I’m speaking against the Bruins. We’re going to be back in it in two years in the playoff in the playoff picture.” like and then you’re going to get the infusion of guys like Zealers. I mean you even think about the Bruins in like 2017 18 Bork to Brusk Makavoy coming up. You had Carlo who had a year under his belt. You also had the Berserons, the Marians, the Charas, the Ras like you did have that they endured.
Yes, completely. Um and so with Post, it’s like you know if you’re going to give them the sea, which you should that’s a foregone conclusion at this point. I think you should do it right before training camp, right?
Yes. So I think they’ll announce it. I just So I’m I’m on Pedia and for everybody listening if you want to know this is what we all use. Just go to Puckedia. So you have Makavoy, Lynholm, Nikita Zadorov, David Pastnac, and Elias Lynholm and Morgan Geeki all locked in till 29:30. Every single one of them and Jeremy Swayman, every single one of their core and I say this is their core locked in till 2930. So there’s your window. There’s your window. It’s not insane to think that they will be competitive during that time. Not right now. Not 25 26. I think they could be as competitive in early as next year. Not this year. I don’t think this year. I think as Hagens is what we all think he is. And you have convinced me. I I’m telling you, I make the jokes about how you should get the t-shirts and all that. And I think you should. Um, I I thought about putting a Bruins die hards t-shirt where it says James Haggins and just says you actually your photo. Um, but I was like that’s only for me and it’s funny. But um
and no one’s buying that.
I would I’d wear it in Boston.
I’d buy some just for fun.
Yeah, it would be fun. But I was I look at it if James Hagen is what he is. So say he’s your second line center next year and we move on from Casey Middlestat like we all know what’s going to happen. He’s got he’s in his his deal expires next year. So I’m just looking at the future. I don’t think Casey Middlestat’s the future unless he changes because I didn’t he wasn’t strong on the puck. He didn’t play Boston Bruins hockey. So, he’s got to change the way he plays the game to stay a Boston Bruin next year. And I think Boston Bruins hockey still exists, but it’s going to in a different way. We talked about toughness. I look at the Florida Panthers. Florida Panthers don’t fight people.
No,
they’re tough because they’re tough on the forche. Piss you off and they don’t care and they just play the game the right way. Oh my god, I can’t believe I did it.
Oh, you did it in my brain. But that’s how they they play the game. They are very good at their zone
under skins and they don’t they don’t retaliate
and they’re fast. They’re very fast.
So I look at the Boston Bruins, Casey Middlestat. All right, we’re gone. Okay, so your future is Elias Lynholm, James Hagens next year as your second line center and then Fraser Mitten as your third line center and then Castellik. I like Castellic as your fourth line center all day long. I think he does a phenomenal job because he does chip in on the offensive side and he’s good net front presence. I think he just makes more sense. And eventually Lynholm becomes your second second line center and Hagens becomes your first line center when him and Pastor Knack ultimately have their come to Jesus moment and they’re amazing together. So there’s your future down the middle. As much as we’ve said for years the Bruins need center, if they can turn Minton into that two-way guy, they don’t need any. Their centers are they’re good. So then that tells me, okay, more they’re he may be a center or they move him over the wing. Like I look at everything that’s happening and I’m like there is a lot of optimism especially if you look at that back end locked up. They can go out and trade one of their pieces that they have right now and get someone who shoots on the right side that’s young like the guy I mentioned at Dallas or Brent Clark. You have a Zidor off you that’s a pretty good defense and you have Swayman will be better. Let’s be honest he will be.
Their defense is is good. This is
one more piece. But the other thing court and you hit on this like every all those guys you mentioned Geeky Posternok Makavoy Swayman Zidor off the Lindomes all them they’re locked up till 2930 right like they’re all locked up at least through then the the core that’s going to supplement that core is this next young wave.
It’s Hagens. It’s Zeers. It’s Moore. It’s Pelosi, Simpson, Blow with their two first round picks next year.
And if they trade any one of those, I’d be pissed. You had two the following year, too. You can move one of those.
I was going to say, yeah. Would you deal a 26 first for uh if it got you one of like Brandt Clark or one of those right shot? You wouldn’t do it.
No, I I don’t think I think with the team the way they are, you do not trade that Boston Bruins first round pick. That draft next year is going to be the best draft since the Conor McDavid draft. So
really I’ve seen I’ve seen some writeups but I haven’t seen like an official
that’s like the best draft since Conor McDavid like it’s it’s good like there’s a lot of talent in that draft and you what who says we can’t be the Islanders and we move up to number one. No, I think it’s it’s absolutely possible and you saw it this year. They get porked with with the seventh pick, but you get lucky and Hagens falls to you. But that’s my biggest thing is this is the first year where it’s like I’m watching these guys on the ice, Zeers, Hagens, Moore, all of them, and even LNO. And it’s like, okay, like those are going to be the guys at least, you know, guys on this ice are going to be who supplements the guys at the NHL level in a year plus, right? Like once Hagens comes up most likely for that 25 26 or excuse me for the 26 27 season when he comes up then that’s likely going to start the wave of like Zeers and Moore maybe come in the year after and when does LNO come in and Pelosi what is he and
I just got you to Matthew Potra.
Look how I went from the beginning you have now traded Matthew Potra.
That’s right. Well that where’s he fit?
He doesn’t.
Where’s he fit?
And if Lysel doesn’t make the team he don’t fit either. If he doesn’t make it out of camp, it doesn’t take that third line right-wing spot, I you move on from him and you use his asset to get something and it is what it is. You just move on. I traded Lysel, Geeky, and a first in franchise mode for Will Smith of the Sharks. And Will Smith was essentially my James Hagens and he’s now my number one center for the Bruins. That’s my new That’s my like summer way too much for Will Smith, but that’s fine.
No, I mean he’s from Lexington.
Oh my god. I know everybody loves him so much, but he is going to be he is the next Chris Kunit. He is playing with Mlin Celabbrini. Good for you, buddy. He’s great. I’m not saying he’s bad. I I’m not trying to hit on his talent,
but I think Mlin Celerbrini is close to a generational talent. I think he’s phenomenal.
He’s not He’s not Conor McDavid, but he is
Joe Sackic.
I think it’s a better comparison. He’s Joe Sackic, Jonathan Ta. He’s that good.
He can he could carry his team. And now their one-two punch is him and Misa is just and Misa takes 77 off. That should be banned. But anyways, but and Smith will play with one of them. I would assume they’re not
he’ll play with Mlin Celibbriny. The amount of social media posts between the two of them now just like the Bruins. You talked about the defenseman. The Bruins see something because they focused on him social media wise for the last couple days.
Blar. Yeah.
Yeah.
So they see something. There’s something there. There’s something there.
PR team
is very good at what they do. Russo does a phenomenal job. He does a good job. They do a very good job over there and they see when a guy has it and when they don’t. And last year they barely covered any of the guys. I was laughing. Well, again, like Court, it’s been years years with dev camp where it just is like h not much. I remember walking away the last two years being like, man, there’s like nothing here. But again, this is the thing though, right? Like there are a lot of guys who were at those past two dev camps at this one. They’re older, they’re more mature, and they’re not looked at as highly upon, right? Like LNO is now is not the number one center prospect in the pool anymore. Elite prospects made that joke. We can’t make fun of the Boston Bruins anymore. Like that’s the best joke after the draft. Like the Boston Bruins got rated as one of the best teams at the trade deadline. Everybody was said they made the best deals. We’re we’re getting kicked in the teeth about Tanner, Jano, and we should like I I’ll be honest, everybody in Toronto is making fun of the Boston Bruins right now. And that’s even with Mitch Marner leaving for nothing. And Bruins are still getting made fun of, but they’re picked as one of the teams that did best at the draft. The Islanders killed it. They did, but they’re saying, and this is all conjecture because you don’t know what these kids are going to be into, but for the first time ever, the Bruins next year people when they do the league prospects, they already made the joke they’re going to be in the top 15 in prospect for the first time in forever. and and yes and if they don’t trade those two first next year
and they have the following year. So that’s the Boston Bruins have set themselves up that in the next including this year that just happened the next three drafts they can change the fate of the franchise. Yeah.
Instantly. Yeah.
They can change the fate of the franchise. They don’t have to be the Philadelphia Flyers. They don’t have to be the Detroit Red Wings. They don’t even have to be the Montreal Canadians who just stumbled out of the block way too many times. they’ll be able to change the fate of their franchise because all those teams they did a total rebuild. He kind of did. He almost did like what’s in between a retool and a rebuild. That’s what Sweeney did. But he’s still going to be able to keep Makavoy, Swayman, Pastnack, Geeki, Lynholm, and bring in these pieces. And the Boston Bruins in the next three years are going to be one of the best teams in the league all over again because Florida Marian’s going to be 40. They’re going to be old. Tampa’s going to be old. like Vasileles, it’s just his hips are bad and like they’re all they’re just old and Boston will be able to jump right back in there. They’ll be able to jump right back in there.
I completely agree. I completely agree. You I think you change I think drafting Hagens at seven changed the vibe of the franchise
100%
and these coming picks this year, the next couple years.
I think Zeers changed it changed changed my view when they got Zeers in that coil deal. I was like, “Oh, he’s cooking.” Like he’s doing this. He’s cooking right now. And everybody says that we’re always so negative. Us who do I do YouTube, you do the the media side, we’re negative negative. Well, I just spent the last 10 minutes being extremely positive about the future of the Boston Bruins. And I’ve been negative about that for 10 years.
I agree. And I’ll make fun of the present, but I will
I I will rip on the present, but I will be uh very posit. It’s a
good for him for getting a 5year deal and 3.4 million. Good for him. Same with Trent Frederick. Eight years in one spot. Good for Trent Frederick.
What a joke he is.
Crazy. Crazy. I think this is where we end court. I think we nailed it.
Yeah, we we were positive. We ended on a positive note.
Ended on a great positive note. Trent Frederick comment, but I’ll I’ll keep it there.
Yeah, Michael K, you did a great job, buddy. You earned that. You earned that percentage.
He did. He did. If I’m a player coming up, I’m going to him. Uh, Court, this is always fun. We’ll have to do this again at some point throughout the summer. Um,
Bruins die hards, subscribe there. What can people look forward to from you over? Uh, I’ll be covering anything that happens in the news and for the next little bit. I am away next week in Ottawa, but I do have some videos in the can. So, I’m going to be doing some prospect profiles and so on and so forth. But I’m going to be in the beautiful, you know, city of Ottawa next week having some good time with family. You know, maybe talking some hockey with certain people, but I’ll be having a good time.
That’s right. That’s right. court.
Always a pleasure, my friend. This is always fun. An hour and 10 minutes. My god. We can talk. We can talk. Um, that’s Court London. I’m Evan Marinowski. You beat listeners. Have a great rest of your week.

On this episode of Bruins Beat, Evan Marinofsky and Court Lalonde break down how they feel about the Bruins after the NHL Draft, free agency and development camp. This conversation covered basically everything. 

⏰️0:00 – EPISODE TIMELINE⏰️
3:25 – Expectations for Bruins next season
14:18 – Could Don Sweeney be fired if Bruins miss playoffs?
18:15 – Should Bruins trade Matthew Poitras?
20:13 – Reaction to Bruins Free Agency
21:48 – Will Bruins deal Viktor Arvidsson at trade deadline?
23:37 – Direction of Bruins team
25:23 – Prizepicks
26:21 – Projecting Bruins roster next season
32:46 – Bruins Free Agency moves
35:42 – How Bruins fans need to look at next season
37:35 – Takeaways from Bruins development camp
40:53 – James Hagens
46:20 – Consuming Bruins content
50:56 – Takeaways from Bruins development camp
56:34 – Projecting Bruins roster next season
1:05:21 – Wrapping up

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