Bruins Offseason Superlatives: Who Has The Most To Prove? | The Skate Pod, Ep. 462

Bruins Offseason Superlatives: Who Has The Most To Prove? | The Skate Pod, Ep. 462

Welcome in to episode 462 of the Skate Podcast. I am Brian D. Feliz joined by Bridget Pru, Scott Mclofflin. We’re also joined by Harold. I’m going to shout him out real quick. Bridget, do your thing. There he is. There’s Harry the giraffe, Bridget’s new uh new best friend. Are are you are you fully committed to Harold? because I saw on Twitter some people had other ideas for for names and I don’t know if you’re still accepting candidates or if he’s just Harold for good. He’s I’m open to ideas. I’m open to idealist. He it hasn’t quite you know fully stuck yet but Harold is definitely the first name that came to mind and I’m a Harry Styles fan so that’s where Harold came from but I am open to other ideas. I I saw I saw Gerard which works as both like Gerard the giraffe like good alliteration and also the actor Gerard Butler like kind of plays off that he’s a butler. Yeah. I just like the one name persona that he has just kind of like Madonna just Harold. It’s great. Yeah. And I think someone else said Jerry like as in Jerry Chvers so like you know trying to bring some ruins names into it as well. Yeah, which can also play off Gerard, but then you’re like, how many names does he have? You know, is he Gerard? Is he Jerry? Is he Gerard the giraffe? Is he just like, is he Gerard Butler? Yeah. Kind of with Brian, like Harold, it’s like you just people all over the world know who Harold is. Know Harold is. Yeah. And it’s one of those things where you see him and you just kind of like you know what his name is somehow. So, I saw him and I was like, Harold, what’s up? And uh that’s how it happened. So that’s the name. That’s the name. It’s you can you can call it a working title, but I think that’s his name. Anyway, uh Bridging Scott, we recently um saw that the Bruins released their 2025 2026 schedule, and I want to throw it away to Bridget here. All right. So, yeah, I mentioned on our last podcast it was coming out Wednesday. Um that was yesterday as as of the time we’re recording. So, now we’ve had about 24 hours to digest what the new schedule for next season’s going to look like. I don’t know about you guys, I had to go through and change my whole calendar and throw everything in. And now hockey season I’m already starting to get stressed out about because my my calendar is absolutely full and I’m like I don’t even know when I’m going to have time to like eat. Um but but anyway, I’m also excited about it. And uh I know we wanted to highlight some key dates. So Scott, I know you wanted to talk about one in particular. We’ll start with that. Well, yeah. I I think like right away the first one that stood out to me is Brad Marshian’s return because it’s early on. It’s the eighth game of the season. Tuesday, October 21st, Florida Panthers come into town. Um, obviously we know, you know, Marshand that the Bruins did play the Panthers after the trade in March. Actually, like right after Marshian was there, but I saw him. He was he was in the building, but he did not he almost got run over by Bridget. Um but he was not in the jumbotron. He was not out in like the public eye. He obviously did not play. He was still injured. So this assuming health will be his return and we can expect the full you know the full tribute. Like I was actually on I was on uh Evan Marinowski’s podcast yesterday and I was like I wonder if it’s even more than just the you know video at the first break you know standing ovation from the crowd. He comes out skates a lap. Like I wonder if there’s even something pregame or do you wait till, you know, till he actually gets like the end of his career for kind of the bigger ceremony. But either way, I think that’s going to be an emotional night. You know, it’s going to be a long and loud standing ovation. I saw NHL Network like posted a video on Twitter with like a question of like what kind of reception will Marian get? And I was like that just like total clickbait rage bait. Like if you haven’t even listened to the video click like clip like everyone on that desk was like, “Oh yeah, he’s going to get cheered.” And it’s like, “Yeah, duh.” Like of of course there’s not going to be booing. Um so I’m I’m looking forward to that. Like I think that’s going to be uh most importantly like it’s going to be a chance for fans to actually give Martian a proper goodbye, which they didn’t get to do. You know, he was injured at the time of the trade. He wasn’t back. He didn’t get a moment with fans. So, um, that’s there’s there’s lots of games to to circle and we’ll get to more of them, but that was number one for me. Yep. October 21st. So, happening pretty early on in the season, the season opener and it’s also, by the way, it’s also the only time the Panthers come here this season. It’s their only trip to Boston. I mean, that’s that’s just bad for, you know, Bruins fans because that’s that’s one of the the better games that I know people talk about want to get tickets to for obvious reasons. So, uh the more times they can play Florida, I guess, at TD Garden, the better for for people around here. But, uh at the same time, we know how those games have turned out. So, uh, the the season starts against Washington on the road on October 8th, and then I believe October 9th, the next day, is their home opener against Chicago. Uh, so early October is when the regular season starts. I just want to highlight a few other homecomings. Uh, because obviously there was a lot of trades made at last year’s trade deadline. So, Vernon, Carlo, and Toronto will come back to Boston November 11th. If you guys are Carlo fans, uh you want to go see him again. Uh December 4th, Jim Montgomery will be back. Uh Coyle, Charlie Coyle will be back February 26th. Uh and then the there’s four Western Road trips that are kind of sprinkled throughout. I think there’s a pretty long one in December if I’m not wrong. Um, and then the stadium series game against Tampa February 1st. I don’t know if anyone is planning on going down to that, traveling down to Florida to watch a outdoor hockey game in Florida. I’m just intrigued. And I know that the technology is way better now, but there’s been winter classics that were in cold environments where the ice was crap. And this game is going to be it played and I what I can only assume is like 70 degree weather like non hockey conditions. I’ll put it that way. Uh so I’m interested in that. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to go. Scott, are you planning on going? I am uh I’m looking forward to that actually. It’s very convenient timing where they have that outdoor game in Tampa February 1st. Uh then they play at Florida in sunrise February 4th and then they’re on the Olympic break. So I’m looking at that as maybe some extended Florida time uh for me. Take a little vacation. So sounds dangerous. Yeah. You know, you know me. I’m going just be potting it up on South Beach after that Panthers game. So Oh god. You going to go to the What’s the What’s that bar that they go to? The elbow room. Elbow room. Yeah, elbow room. It’s going to be there though. They’re going to have to drag him out. You need me to go so I can drag you out like they drag Marshon out. As far as warm weather, climate outdoor games, the NHL does have a a few examples, I think. I mean, Dallas and Nashville would be one. I don’t know. I don’t think Dallas obviously gets certainly in the winter months, it’s not not as bad as Florida, but that’s an example. I think Carolina hosted a game recently to a stadium series. Are there any other Bruins game? Even the Bruins game at Fenway was high 50s. That’s true. Yeah, that was doesn’t happen. Freezing. Um, and it was fine. After, you know, talking to some of the players, they didn’t really have any issues with the ice. So, yeah. And I’m I’m assuming this is I’m assuming this is going to be a night game. I know they they haven’t announced the time yet, but I’d imagine it it has to be. It’s not going to be a day game in Florida. And I I remember reading something last year when they announced the game that there’s going to be like some sort of like I don’t know like tent over the ice like all day leading up to the game. So essentially like sun’s going to be blocked out from from hitting the ice. So um I’m sure they have something. the the Winter Classic is also in Florida this year that the Panthers are hosting that uh against the Rangers, but that is at it’s at the Miami Marlin Stadium, Loan Depot Park, which has a retractable roof, so they can actually climate control that a little more um leading up to it. And I will say that is a Sunday. So February 1st is a Sunday. So I I guess like theoretically you could go down there for just the weekend or you could stay like Scott’s never coming back but um but yeah for me unfortunately I have a broadcast on Saturday so I just don’t think I unless I traveled in like day of I don’t think I could do it. So uh which is a bummer because I really wanted to. But anyway, Scott seems like he’ll he’ll be there. We’ll have boots on the ground. Uh any games, Brian, that stuck out to you before we get to your opening shifts? Yeah, there’s a couple for me. Um I would say, you know, every year it’s fun to see the uh the first game against original six teams. So obviously, um you know, they they do see Chicago early on. You got the Toronto in November. Uh you have the Rangers the day after Thanksgiving, the Black Friday game. Um Conor McDavid comes to Boston on December 18th. Montreal in Boston is December 23rd. So, nice little pre Christmas uh Bruins Canadians game is always fun. Wait, and the the at the Bruins at Canadians game is March 17th. Well, too November 15th is the first November 15th, which I which I cannot do, but March 17th, which is St. Patrick’s Day. Um, Scott, we going? Uh, possibly. I I’m I think I’m definitely doing the November game. I think March I was going to have to figure out at a later date. Well, I am the maid of honor in a wedding on that day, so I will not be there. But, uh, but March, two, uh, two other quick games I just want to mention on the schedule as well that caught my eye. The first one is the last game of the season, which is at home against the Devils. And I and I bring that up because what are the final game implications with that game? We saw last year that there were some implications. It affected if the Bruins where they finished in the final standings and and and their draft lottery chances and we all know how that that played out. Um Utah and and the Islanders of all teams moved up and the Bruins went down two spots and and and we know the rest with James Hagens. But um is that a is that a game where we’re talking about lottery positioning or is that a game where we’re talking about playoff positioning? Right. So I’m curious to see where the Bruins are at that point. And the last game I want to mention, guys, and the is is um what date is it? Saturday, March 7th, 12:30 at the Garden against the Washington Capitals. Is that Alex Ovetkin’s last game at TD Garden? Is he retiring after the season? I’m not so sure that he is. But right now it’s a question mark and so I just circled that game as well. If there’s any chance that it’s last season um then then that would be your last chance to see him play in Boston. Yeah. La last thing I just wanted to highlight specifically about the start of the schedule is they have three backtobacks in October alone. Usually you don’t really see the backtobacks start to pile up until the second half like until after NFL season because then you get a lot of the Saturday Sunday backtobacks but yeah they have the as Bridget mentioned your first two games at Washington and then home opening in Chicago the very next night. Um after so then they get have three home games then they go on the road to Vegas, Colorado and Utah and the Colorado and Utah games are a backtoback. Uh, and then when they come home, like the last week of October, they have an at Ottawa and then home against the Islanders on Monday, Tuesday back toback. So, um, a really busy start to the season. You know, definitely some tough matchups in there. Seven of their 13 games in October against teams that made the playoffs last year, which is a slightly easier start than last year. Um, last year they faced a lot of playoff teams. In October, I think it was eight of 11. I went back and looked. Um, but just a busy one. Like there’s no that they they’ve had some years where they’ve kind of like seemingly eased into the schedule where they have like two days off between games. Uh, this is not going to be that kind of year. They’re going to get thrown right in. And I think, you know, I think we’ll learn some things about this early team through that. Tampa, Vegas, Colorado, Utah, Florida, stretch of five games, like basically the the second two weeks of the season. Um, you know, you’re going to learn some things about how competitive this team can be and how they stack up against some of the better teams in the league. Now, hopefully they stack up a little bit better than my my dream last night. I I didn’t say this to you guys before we started recording, but I had a dream last night and there’s a few elements of it that really tips you off that it was unrealistic in ways. Um, but I had a dream about Was there a Golden Giraffe Butler? There was no Harold. No, because that would actually be real life. There was no Harold. But what I what I dreamt about was the was the Bruins season opener and as we know they’re playing the Capitals on the road, but this season opener was against the Panthers and they it was one of those situations where I wasn’t watching it from start to finish. I kind of entered the arena like midway through the game and I looked at the scoreboard. It was 19 to1 Panthers in the second period. This is this is this is God’s honest truth. And Charlie Mackoy was out for the season. So, but not only that, he was also on the bench coaching the floor. He was an assistant pan assistant coach of the Florida Panthers. So, not So, I’m sitting here and I’m like, what is going on? How do you how do you give up 19 goals half to the second period? And why is Makaoy assistant coaching the Panthers? Clearly, you know, just like the subconsciousness of of all the rhetoric about playing Marshian next year and just like that kind of entered my mind, a former Bruin with the Panthers and the Bruins opened against the Panthers the previous year. So, I I don’t I don’t know why that was the case last night, but hopefully they they do better than that against the Capitals on opening night. Well, we’ll mark it down for in case like a few years from now with because Marshon’s contract is six years. Who knows? Maybe this is a premonition for three years from now, Brian. And uh everyone’s going to really be mad about that if it’s true. But I think we might we might need like a skate pod dream segment. Like make up make up a banner for that like fashion segment because I listen I I have very boring dreams. I usually don’t even remember them, but you two have like some truly bizarre dreams regarding the Bruins. Yeah. I most of them I don’t even share with you guys. So, I mean, this one this one was like four hours ago probably because don’t they say your dreams take place in the last 30 seconds before you wake up or something like that or last I don’t know minute before you wake up. So, it was probably only four four hours ago. So, it was just fresh in my mind. But, yeah, hopefully they don’t go down 19 to1. I think it was just a combination of everybody saying this off season, oh the Bruins are terrible, don’t even watch them. And you know, all these just storylines about Marshand and it all just kind of blended together with the schedule coming out yesterday, apparently. Anyway, all right. So, I’ll get to my opening shift quickly. Um, which is I asked Bruins fans what their preferred development path would be for for James Hangas next year. Uh, the options were go back to Boston College or turn professional. Now, when I say turn professional, I know it’s easy to assume that that means the NHL, but it but it also means the American Hockey League. And when I think about this question, that’s where my mind goes to when it comes to development because the the one main pro, no pun intended, about going to the AHL versus BC is the the schedule. I mean, the American Hockey League has a unique schedule in and of itself where they play a lot of games on weekends, but they play a 70 72 game schedule, which is much closer to that of the NHL’s schedule um than 35 to 40 games in college hockey. But aside from that, my mind is where your guys’s mind is, which is go back to school. And and again, you play in the AHL, you play a a larger schedule, you’re you’re you’re getting acclimated to the pro game without being overexposed by NHL talent. I do see why that could be good for his development, you know, outside of BC. But I like BC. Um and and that that’s what fans voted. Fans voted 86.5% return to Boston College, 13.5% voted to turn pro. Whether they whether in their mind that’s the AHL or the NHL, I I don’t know what that 13.5% represented. But uh in any event, Bruins fans, they know what they think is best for Higgins development. I wonder if the Bruins feel the same way. I think the three of us might think that they do. I was going to ask you guys if you voted in in Brian’s poll. I I did. Yeah, I did, too. So, like I mean, like I’ve been saying all along, like I think another year of BC would would be best for him. Uh, I think the Bruins agree. Um, and I think that I do think that’s what’s going to happen. Um, I said that last episode and talked to someone after that episode who would know kind of about where this is going and um, you know, not I guess like not really like a hard report here, but I came away from that conversation thinking like 99% he’s he’s going back to BC. Um, and I at this point I would be very surprised if if anything else happens. Yeah, I I also had reached out to the people I knew there. And so, oddly enough, for whatever reason, I don’t know if maybe people were trying to like just throw me off the scent or didn’t want to deal with me. But I had gotten mixed mixed answers uh early in the week from people I was talking to there. But I think that that the one that was like, “Yeah, I don’t know.” was just like just didn’t care to have a conversation about it maybe. So, uh I mean I I think there’s also people who want Hagens to be able to announce it himself and like don’t want to spoil it or be the one to leak it out, but um yeah, I mean I guess what I would definitely say is like I haven’t heard anything I haven’t heard anyone tell me or indicate that like there’s a real chance of him turning pro now. Um No. And I feel like that the fact that there’s, you know, no one’s outright coming out and saying anything, I think people would have leaked already if they had had heard conversations were leaning that direction because that would be the shocking direction. So, I mean, if if somebody that I knew had heard that, oh, there’s a chance he’s not coming, I bet I would have gotten I wouldn’t have even had to reach out. I probably would have gotten a text that said, hey, guess what? Hagens might be starting in Boston. But that’s not happened. So, I I’m personally I cannot wait to see NCAA Division One hockey next year across the country. I cannot wait for it. And I just think that selfishly speaking through that lens, seeing Hagens go back to BC just adds to that, right? And and and simultaneously, I do think that it’s best for his development as well. So, it’s it’s I know we’re a Bruins podcast, but I think it does both things. I think it is better for the Bruins prospect. Uh, and I also think it’s just gonna add to what I think should be among, if not the best NCAA Division One product leaguewide, nationwide that there ever has been. But with that said, guys, let’s take the NHL and and just throw it to the throw it in the trash because I don’t think any of us are talking about that. But can you guys elaborate and maybe compare and contrast what you think the difference in development would be NCAA D1 next year for him versus the American Hockey League? Because I think the American Hockey League, I know it’s not the sexy answer, right? But, you know, he would get he would get paid more money there than he would any NIL money. And I also just think like I said earlier like the schedule getting used to the NHL an NHL caliber schedule as far as amount of games not necessarily how the schedule is spread spread across weeks. I think there is an element to that where players come out of NCAA and they aren’t it’s it’s a big jump from 35 to 40 games to an 82 game regular season schedule in the NHL. Uh we talked about it with Jeremy Swim and obviously it’s a bit different as a goalie, but just that is something that players have to get used to when it come when they go right from college hockey to the NHL if that’s the case. Um so when comparing and contrasting development paths for Hagen NCAA versus American Hockey League, what do you what’s your guys’ pros and cons with that? I mean, I I generally think college, especially for a teenager, I think college is better. I think it’s better to be playing players closer to your own age. You know, college does still, if you’re he’s going to be 18, turning 19 during the season. Um, he’s still facing older, stronger players. like he’s still getting that, but you’re facing 21, 22, 23 year olds and not 30 year olds and not not guys just looking for ways to sustain their career who um I mean quite frankly like there’s players who would just target Hagens in the AHL um to try to make a point to try to show you know how tough they are, what they can do. And also, just to interject, I know people are probably wondering if that happens in college hockey, too. It really doesn’t. It I mean, of course, you might have a bad actor here or there, but in in terms of like safety enforcement, uh, college hockey does it right. I think that they have a better system for player safety in terms of punishment and suspension, and there’s no there’s no fights, obviously. Um, sometimes there is, but, normally there’s not. Uh it’s not legal in the rules, but but yeah, I think that in terms of safety, like he’s safe, the NCAA path is safer for for people. Yeah. I also think it’s like just a better I’m going to say like life for a kid his age. Like, you know, like enjoy college. Like let him be a kid for one last year. I mean, the the HL is a man’s league. Like that’s a it’s a professional league. you’re, you know, like he’s going to be like, obviously he’ll be surrounded by teammates, but you’re you’re living in Providence. Uh, you’re on, you’re riding buses to different AHL cities. Like it’s it it’s not the same, you know? Like I I just come down on like I think it’s probably best for his development. I think it probably allows him to thrive and it probably makes him happiest. Like I, you know, if if if he’s like, “Well, where I really want to be is the NHL with the Bruins. Okay. But if I have to settle for something less than that, like I would think he’s probably going to be happier at BC for a year than the Providence Bruins for a year. I don’t know if either of you guys listen to the interview Trent Frederick did with What Chaos. I think it was last year about like when he started in the AHL when he was living in Providence and he was having to like get food for himself and like just he only ate McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches for the entire time he was there cuz he because he didn’t cook and he didn’t know how like that’s what I’m imagining like a kid at 18 just going to Providence and being like well I don’t know what to do so just I mean I mean let me put it this way I’ve I’ve talked to lots of players over the years who have said I wish I spent more time in college. I don’t think I’ve ever talked to one who said, “I wish I spent more time in the AHL.” Um, all good points. All good points. I think we did kind of accidentally not talk about the on ice stuff all that much though. Well, well, and and that and that’s why that’s that’s why I wanted to say cuz like I think the off ice stuff I it’s abs you’re absolutely right. I think from Hagen’s perspective, he would much rather live a lifestyle with his friends on a college campus playing NCAA hockey. Like it it’s way more fun. No doubt. I think the flip side is if you’re playing in Providence and you’re living on your own or or or with a teammate like there is that element of just like okay but it could help you grow up off the ice a little bit as well. But off ice I there there’s no there’s no question I think that what you guys are saying is is right. The one thing that keeps coming to my mind and maybe your response is yeah I don’t really I I don’t really put much weight in that is is the the difference in schedule the the 72 game schedule. I don’t put all that much weight into it. No. I I a a lot of these really amazing like think about the paths of top 10 picks. A lot of them go the college route and forego the AHL unless they absolutely have to, you know, to as the next step to that NHL spot. But I mean I I hate to use like the names of guys who are very obviously amazing talents, but like Mlin Cabbrini, Lane Hudson, not really that bothered and Scott’s going to be like those are BEu people. Um I think Ryan Leonard will be fine. So what what you’re saying is Hagen should transfer to BEu is what you’re I saw that BEu has the second highest odds of winning a title this year on the men. Yeah, BEu is going to be really good. It’s funny cuz it’s like they don’t have any of these like real top guys this year, but what they do have is just like a bunch of really good players that BEu has the most NHL draft picks of any college team. They just don’t have like top five picks. Yeah, they got a good goalie, too. They got Yorov again, but I think the the only team higher than them was Penn State because they just got Gavin McKenna. That was the the highest odds of winning um that you bet on. Will Will Smith is another example. If you look close to home, Charlie Makavoy, of course, um MR Well, Mack spent some time in Providence, but Makavoy pretty much skipped Providence. I mean, he for the most part. So, yeah, you’re right, Bridget. It it does happen. Maybe we talked about it more with Swayman because the it makes it’s probably a much different story for goalenders. Um Oh, yeah. For for goalies, I think that that’s where you really have to consider the difference. A and I think once you get to like 20, 21 years old, like it can start to become a different conversation. I just think for an 18 year 18 going on 19. Um, I I don’t love the idea of that player being in the HL. And I mean, I guess like unless you think like he only needs a couple months, you know, like a David Posino situation, like he only needs a couple months there and then he’s ready for the NHL, which like maybe Hagens would be, but I just don’t I I organizationally I would feel it’s zero need to rush him. Like I I just think BC is a you know, pains me to say he’s a BU guy, but like I think that’s I think it’s a great spot for him to be for another year. Like I I just I I don’t really see the downside that would make me think like is there how can we get him out of here? Like should we get him out of here? Like no, I think it’s I think it’s a great spot for him to be. So I don’t I just wouldn’t feel the need to to change anything. Yeah. And he’s going to be logging a lot of power play time. He’s going to be on PP1. Like he Scott mentioned this last episode. Maybe he even gets some practice on the PK, which he wasn’t really doing last year, but um you know, try him out there cuz that’s something that BC likes to do is have their best players do both. Um play all facets of the game. So maybe he gets a little bit of extra time to learn that. Um and just the extra experience with with all those different uh facets of the game that he’s going because he’s be going to be getting a lot of minutes as their best player next year. I mean, that’s just what he is. He’s their best player. this upcoming season as a sophomore because Leonard and Perau have moved on. Fowler is has moved on. We’ll see. Maybe he plays with Montreal this year. Who knows? But those were the guys last year and he’s going to be the guy this year and it he should be able to get a lot of reps. Even though the schedule-wise it’s lighter than what he’d get in the AHL, he’s per game reps are going to be pretty high. Yeah. and and I I am in complete agreement with where he should start next season. I’m more so playing devil’s advocate just to kind of present both sides. But for me being the guy at BC like is is he your roommate now? Now that who? Jimmy. Yeah. Now that Wro’s gone, did he move in? No, no, no. By the way, by the way, by the way, happy birthday, Maradina. I was gonna say he’s having pancakes in the kitchen right now. I’m trying to, you know, but yeah, there he is. Honestly, a total failure for this podcast that it took 29 minutes for us to get to Can’t believe it. The the most important date of the offseason, quite frankly, pretty much. Pretty much. But but yes, I think entering next season with all eyes on Hagens, he he’s very well aware of the narrative that was around him last year, only a point per game. Like, I think he’s going to have a revenge tour. I think he’s going to be the most among the most prominent players in college hockey next year alongside Gavin McKenna. And there’s a few others in the uh in next year’s NHL draft class that we Katon Verhoff at North Dakota. Yep. He’ll be playing with Will Zellers. But yeah, and that that’s who was in my mind as well, Scott. So, you know, by the way, lot lots of like whispers chatter kind of starting people who are like, “Watch out for Verhof challenging McKenna for number one overall pick.” So defenseman for those who don’t know who he is. Um you know does Porter Marone end up somewhere right? So but I think playing in the Bean Pot playing in you know Hockey East playoffs the NCAA tournament hopefully a Frozen 4 without the security blanket of uh Gabe Perau and Ryan Leonard as you guys mentioned. Like I I I do think that it’s it’s what’s best for Hagens. And again, what’s wrong with him playing his sophomore year with all this experience and then maybe turning pro at the end of his season? It’s not the Bruins. The other part of it, too, guys, is the Bruins don’t need James Hagens right now for what they’re trying to accomplish. You don’t want an 18-year-old player turned 19 years old to get his first reps on an NHL team that is trying to get their footing and trying to reestablish. Like, they’re a work in progress. So, I just don’t I think you’re setting him up for failure to put him into a lineup that’s trying to find out who they are anyway. So, the Bruins are trying to reestablish structure and identity among other things. They don’t need James Higgins to do that. That’s kind of just like meat and potatoes of hockey that they can do on their own. So, I think that for everybody, I don’t think it’s helpful for anybody to to to send them to Providence uh to Boston. That’s why Providence was was my other my other option. Yeah, I know. I keep I keep going like this. I go, “Oh, he’s going to start I don’t think he’s going to start in Boston.” And I’m like, “I need to be more specific.” Because he is going to start in Boston. Uh Boston College, not not in Boston. Not Boston. Yeah, I know. Scott’s going to go, “Oh, it’s Chestnut Hill. It’s not even Boston.” Uh but yeah, I when if I say if you guys catch me saying like, “Oh, I don’t think he’s going to start in Boston.” That means I don’t think he’s starting with the Bron. BBC BC people like to point out to me that the arena is technically in Boston or like half in Boston. It’s like right on the city line. So, hey, you know what? What I will say, it’s a beautiful area. Is Chestnut Hills is Chestnut Hills like an area of Brooklyn? It’s not a town. It’s not a town, right? It’s Brooklyn. It’s an area of Newton, I believe, type Newton. I think it’s it’s kind of like a suburb of like I don’t know. I don’t know. But like also like part of Chestnut Hill is technically in Boston. It’s It’s weird. It’s its own little thing. All right. Wow. It’s like very very very like kind of old looking and rich looking. I It’s It’s very nice. Uh every time I drive through there, I’m like, “Oh, I didn’t even know this was we had this kind of Boston.” But it’s a nice little corner. Um but anyway, let’s We’ve veered. Let’s yeah, let’s let’s let’s reset the table here and let’s and let’s let’s throw it to Scott. And Scott, why don’t you introduce the second part of our podcast today? So, we’re gonna do some Bruin superlatives, offseason superlatives, and uh as I mentioned on the last episode, my best ideas are stolen from the Jones and Keef show, uh who by the way, great ratings in the most recent ratings book. Congrats to them. Um, but they did they did Red Sox mid-season superlatives at the All-Star break and um, so I thought, you know, hey, look, we need content. Like, we’re trying to fill some stuff in the offseason, so let’s let’s come up with some. and we came up with a a list of 10 that we’ll go through and we can we’re just going to we’re not going to we can all throw out ideas, but we’re going to settle on one person to get the superlative from the skate podcast. Uh we’re going to hold an awards ceremony. I saw these were last night. We’re also going to get Shane Gillis to host this uh Bruins superlative ceremony. Wait, we have we have guy right here. How are we not using him? H Harold’s gonna host uh looks like a trophy. He looks like a big trophy. What What are we gonna call it? The the skaties. Is that Is that our award? Is that a trophy? I have this. It’s a that the poppies. That’s the positive poo. Whatever. Whatever we do. I’d like to do maybe host that at Chili’s one of these days. Yeah. Up to you guys. The Dundy’s. Yeah. Oh, Scott’s banned from Jellies for Life, though. So, yeah, we don’t talk about that. I thought he was banned from the 99 for stealing all their popcorn. No. Go. Oh my god. If I was banned from the 99, I would be in trouble. That’s I don’t think I could survive without 99 popcorn. So, yeah. So, we’ll the three of us will come to an agreement on on each one. That’s what you’re saying, Scott. We’ll talk about it. Yep. Or we’ll be stuck here all day and and if we can’t come into an agreement. So, okay. Well, you want to start with the first one? Sure. Uh, so this is directly related to the off seasonason. Simply best signing. That could be ressigning. It could be new signing. Um, my pick for me, this would be pretty straightforward. I think Morgan Geeki was was the best signing. I like the contract. He’s, as it turns out, the best player they signed for sure. Um, but to get that done before free agency, to get it done at a pretty affordable price, uh, you know, lock him up for six years, it’s not like the Bruins made a ton of great signings in my opinion this off season. So, that wound up, um, to me being a pretty easy decision, but maybe you guys have other ideas. Well, I know Brian’s answer. Uh there was one RFA from Russia that needed a new contract and it got done. Uh and now we’ll have another two years, right? Another two years of koozie. Yep. Yep. I mean to be honest though, I he has a spot to win, right? Because because as we saw after that, like they’ve made a lot of signings and and one of them is a name I’ll throw out there as well. For the record, Scott, I agree with with your answer for my answer. But, uh, Mate Bluml, if if that’s how you say his first name, I’m very interested to see him because he’s 25 years old, who’s a little bit older, but he’s been a been a very prominent scorer in the American Hockey League. Now, is he going to be like a Georgie Murculoft that can score at the the AHL level, but not the NHL level? Remains to be seen, but I’m I’m curious about him. I think there’s a spot to be won there for him as well. And and yeah, so I’ll throw his name out there because I mean Sean Cari, you know what you’re getting. Uh ECont, you know, you know what you’re getting. I honestly I I I don’t hate the Tanner Jano addition. uh as much as others though those people don’t like the contract, not so much the player, which I I I I I think is fair too, but um Blue Mel is an interesting one to me. So, uh my answer is geeky, but Blue Mel’s I’m interested to see how that if that could be a a lowrisk, high reward type signing for them. Yeah. And and I will also I think we can come to a unanimous agreement that the geeky contract was the big was the biggest thing they did in the offseason besides hire a new head coach, right? Like that draft Hagens, but like like they resigned Lori too to a good bridge deal. Like I thought I thought that was a fair bridge deal for him too. But I think that if we’re talking value, like I I think that Laurai probably got, you know, a little bit more than maybe his defensive metrics probably uh deserve despite his his offensive numbers. So I think the geeky signing was probably a better value than than Lauri. Yeah, I believe when we mocked up our off season, we thought he was going to get six plus and he ends up coming in at five and a half. So that’s, you know, the contract is at least slightly under uh what he could have gotten. Uh so I don’t know. I think it’s it’s a good it was a big a big deal for them to get that done, especially now knowing that free agency played out the way that it did. Yeah, the the the Blue Mill signing is a really like a no risk signing. Um you know, same with Alex Steves, who also produced at a at a high rate in the AHL. I will say because like I I see some people like projecting one or both of those guys to make the team and I I think I probably come down on the more skeptical side of this which is when I see these guys in their mid20s who score a lot in the AHL. I tend to believe those are good AHL scorers who generally there’s a reason they haven’t broken through and established themselves in the NHL. So, I come down on the side of like I I really need to see it from those guys before I start to get excited. Um, you know, if they have strong camps and play well in in the preseason, like I may start to change my opinion, but I’m uh I I’m definitely more skeptical of those kind of players. like, you know, just kind of like this is going to be the magic situation where it clicks for them and they start, you know, they they establish themselves in the NHL and and can produce at that level. Like I I think it’s more likely they’re just really good AHL scorers. And I can see four younger players off the top of my head beating them in camp. Now, I’m not saying all four of these players will win spots, but I mean, there’s a lot of competition for for for these, you know, these middle six roles. Like, you have you have Potra now. Maybe maybe Potra ends up in the top six and and Arverson goes to the bottom the middle six, but okay, then Arverson’s there, right? So, I mean, Matt Potra, Frasier, Mitten, Fabian Lysel, I I do think a Dons Lash Melis at some point over the next calendar year is going to make a push. I and he’s a young player that I think is going to do if he goes to Providence, I think I think you can expect, you know, not two points per game like he had in that brief stint last year, but I think that he should be a easily a point per gaming guy, I think, in the AHL level next year. So, he’s going to be pushing. Okay. So, how do those how does a Lashallis, a Patra, a Minton, Elizel, how do those guys stack up against a a Blumel or a Steves? Also, there’s Georgie Murculof, who’s kind of in the middle of all those players age- wise, but also can produce. So, there’s just to Scott’s point, it’s anything but an automatic. I I think that Sweeney just took a flyer on these guys and said, “Hey, I’m not expecting you guys to make the team, but if you turn heads, then you turn heads.” And that’s that’s just where my curiosity is, right? I’m just curious to see if these guys can turn heads. I’m not expecting it. Yeah. Yeah. And then and there was a reporting around the time of the Blue Mel signing that Steve Spot liked him from their time in Dallas. Now, obviously Blue Mel was more uh on Dallas’s AHL team, a couple cups of coffee in Dallas. Um but you know that that’s someone who saw him who was familiar with him and clearly gave him you know a pretty high recommendation um to again to bring him in and just see what see what he has. All right. Worst signing. Do we have any opinions here? I think I might know where this is going. I’ll offer a couple. for me like I’ve talked about it enough so I won’t totally rehash everything but Tanner Jano I didn’t like it from the start haven’t really come around on it at all and again because I know people you know conflate these like not hating Tanner Jano the player or the person I just hate the contract so that that would be that would be the choice for me I’ll I’ll I’ll echo it Scott I like I said I I like what I like what he’s going to bring to the team next year and hopefully time will look good on his contract, but if we’re talking the term, there’s I mean I I I understand the nature of free agency and that if the Bruins really wanted him and and 10 other teams wanted him, then they had to do what they had to do. That said, you know, I can’t really it’s tough to really defend the term, right? If we’re talking about worst signing, if we’re talking about what the players done to this point and the length of his contract that they’ve committed to, it’s kind of objective. Like it’s it is it it is it is probably the worst worst signing. Um, for that reason, like maybe maybe like wording it as worst contract would maybe make it more I think that’s fair. That’s a fair way to put it. Yeah, that’s a fair way to put it. I mean, did the other one you could throw out here because I’m sure someone listening is is thinking of this, not a player, but the Bruins did sign Don Sweeney to a two-year extension. Now, that would that would not be my choice because I I understand why that happened and it came in the middle of a coaching search, which is, you know, it’s hard to execute a coaching search if you’re going into the final year of your contract. Um, but we’re throwing out there because I’m sure someone listening is is yelling that at their phone or computer or wherever they’re listening angrily typing it into the comment section. Uh, the the hard part about this question is that the we you don’t really know what you have with with a few of of the signings like that. A lot of them are the below a million dollar signings, right? like Blue Mel, Steves, Harris, those are all those are all short or short term like like Arson was was a trade, right? But you assumed his contract, but it’s a year or you know Corali is like two like it’s they’re shorter term deals. So So yeah, that that’s why like I don’t really think any of those can be the answer because it’s like those are all small contracts like they’re you’re not they’re not hindering you in any way. Like you can wave those players, you can send them to Providence, you can bury their money. Like that’s it’s hard to really call, you know, a short-term low money contract a a a bad signing. All right. So, do we have an answer for that one then? I think it’s Janelle. Yeah. Okay. All right. So, I’ll just put that in our dock here. It should know. But I but but I but I do I I am optimistic that he will be a player that fans enjoy next year for some of his intangibles and hopefully he brings more offensive upside than we are we’ve been giving it credit. Sometimes a change of scenery does does do what do a player wonders. Like I like I I mean I can very much see opening night in Boston against the Blackhawks where you know Tanner Jano wins the crowd over cuz he he drops the gloves right away. And I know that that’s cliche and people are expecting that, but it’s tough in the moment to not enjoy that and and when you when you see somebody literally fighting for the team that you root for, you know, people do respect that. So, but yes, the contract is long and it is what it is. It’s it’s it’s the it’s the seems to be the answer here. Um, next question, Scott and Bridget. Most approve. Most approve. Yeah. So, oh, this question I came up with the other day. Yeah, for me like the very first one that comes to mind and may very well be the answer would be Jeremy Swayman. Um, who needs to bounce back, needs to show he deserves the contract he signed last year. Um, a couple other options I came up with on the player front, Elias Lindholm in year two of this contract certainly has a lot to prove. Casey Middlestad, I think, has a lot to prove coming off a a down year that, you know, that he I mean, he’s been traded twice in the last two years. Um, and then also Marco Sturm as a first time NHL head coach. I don’t really think I could pick him as my answer, but he definitely has something to prove just that he can be a good NHL head coach. Th those are the the main names I I came up with as well. And and and Bridget, I’m curious to see if you have any additional ones. I I I feel like the names you said, Scott, will be among the finalists we come down to here. One name that I wanted to bring up as well, and it’s it’s not going to be my answer overall, and it’s not going to be your guys’s answer, but I do want to highlight this player because I think that they have something to prove, and I think they’re fortunate to have even been resigned, and that’s Johnny Beecher. Now, I know that he allegedly had a hand injury or a wrist injury last year. He was playing through or I thought I thought I saw something like that, or maybe it was something else. I mean, you you saw it in the story I posted about him because he he I talked to him one-on-one during development camp and and he told he told me that. Sorry, Scott. But yes, that that that was Scott’s article. So, um yeah, that that is a player that in my opinion has something to prove um certainly to the team if they want if he wants to stick around in Boston for for a long time. I don’t think he’s he’s not my answer. He’s not the fans answer. He’s, you know, he’s a fourthlininer at best, right? But I think he, you know, has something to prove as well. U Bridget, do you have any additional names that SC than what Scott offered? Yeah, I have one. And so my mind went to guys that they added at the trade deadline. I I for some reason like and besides the obvious sway answer I my brain went to Casey Middlestad and it went to Henry Yoki Haru because those two guys came in and I think they have a higher ceiling than what their first months with the Bruins looked like and we’ve talked about how the team was constructed and how they’re you know at least in terms of middle stat playing with like Vinnie Lati playing with guys from Providence So, um I’m really interested to see what those two guys prove at the beginning of this season, uh with kind of a clean slate, uh and in terms of middle set, probably playing with a true line of NHLers to start the season and see where things go. I do think that for middle set there he does have quite a bit to prove because he’s just it’s really important that that second line at least can produce a little bit to to help the first line help post help GI. So guys on that second line like middle stat are going to have to step up from last season in order to help out there uh in a in a top six role. So, I think he’ll be under a microscope a bit. Uh, that’s why I my mind first went to Casey Middlestep, but I do think Syman is the biggest key uh who needs to play better this year because the end of the day, if Casey Middlestat isn’t doing great, you have more options to replace him or move him around the lineup or even trade him than you do with Swayman. So you’re you’re more locked in to Swayman. Could you trade him before the trade deadline? I guess. But I think that deal is much more difficult to make uh than trying to, you know, maneuver m maybe move Matt Potra into second line. Maybe there’s there’s so many more things that you can do to maneuver the the roster to fix middle stat not not producing than you can for for swimming. You have to get much more creative. It’s going to have to be a bigger bigger deal, bigger plan, more difficult to to execute. So, I do think Swayman is the the number one answer, but Casey stats to me would be two. Yeah, Sway Swayman is the clearcut answer for me as well. Yeah. I mean, the reality is there’s a lot of people on this team who have something to prove coming off such a down year. Like, I mean, honestly, it’s like you could go through the whole line. Like, even even Morgan Geeki like got to prove last year wasn’t wasn’t a fluke. Pavle Zaka had a down year. Again, to your point about secondary scoring, Bridget, young young guys like Padra Mint and Lysel, just Lysel especially, like just by the nature of being a young player trying to crack the NHL fulltime, you have something to prove. Mason Laurai got to prove he can be better defensively. Charlie Makavoy and His Lindholm coming back from injury. like maybe what they have to prove is more health related than anything, but like Makavoy wasn’t having an especially great season even before the injury. So, you know, like all over there’s there’s guys with something to prove, but yeah, I think I think we can settle on Swayman as our our answer here. And if if you want to even try to find something for David Pastronac like you can there’s there’s the leadership void that he and and Charlie Mackoy in particular it’s it’s it’s their team now right so uh I’m not saying that I have any doubts in those two players from a leadership perspective but I’m just saying that is something it’s it’s their first full year without any of Berseron Marsh to be there with them so it’s it’s their team going forward um officially and and that’s just something that they have to prove, but it’s nothing that’s like, you know, I’m not it’s not a critical eye I’m coming at this way. No, I mean, everybody has something to prove, right? Like every if you don’t think you have anything to prove, though, you’re probably not suited for the NHL because if if you you know, you list any of the guys on this roster like Corposalo all wants to prove that he’s more than just a backup or he could be an even rotation or he could be a starter. Every one of these guys has stuff that they need to improve. So there’s that those are the things that they could prove to you in this upcoming season. And I do think Laura is one that has quite a bit to prove defensively next season too. and Patra like what when you look at how he responded to being sent down to Providence a few times coming back up like that was that was not a fun experience for him. I mean he probably developed there um in a way that he maybe couldn’t have in Boston but I don’t I think it was not an experience he really enjoyed and he doesn’t want to do it again. he wants to prove he’s past that and and doesn’t need to go back to Providence. So, uh yeah, there’s every single person on on team has something to prove realistically. Um whether it’s leadership, whether it’s doing better in certain areas, whether it’s, you know, I belong here, whatever. Uh so, we’re going to go with Swayman though for the number one answer. Yeah. So, next one. Most likely to have a career year. Obviously, you know, last the the winner for this award last year would have been Morgan Geeky, um, who did break out with a career year. Uh, I’m curious what you guys came up with for this one because I I kept going like all over the roster and I’m like I I don’t know if there’s anyone where I actually look at them and I’m like, “Oh, I think that guy’s going to have a career a year.” But we got to pick something. So, I’m interested like what you guys came up with as as options here. Well, it’s it is tricky, Scott, and especially when some of the candidates in my mind don’t even have a full NHL season to their to their name. So, it’s is that is that is a career year just one of one? Like, is anything a career year for Matt Potra? If he plays 82 games and gets more than, you know, 20 points, but I think my answer most likely to have a career year. I’m probably gonna have a repeat performance with Morgan Gigi. I I I think he’s more likely to eclipse last year by a point and technically have a career year than, you know, anything else really I can think of. Yeah. It also like depends on what the bar was already, right? Like we know like it’d be difficult for David Posnock to have a career year because he’s already had so many good ones. Could it happen? Yes. Um bar is much higher. For me, I don’t know if this is like a me trying to find the easy way out, but I kept coming back to the young guys because it would be the the barrier to have a career year for them is really low, right? Like so like Fraser Mitten hasn’t played in the NHL game, but I guess I guess like maybe it’s worth defining career year because when I think of career year, I think like that’s going to be the best season they have in their career. Oh, the best. And like I would hope like for a young guy that’s not going to be the case. Well, then that automatically takes out all the young guys because this isn’t going to be their best. It takes It takes out a good a good chunk of them. It takes out a good chunk of them. Which is why it’s like in my mind it’s okay, is Elias Lynholm going to eclipse 82 points like he had back in 2122. I don’t maybe. But if if the answer is most likely to have a career year, he’s not my answer, right? Uh same with David Passion. Like yeah, what’s what’s his what’s his current season high in in points for Passion? Is it 110 a couple years ago? Uh, that sounds right. Yeah, it was like Yeah, it was right around 110. So, so his inability to do that next year for me isn’t isn’t indicative of him as a 113 113 was his career high. What’s his last three years, Scott? I imagine you have it up right now. Is it 113, 110, 104? 113, 110, 106. Okay. So I if he doesn’t eclipse 113 next year or I don’t project that it’s not because I don’t think he can do it as a player it’s because uh of the cast around him right so um again I just come back to oh you know Pavo Zaka can he eclipse 60 points I think might be his career high or 59 sure but I again like I said I think I might because of the uncertainty of that second line’s chemistry I just picture Geeki eclipsing his career total or his his season his his career season high next year than any than anybody else. Even if even if it’s by a point that that that counts, right? Yeah. And that makes the most sense as well. I mean, that’s what the that’s what Don Sweeney is predicting will happen is that his best career year is still ahead of him when signing him to this contract. Uh we we talked about his contract being pretty fair earlier, but it also is, you know, it’s a significant raise from his last contract. This is the biggest contract he’s gotten in his career, and it’s given to him with the expectation that he is going to continue to get better. He’s in his prime. Uh he has shown progress since he came to the Bruins. So the trajectory would be that he is heading in the upward direction. So, I do think that makes sense. Um, yeah. And and also like with Geeky, let’s remember how bad his first two months were, like if he’s anything close to what he was from December on for a whole season, then like he is going to eclipse last year’s numbers. Now, the counter argument would be his shooting percentage last season probably not sustainable. So, you’re probably going to get a dip there that’ll cut into the production a little bit. But um yeah, I mean it it could be geeky again. A couple I would throw out here. Is it possible that Casey Middlestad produces enough and and the power play clicks and he’s on the top unit and all a sudden he, you know, racks up some points and like Zaka is in the 60 neighborhood. Um his career high is 59. So, like I don’t think he’s going to get there, but that might not be that crazy if things break right. Um, and then kind of smaller scale, but like could one of Henry Yoki Haru or Andrew Peak play top four minutes and be pretty good and have the best season of their career? Like I I think that again like the ceiling isn’t nearly as high and those are two guys who have played 20 plus minutes before in different situations. Um, but like I could see that happening where you’re like, “Huh, you know, Yoki Haru actually looked like he might be a top four defenseman or or peak.” Like whichever one kind of takes the lead in terms of which one of those guys gets more ice time and and plays in in kind of more situations. Yeah. I mean, I think I think all of these scenarios you you bring up, scutter, they’re definitely possible. Uh, and I and I wouldn’t I wouldn’t discount any of them happening, but again, you mentioned Geeky’s slow start last year, and while yes, a lower shooting percentage could help offset that, the I also anticipate the Bruins power play being better. Uh, so like, can it can you get some more scoring on special teams? So, I again I most likely to have a career year. I’m going to stick with geeky. Um, but I don’t, that’s not me saying that Zaka, Middlestat, Yoki, Haru, Peak, whomever, uh, can’t have one as well, but I think he’s the highest candidate in my mind still. Yeah. And, and it makes sense, too, because he and Posanuk already have the chemistry. That is a line that worked well at the end of the year together with when when Lynholm was on it, too. And then you look at, well, is it going to be Zach? Is it going to be Middle Stat? They are going to be playing with each other and having to build chemistry. And there’s no guarantee they’re going to have the right dynamic for that to work. Like, is Zaka gonna shoot more? Is Middlestack gonna shoot more? Who’s going to be the like the go-to guy? Because the thing is, Zaka has had his best career years in Boston since coming to the Bruins. But last year was uh a down year for him. He was uh I think his career high is 57, 58, something like that with Boston and he was or is 59 and and last year he only had 47. So he took a step back and that’s when you’re not playing with Posanino very much. I’m not going to bet on him to surpass that number that he got when he was playing with Pastino. So that’s exactly where I was going to go with it too. Bridget is you hit it right in the head. Like Zaka’s had his best hockey in Boston. And for the last couple of years, for the last three years minus the last 10 games of last season, he’s been with Passion. The first year was was with Passnack and Creech. uh the year the year prior was with you know Passnack and I don’t even know who it would have been honestly that year in in the centennial season was a Heinen Van Remdsteike a combination of those two um and then obviously last year and then on the flip side Geeki’s performances when you when you look at how he had a strong second half of the 23 24 season entering the playoffs in the playoffs with hashnack on his line and then last year when we talk about the first few months he was struggling He wasn’t on the line with Passion. Now, Passnak had his own struggles to start last year, too. But this next season should theoretically be the first time he’s been with Passnack from start to finish in a season if things go well. Can Can I throw out another I’m going to throw out another one here. How with a question. How would you guys describe Nikita Zidorov’s season last year? Like good, fine, bad, like where did you kind of end up on his season? over over scrutinized is how I would call it. I think I think he was I think he was fine. I think he I think he was fine to I think he was fine. He was fine. Plus, just just statistically, did you know that he played the most minutes he’s ever played in his career, tied his careerhigh in points, and had the best plus minus of his career? Like by definition, if Zodor is better than last season, he had a career year this year. Did he also have the highest penalty minutes of his career? Uh, I don’t believe so. I mean, he was on track for a Oh, yeah. Actually, yeah. Yeah, he did. He He ended up beating it. He had to be up there. Don’t get me wrong, Zidorov had some he had a he had a he had a his fair share of uh oh moments last year for the Bruins, but I I just I I I can’t help but feel like people just looked at the contract he signed and just from day one were like, “Nope.” And I for some reason he became the poster child for one of the poster child for for last year’s shortcomings from start to finish. I just feel like he was of all people to to cast blame to, man. I don’t know why he was a chief among them at times. I mean, he was just he’s not I I think it’s because of how he started with all the penalties and I feel like for fans who may have kind of gradually and and media like specifically thinking of sports radio, I think for people kind of gradually tuned out as the year went on, they didn’t pay attent and and stepped up in in a bigger role. um because it just like it never washed away all those penalties they saw at the start of the season, which I actually kind of get, but like yeah, as people who paid closer attention, like we should highlight that the second half he was pretty solid all things considered. Um I guess like my only counterargument to myself here is that ideally ideally with him back he’s not playing as many minutes this year. Yeah. So he he should be in a more appropriate slot next year. Yeah, there’s no there’s no doubt about it. And I think that he I think he I think he’ll I think I do think at times last year he was trying to do too much. I think he was trying to prove too much right to the question we had we answered earlier the super earlier. I think he was trying to prove too much and I think once he just kind of settled in even though the the the ship around him was still sinking. I do think he in an elevated role still I think he he settled in but I think that yeah being in a more natural spot in the blue line in a second year more comfortability I I do expect him to be less um less of a headline for people next year as far as uh wrongdoings in Boston. Again a lot of a a lot of the people to be blamed for what happened last year. I mean Swayman’s one of them but I mean look at some of the guys that were traded away at the deadline. I mean, Coyle, Frederick offensively were anemic. Carlo didn’t have a great year. Like, a lot of people contributed to to what happened last year. And but yes, Scott, you’re right. Technically, it’s not a Zidarov could be a candidate for a breakout season next year based off of last year’s if he beats last year’s numbers. Can I can I also ask you a question, Scott? I think the answer is no. Has he ever worn an A at previous stops? I don’t think so. Okay. I don’t think so either, but I think he’s trending towards kind of more of a leadership role in and at least like, you know, maybe with with Marshon being gone, if one of the other guys if if you know, Makavoy or Pasta gets a C, maybe Zidorf gets an A at some point. Um, maybe not even this year, maybe some point even further in the future. But I think that he’s seems to be trending that way in terms of wanting a leadership role and and you know learning how to be one of the the next leaders. Um we’ll get to we can get to later because that’s a much different question. Just but it’s a good one though. I I am curious real quick because let’s say that they do three A’s next year and no captain and you guys were choosing the third assistant captain. We all know who the first two would be. What’s what’s you’re not in the room obviously so you can’t get a full sense but what’s what’s your gut instinct or what would your what’s the first person to come to your mind for that a that third a I I think it’s Hampus Lindholm I I think he’s he’s really respected in that room um he’s in a lot of those leadership meetings uh I I think he is quietly vocal I think he’s definitely a lead you know a good leader by example Um, I think he probably slides in most seamlessly if I had to guess. I would also mention Sean Carelli who has worn he wore a letter in Columbus. Um, and is certainly being brought back for leadership as part of the reason he was signed, but I don’t know that he necessarily needs a letter to to fill that role. Hampus was also the first person that comes to my mind, but also we I want to acknowledge that if they didn’t trade away Coyle and Carlo, I would have put those guys ahead of both Hampus Lynholm and Nikita Zidorov in terms of leaders and who um could be the ones wearing the A, which at times in the past they have as well. you depending on different injuries and different situations like there’ll be a one-off game here or there that you’d see one of those guys wearing a letter already but they are obviously not on the team anymore. So, uh you go to you know this next round of who can be who can be on that leadership pipeline. Speaking of leadership, you’re already starting to see it right now and we haven’t really talked about Do we want to because we we had this as a superlative so we might as well just do it now but kind of talking about leadership levels. One of these is most likely to emerge as a leader. So to me, I guess in my mind that’s not Posak Makavoy who are already wearing letters and I don’t even know if it’s necessarily like Hampus Lynholm. I guess he could be a candidate based on what we were just talking about. Um, but I I don’t know if you guys had any ideas for someone who kind of fits this, but I I was thinking Morgan Geeky on on a new contract, someone who I think started to find his voice a little more last year. Um, and now is clearly part of this core moving forward. I don’t think he’s going to he’s not going to wear a letter this year, and I don’t think he’d even be like in the next one or two guys up if someone’s injured. But I could see him becoming someone who who has a little bit more of a voice on this team and becomes part of kind of that smaller like leadership group, we’ll call it. Yeah, that’s a good one. I think Elias Lynholm is another one that comes to my mind. I think again we talked about Zidorov enough, so he’s obviously part of that conversation, but I think having a second year under their belt in Boston, I think for Lynholm and Sidor off both, I do think that they both have leadership qualities in their own ways. Um, and again, it’s it’s one of our answers above uh when it comes to worse signing that’s more to do with contract, but I could see Tanner, you know, being a leadership guy as well, and he’s a new guy to the locker room. And I don’t know if he’s won a letter in the past, but by many accounts that have talked since this signing, he he is a very well-liked guy in his previous dressing rooms and and does set that tone off the ice, whe whether it’s physical testing or just being a good teammate. So, I think he’s somebody else like a Shan Carali um that could be a one of those bottom six leaders and just new voices in the room. Yeah. I mean, my my thought this was also one of the things that I proposed as a superlative. When I was thinking of it, I was thinking of I was also thinking of the captain, right? Who’s going to be the captain? Um, so to me it’s not off limits to to have the, you know, Makavoy or Poshnock be the answer to to the question of who is going to emerge as a leader because we’ve seen them we’ve seen them fill it in the absence of Marshon, right? Like we’ve seen it in the last few months because uh Marshon left and then these guys are the guys answering to the media. They’re the guys answering to the team in the locker room. They’re they’re starting to do it, but they’re still fairly early on in what they could be as a leader, right? Because they they haven’t taken over neither of them taken over the full role as a captain. So, to me, some one of the two of them is going to have to really step up into that role. Um, I personally think David Posnock is somebody that I’ve seen a lot of growth from in terms of leading and speaking and even if it’s not natural for him because he’s more of the like I’m going to be funny and sit over here and, you know, make jokes and wear funny hats or whatever, uh, he you see him mature and you see him be somebody who at the very least is a great leader by example and how he shows up and performs and um, he’s very wellliked as well. So, uh I would put him in that if he does get to see he could I do I believe that he would be a good captain and would emerge as the the next like top of the you know the food chain leader of the team. So that’s a great way to look at this question Bridget to that point I’m going to take a slightly different approach. I could make the argument that we’ve seen we’ve now seen David Passnack emerge as that leader whether or not at least him being the captain or that he has more to emerge too. Sure. But I saw a lot out of him last year. My answer to this is the is his counterpart in Charlie Makavoy. I want to see Charlie Makavoy emerge as that next level leadership because you hear a lot about it over four nations. A lot of the best players from uh around the league were talking about how he’s a leader in every room he steps into and I have no doubts that Makavoy has been a leader this whole time. But again, the element of no more Marian, no more Char, no more Berser, no more Creeche. I I want to see Makavoy emerge the way we saw Pastnac emerge post deadline last year where he really just kind of took major accountability. And so I’ve kind of seen it from Passnack and I want to see it from Makavoy. He hasn’t really had the chance cuz he was out. So for that reason, I mean my answer is Charlie Mackoy. Yeah. All good. Do we want So now I’m thinking like so we could go with Makavoy as the answer if we keep this as most likely to emerge as leader or do we change it on the fly here and just say most likely to be captain alla like the the high school superlative like most likely to be president type of thing. Um which I definitely did not win. So um I’m gonna vote Brian for for I know I’m gonna vote Harold. I think I think uh that’s fine, Scott. I I think if I’m giving that answer, I feel like Makavoy is who the Bruins might want to be that guy. I I’m not I can’t put a finger on it. I just feel like maybe again maybe I’m thinking about what Andy Brickley said. Yeah, the off season. I still think it’s Pasta. That’s where it might it might be, but I’m I think I think they’re hoping it’s Charlie. I’m not saying that it’s it won’t be David. I’m just saying. I don’t know. Yeah. I I I think you’re right, Brian. like that there definitely seems to be that undertone of like I mean we kind of heard it all along like it was like Makavoy at a young age was kind of pegged as like future captain material and like you didn’t really hear that as much about Posernak when he was a younger player and then all of a sudden this past season unfortunately for Makavoy kind of through circumstances he couldn’t control like he just wasn’t around as much because of the injury. Um, and I I think I would I think I would side with Bridget and say like if we’re going to do most likely to be captain, I probably lean past right now. Yeah. I mean, he’s he deserves it. I think he’s been your best player even when the team was playing horribly, he wasn’t. And he was he I so wellliked and also he’s going to go down as one of the best players in your franchise. and you you have a chance to give him a C and you pass him up because right they’re not going to Makavoy and then going backwards like you would be skipping him really I think if you went just age- wise um and and you know experience-wise and how many years he’s been with the team I just think he deserves it and I think he would be good at it honestly I think he has matured and calmed and I just think he’s the right person unless I don’t know unless he doesn’t really want it. And you can make you could you could and I can also see the argument where man the captain the guy who doesn’t want the captaincy that’s the guy that should be the captain cuz he’s just like I I I I can get behind that really but I could also see behind closed doors just conversations being had where you know what David really doesn’t want that responsibility and he doesn’t need that letter to elevate his game on a nightly basis whereas Maybe Charlie, maybe he would take a certain element of pride in that role and it would force him to elevate his game as as as much as he can always because he has to lead by example. I I can all I’m saying is I could see it being a political thing where maybe maybe certain players challenge themselves more so in that role. I I don’t know. I’m I’m just we can we can give the answer to be to be passionate. I have no arguments against it. I’m again I’m just trying to like because I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it. I’m but I’m talking about maybe there’s things we don’t know about and maybe that’s why cuz I can’t ignore this element of the Bruins. They they seem to want it to be Makavoy. And I’m not it’s not because they don’t like David as the captain, but it could be that they know more that we than we do. And anyway, but we can give we can give the answer to Passion. I guess the good news is that you have two people that are that you feel comfortable giving it either of them. So definitely that that you at least have going for you. Uh and I don’t think anybody would be disagreeing if it was one or the other. But my I I do think it’s pasta’s turn. Bridget Bridget, you got to remember sports radio when you say things like that. You better believe as soon as they name a captain, there are people who are going to pit these two against each other and try to make this a thing. Either one of them either one of them would be a great captain. I I I and I really do think that to this point if we’re talking on Mary, it’s it’s it’s passion. It absolutely is to this point. So that that could be that in there then. Most likely to be Captain David Foster. Okay. And most likely to have a career year. We settled on Morgan Geeky. I think that’s the pick there. All right. All right, we can try to pick up the pace a little bit here. Uh, most likely to break out to to have a breakout season. So, this is where I think we can talk about some of the younger guys maybe. Um, because my my mind went to to Matt Padra who in a way kind of had, you know, two years ago had a little bit of a breakout moment where he sticks around and gets off to that really strong start, but obviously, you know, then he gets hurt, spends most of last season in Providence. Like I I think I I really could see him sticking this year and having an actual breakout season that lasts more than the first month or two. Um so that was that was where my mind went. Do we want to re label this as most likely to win the Nessen seventh player reward? That’s more or less what it is. Um, in that in that in that case, I uh I’m not going to disagree with Scott here. Um, although this is a great this is a great this is a great opportunity for me to slide in a koozie shout out. like honestly like that it’s he is definitely worth bringing up because I I could see him like running with a third line job and putting up some points like you know I mean if I had to bet like who has a better season potraino like I would maybe go lean towards Padra but like that’s that it’s close like I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the one that we’re talking about who ends up with I don’t know even just call like 35 40 points like something like that like that feels like it could happen that guy. Yeah. Um I also was thinking to me it was and this depends on just how the bottom six ends up shaking out. We had this conversation when they signed all of those bottom six free agents like who’s the odd man out? Who cracks the lineup? Who forces their way in? And to me, that, you know, is in and of itself going to take having a a pretty good breakout season for one of the younger guys to take over a role because it’s just such a log jam there now with with the new additions in free agency. And I think maybe somebody like Fraser Mitten might have to really have a breakout year to force his way into the lineup on a regular basis. and in very similarly to the situation Matt Potchra is in um with Potchra having a little bit more NHL experience, but uh I could see Fraser Mitten starting to really this this being the season that he really gets a majority of the season as an NHL rather than playing a majority of the season as an AHLer. Um, and he would have to, like I said, beat out guys like Carali or Isimont, uh, for playing time, beater, and even who’s nine off would kind of be his competition as well. So, uh, he would have to beat out those guys, but maybe he he can do it. I though do want to say I agree with Scott that I think if we want to really term it like breakout like having a noteworthy season that would get you the seventh player award it would take more than just performances that are good enough to keep you in the lineup over other people which I do feel like Patra could take a second line role and run with it potentially if somebody else isn’t so I he has a higher potential I to to do that and to put up points. And that’s the other side to that that seventh player award is I think it’s voted about exceeding expectations and I do think fans do have expectations for Potra. So it’s almost like if he has like a 40point season I feel like he’s kind of meeting people’s expectations. So it’s kind of a I don’t know. He’s also so wellliked that I think people would just vote for him. Oh yeah. Why is it like give it to him? We like him. Yeah. No, I know. I think he’s the answer. We can we can give him the answer. Yeah. All right. Let’s go with Patcha and move on to most exciting prospect. I think this one’s pretty straightforward. James Hagens. Yeah. James Hagens. Jimmy. Jimmy Hags. We can we can we can move on from this one. We talked about it enough. Yes. Uh most likely to be traded away. So, you know, we could you could take this any way you want. This could be before the season, it could be in season. Um, a couple candidates to highlight one and maybe this ends up being the answer because it’s the one that I could actually see before the season, but Jonas Corposalo, I still think the Bruins entertain offers there if they get any. Um, and then in season you look at, you know, the pending unrestricted free agents, Victor Arbertson and Andrew Peak, um, on that list as guys who are not signed beyond the season. So, I don’t know if you guys have a lean. I I almost kind of feel like I like have to go with Corposalo because that one could still happen before the season even starts. I’m not going to dispute that one, Scott. I do think the Arvidson one’s real too because I could see them doing that soft cell at the deadline and I I do think Arbertson would be a a desirable piece for a playoff team. Same with Peak, right? I guess but if I had to choose one, maybe just I don’t know, maybe Arbitson, but um yeah, Corbasol is a good one. I think that that’s a good one. I I again, Middlestat and Zaka, like there’s been a lot of smoke around their names, but I just have a hard time seeing them getting traded before the season, especially because I just don’t think the trade market’s probably great right now. And I don’t think the Bruins are in a position to keep trading away the the very few top six candidates that they have. So, I’ll go with I’ll go with Corpusal. Yeah, I think they’re they’re in a tough spot where which we’ve gone over this off seasonason before where even if you wanted to trade away Zaka, he’s your second line guy to get another second line guy, you now have to solve a different hole, a different different problem. Um, which makes the easiest person in your forward group to trade because of the expiring contract. I’ll I’ll agree with you guys, I guess, for for Corposalo just because I think DPRO could also come in and be a good backup. So, I think that there’s a solution that is in the system to if you did want to move him uh and see what you can get for him or maybe even just open up cap space. Uh you you do have somebody that I think you could bring in as an adequate backup though. Um, notably like he hasn’t done that in the NHL before. Boy, Corposalo has and they did opt to not go that route before, which because we had this conversation when they traded uh Omar and got Corposal back like well clearly they didn’t just want to go with someone in the system, they wanted to have an NHL experience goalie. I’ll just throw that in there to be devil’s advocate to to myself as well because maybe that’s not what Sweeney wants is an AHL backup. So yeah, I mean and again like it is worth noting that DPRO would need to clear waiverss to be sent to Providence and given that we heard reports of other teams having interest in him, it’s very fair to wonder if he would clear waiverss. Like he might get claimed and then you lose him for nothing. Um, you know, they could also in theory keep all three goalies on the NHL roster. They obviously not up against the cap. So, you know, you could go 13 forwards, seven defenseman, three goalies. But, how are you getting all three of them ice time? Like, if Swayman does bounce back, he’s playing probably just as much as he played last year. Corposalo already felt like he didn’t play enough last year and now you’re going to add in a third goalie that you know is still at a point in his career where like you can’t just have him sit on the bench and never play. So that like technically is an option, but I just don’t really see how they can make it work. All right, we have two quick ones here or could be quick. This should be quick. We only have so much time. All right. Most likely bigname target and that could be trade or project ahead to free agency next year because I know people uh like looking at that list of players who could be free agents next summer. I’ve said before I think a lot of them are going to get resigned and you’re going to get to July 1 next year and be disappointed by who’s left. But, um, you know, some some of these are are names that we’ve, uh, we’ve touched on before. Martin Nos is still one you see on trade boards. Jordan Cyro is one whose name continues to pop up in rumors. Um, I really like Alex Tuck in Buffalo as someone who would be an unrestricted free agent after this coming season. There’s kind of been it’s kind of been a couple there were some reports early this off season that he and Buffalo had mutual interest in an extension and then you know hasn’t happened yet but doesn’t mean it won’t. Uh, Ra, one name I kind of take note of, Raasmus Anderson, right-handed defenseman, Calgary, seems, it seems like a foregone conclusion he’s going to get traded at some point, whether it’s now or before the deadline, but sounds like he is yet another Calgary player who has very little interest in extending with them. So, um, you know, we know the Bruins could use help on the right side, especially if, say, they don’t plan on resigning Andrew Peak going forward. Um, so that’s another name that I kind of would throw out there. I got one more name for you guys, and I’m not I’m not sure the likelihood, but it’s a name I’ve seen out there as well, which is Mason Metavish. Now, what would he be in Boston, right? You just drafted James Higgins to be a top six center of the future, hopefully number one center. McTavish to this point isn’t really a number one center. So, he would kind of just be another guy that’s capable of being a second line center like a Lin Holm or a Zaka or a Middle Staff. So, little bit of redundancy there, but at the same time, he’s 22 years old and has scored at a clip that is very impressive for his age and tenure in the league. And I don’t know why the Ducks would want to move on from him. I think at the very least he could be one of the top third line centers in all of hockey. Uh I they obviously have Leo Carlson right now. He’s their number one center of the future. Um they just traded away Trevor Ziggress. So again, I don’t know why they would rid of McTavish unless the players just unhappy and and it’s it’s a situation that the team has to kind of deal with. But he’s a name I’ve seen out there as well. And didn’t they just draft McQueen, too? So, Yep. Exactly. And is Beck is uh Becket Senaki. Is he a center or is he a winger? I think he’s a wing. Okay. So, I I’m going to So, this is the I’m going to give you my favorite but also least realistic. All right. I know the question was most realistic. Uh I’m going to go the other way. Jack Eel. Jack Eel who is a he’s going to be a free agent at the end of next season. has not signed an extension yet with Vegas. Though they did just uh trade and then uh you know add Mitch Martner Mitch Mner to their uh system and I think with hopes that those two be playing together for a long time. Uh I think it is unlikely because I think I think Vegas really really really wants to keep him and will try to do whatever they can to get him. And also if he were to say no, I’m going to free agency, there would be a lot of teams interested and the price would be very high. But I as a player think he would be the perfect fit. So if if you really want to set your sights high, like you really hope that for somehow someway he ends up going to free agency and he wants to come back home because he’s a Massachusetts native and he wants to come to Boston and try to win a cup here. He already won one with Vegas. Um, so least likely but most appealing uh person that I think you you know it comes to mind when I think of adding someone. Uh I don’t think it’s highly realistic because of I I just I think he’ll sign an extension with Vegas. Really? Yeah, that’s what I think’s going to happen. I I think honestly it probably happens before the season starts, but maybe it drags into the season because most important Brit, you’re right. Like obviously Vegas wants to keep him. They envision him and Mner together for years to come. Even more important, I think he wants to stay in Vegas. I I’ve said this all along. I think Jack Eigel is very happy there. I think he loves it there. Um and I I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up signing the exact same deal that Mner just signed. Eight years, 12 million a year. Obviously, that’s a lot of money tied up in two players, but cap is going up. that might not be, you know, that that won’t be unmanageable. Um, I think they’ll be okay with those two contracts. So, I strongly believe that’s going to happen, which is why I can’t really pick him, even though you’re right, like it would it would be great. It would be a great story. And I think, you know, if he wasn’t going to stay in Vegas for whatever reason, things just fall through, I do think Boston would be at or near the top of his list of where he’d want to be. But, um, I just don’t see it happening. That is your centers. Like, look at the turnaround for centers. Then you had you have Eichel as your topline center and then you have Hagen’s coming in. Maybe he’s 2C and then you have uh Elias Lindh home 3C and then like you know the center depth would look insane at that point but that’s why we’re we’re mostly just dreaming here. Uh I don’t think it’s going to happen but that would be that would be a dream as far as far as some of the realistic choices as as Bridget put it though. So like you know I bring up Mason Mason Mcavish and he’s an RFA right now. Uh Martin Nus is a he’s a UFA at the end of next season. What What would the Bruins have to part with, do you think, to acquire one of these players? And and would you be willing to do it for that price? So, for example, like McTavish, right? What would it cost to get him? Would it would it cost a first round pick? Maybe. And again, if it was an So, would he be an offer sheet or a trade? I don’t know how it gets gets murky, but like let’s just say the cost is like a, you know, one of the first round picks that the Bruins acquired from Florida or Toronto, one of their non one of their first round picks that’s not a Boston pick and then maybe they send a player like Matt Potra to receive like a Mason McTavish or Martin Nas. And I’m just kind of spitballing, but is that what would you what do you think the cost would be and what would you be willing to to part with? Yeah, I think it probably has to include at least one first round pick. Probably start there and then add whether it’s, you know, prospect or another pick. Um, you could still offer Sheetum as as of now, you know, he’s a restricted free agent who hasn’t signed or trade, you know, if the the Ducks are open to that. But um yeah, I mean e either one of those guys if if you’re making a trade, McTavish or Nas, like it’s going to it’s going to cost a lot. And obviously Nate really only makes sense if you have an extension in place. The Bruins are not going to be in the business of trading for a rental or someone that there’s any risk they would lose after the season. So um yeah, I mean I I don’t know if you guys, you know, are leaning any way on an answer. I I keep coming back to NHS like just as like I I don’t have any intel on like hey the Bruins are going to make a run at him but I know that they were interested before when things are kind of you know seem to be falling apart in Carolina. Um you know he’s he’s a dynamic offensive player, one of the fastest skaters in the league. like whe whether it’s in a trade because the Avalanche decide like hey he’s not resigning here we’re gonna move him or if he does get to free agency and the Bruins are in a position to pursue him like I do I do think it’s possible at some point that we hear about them showing interest in HS I think we I think we can put him because I he’s been you know tied to rumors involving the Bruins before he’s from the Czech Republic uh he’s going to be going over in February to to play with David Posnock and Pavo Zaka. And we know that the Bruins have been a landing spot for Czech players because of David Pastnok. So, I mean, there’s certainly some things that would make him maybe, you know, consider signing an extension here uh in Boston and and reasons why you could see he might be happy here. He’ll be on the east coast. still be close, you know, which is closer to Europe. Time changes in his crazy. He’s got Czech teammates. Uh I could see I see that as you know, a target that makes sense for both sides, I guess, in a way. So I I would say that’s most likely though. Um we we do not know. And but unless unless you’re afraid someone’s going to trade for him in the meantime, I don’t see why if you’re boss, you want to just wait until he hits his free agency and you’re all the cost is his money as opposed to any assets. But again, you’re running the risk of him going somewhere else and signing. So that’s, you know, maybe Sweeney has a better feel for that stuff than we do. Hopefully, you would think. All right. So yeah, Nes can be the answer there for sure. I think we have one more maybe to get to. Most likely to win an award. could be any award, but obviously like you you look at the Bruins and you’re like, listen, I infamously had a bull prediction that Jeremy Swayman was going to win the VZNA last year. Didn’t quite work out. Swing and a miss. I I didn’t even come close to making contact on that one. Was way out in front of it. Um I’m not I I’m not going to pick Swamman again, so I’m not I’m not gonna say that one. Um, but I, you know, I wonder like David Posanok MVP, like does he just go absolutely bananas this year and this is his heart trophy season? Like again, it’s a stretch like that wouldn’t he wouldn’t be my all things equal. He wouldn’t be my pick to win the hard trophy. But, you know, does anyone step up and win the Calder? Norris doesn’t really feel like anyone’s gonna be in contention for that. I think Pashnack winning the winning the Rocket Rashard is the most likely scenario. That’s a good one. Can I can I add one? Um, Marco Sturm. I had that on my list. Yeah, if they overperform. Yeah, I mean Jim Montgomery had that happen not that long ago. Um, now did his team include Patrice Bersron and David Crerache and Taylor Hall and all of these other good players that uh led led their way and in uh forced their way to the best regular season finish in NHL history. Like that’s going to, you know, really really increase your odds of getting it. I think that that is absolutely not what kind of team uh Marco Sturm is stepping into. If the team makes a big jump, like if this team makes the playoffs, if the team is in playoff position, uh, and looks like they’re they’re outperforming what people thought they could do, I could see him being a Jack Adams candidate, uh, you know, a finalist for that. If in his first season they go from finishing fifth from last to making the playoffs. Yeah, that it’s a good one because the Jack Adams is it does tend to be coach who’s whose team overachieved the most and and usually it’s closer to the top of the league, right? It’s like someone who goes from middle of the pack to one of the best, right? Spencer Carbury with Washington this last year. They went from barely squeaking into the playoffs to best record in the East. Like usually it’s more of that, but sometimes it is bad team to making playoffs. So like that that would absolutely put Marro Sturm in play. Um if we wanted to cheat a little, this isn’t really in the spirit of what I was thinking with the question, but I mean James Hagens might win the Hobie Baker. That is cheating. Yeah, you’re in the same league. We’ll keep it to NHL. But I think I honestly guys, I think the two most likely scenarios for Bruins taking home hardware would be like David Passnack winning the Rocket Rashard trophy for most goals scored in the NHL. Um, and then like maybe like Hampus Lynholm like winning like the Lady Bang for like most gentlemanly like player that can play. That’s a or him linholm winning the or Lynholm or or Makavoy winning the master. What’s what’s that for again? uh like perseverance is you a lot of times it’s guys who come come back from injury um you know sometimes it’s other stuff like this year was so this year was Sean Monahan because of obviously he was best friends with Johnny Gdro so everything he kind of dealt with and really was a leader of that Columbus team the the only problem with one of them winning the Masterton is if he stays healthy it’s almost certainly going to be Gabriel Landiskog to win the Masterton this year for sure because he kind of he kind of came back too late to win it this past season, but or Jonathan Taves or Jonath or Jonathan Taves. Yeah. So, like that that’s probably an uphill battle for those guys, honestly. Yeah. I think I’m coming. I mean, there’s a little bit of historic precedence for for the coach, you know, for the Jack Adams stuff, though. Like if you think about if you look back I was just looking through all the like the recent winners of it and it’s like okay well all of the Bruins past coaches won it fairly early in taking over as head coach like Co Julian won it in 2009 and we were just kind of talking about how that that rebuild slash like uh retooling to actually go on a playoff run kind of maybe has some similarities to this one. So, you know, maybe you could see uh some something with that with with Sterm. Sturm. Yeah. I just I just don’t I just like don’t expect him to be good enough for that to happen. So, I think my answer would be the one Brian threw out is is Posanak winning the Rocker Rashard because he’s he’s just he’s good enough to do that and he can do it even if the team’s bad. I mean, Khloe Julian in his first year with Boston did make the playoffs. Um and and uh it was obviously the following year where he won the Jack Adams. So like you know even if the Bruins do make the playoffs this year like if Sturm is Sturm’s time to shine would probably be the following year. Yeah. Uh even Cassidy like he he had half a season before when did Bruce win his was that was it was after Yeah. He had a few years. Yeah. It was after the you know the Stanley Cup final 19. All right. So David’s the answer there. Guys, just one last comment for me before we sign off here is, and I mentioned it, I started to mention it earlier, but you’re already seeing some of the differences in leadership, I think, this summer because, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think a lot of the Bruins players were doing captain’s practices in Boston until closer to training camp. And I I think that you see players that have been in Boston for a lot of this summer. And I think they’ve been on the ice having captain’s practices. I know Pavo Zako’s and I think pass around. So I just think that like well Makavoy and Swayman were at the uh Coldplay concert last night so I know they’re around. I think you know Kevin Miller was on a Nessen podcast with Sylvia Jükskovich and um uh why am I blanking on the gentleman’s name? But anyway, he talked about the importance of of a training camp and I think that the Bruins are really emphasizing their training camp this year and getting off to a good start and I think you’re seeing that with the players. I think they’re already, you know, I think they’re already uh taking things seriously this summer. But okay, but before we wrap up, uh actually we can quickly, I guess, run through our superlatives and maybe we’ll uh throw up like a graphic of of these. So, we went best signing Morgan Geeky. Worst signing, Tanner Jano. Most to prove Jeremy Swayman. Most likely to have a career year also Morgan Geeky. Most likely to break out, Matt Potra. Most exciting prospect, James Hagens. Most likely to be traded away, Jonas Corposalo. Most likely bigname target, Martin Nas. Most likely to be captain, David Posanok. And most likely to win an award, also David Posanok, with the award being the Rocket Rashard. Um, before we wrap up, m I might be developing a I don’t know if this was a good or bad habit of teasing something for our next episode. If we hadn’t run so long, I was going to get to this, but I want to spend a little more than just a minute on it. Brian, yesterday you tweeted out, Bruins fans, what’s your alltime Bruins starting lineup? Are you selecting on pure talent considering potential chemistry, fit? And then you put center, leftwing, rightwing, lefty, righty, goalie. As as a card carrying member of the Centennial Committee a few years ago, I I do have some thoughts on this and I want to I want to I want to get into this next week. Yeah, it’s a question that seems obvious certainly up on the blue line, right? But there even but even then it’s just like I said that’s why I know if you’re going off talent like it’s it’s Bor and but it’s like okay but do you want to complement Bobby Yor’s up and down nature with you know a more stay at home char and then it’s like you want Borcara and or all left shot defenseman so yeah it’s we can definitely get into that and before we sign off just clarifying so nobody’s sub nobody wants to rethink the most exciting prospect in sub in Lturno over Higgins over I’m confident in Hagens as that answer. Okay. All right. I mean, there are a lot of names to go through, but yeah. No, I think we’ll keep we’ll probably keep Hagens’s there. All right. Sounds good to me. We always have time to change our minds uh when when Dean has, you know, he’s leading BC and goals halfway through the year. But that’s true. Can I say one thing too before we sign off because uh you know, you know how like they you know how they you know, Bridget, you were part of this like renaming it the the Dean pot. Would it be like Hoden Baker? Like does that work? Do we have to workshop that? Hoden what? Instead of instead of Hobie Baker, it’s Hodin Baker. The Hoden Dean Hoden Baker. Okay. I had no idea what he was saying for the tallest player in I mean top player in college hockey. Yeah, he’s like he is the tallest. I mean, not actually the tallest, but he’s very close. You can’t you can’t hear it, but in the background Harold’s going boom. But uh I just wanted to say before we go uh that we we thank our listener Skip who uh is sending us some chocolates from Switzerland. But I also wanted to thank Abigail who I got a video from uh this week and she said, “Hi Bridget, hi guys. The chocolates are on their way.” And I’m like, “Yeah, that’s right. I get mentioned by name. So I’m her favorite. Thank you, Abigail, for sending the chocolate over. Um, a nice young Bruins fan who likes to listen to our podcast, too. So, I mean, Skip and Abigail have to be at the top of the the listener power rankings right now. Like, I I don’t know of any other listeners sending us Swiss chocolate. So, you know, bar’s been set, guys. Bar has been set. And I think I made a joke because one time Ben Charleston, who doesn’t work there anymore, but he used to be a Red Sox producer, somebody made homemade wine and sent it to him in like these like weird unmarked bottles. I was like, Ben, you can’t drink that. Like, you don’t please don’t drink. He did. Um, but yeah. No, I mean, some gifts some gifts are a little bit, you know, crazy, but the chocolate is perfect. So, thank you. We We just have to make sure we’re there to pick it up when it arrives because people who maybe don’t know like radio station culture full of vultures. Like any food that’s around disappears very quickly. So, we got to we got to be on on our toes here. And also, the heat is it’s been like almost 100 degrees here the last few days. So, well, thank you very much to Skip and Abigail for listening. Thanks to everybody else for listening as well. And have a great weekend and we’ll talk to you next week. Hey guys, thanks for watching Escape Podcast. If you want to see more of our videos, visit our playlist. Not in front of a screen. You can listen to us on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on social media. And if you enjoyed this video, please don’t forget to give us a thumbs up, subscribe to our channel, and leave a comment.

We predict 10 superlatives for the Bruins next season including who will have a career year, who will step up as a leader and who has the most to prove. Plus, we go though some key dates on the Bruins’ schedule after it was released yesterday.

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Jump to:
00:00 – Key dates on the Bruins 2025-26 schedule
16:00 – Checking in on if Hagens is starting at BC
34:00 – Start of Bruins offseason superlatives

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