Bruins New Era To Begin Without A Captain

It’s the Hockey Hub with Sophia and Casey. We are Casey officially no longer struggling for content. Those summer days when we’re like, “What the hell are we going to talk about are overtations? Yeah, traffic in Boston, whatever.” No, there was always hockey stuff going on, but guys, it is like it’s flooding in right now and we’re really excited for the content that we have and coming up. So, the Bruins 22nd annual Boston Bruins Foundation golf tournament. Casey, I hope one day you get to go get to be invited to one of those because they’re so fun. It’s my favorite event of the year. That happened yesterday. So, we have some fun things to talk about uh at the golf tournament. But, the Bruins made like seven guys available including Don Sweeney, Bob Sweeney, and a bunch of players. So, we have a lot of sound, a lot of reaction about their anticipation uh coming up on the season. So, we’re going to play you guys that FanFest we already talked about, right? That happened over the weekend. We’re going to go over some of the one-on- ones we had there and then my experience as well. And then we’re going to hear from Jeremy Swayman at the end of the show. And I went one-on-one with Morgan Geeky. That is a packed show. That is a mouthful. But like you said, at least now we’re not looking for things to kind of like stretch and do the offseason juggle of what to kind of focus on. But I guess the most exciting thing to start with is you golfing it up yesterday. Yeah, that would be cool to be a part of. Yeah. So, I’ve this is my sixth season with the Bruins. I’ve always golfed with kind of like the media crew, but I was officially a like golf celebrity yesterday, which was so embarrassing because that like to me is that like in the influencer category? Why? Why the quotes? Well, because I don’t feel like I deserve that. But like so these people, they pay money to golf with the Bruins, right? And that’s how we raise money for the foundation, which does amazing amazing amazing things. But then I’m thinking like these people are paying money and they’re like, “Maybe I’ll get pasta or maybe I’ll get Marco Sturm.” And then they get me. I’d be I’d be pissed. I’d be like, “Give me my money back.” Um, so I feel bad, but I actually had a really great group. I had a group of women uh from Cross Insurance, or one of them was from Cross Insurance, the other were her friends, and they were awesome. Like, I’ve never golfed with a group of women. And yes, I know it’s 2025, almost 2026, but that was new for me, all five of us. Kind of hard to get them all get get all together and and be able to have like an all women’s group. We had a small friend group that we finally got to of like four girls that would go golfing and kind of make it our own. But it took us three years to get that to get that going. I know. And I’ve never done a tournament where it’s all women. Not only that, so the the celebrities are like the guests, they get like gifts at the door. And every time I’ve done a um charity golf tournament, you get the gift as like the celebrity being there and it’s like always a men’s shirt or a men’s shoes and I always have to give them to my friends or somebody. Yesterday they had women’s gear. I’m like things are got to keep your stuff. Yeah. I got to actually keep it. Wore yesterday Travis Matthews stuff. It’s really nice gear. So, all in all, like we’re joking around because this is for like a very, very good cause. But all in all, very good day. I drove the ball pretty well. I puted medium. My iron game, it’s not a game. It’s just bad. The iron game is so bad. It’s hard to collectively have a really good golf game. Like, I’ve jokingly come in here plenty of times. Z sees whenever I go out to Granite Links and he’s like, “How’d you do?” And I was like, “Me and my driver are not friends. We’re not in a relationship. We’ve been broken up for about 2 years now. No, I go straight to my three-wood. And if I can’t make it work with that, then it’s not going to happen. I will just drink in the golf cart. Okay. I love my driver, but that’s all I love. Um, so all the Bruins were there, which is really cool. Like Don Sweeney, Bob Sweeney, who’s the head of the Bruins, Boston Bruins Foundation, he talks about how these guys come home early because they don’t technically have to report, but everyone comes home to be part of this because it is such a big deal. This is the team photo. Black and Gold assemble checking in from the 22nd annual NHL Bruins Foundation Golf Tournament. Um, and uh, did anything feel different this tournament than the previous one? Aside from getting to golf with some ladies finally. Um, did anything feel different? Not really. I mean, yeah, like the Bruins always make players available, but it’s just going to be the same vibe like we’re going to get in the room in training camp. It’s it’s like a total reset or retool, you know what they’re calling it. It’s just very different. before we were kind of like piggybacking on the year before that and then the year before that and they were breaking records and then they were president’s trophy and then they you know lost in the second round or what this was just that was different about it. It was just like all questions. Yeah. Yeah. Different energy but vibes were high. Vibes were really good. Yeah. I would say some of the the content that was being posted on the Bruins account looked like everyone was having a good time and just kind of laughing it up. Hampus Lynhome and Yokiharu looked like they were having themselves a ball out there. Yoki Haru. That’s a tough one. You’ll get there. You’ll get there. Yes. So, see, even they they’re not even typing it out. They’re just saying Yoki. So, we can call him that. But Henry Yoki, how are you? Uh getting his first hole in one or his a hole in one. I don’t know if it’s first. I didn’t get to talk to him, but this is the first ever in the Boston Bruins Foundation tournament history. I don’t know if it was at the hole-in-one hole because at these um at these events, they have certain holes where you can win certain things and there’s one where if you get a hole in one, you were winning a Mercedes. I think if that was the hole, he would have known about the car. Okay. Yeah, I would hope so. That should have been like an immediately or actually within the context of that post been like, “Hey, by the way, you got himself a car.” Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, they had that. Uh I don’t think anyone got a hole in one there, but so we have who do we have? Uh what’s his name? Zidorov. Zidorov had a hole in one. Yokihari had a hole in one. I’m sure there were some other players, but maybe I’ll walk around the room asking questions. Take a take a tally. But we know two Bruins so far that have done that. So, very capable of something. being so elite. Yes. Now, apparently Andy Brickley, uh, friend of the show because he works on us and uh, he’s had many in his life and I’m golfing with him tomorrow. Oh, wow. So, I’ll ask him about that. Yes, please find out what his uh, what his shtick is to make sure that that is something that he can do so many times. I feel I feel like Adam mentioned that that he slight work of hole in ones, which is not supposed to be all that easy. No. Uh, another player that they made a big deal about that over the summer was Matt Barzel. like he went on foreplay and talked about how he finally accomplished uh such a feat with golf. So, I feel like this is such a big deal and it’s now starting to happen so much more. I know. Okay. Well, I’ll get the I’ll get the deal on Andy Bickley. As I mentioned, the Bruins made a lot of guys available. Uh one of them being the GM. So, Don Sweeney spoke to the media. Let’s listen in and then Casey and I will talk about it. Actually, I’ve missed a few of these uh depending on how the rookie camp falls and the dates, but uh 22 years later and and all the work that uh that Bob and the foundation, obviously Charlie uh and his support, it’s it’s pretty impressive. You know, obviously the the guys look forward to to coming down and and stepping away from the rink right before we hit camp. Uh they all come in their own accord and uh and the alumni really appreciate it as well. How nice is it to kind of have the type of turnout you get, especially when you have a lot of new guys integrating into being Bruins and they get to meet alumni and new players at this? I think it’s really important. Uh, you know, in years past uh we used to sit down with uh and have lunch. Chief would would set up lunch with with guys. Lunch was a little different maybe back then than what it might be now, but uh uh the meeting um behind what was behind the meetings were always really important. And I think this is an opportunity for uh young guys to uh to bridge gaps with older guys that uh that take a lot of pride in this organization and uh and are a big part of the history of this organization. A week away now from training camp starting. Just just where is your confidence that this team can can at least complete compete for a playoff spot? Well, I mean, if we stay healthy, I think we’re going to be really competitive. Uh ultimately we’re going to blend uh you know, as Marco talked the other day, a standard’s got to be risen in terms of how competitive we’re going to be and the structure that he wants to play with. Uh younger players, we’re going to look for them to surprise us uh with taking lineup spots. Uh but we’ve what we’ve done is insulate uh our group of guys with with a competitive group from the bottom up and uh and allow some of this younger skill hopefully within now and moving forward is going to emerge. and uh but we’re going to be a much more competitive team and and held to the standard that Marco was talking about the other day. What are what are maybe some of the markers that you’re going to be looking for early in the season to show you that you know you’re in the right direction and that you’re improving in all the areas you wanted to. Well, it’s on an individual level and also collectively to be honest with you. Obviously, we uh we have to play to a certain standard here to structure that Marco’s going to put in place uh on an individual level. We’ve got guys that uh you know played in situations that that you know might not have gone as well as they wanted to and now they’ve got to have their partners back and going to have a full component of their team back and you know Jeremy’s in a much better place as he spoke about the other day. So I think it’s both on the individual and the collective level Joe that uh that we can look for those markers. Um, but again, from day one, as I said, the internal engine and and how we’re going to compete and how we’re going to uh be ready to practice each and every day and moving forward uh with with with the goal of being ready for opening night with the Yankees coming in tomorrow, what are what’s the message to those guys who as they embark on their first, you know, real taste of professional? Yeah, I mean, I read an interesting comment that, you know, Matty Potress is sort of at the end point and, you know, he’s 21 years old, he’s played 66 games. I look at that as positive, you know, and and guys like Dan Los Malice and uh guys that are coming for the first time, they should have their ears pinned back. Uh, you know, guys can go out and and and take advantage of opportunities, not unlike Fabian last year in the last 12 games and getting, you know, getting his feet wet. Is he more comfortable? Has he put the work in now? Can he go out and take advantage of the skill sets that he has, you know, as a much more mature player? That’s what we’re going to be looking for. and and the the younger players, they’ll get a chance to knock the rust off of the summer and uh and not have a summer hockey and shinny hockey mentality when it starts next week because when the puck drops, you know, camp seems long, but it’s really not. I know moving forward it’s going to get a lot shorter as well, but uh you know, the games themselves are going to be really competitive for for the spots and for the opportunities that they’re going to be presented each and every one of the younger kids as well as the vets. Do do you anticipate not naming a C or is naming one still on the table? Well, everything’s on the table right now. We we’ve been forward uh um with everybody and honest with everybody that we’re going to start without it. You know, we’ve got a leadership group that’s that’s been meeting amongst themselves and uh and I think eventually somebody will will emerge as as the guy that that that should be the next captain. It’s it it comes with a lot of responsibility. So, I’d like to see it more of a little more organic natural uh progression of it uh rather than just you know with a new coach and you know having management or somebody I just think those two things you know if you one does it without everybody being on the same page it it it can become awkward. I think now we just move forward with with the leadership group that’s going to be established and uh and let Marco um you know have his own communication with them and let them have communication with themselves in terms of what direction they want to take this team and who emerges as the ultimate leader and the next captain of the Boston Bruins. All right, Casey, we heard from Don Sweeney. He went on uh to answer other questions, but that’s where we found what was most important. And I like that final question about are we going into the season with or without a captain? Everything’s on the table. That’s what he said. and then he went on. What what’s your reaction and and your thoughts about his answers? Yeah. Well, I think it’s important to note that he said that everyone’s on the same page and that’s going to silence a lot of the noise and all the question marks going into things which means everyone has got the buy in and I feel like this is important with the new coach as he pointed out, Marco Sturm coming in and Marco I think told you or somebody else months ago like he’s still getting to know the guys. So, how do you hand over captainship or how do you speak to what the leadership is supposed to look like in a room that’s kind of reformulating what their identity is? I like this approach a lot because you’re looking at something that they’re trying to make last versus trying to glue together and I feel like we just saw a little bit of a glue together season for the Bruins and it clearly didn’t pan out. So going in without a captain is not a bad thing. I mean the Ducks have had to deal with it. A number of teams have had to deal with it sometimes when their captain retires and they’re kind of going through that weward stage of retooling. Find your identity first and then find the voices that fit. And I think the best locker rooms when it comes to hockey are the ones where you can identify three different voices. They can speak to the talent in that room at any time, any moment because every season kind of has different layers of adversity that you have to get through in order to be competitive. So, no captain that works. New coach, new voices, a unique blend of alumni, vets, and young guys as well as new guys. This is going to be an interesting year, but it’s going to better establish this team for success down the stretch. Yeah. No, I completely agree. And also you got to observe who emerges as a natural leader or uh maybe who works for it. Like I don’t know if Charlie and Pasta are Makaway that is are even you know competitive for it like does one want it more than the other. Does one not want it because it’s not in his DNA but would be like a very good co- captain like we’ve seen in this organization for a long time. I don’t have those answers and both of them have been very clear and forward and I believe them that it’s going to be by committee and that it would be an honor and that you know they’re excited and they want to keep the culture like I think both of them are really really going to value being the the two big voices and then we have Hampus Lynholm we have Nikita Zadorov um I throw Morgan Geeky in there all the time just because I really like his vibe and his demeanor his demeanor and his aura and his um discipline all those kind of things. So, it really like I think definitely give it time, see what naturally emerges and see if maybe one wants to take a step back and is like this I maybe I wouldn’t be a good captain. Like we saw John Tvaris do it with the Toronto Maple Leafs giving it to Austin Matthews. Not saying that he wasn’t, but he was like this is this is your team. You know what I mean? And and we’ll see what happens there. And then just to add to that, Marco Sturm many times he says he calls the guys, not just this team, but every team he’s coached his kids. And he’s like, “I like calling them my kids.” He said yesterday, “I’m a very vocal coach. I’m a very involved coach. I communicate and so not to say that he’s taken over that role because you really you really need a certain separation between a coach in a room and then a certain glue as well. But I I don’t like the idea of the coach being like a co- captain either. But I do like that he is communicative um and kind of that modernday coaching that we’re seeing where you don’t need to go through a captain to get to you know other people. There’s no middle coach basically. Yeah. Exactly. No, I think that that’s an important like point out because I feel like that has been one of the things highly discussed in terms of Marco Sturm in this new era, but also the new landscape in which the NHL is trending being a more communicative coach like you have to have a different kind of bond with your captain even with your ace. So, he has to really kind of formulate and see who can translate his message without him being there and be his voice when he’s not around because I think that that’s a huge part of the captaincy is making sure that you’re maintaining everything that you’re coaching the direction of that team. So forcing that would have been weird. And then sometimes when people are expected to be leaders, but maybe they don’t really have qualities that translate to that kind of locker room. Again, a unique instance here for the Boston Bruins. Then it just kind of has this weird like it creates miscommunication where they’re trying to establish communication. So I feel like that’s the other reason it’s important for them to be patient about this. Yeah, this is the long game here. We’re reestablishing the culture. We’re moving forward. We’re in this ritual, this new era. This is the long game. Let’s not rush that decision. And it doesn’t sound like the Bruins are. I failed a lot of times to mention Hampus Lynholm as one of the leaders uh earlier on in the summer. It’s because he wasn’t around. He was injured. And you know, every guy says, you can’t lead when you’re not in the room. But he’s also emerged and has been now established with the Boston Bruins for sever several years. He’s getting older. He’s having a baby. All those things that add up. Uh let’s hear from him and how long he’s been skating. Uh and how he’s getting ready for the season. I start skating. I think sometime end of June. So, I’m just skating there with the Rugler. Been fortunate to jump on with those guys and join the training camp and skated some myself, too. So, it’s been a really good summer. Just with last year going how it is, how frustrating is that for you to have to miss out on a lot of different things? Bruins, fornations, all that stuff. How do you turn it into positives for this year? Uh, I always try to turn it into something positive. You can’t really do anything about those things. And I’ve been trying to look at my injury this summer. All the time that I had to try to get stronger, bigger, and to have an even better season this season that I’ve had in the past. So, I’m very, very excited, very full of energy to come back and excited to see the guys and being here and yeah, it’s a lot of fun. Do you feel like you can be confident physically right from the get-go or is there kind of like a ramp up of things you’ll have to experience to to know that, you know, you’re truly like good to go? I think my for 14 years in the US, I’ve done done some favors with that part. I’ve been injured before. It’s like I said, I know how to get back from my injury. So, I feel feel good in my body and put in a lot of work this summer and been had some treatments in Stockholm, been going seeing a guy that’s helped me a lot with my injuries in the past, Vladimir. And just been really fortunate to have a lot of good people around me. But it’s a lot of work and uh but that gives me confidence coming into the season that I put in all the work in the summer. And so, um, just just more excitement to go out and kind of show show what kind of player I’m going to be this year. Just for you, like with all the changes kind of happened while you’re sideline, how exciting is it for you to come in and have all these different faces and integrate them into what this team means? Yeah. No, I think we have a really good squad. I think like looking at the guys around like we have the pieces you get both me and C coming back from from injuries and uh if I look at our team, I’m very optimistic. We have a lot of confidence in this group and uh it’s going to be be a fun year. I think people are going to resumate us and we can try to use that to our favor being the underdog and kind of get back to that bruise bruise hockey that we all know we can play. How much do you feel like you and the rest of the decor can really be the kind of backbone of this team and be a real strength just given the talent and the depth that you guys have? Yeah. No, like I said, I was out so a lot big chunk of the last season. So, just watching and uh learning a lot. I think both me and Chucky have been taking this time to get getting better and can hopefully when season start show either even better versions of oursel coming back and we already have a good decor and if we can keep taking steps all the guys individually as well I think we have some really good good thing going here forward it’s another important quality worth mentioning you know having almost a year off his last game was November 12th just 17 games played try to come back from injury didn’t that’s frustrating that is frustrating for any player you’re kind of spinning like I know you know there’s stuff you could do but it’s not like you can get another job and like pass the time. It’s frustrating mentally. It’s frustrating physically when you get through that and you get through that adversity and you heard him say he’s had other injuries that also helps lead a team when things aren’t going well. 100%. And then probably one of the other most frustrating aspects of it is feeling like you can’t be there for your team. Like towards the end there kind of sneaking in like the confidence that you give on being on the back end. And I feel like one of the biggest onetwo punches once upon a time in the NHL. Not to say once upon a time like it was that far off, but you know, when you talked about the Bruins, you talked about how dominant Lyn Holm and Makavoy was and how scary it was to go against those guys or how difficult it was to go against those guys to to kind of lose that knowing how reliable you are in that sense. Like that’s going to be a mental hurdle for you to overcome while trying to figure out your health and then everything that he went through just to get back through this particular injury. So, uh, I’m sure for him it’s a deep breath to get onto the other side of everything, but I love the fact that, you know, you said that the energy is there, but more importantly, everyone keeps mentioning it. This group feels very underestimated, and I am very excited to see how that translates because when guys have chips on their shoulders, I mean, uh, fun things can happen. Yeah. And you know what? um mentioned by Don Sweeney which we didn’t uh air for you guys but someone asked about Mason Laurai and how without Makavoy and Hampus like he all of a sudden became the puck moving guy the quarterback you know whatever he became the guy and maybe wasn’t ready for that role and that’s something that Don Sweeney talked about and he was like you know you you have these guys that he would have played behind and all of a sudden he’s got to like carry the team and then got quote unquote exposed and that’s no knock to him probably as a young defenseman needed needs to learn these things. But now you have them back in the mix, which is going to give Mace more confidence. Like that’s something Don Sweeney said as well, that it didn’t shake Mason’s confidence, which I love. And I and I can tell that as well. You can just tell he’s not like, “Oh man, I’m not ready. I’m stressed.” He’s like, “Yeah, this is part of the learning curve.” Sorry. Like I wasn’t expecting to like be the number one guy over here and here I am. You got to grow into that with your body and with touches and with speed and all that kind of things. Um, but I like that that now Mace, you know, went through that. So, that’s a bit of adversity, but now he’s got these two guys that he can be playing behind, getting different matchups, and then that’s going to make him better, too. Like, this is all good, guys. Like, we are going to be okay. Positive. Yeah. And to that note, I mean, when Lauri came on to the hockey hub and chatted with us, we talked about the fact that like his time on ice like jumped tremendously. And he was telling us like how that created different fatigue in his legs and how he had to adjust to feeling that while still being effective. So, there’s so many other layers to it where like now he can be within the time on ice that he is most effective in while learning from such incredible other players on top of like most important his confidence not being shaken whatsoever knowing that he still has something to bring to this team and to the ice, but the adjustments that give him the abilities to do so within his best potential. Yeah, I I’m like this is all positive all around. Again, new pieces, but guys that are healthy and guys that are going to be better and of course they have to we’ll see. Anything could happen unfortunately, but if all goes to plan, and it never really completely does in any sports team, but if all goes to plan, we’re going to get a healthy Bruins team and then guys that are going to be better than they were last year because of uh, you know, things lots of lots of moving parts, lots of drama. All right, guys. We are going to go to commercial. Later on in the show, we’re going to go one-on-one with Morgan Geeky, talk about FanFest. We’ll probably hear from David Pastnock and Jeremy Swayman. So, lots of content. Don’t go anywhere. Casey and I will be right back. Yeah, I mean you you pretty much said it. A lot of physicality, you know, we uh a lot of speed and and um obviously at the a lot of things to to work at at the training camp, a lot of things to to be unwrapped. So, uh you know, uh we’ll see how we do and we just need to make sure we found our identity quick and and uh see the way we want to play and and the way we can. Does this feel like a new era a little bit for the Bruins? Just there’s This is the first time there’s not going to be a 2011 cup winner that’s going to be, you know, on the team and on the roster sort of going into the season and it’s kind of a, you know, a new wave of leaders sort of taking things in. Yeah. I mean, I guess you can put it that way. Uh, uh, I didn’t think about it that way, but uh, now when you said it, yeah, could be. Uh, you know, like I said last week with everything, uh, you have to adapt as a player, as a human being. uh the world is moving on and and you get on that train or you don’t. So uh yeah, you can call it I I necessarily didn’t call it new era but um yeah, it’s a you know fresh fresh breed of air and and um yeah like I said for us main thing is going to be to to find um our identity and and the way we play and the way we perform at the best and and you know obviously with new coach new system so get that dialed in. Uh, we have a lot of time for it at training camp. So, uh, you know, super excited to to get things going. First of all, I love Pasa’s haircut. Yes. He’s been rocking that like mullet thingy. What is it? A full mullet. Fake mullet. Yeah, same. My dad still wears one on purpose my entire life, actually. Oh, cool. I didn’t know that. He has been a mullet man. Okay, show me a picture later. I will. Um, but I love the haircut. But anyway, besides the point, what were your takeaways with that this whole new era thing? And again, I know you’re new to Boston as I was a couple years ago, but you know that the last time they won was 2011. And then there was this like slowly trickling down of players that were either retiring or being traded or moving on. And then it ended with Brad Marshian no longer being with the team. So this is the kind of a new era. Pasta kind of was like, “Oh, yeah. I guess so.” What are your thoughts on that? Yeah, I would say all the faces that I’ve associated with the Bruins, even being from a distance, like majority of them are no longer here. I realize that it’s really just two being Pasta and Makavoy. So, um, definitely a new era, but I always establish the the term new era whenever you get the new head coach because again, you don’t know the direction, the distinction, or as Pasta mentioned there, they need to find their identity quick. Um, that usually just implies that you guys are pressing upon something completely different. But I think that, you know, he’s very spot-on in terms of them getting more physically stout as well as adding some speed into the mix. And again, I know fans are concerned about there being a lack of secondary scoring, but just kind of looking at teams that kind of in an ugly fashion made it to the cusp of situations. The Islanders come to mind because they have been impaled with so many injuries themselves. They had a number of call-ups last year, the year before that. They didn’t have their stars in, but defensively and with good goalending, they were able to keep themselves in the mix. So, I feel like this Bruins team is a step further than kind of that sort of mess. um the bottom six like it really is a positive that it’s going to be so competitive in the sense of like you’re going to have guys that have size on them that have physicality that have speed and the two guys that come to mind would be Jano who we know is a physical monster I mean he was referred to as the ox as he was coming up in juniors um and then you’ve got Mikey AC again the other guy that I’ve covered back in Tampa Bay and Mikey’s a puck hound you know he does have a lot of speed he is really good with forchecking he’s a pest to play against he’s very hard to get out of your space in your face he cleans up loose pucks very well So, you just have guys that have different dynamics that can just kind of help keep the attack going in a sense on the offensive side, even if the secondary scoring takes some time to formulate. Yeah. No, I agree. You mentioned goalending really quickly there, but like how many teams are looking for that franchise goalender, looking for that night in night out uh guy that’s going to bail them out when they’re not playing well and make that one extra save that’s going to change the momentum in the game. That is what the Bruins have in Jeremy Swayman. And yes, I know we need to see that this season, but I believe it’s there. It’s time to turn the page. It’s time to turn the page. Exactly. And that’s such a like key thing to build around. And then, you know, we’re looking at like, for example, the Chicago Blackhawks with Conor Bard. They’re kind of building around him, but that’s going to take him a while. And instead with the Bruins, we’re not really building around, let’s say, James Hagens. We’re not like, okay, he’s going to save the team. He’s going to come help the team. But we already have the superstars that we just heard from like David Posternok and and the defenseman that are puck movers and are going to get or expected to put up points and goal scorers. Um, and then you bring in the physicality as well. So, like the pieces are there. It’s just about formulating them, the gel, and um, you know, I know that that there’s still the debate about not having enough center guys at center that are proven and reliable. We’ll have to see what what happens there. Yeah. Um, Morgan Geeky also signing a contract extension with the Boston Bruins. He’s awesome and I was very excited to get a one-on-one with him. So, we chatted in the video room at Warrior briefly about his summer and about the season coming up. So, let’s have a listen. How was your summer with your daughter and your wife? Uh, it was good. I mean, it was pretty uneventful for the most part. We uh were lucky enough to have the Bear Tracks crew come out in August, which was lots of fun. Oh, yeah. Wait, how was that whole experience for you? It was good. Yeah, we uh I mean, he kind of sprung it on us like end of July, so it was like pretty short coming. And then they came I think middle of August and uh we covered some stuff. I mean, uh, it’s always fun to see those guys, like especially in I mean, I feel like when I come to Warrior, it’s like you just meet at work, so it’s fun to like have them come and like be a part of your life for a little bit. So, uh, that was good. My brother Noah got married in July to backtrack a little bit. But, so our our month of July was pretty full of that and family and everything. So, uh, other than that, it’s good to be back. I mean, it it flies by every year and, um, you know, I’m excited for for everything to get started again. How does the Geeky family do weddings? Or I don’t know if um your brother’s wife’s family had a lot to to do with it, but indoors, outdoors, is it lots of dancing? Was it very formal? Like what was the wedding like? Uh it was definitely I mean it was formal enough. I wouldn’t say we’re like crazy formal, but it was just it was at uh his wife’s family farm. Um so it was good. They have like a little pocket that his wife had picked out, I think, for a long time. And they got it manicured and and everything was good. And uh it rained like all of July in Calgary and for their day I mean it rained most of the day um and cleared for like half an hour for their ceremony and then it all it all kind of worked out and um then they just sent a tent up in the backyard and um had everybody come in for that. So it was good. It was lots of fun. I mean um I’m pretty quiet. I’ve got other members of my family that aren’t so quiet. So it’s uh it’s fun and I mean they’re the life of the party. So it’s always fun to be a part of that. One more farm question just cuz you brought it up. I think at the locker cleanout, you, myself, maybe Billy Jaffy, we were all kind of chatting about like working the land and living off the land a little bit. I think we talked about beets. Do you remember this? I don’t remember. You got Do you farm beets? I think No, we do not. Okay. Why were we talking about beets? I think I don’t know. I mean, I have pickled beets from my mom and my uh pantry, but I mean that’s it. But you don’t work the land anymore. Or does your family? No, they still um so my uncle, he lives on the farm, the family farm. And we I mean I used to help out as a kid like we do harvest and stuff. Um obviously we don’t get a chance to do that anymore but it’s uh it’s good. I mean I think we just started it rain the other day so taking a couple days off but uh we just do wheat and canola right now. Okay. Yes. I think that’s what we were talking about. But either way it’s a nice way to spend summer when you can be in the land and the fresh air. Uh you’re wearing a Red Sox hat and that’s something we already knew about you that you are a big baseball fan. Have you been to any games this season? I did. We got back on Sunday. They played Monday at 1 and so um we can only we only normally do like the afternoon games just because with our daughter it’s like you can go you can stay for you know six seven innings and get back around uh you know dinner time have dinner and go to bed. Um but it’s good. I mean I’ve I’ve been watching them the whole time. The AL East is like crazy right now. So um being Canadian it’s tough not to follow the Blue Jays too. So um I’m I hope every like I hope all three teams are will make it with the wild card and everything. Um, but we’ll see. I mean, Red Sox are good right now. Blue, it’s it’s just like fun. I feel like the AL East is like, if one of those teams isn’t good, it’s not very fun to watch the AL East cuz it’s like normally it’s the Yankees or it’s been the Red Sox like um but you know, being from Canada. I mean, you’re from Canada, so it’s like the Blue Jays are like it’s a nationwide thing. So, it’s fun. It’s uh I’m excited to see what happens, but I I hope the Red Sox make the playoffs and I’ll definitely be at a a playoff game for sure. So, first of all, you signed this contract extension. Congratulations. Uh, I know it’s really your agent dealing with things, not you, but peaceful and good to get it over with for you. How did that feel? It was good. Yeah. I mean, I feel like, you know, as a hockey player, you kind of go your whole career. And, uh, your goal is to make a career out of it and and to be able to do that for for six more years is like you you kind of get a sigh of relief just from like the you can continue to do your job. There’s no stress. So, now you can just go play hockey. There’s nothing much to worry about anymore. Um, and it’s fun. I mean, we got it done um I think at the end of June and it was just like you have the rest of the summer to kind of enjoy that and um like I said, we had family out in July, so I got to see a lot of people. So, it was lots of fun and and um it’s a you know, a step in the right direction and I’m I’m super excited to be a part of like the rest of the guys here, you know, for six more years. It’s good. Yes. And the way last year ended, obviously, like you guys have talked about it at the end of the season, you’re going to talk about it now and training camp. There are going to be so many repetitive questions. So, I try to make this as a an original thought, but it’s hard to have an original thought. Um, with all the media around, but basically like, yes, disappointing ending, it’s not what you guys wanted. I personally, and I’ve barely been around the room where the guys feel like with the changes with bringing some someone like Sean Corali back, someone who knows the culture, and then this internal competition, what Don Sweeny’s calling it, I feel like there’s a buzz and an excitement about opportunity, and that there’s so much opportunity. We know there’s so much par in the league. Do you feel that same excitement and do you feel like last year is just definitely behind you guys and is only around in the sense of like to build off of? Yeah, I think so. And I think it’s in, you know, the back of everybody’s mind about just how things kind of got away from us pretty quickly. Um, and you could tell, I think even like from training camp, things, you know, weren’t as dialed in as they needed to be. And I think that’s on the forefront of a lot of people’s minds. you know, mine especially is just like coming in and going to work. And I think I was just talking to a couple guys about it is just like how fiery the training camp’s going to be because there’s jobs to be had and we have a lot of good players coming to camp. Um, you know, and it’s a really good problem to have. So, um, you know, the intensity level’s going to be up, the execution level’s, you know, got to be where it needs to be. And I think we’re going to be ready for game one. And I think it’s like one of those things where the guys that were here last year um you know and years before that you understand like where the culture needs to be and and the expectations of playing for uh you know a team like the Boston Bruins. But um we’re just excited to get started and and you know start to put things behind us but it’s definitely not not forgotten. That’s for sure. Yeah. Forgotten. Uh sorry not forgotten but like you said building off of it and using it as fuel I guess. Um I’m really excited about training camp and all the story lines that are come out going to come out of that. I know you’re also going to be asked about the pressure of living up to last year, blah blah blah. And I say blah blah blah because it’s like this is this is this is you, you know, and not the what the media says it should be. It’s whatever goals you have for yourself. But what are they if you don’t mind sharing them? And how do you alchemize that pressure and turn it into performance? Um it’s a good question. I mean, for me, um, I kind of touched on it earlier, but like the pressure I feel like always came from, um, you know, are you good enough to play in the NHL? And like all throughout your career to just like be fighting for like a job here and a job there and, um, you know, now that I’m, you know, here for six more years and whatever, I think now it’s like you don’t really have those external thoughts and like the external pressures. They more come from within. And then like for me it’s like the not the hard part but like the the life part is over. So like now I can just go start playing hockey and just like not worry about anything else. And um I think that’s like a big thing for me is just like you go into last year and I didn’t start very well and it’s just like there’s a lot of pressures externally. You know you don’t know if you’re going to have a job next year. You don’t know where you’re going to be and um you know it weighs on you. It weighs on your family and things like that. But um to be able to have all those things you know pushed to the wayside and uh figured out early and um just to be able to come to the rank and enjoy every minute that I’m here with the guys and uh you know just play my game and and you know I thought I finished the year strong personally and just being able to build off that come come October will be be lots of fun. So it’s like this is all fun like to me especially now that things are are all sorted. So, um, selfishly, it’s like I’m I’m in a really good place and and just want to build off that. Marad Marian said the same thing when he was already in Florida. He said for the first time in his life, he he went into a year without a contract that was stable. And he was like, you start realizing you’re playing more for yourself than the team cuz you’re scared about your future, whatever, worried about what you’re going to get. And he said that wasn’t a good feeling. Like you just like you’re concerned about your own performance and you just want to play hockey, focus, and then make the team better. And so I think that’s echoing a little bit of what you’re saying and it’s nice to have that taken care of and you can just play hockey. Yeah, for sure. I think that’s and I think anybody that says that is or just disagrees with what Marshy said was probably lying. Um you know cuz we’re all human at the end of the day and that’s just something that comes with the sport that we play and the job we have. So uh he’s 100% right now. Like I mean um obviously he got a nice contract there too, but you know he’s going to go into that year feeling the same way I am and the same way he’s felt you know years previous. So um it’s fun. It’s like I said there’s a lot less worry now life-wise and it’s just you know about playing hockey. Did you care to watch the playoffs or is it Some players say it’s too painful when you’re not in it. Did you care to watch it at all? Uh I I actually watched quite a bit. I mean we don’t watch a ton of TV so when hockeyy’s on it’s like that’s what we let our daughter watch so it’s nice to have something on. Um, I also knew quite a few guys that were in the playoffs. So, it’s like, um, I didn’t really have a preference who won. We had Marsh and Freddy. So, um, you know, we had guys on both sides that, um, we were there for. So, um, other than that, some good hockey. There was some good hockey. Good hockey. Um, you know, it’s not like I cheer for anybody. I just I know guys and and you know, to see you guys do well is awesome. Last one. Uh, and thank you for your time. Uh, everyone, again, one of the cliche storylines is is um leadership by committee and there’s no captain. Um, I didn’t know you very well until last year. I felt like we got to chat more and every time I talk to you, I’m like, you you have a very calm presence about you, very mature way. And I’m like, that would make a good leader, maybe a good alternate. Do you like the the idea of that? Do you like that role or is it something new for you? If if you were to given the A, would you like that? Yeah, I mean anytime you’re looked upon to be a leader um like that, it’s it’s something that you can um you know, take and start to build build off of. Um but for me, I mean, whether I have a letter or not, it’s not really going to change what I do. And I think now that um with everything, you know, that went on this past summer to to be able to step into the leadership role, I’ll definitely, you know, step in where I can, but it’s not something that I I think is going to change much for me. I think um you know I started off pretty quiet but I think you know as I get more comfortable I’ll be a little bit more vocal and I’ve it’ll be my third year here and and you know I think things are pretty uh standard for me now just you know coming to the rink and everything so you’re really comfortable and know everybody so um yeah it won’t change much but um I definitely wouldn’t say no but you know we got a a great group of guys here you know the guys that have been here for a long time and um pass to Charlie Hampus those guys and then newer guys like um you know Z and Lindy So, I mean, like you said, I think it’s kind of a by committee thing, and I think we all know that as a group, and it’s just something that we’ll we’ll build off of from there. All right. You got to know Morgan Geeky a little better through that, I think. Right. You don’t have many interactions with him. What did you think of him and his answers and what maybe what stood out to you, Casey? I love that you pointed out just kind of his demeanor because I feel like again different voices kind of help different locker rooms and I feel like he could have a bit of a a quieter but confident approach to be able to help players along in a in a sense whatever their communicative style tends to be. So um something to keep an eye on uh that I love that you’ve pointed out. And then something else that kind of jumped out to me was just him kind of talking about the season getting away from them last year. And it just made me kind of think realistically of the frustration to feel like they got off to a hot start because I remember I mean as most people know I do coverage for CBS as well covering the entire league. So I have to keep an eye on the Bruins even before I got here and they got off to a bit of a hot start. So the anticipation of them being able to produce yet again was there. Then things kind of fell apart. The coaching change happened after November 19th. They go seven and 10. uh in terms of refinding their identity, being hard to play again. So then there’s this tease of, okay, we’re back and then things start to fall apart again. So to be able to go through that kind of stuff and have that bounceback, gene, I think is very important. But the biggest thing that he noted was the weird training camp. I feel like many players are now being a little bit more vocal about like, hey, we didn’t really get off to a confident start identity-wise, groupwise, any of that. And that’s going to be a focus going into next week to help a team that knows how to respond who kind of check the boxes in terms of being hard to play against yet again. Yeah. And uh that’s a very good point and that’s something Marco Sturtorm is very focused on as well. So that’s why I’m really excited about training camp. I did ask Marco yesterday, what does that mean? Like what’s the difference? Is it just more intense than it was last year? Does it mean you’re making sure the guys establish a certain routine? Are the meetings different? and he kind of dismissed it saying like, “I wasn’t here last year, so I don’t know what last year was.” I kind of like that he’s not going to compare it to last year. Yeah. Like I feel like that’s going to be important for this group. And I mean that’s true, too. Yeah. It’s like we’re not we’re not Yeah, you’re right. That’s going to help with a with honestly a more significant page turn. Like we’re not going to compare it to next year. We’re going to make it what it is now with this group, what we see in training camp. Because I mean we can sit here and identify a bunch of things like I mentioned with the teases of thinking that they were back or a big conversation was oh my gosh we get leads and we give them up in the third period like they had a number of close but no cigar opportunities last year and I feel like that would kind of stick with somebody of my personality much more than like blowout opportunities or just not showing up those difficult tight slipaways. But again, like with the kind of training camp that we’re looking ahead to, I feel like those are course corrections that are more I don’t know that you can be more positive about. Yeah. No, 100%. I I like your point about Marco even being like I wasn’t here last year, so I don’t know, but I’m going to do my it my way and how I’ve always done it. I’m going to do me. Do you, boo. Um I should say that next time I see him in the hall. Hey, Marco, do you boo. Every time you see him from now on, hey Marco, do you boo. Oh my god, I’m gonna get fired. Uh HR violation for sure. Okay. Um, we are going to hear from Fraser Mitten. The rookie camp is happening. The rookie camp, Boston Bruins rookie camp is happening at Warrior right now, but he spoke at FanFest as well to Jud Serat. So, we’re going to hear that interview after the break. I am so bad at reading promos. Okay. So, what happens is like we have a script to read and like I don’t like reading scripts. So, then I try to ad liib and then I bomb the whole thing. So, bear with me. Okay. We’re off to a good start. Uh, I’m just going to read it as it is. Hockey up merch is here. Woohoo. Woohoo. Grab yourself a Hockey Up t-shirt or hoodie and check out Ness’s full Wicked Wearables line brought to you in partnership with Breaking Tea. Okay, I did pretty good this time. Check out Wicked Wearables at ness and wickedwearables.com. But real talk, we’ve got some swag, some gear that you guys can wear and uh buy at uh wherever I said to go. Ness Wickedwearables.com. Okay, got through that. Let’s get through the rest of the show. Fanfest happened over the weekend and we’re definitely going to talk about that. But uh rookie camp right now is happening at Warrior Ice Arena for the next few days. Then on Friday they’re going to do the showcase Casey and that’s going to be in Buffalo. That’s where it is every year and we’re keeping our eye out on the Bruins prospects. But one of the big ones we were just talking off camera Fraser Mitten. That’s who’s getting a lot of hype and uh we’ll discuss him. But let’s hear his interview with Jud Sarah at FanFest over the weekend first. Well, Fraser, before we get started on on the Bruins and business and getting set for training camp, how was the summer? Summer was amazing. It was uh great to be back in uh in BC there in Canada, back home with uh friends and family and getting some time outdoors, getting to do some stuff and just uh be a normal kid and hang out. So, it was a nice uh 3, four months there and uh great little uh reset. Is it different in any way for you as you start your first full season in the Bruins organization? Yeah, absolutely. I think it’s a little bit of a a like crazy start when you get traded uh right at the deadline there and you’re you’re just jumping right in. So, nice to come in uh have a normal camp and and start uh as you normally do when you’re with an organization. I think you ended up playing six games for the Bruins at the tail end of the season after you got acquired from the Maple Leafs organization, 21 overall. You had a handful of games the year before, but but having that chunk of games, just how beneficial is it as you look ahead to this year? It’s good. I think it uh it really helps with confidence and knowing that you can play at that level and um gives you more of a belief that that’s a realistic goal for you and something to go after. So, um knowing that I can play there definitely makes me uh want to get back and and be an impactful force at the NHL level. The other thing that stands out when you did get to the Bruins and I understand it’s a smaller sample size is that your ice time went up. It’s probably maybe 3 minutes more than you had been playing in Toronto. So, is the ask any different, the responsibility any different for you? Yeah, I think uh like you said, a small sample size and and at the end of the year, so a few factors uh factor into that, but um yeah, hopefully I’m I’m a guy that the coaches here and the organization sees as someone who can be a valuable asset and uh not just somebody to to fill a hole, but somebody who can contribute to to winning games and getting a team to being a winning hockey team. What will be important for you to make a good first impression on Marco Strumm? I think just being myself, playing uh playing hard, competing, and uh being a reliable guy who’s uh working working his butt off out there and doing everything he can to, like I said, help the team win. I think that’ll be uh my focus, and hopefully uh coach uh can see that and and like that. Last thing, we got to switch it up to a little bit of baseball. The Red Sox have a chance of maybe taking the AL East. Definitely in a good spot as far as a wild card position is concerned. How much have you enjoyed the run? How many games are you going to try and get to between now and before uh the NHL season starts? Yeah, I will uh try to try to get to as many as I can. It’s been awesome to get to Fenway and and watch those guys. It’s uh awesome atmosphere at those games and uh they’re kind of converting me from a Jays fan to a Socks fan. So, um get to as many as I can hopefully and cheer them on. All right, Fraser Mitten. Uh very sweet demeanor. That’s a big conversion to happen at this time. I mean, Jay’s are our enemy right now. Yeah. And also, like, that’s a tough question because you don’t want you’re like the new Bruins kid and you don’t want to be like, I’m a big Jay’s fan. Like, you can’t you can’t really do that. So, Jud, Way to put him on the spot, dude. This poor kid was like, uh, yeah, I love the Red Sox. Cool. And Boston will be shipping me off. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Poor guy. Uh, any other takeaways from that interview for you? Uh, I love it. I love his humility. And actually something else you and I were just talking about or joking about off camerara was like I wonder if he’s feeling the the pressure of some of the obsession of like Frasier and Frasier men and what is he going to do? Who is he going to be? Can he whatever. But um the reality is is like now going into this new chapter where you have a head coach that focuses on youth development like the opportunities are going to be much wider for these younger players. It’s not like how he said he doesn’t want to just come here fill a hole and then go back away. So, I feel like that creates a different kind of buzz knowing that you have a chance to solidify your NHL career with this new head coach with this organization. And I feel like that probably changed his off seasonason perspective a little bit and you know, a lot of big conversation around it too is because of this whole him potentially being at center on the third line. Potra, is he going to be center? Is he going to be third wing and or outside wing on the third line? And I remember seeing that they kind of had a nice little connection in Providence when Mitten first got here. So, the opportunities, the options, they’re going to be quite endless. And I think that that’s going to be a cool spark for him. Yeah. I’m not too familiar with like what the Leafs prospect um group looked like or positions when he was in that organization and if he had to like wait for his turn or like squeeze. He’s playing with Alex Nelander a lot. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. And so like and and you saw a lot of chemistry between those two and then you and I talked about it months ago like his script his thing is that netfront presence for one. Um his one-timer was another thing that was highly noted. So like he was playing quite a bit and they were holding him in high regard to get that next step in opportunity and then the trade took place. And then the trade took place. Yeah. So I mean I guess uh with this being kind of wide open if there’s more opportunity you know for him if you’re playing with Knander uh Willie. William, right? You mean no Alex? Alex Al. It’s Kander’s brother. It’s Willy’s brother. Okay. Okay. Willy’s brother. Okay. So then if that’s happening and you’re, you know, up and coming for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but here like now they’re asking you to can you be the guy like no more up and coming, right? Um but I asked him at the end of last season and then we’ll move on to talk about FanFest. Uh I asked him about playing and getting a chance with the Boston Bruins if there was less pressure when the playoffs were out of the picture, which at that point there were they were as opposed to coming in after the trade deadline. And you know how like some teams are making it by one point? if you’re making it by if you think you’re going to be making it by one point, one or two points and you’re and you make a mistake and you cost the team that point like that is a big deal. So I asked him like now that that’s not on the table, does it feel better? But he gave a very and this is not a knock to him. Like he just gave a very nice answer being like it doesn’t matter if we’re in the playoffs or not, we’re wearing the Bruins crest, there’s a lot of pride in the game, I’m always going to try. I’m going to try to ask that again and just ask him about like now being on the other side of it. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. But, you know, he I think good question, too, because you’ve mentioned the intensity of the Toronto market. You know, I mean, you’ve seen how players kind of process differently in markets such as that. And I mean, like, yes, Bees are an original 16, but I feel like the atmosphere might be a little bit more breathable for him. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, listen, we got to just really quickly talk about FanFest, and I I wish it didn’t have to be so quick, but we were blabbing. Um, it’s such a great time. I went to Conquered New Hampshire. It was pouring as we got up, and I was like, no one’s going to show up. There were lines out the door to get in. And you could tell it just means so much to these Bruins fans to do anything with the Boston Bruins. Like meet people at Nessen, which was such an honor and a joy for me. Meet some of the Bruins that were signing autographs, but like look at the lineups. Look at the crowds. They just want to be around Blades. They want to be around other Bruins fans. People drove from hours away. This is my first FanFest. Again, I’m always in Toronto at the end of the summer, so I miss them. I’m definitely, and I’m not just saying this, I’m definitely coming back for the next one. It was such an honor. And if I could just speak to the fans to meet you guys who support us at Nessen, who support the Boston Bruins. The culture here is so different. Your passion is so different. I loved meeting everyone. I had the best time. People were going to come rain or shine. This is not me trying to be like corporate here. You know what I mean? Like I hope you can feel it from my heart. I really was honored to meet everyone. Like they care so much. And then you realize you’re like, “Ah, I’m doing my job for you guys watching that matter so much to you.” and everyone that I got to meet, kids, adults alike, so many women thanking me for being a voice in the women’s space and stuff. I just it was such an honor, Casey. And um they do such a great job. Fantastic. I believe it cuz I mean you’re you are the bridge to fans as well as the team. And I mean going through the year that everyone just went through, especially when you’re kind of trying to reidentify a winning team and getting back to that culture, things can be tough. We see the comments. We see the fans that are frustrated or, you know, that have kind of lost a little bit of hope and stuff like that. So a fanfest like that I can imagine means so much more and to see the turnout because I’m the kind of girl sometimes where I see a sprinkle and I’m like good I’m staying home for the rest of my life. And so I loved seeing how many people went out there. But I think it is going to be uh impactful to be able to meet somebody like you cuz like again you being that bridge in between and like getting to have that authentic conversation is going to be important. All right. I have no comment so because we got to go to break anyway but thanks for what you said. Thanks everyone who showed up at FanFest. We’ll be right back to wrap up the show after this. All right. Okay, high and by. We got to make this really quick, Casey. But okay, hold on. I I haven’t seen this from this angle. I think that form looks good. Looks great. I think it looks good. Uh what was this? The P. Oh, no. I don’t think I did good here. It was way too hard. Yeah. What the guys? Why are we showing this? We’re supposed to edit edit this to make it look like I’m actually good at golf. Um there’s your face saying do not show that. Yes. Really, really fun. Bruins Foundation 22nd annual golf tournament benefiting the Bruins Foundation. All the players on hand, current and alumni. Uh really fun event. I hope you can go to one one year. But for now, we got to go, guys. We’ll see you on Monday. Thanks for watching. Have a good weekend.

The Bruins will enter the 2025-26 season without a captain according to Bruins GM Don Sweeney as he spoke about the team’s plans for the upcoming season at the Boston Bruins Foundation annual golf tournament. Sophia Jurksztowicz & Kasey Hudson react to what the Bruins GM, Hampus Lindholm, & David Pastrnak had to say about the team for the upcoming season. Plus, Sophia goes 1-on-1 with Morgan Geekie to discuss how his offseason went & his expectations for the Bruins.

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