Can Bruins Find Off-Season Trade That Involves Mittelstadt? (Mailbag) | The Skate Pod, Ep. 463

Can Bruins Find Off-Season Trade That Involves Mittelstadt? (Mailbag) | The Skate Pod, Ep. 463

Welcome in to episode 463 of the Skate Podcast. I’m Brian Deliz joined by Bridget Brew, Scott Mclofflin, and of course, we are once again joined by Bridget’s best friend. That is Harold the Golden Giraffe. I don’t know how much air time he’s going to get today, but there he is. And I’ll throw He has a plate now. I don’t know if you noticed that. I got a golden plate. And so now he can also I I feel like he probably needed the tray to begin with, but it might be a little bit more useful than the bowl except for for popcorn. So yeah, I was going to say the bowl serves the most important function. It holds popcorn. Well, now he can do everything. So every party he’s going to be, you know, he’s just going to be hosting. So nice little addition there to to Bridget’s new statue. Uh Bridget, let’s throw it to you first for the opening shifts. All right, guys. So, we’re at the point in the summer where it’s like sometimes there’s like these little fun stories rather than new stories, I guess. And I have two real quick ones before we get to you guys who you guys have some some deeper thinking questions, even though I’m not sure what Scots is yet. I don’t know. Mine’s I don’t know if mine’s deeper thinking, but we’ll get All right. Well, my two quick ones. Uh so Porter Martone is uh committed to play college hockey. Um he decided to sign on with Michigan State. So that’s another one of those top 10 picks in this year’s NHL draft that are going to be playing college hockey. Um and that’s a school that was interested in a few of the bigname guys but end up getting Porter Martone. Um, and once again, no news on any of the other rumors about some of the top 10 guys uh that were rumored to maybe want to come to Hockey East. I haven’t heard anything new on that front. Um, but then my other one is, uh, James Higgins got to go meet Adam Sandler yesterday. Uh, Happy Gilmore 2 premiered and, uh, Higgins is just living his best life right now. He’s just having a great time. Uh he said that Happy Gilmore is his favorite movie and Adam Sandler is his favorite actor. So that I mean I don’t know about you guys but I’d be pretty psyched to meet my favorite actor. Who’s your I want to know who is you guys favorite actor. That’s a loaded question. Maybe you need to go first because I know my answer. I I know your answer too but yeah, you can go first. Okay. He knows my answer because I bring it up all the time. I love Will Frell and I know that doesn’t like count as like a dramatic actor, but he makes me laugh. So, he is my favorite in pretty much everything he does. I mean, it’s it’s in the same vein as Sandler, so like that. Yeah, it can be a comedian that works. I have a couple I have a couple off the top of my head. Uh I think Sandler’s obviously a good comedian one. I think uh uh growing up up until the uh the Oscars moment, I did I did like a lot of Will Smith’s movies, but I think um Denzel Denzel Washington, Robert Dairo, those two um anytime there was a movie with them in it, I would always sit down and watch it. Yeah. I mean, like again, like pretty easy answer, but like Leonard DiCaprio, I think I’ve liked him in like every single thing he’s done. Uh even like even movies he’s done where the movie wasn’t very good. I’ve always liked his performance. I I don’t know if that like this is one of those things where it feels like I should have an easy answer like Bridget does but because I watch a bajillion movies. Um but it probably changes a lot. Like there’s times you could get me and it would be Robert Dairo. Um you know I So like Denzel’s a good one that’s up there. Um, definitely Will Ferrell like in the comedy space. No question. So, um, yeah, I don’t know that I have like a set answer, but for for today, I guess I’ll I’ll go with DiCaprio. And I want to add John Krinski. So, yeah. Well, Steve Carell’s I’ve always loved Steve Carl. Steve Carl. Yeah, there really are so many. It just depends what you’re Yeah. what you’re talking about. But, um, anyway. Yeah. Um, what was your opening shift again? Port. That was my important really hard thing to question you guys. So, so Scott, I think it’s your turn. Uh, so did did you guys watch the Red Sox game last night, Monday night? No. I was listening to it on the radio and I and I I did hear the ending of the game on the radio. So, it ended in pretty much the lamest way possible, which was Oh, I know what happened. Yeah. Extra innings, bottom of the tenth, bases were loaded and uh Red Sox catcher Carlos Nvas committed catcher interference. The hitter caught his glove on a check swing, not even on a full swing and the game ended on a walk-off catcher’s interference that had to be called after a review. And I was like, that has to be the lamest way for a baseball game to end. And it got me thinking, what would be the lamest game, lamest way for a hockey game to end? Are we talking like playoffs or regular season? Does it matter? Because like in the playoffs, it would end instantly say if it was overtime like like an instant game ender. You mean like that? Yeah. I mean like any anything just like the the worst that where you’d be like ah I get that that’s the rule, but man, that’s a really stupid way for a game to end. Yeah. I would say it has to be in overtime. Let’s make this scenario be in overtime. Yeah. Yeah. It’s it’s tough to draw a perfect comparison obviously because in baseball now you you start with a runner on second which kind of changes the dynamics. But I think for me it’s always been a game ending in overtime or the last, you know, minutes of regulation where a team’s in the power play due to a puck over the glass. Yeah, that’s a good one. You know, that one’s like it’s like you get it. It is what it is. It’s the rule. but never liked it. Yeah, it has to be like mildly self-inflicted, but also kind of just like a nothing play that’s like really wouldn’t normally help too much. But um yeah, or like any any like stupid like very minor thing like I don’t know, maybe you challenge something late and it doesn’t go your way and then you get scored on immediately. Um maybe like there was a a fight and someone gets the instigator when they shouldn’t have and then the other team scores on you and they win. Uh those are always the most frustrating when it’s like well how the hell did this guy get the instigator and it should have been you know it should be them been matching or you know but the refs would come into play a little bit there. Yeah. I was also thinking and this was this didn’t end a game but I was thinking like if a game ever ended this way remember the playoff game Bruins Blue Jackets where the Blue Jackets scored but the puck had gone out of play but so at that time you couldn’t review it. Now you can but it still has to be like it has to be in the direct buildup to a goal. So basically like the first or second touch after it hits the netting. Um, so I can see like a play like that where it’s like no one knows where the the puck is and it kind of like pinballs around and somehow ends up in the net and it’s just like confusion and then like if you were to look at it after you’re like, “Oh, that puck went out of play.” Like that would be like a really dumb way for for a game to end. Um, what the first thing I thought of, which it’s it’s not comparable for a few reasons, but the first thing I thought of when you said the dumbest way a game could end would be like an own goal or like you accidentally like say it’s the last minute of the game and you’re you’re trying to score or whatever, you have the goalie pulled and you accidentally like score in your own net or uh or like the allark one behind the goal like he just comes out to play the puck, there’s no goalie in the net. Those ones are always those are rough. Um, but they’re not comparable because they’re like big mistakes rather than like a small like marginal thing. I was going to say it didn’t it didn’t end a game but the funniest way a game got to overtime. Do you remember I think it was Oilers stars and um I forget the player but it was an Oilers player who missed an open net like just like nonchalantly came down all by himself on an open net and like lost the puck and the Stars went down and scored and tied it with like one second left. I think it was the other way around. I was a stars I think I think his name may have been Stefan Pete maybe. Yeah, that sounds but he Yeah, he was the he he played for Dallas and I believe uh Alice Hemsky was the one who scored for the Oilers to tie it, but that was Yeah, you’re right. It was uh it was Patrick Stefan who missed it. Who’s Stefan Pete? Why is that name in my Is that even a real person? Stephen Steven Pete was a fighter. He was one of the famous PJ Stock fights. Oh, that that must be what I was saying. So, what was the what was the the stars players name? Patrick Stefan. Patrick Stefan. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I think the puck like uh it just like hopped over his blade as he was about to backhand it. But it it it is one of those things where it’s it’s it’s a tough break for him because it’s not Yeah, he was going nonchalant, but it’s not like he like missed the net. The puck hopped over his stick. Yeah, he should have shot it earlier, no doubt. But you see players do that all the time. They just kind of guided in. Um but yeah, Scott, that was that was interesting. I Yeah, I think puck over the glass is probably the the one that is most comparable, maybe. Yeah. Um, but yeah, that was frustrating last night for the Red Sox because first of all, they just absolutely made nothing of their opportunity in in the top of the tenth. You can’t have a guy on second and then just go down one, two, that just can’t happen. And then, yeah, so I I actually like the the extra innings rules of a of a base runner starting. Um, the last night was the one time where I was like, “Oh, man.” And I mean that’s that just kind of the bases were loaded because there was a guy in second and then there was a pass. But it was the whole inning was just ugly as Yeah. It was it was a mess and like they were going to lose anyways. It was bases loaded, no outs. Like really just had to get one in. But yeah, still Yeah. To have it end that way though was it was just like really like we can’t just do like a doover or something like Right. Exactly. All right. Uh my opening shift last week again. It’s midsummer and my brain is just trying to think of some some fun Bruins hockey conversations we can have while we pass the time until training camp. But um I asked I asked Bruins fans online what their all-time Bruins lineup would be. Scott talked about it last episode. He mentioned that I that I asked it. Uh you know all five positions, skater positions and then a goalender. And of course the challenge here because it’s obvious it’s it is obvious to be someone who says well Bour and Ore as your as your defense and and and for the record that would be my defense too but I wanted to also just mention are you are you putting out the top five players in the franchise’s history or are you accounting for potential chemistry or just or fit right so uh there was a prompt I put out there and there was a lot of fun answers and and Scott I think you may have an answer of your Yeah, I I just like loved thinking about this because it got me back in the mindset of two years ago when we did the the Centennial team and that whole celebration and you’re right like that there’s a couple different ways to look at it because one I I think that you do want to try to stick to positions. So like on defense it’s like okay you could say you can say lefty I think your tweet even had it like left defense right defense. Well, Bobby Ore and Ray Bourc are both left shots who played a lot on the right. Bobby Ore played more on the right than the left during his career. And Bor I know played both sides at different times. So like you can easily do that pairing. You you know say Bourc left or right if you want. Um which I think is ultimately the way to go. You know, like, yeah, you can make an argument for, you know, you could say like, would Zado Chauer work better with one of those guys? Or if you wanted to go way, way back to like Eddie Shore, but uh for the most part, it’s like Orin Bor are at worst two of the three best defenseman ever. I would argue they’re the two best ever. So, like don’t overthink it. Just go with those guys. Um, I’ll save goalending because that might be the most interesting or the toughest. um center. So, I saw a lot of people reply to you with Berseron as the guy locked in there. I got to say I think I’d go Phil Espazito. Like I think his peak like his best years to me I think were better than Berseron’s. Obviously, you know, different players. Espazito way more of a goal scorer. Berseron arguably the best defensive center ever. Um, so arguments to be made there. Left wing is really interesting because if you’re just looking at like career totals, it’s like, oh, obviously it beat Johnny Buick. Um, I think you can argue that Marian had a better peak though. Like I think you could argue that Marian at his best was better than Buick at his best. Maybe with the exception of one season for Buick. I think the 7071 season he had uh let’s see 116 points. But other than that, like Buk was really good for a long time, but not generally not one of the very best in the league. Marshian Ed Peak was one of the five best players in the league. So, I might go that. Um, and then right-wing again, like do you go Cam Neely, David Posternok? Um, you know, those are probably your the two you’re debating. And that would have been, you know, Neilie for a long time would have been the easy answer. I think Posanak’s passing him if he hasn’t already. I mean, what Posach’s doing is scoring at a rate that only Phil Bazto has ever done. Like, Philip Spazto is the only player in Bruins history that has scored like Posanak has been scoring the last six years. So, six, seven years. So, yeah. And when we had Espazito on, which we did, was it two years ago? Was it we sometime I think it was last year maybe like a year a year and a half ago early part of the season and he was he was like I don’t care if he passes my record that’s fine like he he was you know he was not going to be trying to hold on to that forever but uh but yeah he he was he was a good guest I think I don’t know if people even heard that because it I I don’t know how many people who are listening now but uh it’ll be interesting to revisit Is it that those comments that he made when Poset does break some of his records and go back and like listen to what he what he said about it and um but yeah, he he was he said he’d be happy for him. So yeah, that’s a that’s an interesting lineup, Scott. And and yeah, it’s if if you’re really being steadfast in positions, right, it’s it’s it is tough to I mean, Espazito versus Berseron at center, you feel guilty for choosing either one of them, right? It’s that tough of a call, but maybe perhaps you could convince somebody to have Espazito play left wing, Berseron center, and then right wing is maybe Kim Neie. and and and and you’re and you have a line of the ultimate two-way center, the ultimate power forward, and the ultimate finisher and and and maybe they’ll maybe they complement each other well, but as you said, if we’re talking just right wing for right wing, I mean, I think I mean, David Passnack is Yeah, he’s he’s going to go down if he he’s he’s on pace to be the greatest goal scorer in the franchise’s history. uh he’s already at 29 years old. I think he’s already seventh in the the franchise’s scoring all-time scoring list or maybe eighth, but he’s going to be passing people this year, too. So, it’s it’s it’s a fun question to ask. And um for those that are listening, definitely tweet at us your lineups or comment on YouTube what your alltime Bruins lineup would be. Uh Bridge, I don’t know if you had thoughts on that either, but um well, I mean, you guys said a lot of it. Um but we did not settle on a goalie. Oh, right, right, right. Of course. Scott, what was your what was your uh what was your goalie in mind? So, so I saw a lot of people say Ras, but again, I guess I’m kind of looking at this as like who who would be best at their best. And so for me, it’ be either Tim Thomas or Frank Brimick. If you went like way back, Frank Brimzick was one of the the great goalies of the early NHL. Won two cups with the Bruins. Um had the nickname Mr. Zero, which is one of the all-time great nicknames. So, wait a minute. Was this before helmets? Like before goalies wore helmets. Yeah. Give him bonus points. Wasn’t wearing goalies weren’t even wearing masks at that point. Yeah. Yeah. No, he gets bonus points for that, I think. Yeah. I mean, no, no one was shooting off the ice, so like there was no there wasn’t as much danger of getting hit other than really by sticks, but um but I I think I would go Tim Thomas. I think his peak was um the best peak of any goalie in Bruins history. And you know for for a few years like one of the best stretches we’ve seen in the modern NHL if you look at what he did call it 08 to1 like it’s not just the everyone’s always going to go to the 2011 cup run and rightfully so because he was obviously incredible that postseason unbelievable in the finals um but really that stretched across multiple years. I mean, he won the VZN in09 as well and was incredible that season. Oh, Brian, sorry. Uh, muted myself there. I’m curious, Scott, what his his underlying advance metrics were during like the 0 06 07 season 2, like when the team around him was junk. Obviously, he gave up a lot of goals because the team sucks. But I’m wondering like, you know, were his numbers bad because of the team in front of him or or if he had to, you know what I mean? I mean, he had that infamous save on on Marty St. Louis that that stick paddle save. That was that was in the 0607 season. I think Dale Arnold was on that call. So, obviously, one save over the course of a year doesn’t mean he had a great season overall. But I wonder I wonder if he would have been what his numbers would have been that year if the team was better around him as well. But yeah, certainly that 07 to 0708 to the cup season and then you know even the year after they won a cup 1112 uh he was he was the he was the starting goalender for the Bruins in the in the Capital Series. Tuka did not have the net until the 2012 2013 season and and and Timmy was gone by then. Of course, Tuka had the net in the 2010 playoffs, but Timmy won the net back obviously the following year. So yeah, fun question. Fun question. Um any final thoughts? I guess I guess if you’re listening or or watching on YouTube, comment your lineup if if you have any differences. I’m sure you got some sarcastic ones, but uh to your to your someone, you know, it was tongue and cheek, but someone gave a lineup of um uh like it was like a starting five tough guy starting five. It was like, you know, it was Thornton and Luich and all you all sorts McUade. It was it was it was uh you know, but then there were some that were that appeared to be honestly they appeared to be genuine, but I just think they were talking more about players they grew up watching cuz there was a couple that had like Nick Boon on the blue line. But but also the but in the same lineup you had like Joe Thornton and Sam Snoff. So I’m like okay maybe this is just like a very 90s late 90s centric Bruins fan. That’s the Bruins alltime lineup from 99 to02. Exactly. Just a little smaller. I mean, don’t get me wrong, like Nick Boon, you know, he wore his heart in his sleeve, but I mean, yeah, not making anybody’s I don’t even I don’t even know if he was a top hundred Brewin Scott. I don’t think he was. No, he was not. Uh he may have been in the top maybe 200. I don’t know. But hey, I I was thinking about this though, too, cuz like when I saw this, I went back and revisited some of the Centennial stuff. So this this was 2 years ago and so they didn’t release like a top 100 ranking. They released the top 100 list but when we when we voted on that we had to actually rank one to 100 and I had so two years ago I had Pos 19th and I was thinking like just in the two years since what he’s done these last two years like he’s probably he’s got to be pushing top 10 now. like he’s already kind of like right on that doorstep. Um, you know, like I was thinking like I had Crerachche 14th. He’s definitely ahead of CR like I think he’s already past Creech. I know CRI won a cup and had the playoff performance. So like you could at least make the argument for him to stick, but like realistically like Pastanox’s already, you know, better than Crerache. Um, and again to like to your point about where he is on the all-time rankings in franchise history, assuming he stays healthy this year, he’s going to pass or in Middleton on the points list, move up to six goals. If he scores 40 goals this season, he will be third all time in Bruins history in goals. Like that’s kind of like crazy to think about. He’s gonna he’s gonna jump Bourc Middleton Marshand and Berseron all this season. Yeah, I I I wrote and you know what it I just just to add in like a little bit of forward looking like if he gets the C and he’s becomes like this leader next season and it you know seems to be successful and there’s a bit of a turnaround and uh you you watch him grow in that way like there’s a little bit of extra uh I guess ammo for the conversation of him you know having these this more of a complete view of of a good player in in franchise history. And you know, anyone who wears a C is automatically going to get, you know, a little bit of extra respect. And if he can do it well, then that’s just going to add to his his he’ll just keep jumping up that list. Uh if he continues to perform the way he has been and if he also becomes a leader on top of it. So to that point, Bridget, so last summer and how how many goals did pass get last year? was like 41 or something something in the 40s maybe. But last 43 43 goals last year. Okay. So this is before that performance. This is last summer. This is actually last July. I wrote I wrote an article about Passnack chasing history as the Bruins leading goal scorer in franchise history and and and what that would look like. And so at the time he had uh let’s see uh he had he was 197 goals behind Johnny Busk uh heading into last year. Okay. So that’s obviously been significantly decreased as well. Um and basically the numbers that I came up with was that Passnack heading into last year had 348 goals. Johnny Busk had 545. Um, if P passnack would pass Johnny Busk as the Bruins all-time leading goal scorer if he averaged 50 goals for the next four years, 40 goals for the next five years or 33 goals for the next six years. So last year he had 43 goals. So, you know, theoretically he should pass Johnny Buick, I would say, in the next probably four seasons or so, which he he’s 29 years old. I mean, that’s that’s absolutely feasible. The only the only asterisk here is if he somehow is not on the Bruins, right, then it wouldn’t count those goals um that he scores somewhere else. But he he should be the Bruins leading goal scorer in about four seasons, I would say. Yeah, he’s now he’s 154 behind Buk. Um, so yeah, like that should be probably by the end of the decade as long as he stays here. Pretty impressive stuff. Pretty impressive. Um, okay. So, we did want to get to a mailbag for for this episode as well. And we want to thank you all for sending in your questions. Bridget, do you have the sheet up right now? Yes, I do. And one of them was about pasta if we want to start there. Um, we got uh this is from George Maroy. I think I’m saying it right. I think I’ve messed this up last time, too. No, you got it right last time because George followed up on YouTube and said it was pronounced correctly. Okay, great. Uh, he commented on our YouTube. What do you think about Poster not getting the C and that spurring him to have a career year, which comes from a question we did superlatives last episode and one of the superlatives was who’s most likely to have a career year. I think we settled on Morgan Geeky. Um but we you know it do you think that that getting the C on the jersey would have an extra motivational push for David Posnock to maybe have a career year as well. So I I think it would it would impact him in in the sense that like he would take a lot of pride in it and it would mean something to him. the the only problem with it like spurring him on to a career year is I mean he’s just been doing incredibly impressive stuff already and like I don’t without say like another star caliber player on his line. I don’t know how much higher he can go on this team. Now listen I if the power play gets going then maybe that’s where he makes it up, right? like maybe his five on five production is still exceptional, which it was last year. He was one of the best five on five producers in the NHL. And then maybe if you tack on a a good power play that finds its footing, yeah, maybe he can, you know, he’s had 106 points last year regardless, maybe that could push him past his career high of 113. Um, so it’s not it’s not impossible. I just want to say what the numbers are that he would have to pass. So 61 goals two years ago was his mo his highest goal total and then 113 points also two years ago was his highest point total. So that’s what he would have to clear and that’s a high bar. That’s why we didn’t ultimately pick him as the most likely because he has set the bar really high for himself already. Yeah. And like if you look at it, so his power play points that year, he had 37 points on the power play that season, 22-23. Last year he had 23 power play points. So like that’s a difference of 14 points right there. So yeah, like to me that’s where the ground would have to get made up. And I guess, you know, we’ll we’ll see. We’ll see if this new coaching staff and uh you know a recommmitment from the players on the ice um gets the power play going. No, Brian, you got to be better with your mute. I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going on today. Uh last year too, we’ve talked about, but he got he got off to a slow start. I mean, the first couple of months of the year, he was I think I think we were I think we had an episode around sometime in like late November, maybe early December before he really started to take off where he was he was like 64th in the league in scoring. And we we kept saying, we know it’s early, but boy, it’s going to be tough. And I think he he he finished top five again in scoring. So that was and we know how bad last year’s team was pre-de, post deadline, specifically on special teams. They their special teams are brutal all year, even before they sold off, you know, Marian and Coyle and others. So, you know, to Scott’s point, like if the power play is better, which it really should be better, it’s tough to get any worse. And then if he gets off to a bit of a better start, yeah, I mean, it’s it’s it’s possible, as Scott said, it’s possible to to eclipse his his 23 uh 22 23 career highs. You know what’s interesting here though? Looking at his totals, do you know how many games Passac has missed in the last three seasons? It’s not a lot. It’s I believe it’s zero. It’s zero. He’s played a full 82 game slate the last three seasons. So, you know, it’s it’s on the one hand that’s it makes me feel great cuz it’s, you know, he he’s able to stay healthy. But on the other hand, it kind of makes me nervous about uh you know, h how long does that does that string of health continue cuz they’re going they need him to be without him. You know, this team is they they really will be uh having the the highest odds for for McKenna. So, um but yeah, that that’s that’s that’s good on him. It speaks to his leadership uh ability to be able to stay on the ice every game uh the last three years. I know injuries it’s it’s it’s bad luck, right? It doesn’t make someone a bad like Charlie Mackoy for example, he’s not a bad leader because he got hurt last year, but it is it’s it it does allow you to lead more from the front when when you’re when you’re around when you’re available. And so he’s had that luxury the last couple of years, especially in a time of transition for the Bruins cuz two of those three years is post Berseron, right? So yeah, I think I think I think being the captain can help him uh have have maybe lead him to a career year. The flip side, because we always have to look at both sides of of the story, is that the sea on a sweater also comes with maybe added pressure from from within. May maybe he puts more pressure on himself and and sometimes that’s not sometimes it’s easy for players to play a little bit more free. That’s just something worth mentioning as well. Yeah, I was going to say like maybe it almost distracts him from his own game where you know if you’re the captain and you’re so focused on helping everyone else around you sometimes like can your own game slip like that’s that’s a balance that great leaders have to have to find and even though Pasak has been wearing a letter um you know having the sea is is a different responsibility we talked about it with Marshand like he even admitted it I think at times he struggled with that balance So there there would be like a feeling out there too where you know if that is how this plays out. I’m sure Posanak would have to adjust and find a balance of things and and you’re always going to have to figure that stuff out on the fly. Like you just you don’t know until you get there, right? Like as captain, how do you handle the first time the team slumps? Like that you just you can’t you can think you’re you’re ready for it, but you don’t really know until you get there. How do you handle the first time you slump? like all all of those types of things. So, how do you handle like younger new because like honestly the team is still relatively new to getting to know each other besides that line. Like there’s so many new players that were added at the deadline and in free agency this year that the chemistry is isn’t built in. So, there’s young guys, there’s new guys. How do you get, you know, everybody to come together? That’s another role of a captain. All right, Bridget, do you want to go to the next question? Yeah, I’m going to go back up to the top and thank you to everyone who emailed us. Scott went through and grabbed everything uh off of our skate pod email and I’ll start with Kelly. Kelly says, “Hi guys, I have a trade proposal. Bruins get Marco Rossy. Minnesota gets our first round pick in 2026. And Casey Middlestat, he’s from Minnesota.” and the money we free up, we’ll be able to sign Rossi. Maybe sweeten the pot with a second rounder if we had to. Great show. Keep it up. Thank you, Kelly. I am not doing that if I’m the Bruins. I’m not giving up their own 2026 first round pick unless it’s for something truly special because as we’ve talked about, you might be bad enough that that pick is your shot at Gavin McKenna. And there is no way I’m trading it for a Marco Rossi caliber player. I like Marco Rossi. I I’m interested if the price were right, but to me that is not the right price. It’s got to it’s got to be less than that. Maybe I entertain Toronto or Florida’s first round pick because that’s not going to be in the lottery. Those are going to be playoff teams. Um, but if I’m trading my own 2026 first round pick, which as we sit here now at least has a shot of being Gavin McKenna or Katon Verhoff, throw him into that conversation. Um, it had the only way I’m moving that is for something truly special. I agree. I agree with that. Uh, I think in my mind right now, I I think the Bruins own first round pick next year is is pretty much untouchable if I’m if I’m Boston. Uh, just for for all the reasons Scott mentioned, I think that when it comes to the 26 pick Boston received from Toronto, the 27 pick Boston received from Florida, Scott mentioned they’re going to be playoff teams and they will be. So, so you could pencil those either of those picks in probably as a as a bottom. let’s call it a bottom 12 pick in the draft. Um because I don’t think that Florida or Toronto will be a wild card seed. I think I think they’ll be I I think they’ll probably be have top 10 finishes or close to it. Right. So now one of those picks I would move for Martin Nus for example, a trade for Martin Nus. I I would include I I would I would probably only move that Toronto 26 pick for NIS. I don’t even know if I would do it for anybody besides him. Um at least that’s out there in active trade rumors or could be like Mason McTavish is somebody who who has been asked about maybe even it will be asked about today. Uh Jordan Kyru is another one. Um one that I I think I think I would do it for Kyu too. I think I’d include him in, you know, if maybe not quite in the tier of nature. It’s like close enough that I’ I’d be open to it to but not You’re still saying not your own pick. Not no not the not Boston’s. I mean, what would it take for you to give up that pick? Just like to change the question a little. I mean, like I just don’t know if there’s a player out there that that would be worth giving up. Uh because literally as Scott mentioned it, this this Bruins for the Bruins hypothetically could finish eighth or ninth uh from the bottom. And we’ve seen the lottery can do crazy things. So, even if the Bruins aren’t the 32nd team in the standings and they finish 29th or they finish 26th, man, after what I saw last year with not just the Islanders, but also Utah moving up from 14th to four, even if it’s not Gavin McKenna that you end up having the opportunity to draft, this draft class is very, very prominent. I mean, you could still Yeah, you could still end up I mean, there’s the lottery continues to the second pick, too, right? like those are the two that you have a chance at and then everything else falls with highest order left. But Scott and I were there this year sitting around and like they gave us a sheet of paper that had all of the Bruins numbers that if it came up and like me and Sophia were sitting there and just like looking at it and be like, “Oh, nope.” Like they were like, “Oh, they need a nine.” And then it wasn’t happening. But yeah, it’ll be it’ll be even more nerve-wracking if you’re in that situation next year and you’re trying to get Yeah. Or or even even if you are 134, like Utah won the lottery from the 14 spot. Now they could only move up 10, so they only got to four. But like you have a chance to do that as well. And even yeah, I mean this draft like I no we can’t we’re not it’s not really worth going too much into the names but even like I’m just looking at Chris Peters like way too early rankings and like Ivar Stenberg out of Sweden at three, Ryan Rubrech uh at four like those would be extremely high-end prospects even after um McKenna and Verhov like it’s it’s considered next year’s draft as of now is considered like a good deal better than this year’s at the top. Yeah, unless unless the uh you know the Evans Oilers are looking to trade Conor McDavid or or Vegas is looking to trade Jack. Oh, we got a we have a question about that. Oh, do we? Then then then I’m not moving that 26 that that 26 Bruins pick. You know, if I’m the Bruins, I just to just to close close this one up, the Florida 2027 first round pick. if that would be my preferable one to move. Like if if you can get a team to bite on that, I I think I think they’ll be calling about the Toronto 26 pick more likely. But if in a perfect world, if they could hold on to that Toronto pick uh or trade that for like a Nature’s or something or or like a Kyrie like Scott said, then that’s great. But if they can use that 27 pick from Florida, that would be that would be something. Um but anyway, what’s next, Bridget? I’m just going to go to that one just because we just because you kind of like touched on it a little bit here and but that that I think we did a good job covering why that particular trade for Marco Rossi wouldn’t work valuewise. So I’m sorry if we didn’t like directly get to the Casey Middlestat part of it. We’ll come back around to him because there were a few other trade proposals that included him. Everyone wants to trade Casey. Every single trade proposal we get is like and throw in Casey Middlestat. And uh so anyhow, we did get this question about trading for Conor McDavid. And this is from I believe it was from YouTube uh at Bruins77_7. Uh they had asked us before about a trade for McDavid and we didn’t answer it because obviously talking about a trade for McDavid is really difficult because of how much any team would have to give up and how little it seems the Edmonton Oils Oilers would be willing to do it for anything. Like you could be you could trade them like the entire country of Canada. They’d be like no nope. Um but anyway, I’ll read but as as people always say Wayne Gretzky got traded. If Wayne Gretzky got traded, anyone can get traded. So, and I’m gonna read read this trade proposal because there’s a lot included here. Um, so Bruin77_7 asks, uh, I he says, I asked this before since you guys are taking fantasy trade signings. Uh, what about Swayman, Geeky, and Hagens, as well as two first round picks, the 2026 Toronto pick and the 2027 Florida pick. So, not the Bruins own pick for the upcoming season and trade that for McDavid. Is that too much or is that too little? I I don’t know if you could put together a package that’s too much. Like, if this gets me Conor McDavid, sign me up. It It’s It’s a lot, but like it’s Conor McDavid. It’s one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and he’s still in his prime. So, yeah. Like, it’s it’s a lot. And you might even have to upgrade one or two of those first round picks to your own. I don’t care. It’s Conor McDavid. I’ll I’ll give it up. See you. I think that at to me though, the starting offer for any team in the NHL is their best player is included in this trade coming back to the Oilers, right? So like to me that means posture has to be going the other way. plus host plus obviously. Yeah, I probably I like I probably agree with that. Um or maybe it’s Makavoy like if you lower it at all. So yeah, that’s kind of like another part of it is like you’re in this hypothetical where somehow that trade gets you Conor McDavid. Yeah. Like you’re not even giving up Posanak or Makavoy for that matter. So um all the more reason to do it. Obviously you would love to have McDavid and Posard together. Um, and and you’re not giving up as much of the other stuff if you give up Posternok, but um, yeah, I mean, Con, listen, it’s all it is all fantasy. Conor McDavid’s not getting traded. I fully expect him to resign with Edmonton, but, uh, fun to think about. Yeah, I feel like it would also be more of like a player decision really. If he didn’t want to go back there, then like they’d have to do something. But I just there I we listen to all the insiders like Elliot Freriedman and there’s never been like really too much of a whisper of him wanting out of them wanting to get rid of him. Um so well he he opened the door with his press conference after the season, right? Like that’s that’s what a lot of this traces to where you know he talks about he wants to win with Edmonton. and he wants them to get there and then throws in the, you know, whatever his exact quote was, like, “But I have to do what’s best for me and my family type of thing.” And all a sudden, like that set off the alarm bells. Yeah. Any any but after I want to be with Edmonton, any adding any butt stipulation is not good for PE give to give people anxiety about it. But so Swayman, would Swayman still be involved? because I think part of this idea is that Edmonton needs a goalie. So that’s probably why Swayman is consider considered in this um idea as having value to Edmonton. But if you included him, maybe you don’t include Positu, maybe you know, maybe you do Makavoy Sway, I don’t know. There’s just it it’s impossible to know. And also if McDavid is in fact available and Edmonton is taking offers um there’s going to be a lot of other I mean every other team is probably going to be trying to put together a package that they say yeah you know what that’s the best option. So it would be an uphill battle. I’ll just Yeah. And I just think that this deal for Edmonton just sends them right to mediocrity which is kind of a place you don’t want to be. Like you I think they’d still probably be a Western Conference playoff team especially in a Pacific division. Although the that division is getting getting younger and more skilled and as time goes on, you know, the Anaheims and the San Jose, like they will be playoff teams, but I mean, yeah, I mean, the the two picks, the Toronto and the in the Florida first, like those are futures, right? So, and like Hagens, who they just Yeah. I mean, like Hagens is a is a future. And then so you’re really talking you’re talking uh in swimming geeky out you know McDavid. It’s like you’re you’re they’re they’re going to a point where they’re not going to be a a bad enough team to suck. They’ll still have dry settle as their number one center which ironically would still be one of the best number one centers in hockey. Um that’s the luxury that Edmonton has. It just it doesn’t make sense for Edmonton. Uh this this trade package that that uh it’s fun yeah it’s fun to talk about. I just I don’t see that that win for the Oilers. Of course. All right. I have two I believe that include Middle that I’m going to go to now. Casey, no. No, no one wants to take him to the prom, huh? Apparently not. So, Maron fan 6363 on YouTube commented. I think this was a Twitter one. Oh, Twitter. Okay. Do you think the Bruins can grab Mason McTavish for Middlestat in Toronto’s 2026 firstrounder? I mean, probably. I I think the better question is, do I want to give that up for for McTavish? Um, yeah. I mean, I like Mason McTavish, but that that might be too much, honestly. Like, he’s he’s a good player, but I don’t Is he ever going to be more than, you know, a 60 65 point guy? Like, I think he’s kind of going to be another guy who’s like ideally he’s probably a really good number two center. Um, which might be, you know, if Hagens hits as your number one, that’s fine. But if I’m, you might have to give up a first to get McTavish. I acknowledge that. Um, I just would I would be hesitant. So I guess ultimately this comes down to to the middle step part of it where you’re like do you just want to move on from him because then you’re probably willing to do this or do you actually view him as a valuable asset in which case this would be giving up two valuable assets for a guy you now have to sign to a contract. Um which might not make a ton of sense. Yeah. And for people who don’t know, maybe because Mason McTavish is he’s been out on the West Coast with Anaheim. Uh just a little bit of background info on him, he’s 22 years old, so still young. And I think that’s part of where this idea comes from trying to look for a younger guy who can come in and and produce. Um and he was in 2021, he was the third overall pick to the Ducks. So this is somebody who was drafted high. So hence probably needing to give a first round pick to get McTavish. Um but he’s kind of a a unique situation because he’s correct me if I’m wrong. He’s one of the few guys who’s not signed yet that’s an RFA left in the league, right? Yeah. I think there’s still a bunch, but yeah, he’s he’s definitely he’s definitely one of the most notable. There there’s two there’s two on Anaheim right now that are uh I think it’s uh two skaters I believe in Anaheim. You have um McTavish and then you have to my knowledge as of last week Drew Hellison is is an R. He just signed. He just signed. Yeah. Okay. So that’s taken care of. So yeah, I mean I think that uh Anaheim also has nearly $20 million in cap space right now. A lot of their play a lot of their best players are on ELC. So, if the Bruins tried to offer Sheet McTavish, which they only have two, they only have $2 million of their own money, so they can’t. And then Anaheim would match. It would have to be a trade. And, you know, I look at Middlestad and if you look at Anaheim’s lineup right now, you have Leo Carlson, you have Ryan Stro that’s at center ice. You have Mason McTavish. You also have Roger McQueen who’s on the way. Um, so do does Anaheim does Anaheim see a fit for Casey Middlestat? Probably not, unless they want to move him to a wing. But ultimately, it’s not Boston’s own 2026 pick. It’s the one they got from Toronto. Correct. That’s what the trade proposal is. Yeah. So, you know, I’m listening. I’m definitely listening uh to that. McTavish is the one where where I’m like, man, I if he can do it for Florida’s pick in 27, that would be ideal. I just feel like that that that that Toronto pick the Bruins got in 26, man. Unless it’s for Nas. And yeah, I think Scott could convince me on Jordan Kyu, too. I don’t know if I want to. I don’t know. I’m very hesitant to move outside of those two players or somebody better than them, which I don’t think is happening. Well, the good news is we have another Case Middle stat proposal. Maybe you like this one better. Um, so Tracy sent us an email. She says, “Hello from Canada. Not very popular to be a Bruins fan up here in Toronto, but that’s just how I roll. My trade proposal is Raquel for Middle Stat and a firstrounder. If needed, retain 20% salary and throw in a lesser prospect like Merkolof. Uh, we get a 30 goal scorer with three years left on his contract and a very reasonable cap hit of $5 million. he won’t play with Sid. So maybe he ends up at least having a 20 or 30 goal scorer. Uh and although older at 32 would be very nice uh very nice stop gap for the next few years while your prospects are developing. I like Ricardo Kell, but I’m not giving up a firstrounder for a 32-year-old. Um ju it just doesn’t make sense to me with where the Bruins are right now. Like if I can get him cheaper, sure, because I I do like the player. He He is a legit top six winger. Um Bruins need that, but I’m not doing it at the expense of one of my first rounders or or any of their first rounders, I should say. No, like this is this is another this is like the third of the the trades that I’ve mentioned that involve middle stat that it’s like there’s always a firstrounder in there, too. And it’s it’s always like it’s middle stat plus something else. Like almost like middle stat is like the throwaway piece to get rid of. Yeah. That that’s the other thing too is like listen like I I’ve said it before too like I’m down on Middlestad but he’s no like he’s not just a throwin in a trade like this. Like a first rounder alone might get you Ricard Raquel. And I know like you’d have to make the money work, but you you got to have like a little bit I mean listen, you brought in Middlestab, like you got to have a little bit of faith that you can get more out of him and make him a good valuable player. Like if if you don’t believe that, then there was no point in ever getting him in the first place. So, like have have some faith in yourself and like show at least a little bit of faith in Middlestat and like if you still plan to ultimately move him, well, let him at least rehab his value a little bit. Like, you’re going to be putting him probably on your top power play unit and he’s centering your second line. Like, see see what he does. Yeah, I agree, Scott. That’s the other part of this that that is in my mind as well is can I at least see Casey Middlestat in a in a in a situation where he can succeed and not have AHL wingers and have a full year under his belt where it’s not just tank tank city um in the last month of the season like so I I I’m curious about that too like like and and and also to the last thing you said Scott if you do still want to move him hopefully he can increase his trade value right so I just think that I think the Bruins, unless it’s for a trade that is clearly a win for the Bruins and and you wouldn’t lose lose any sleep over it, I think the Bruins would be doing themselves a disservice to to trade Middle stat right now because, you know, we talked about we talked about the idea of maybe moving him pre-draft as as as as maybe a piece to, you know, move up in a draft, maybe get the first or second overall pick. And you know what, ironically enough, the Bruins draft is seventh. in my opinion got a got got a top three talent in the draft anyway. So I’m I’m not as I’m not in as much of a rush right now to move on from middle stat unless it clearly makes your team better. The Ricard Raquel example, Scott, you articulated that perfectly. So I’m not going to elaborate further, but I just want to say I do like Ricard Raquel. I do too. I do. Age is a big problem here. And I mean got a chance to talk to him. I I’d never talked to him before, but this year at Four Nations because he was playing for Sweden, um he was over there by himself and like they had all these little podiums and everybody was was going and and talking to certain people and and obviously there all the Bruins media went and talked to um Elias Lynholm, but Ricard Raquel was just over there by himself. So, I just went over and just talked to him for few minutes and he was a really nice guy. Uh I think he’d be a good addition in that way. Uh, so those are some I guess intangibles that maybe are considered here. Maybe Casey Middlestat doesn’t have the leadership intangible. Maybe Ricardo Kell does and maybe you’re look you’re valuing that. Um, so yeah, what if it was just one for one? Well, okay. So, but that but that changes it, right? Cuz like like I was going to say Raquel is I’m I’m sure he’s a great guy to have on the team. I’m sure he’s a great guy, right? But but in this situation, he’s he’s 32. He’s six years older than Middlestad and you’re also partying with the Bruins first with with a first round pick. So I I don’t So So I’m not willing to give up that cost for Raquel. In the world of one for one Bridget, you’re talking Middlestad for Raquel. I mean, part of me still wants to see what the kid can do. I mean, I get I would I make that trade, I got to think about it a little bit longer. um he he is 6 years younger than than than Raquel and the Bruins aren’t in a win now situation. So would the Bruins be better off holding on to Middlestat and and by the time that the Bruins are contending again now Middlestad’s 28 29 still three years younger than than Raquel now and maybe he’s a better producer at that point to me to me it still just seems like you’re just I don’t I don’t know if the reward is worth the risk again because Raquel is going to be in his mid-30s by the time you’re probably contending truly again. Yeah, I I think I’d probably just take my chances with Middlestat, too. He also, you know, plays the more valuable position as a center. And as much as like I mean, we talk about career years, like Ricard just had his at age 31, 32. Um 35 goals, 70 points, but like the year before he had 37 points in 70 games. Year before that 60 and 82. Great. Year before that he had 41 in 70 games. It’s like there’s some inconsistency there year to year and I think even like game to game um in season that it’s like okay yeah great if if you’re getting the 60 to 70 point Raquel cool that clearly helps your team if he comes in and he’s 40 point Ricard Raquel now you’re just going like what was the point of that like we just got another underachieving top six forward like that you would also have to account for that and that’s where who’s six years older. Yeah, and that’s where I’m like, I’d rather just see what I have in Middlestad, honestly. Okay, so every single trade I think that involved Middle, I think we said no. Right. Let it Let it be known. Skate Pod now officially pro Casey Middlestat. I guess so. I think they were all nos. But all right, let’s move on from Middlestat. Um, we got two more questions. This one is from Kim. Kim said, “Hi guys. Uh Dom Taniano posted a chart a few days ago that showed various team stats with Matt Patra paired uh with various players from last season including Pasta and Geeky. Granted, it’s a small sample size as Don pointed out, but I thought it was really interesting what it showed. As someone who as someone that loves stats, Scott, I would love to hear your opinion on it as well as hearing from Brian and Bridget, too. My takeaway is that Patra makes a difference when he’s on the ice. That’s part one. So, we’ll do that first. Yeah. So, this So, Kim actually sent this in, I think, last week. So, this was a little older one, but we just hadn’t done a mailbag since then. Uh, so I have the I have what Dom tweeted. Um, by the way, Dominic Tiano, really good follow for like um Bruins prospects, AHL guys, Canadian junior stuff. Um but yeah so he put up uh numbers of certain players with Potra and without Prain. So like Pastanak with Potra 71% goals four percentage when they were on the ice together almost 54 minutes 66% expected goals versus without Padra it was like 56% goals 50% expected goals. Morgan Geeki had a similar jump. Obviously, you know, Padra would have been if he was with Posak was often with Geeky. So, I remember we talked about this during the season and so I just want to reiterate how important context is here because a lot of those potra shifts with Posanak and Geeki, in fact, almost all of those shifts came right after a brunes penalty kill. Uh, and the reason that is important is because you after killing a penalty, you are throwing out your best offensive players who were not killing the penalty because the other team just used their best p their best players on the power play. They have to roll out third and fourth liners now. So, and that is it is a prime opportunity to jump on an opponent. It’s why you see it’s part of why you see teams get momentum from a penalty kill. Part of it is yes, it lifts up the emotion. It gets the bench going. Part of it is you also now get to roll out your best players against their worst players or some of their worst players. So that is the context of those shifts. So I’m not trying to totally discredit the way Pra plays when he’s out there with Posanak and Geeki because he we’ve seen it. He does play well. He’s made plays to set those guys up. But context is very important. He’s He is not playing with them when they’re out against the top D pairing and the other team’s top lie. And I don’t think he would have those results if he did. No. Um and it’s true, we did mention this during the season because there were a few times where they connected for for a goal. One of one or the other was setting the other one up um between him and Pasta. And I do think they do like that trio passes the eye test when you see them on the ice together in like like Scott said in that context. Um because I think they’re maybe the three potentially the three smartest playmakers or just they have that natural ability. Something in their brain is really good at finding the seams and they’re they’re very aware of where everyone is on the ice. Like those are the probably the three guys who I think have that quality the most on the team. So when you put them the three of them out there together, there’s they’re pretty much you know they’re connecting on their passes. They’re going to set up a scoring opportunity. Um, and so that that it could be an effective trio if that’s what uh Kim’s trying to get at. Like, hey, maybe we do want to see it a little bit more or maybe try it because maybe they just their brains just they work together. They they understand each other. But I do think that um because of the way that Geeky and Pasta and Elias Lynholm finished the season strong, I think that’s probably what you see. Um, and Patra probably does crack the lineup. I think we all think he starts in Boston based on our our depth chart that we put together after free agency, but I just don’t know if he starts on the first line. I think that maybe under certain circumstances where maybe Lindholm isn’t really meshing with them again like in the beginning of the season. Um, yeah, it’s it’s going to be hard for him to get time there, I think, with posture knock though. Yeah, it’s it it’s also just a matter of he has to earn it still, too. And I I know that it’s a small sample size that that Kim references. And and but I think the distinction that Scott made about post penalty kill shifts is is a good one to make. Uh, and ultimately David Passnak has to be on a line where his center iceman is winning pucks back in the Dzone and helping transition to offense. And we can say what we want about Elias Lynholm’s underwhelming offensive performance last season, but he he does win one-on-one battles and he does he wins faceoffs. He wins faceoffs. He’s good positionally. He does do little things that you don’t necessarily see jump off the screen, but they do help lead to to offensive transitional play. And Matt Potra, for his size that he’s continuing to work on, he’s been a relatively undersized player in his time in the NHL so far, but a little bit light on his skates. With that said, I commend him because he his battle effort uh battle effort is is strong, especially for a player of his size. He he he plays bigger than his size. And that’s him at 19 years old when he was a little bit lighter. I think as he gets older and more experienced and puts on some more weight, I do think Matt Potra will be a player who wins far more battles than he loses. But right now, especially in a vulnerable point in the season next October, we know the Bruins are going to really try to emphasize having a good start and try to hit the ground running cuz they’re going to need a good start if they want to have a good season because I don’t think this team’s going to get behind the eightball and have a have the ability to bounce back. So, they’re going to have to try to play from ahead. And I think that maybe going with the more safe option uh in in Lynholm, who they know can win puck battles and whatnot, is probably where they’re going to lean. and Potra is just gonna have to earn it. Not saying he won’t get there, but he’s just gonna have to earn it from from the jump probably. The second part of Kim’s email, her second question says, “Not a Bruins question, but what do you think of Reeves going to San Jose? They had been doing a great job of building up their roster. But I question this move. I realize they want someone to be able to protect Celebrin and Smith, but I feel he’s way past his prime and there’s no way he’s going to be able to keep up with them on the same line if that’s where he’s placed. So, Reeves got traded from Toronto uh in the offseason. He I think he like randomly just like blurted it out in an interview like he had just gotten traded and then like went on camera. I mean, it was just like, “Hey, um yeah, I got traded.” But uh what do you guys think of it? I I’ll let you guys go first. Yeah, I mean for Toronto is a salary dump as much as anything. San Jose has all the cap space in the world so they can take on salary. Um yeah, I mean look, Ryan Reeves was like basically unplayable at times last season. Like Toronto just couldn’t have him in the lineup, especially against faster opponents. Um yeah, I do I do think he’s way past his prime. Maybe he plays in San Jose, maybe he’s an extra forward. He’s not going to be on a line with Min Celibbrini or Will Smith, so you don’t have to worry about that. He’s going to be on their fourth line if anything. Um yeah, I I think it’s it’s a player towards the end of his career. it’s um you know someone yeah maybe you still admire his willingness to fight but like ultimately like that I made this point kind of about Jano although Jano still has Tanner Jano has much more left in his game than than Ryan Reeves but the idea of like having enforcers out there to protect young guys I just I think it’s kind of outdated but you know Bruins and Sharks are two teams who have kind of done it now And I guess we’ll see. I just don’t really think the game happens that way anymore. Like I don’t I don’t think those kind of players are I don’t know if they were ever truly necessary, but they’re certainly not nearly as necessary to as they were in like the 80s or 90s. They were never necessary. I don’t know. I mean, like, did Wayne I know like Wayne Gretzky had enforcers, but like did he need them? Like I there you could go back in history and like have a debate about that. I think you’re gonna have like there there’s a certain generation of people who listen to this podcast who are gonna be like, “What the hell, Scott?” Listen, I like them. Like they were they’re some of my favorite players as a kid. Like PJ Suckers are my favorite players. But again, like I want to be clear about what I’m saying. Like necessary? Like was PJ Stock necessary? I think he was really entertaining and I appreciated the hell out of everything that he did and was willing to do. But there’s there’s a difference there between like do you need players? I think I I here’s the way to look at it, right? And I think there are there are some players that were kind of unicorns where they were that enforcer but also could play and play at a high level like Milan Luch for example he created a lot of space for David Creech over the years. Now, yes, Luch could also score, but my but like Tom Wilson, maybe like Tom Wilson kind of but but but but yeah, Thomas is another one. But I mean, in the case of Ryan Reeves, you’re talking just a true enforcer, which I because I don’t want to put words in Scott’s mouth. I think he’s more talking just the pure enforcer. So, I think the best way to answer that question would be to ask somebody that’s been in the game, did did you think twice about doing something against an opponent if they had somebody on that team? Now I know Scott in the case of Jano and in Reeves your point is well Jano is not playing on a line with James Hags in the future and and Reeves is not playing on the line with Celerrini and that’s true but that doesn’t mean that if somebody on the opposition cheap shots one of your best players that the next time they’re on the ice that Jano or Reeves isn’t hopping over the boards and and meeting them or or or or somebody else in the team. Rampage. Yeah. It’s it’s not it’s not necessarily about being on the same line at the same time as something happening. It’s about if something happens, well, at some point the player who committed the infraction is going to be on the ice and then the other team has the opportunity to put somebody on the ice to kind of make them answer or whatever. But that’s the intention. It’s it’s reactive more than proactive because Yeah. I don’t think I don’t think having a Janoa or Reeves on your team stops some someone from throwing a cheap shot if they’re the kind of player who’s going to throw a cheap shot, but you’re right. Like it forces them to answer for it maybe. Exactly. Um but that ultimately didn’t save your your talented young player concussion. No, of course not. No. Now, I think there’s a lot of hockey fans and and not just Bruins fans, fans across the league that that would say that Marty Msurley played a very important role in Wayne Gretzky’s time. Um, certainly in in Los Angeles. Um, I mean, again, it’s a different era, though. It’s a totally different era. do think Scott in the 80s and the 90s I I I do think that it was it was it was it was prison yard rules at times and and it didn’t matter if you’re Wayne Gretzky or Marty Msurley. I I do think that there was an element of needing that on a team. It’s just the nature of the sport. I do think it’s changed now that we’re in 2025. Um but at the same time like may yeah I mean maybe San Jose just thinks that it’s good to have maybe Reeves just a good pro off the ice. I don’t I don’t really know. So yeah, specifically to to the Reef’s question before we get to our last one because Scott has to go. Um it’s probably a better landing spot for him than being in Toronto because seems like he really wasn’t, you know, his time kind of run out there. Maybe he gets more playing time because of the nature of the the kind of team he’s going to being a team that’s kind of building up. Um and maybe he can play a role there on the fourth line and and just be a little added entertainment value. Um, but yeah, so I think probably good for him, probably the right move for Toronto. So maybe he’ll be able to reclaim a little bit for another year of of his career out in Anaheim. Well, and he he was getting some heat, too, because he he uh he was asked on a podcast about how he gave Mitch Mner some advice about going to Vegas. And he just said I was just honest with them like uh Vegas is a great place to play, awesome hockey market now, uh less pressure than Toronto, and it was some of the best times of my professional career. And that was while he was still a member of the uh Maple Leafs, and he gave that that info to to MNER, but he was People tried to link those things as to why he got traded. I don’t think that’s necessarily why. I think it’s because to Scott’s point, it was it was a cap dump and everything and he’s not really helping them on the ice. All right, I don’t think we have time for this last question because Scott has We do. We we can do it like it’s a quick one. Okay. All right. I’ll read it real quick. Roger says, “Hi, folks. I know you don’t spend a lot of time talking about Bruins prospects uh outside of draft time, but I’m curious what the goalending pipeline looks like for the team. They let Brennan Busy go to Florida and they gave Michael DPro an NHL contract. if they trade Corposalo to give DPRO a chance in the NHL, what does the pipeline look like after that? Thank you. So, it’s pretty thin. It’s a it’s they have goalies to fill in Providence. Um, so they did sign uh Simon Zichek out of the Czech Republic who had a very good season over in the Czech Pro League. He is ticketed for Providence. We’ll get a a shot there. Um, and then they also signed one of their, you know, minor moves in free agency, Luke Cavalin. Uh, and his, so he also 24 years old like Zichek. He had a really good season in the ECHL last year for, uh, for Montreal’s ECHL team, Tua Tuier. Hopefully my my French is okay there. Um, but he uh so he he led them to the ECHL title. Uh started 20 playoff games, had like a 948 say percentage or something. Um so he’s probably going to get a shot in Providence as well. Um so that fills out your Providence roster and then they’ll bring in whoever to fill ECHL spots. And then really outside of the professional ranks, the only one in the pipeline is Phillips Fedback, uh, Providence Province Colleg’s goalie. So, yeah, and he’s supposed to go back for another year. So, I don’t think he’s going to be in like he’s not going to be available immediately this season, right? Um, unless, you know, we’re talking about in the spring for whatever reason, they need him in the spring and but probably not. So, probably won’t see him this year. And the only other person that I want to mention because I’ve mentioned him before, Alvin Boya came to camp. He is not. He’s a undrafted free agent, so he doesn’t belong to anyone, but the Bruins have interest in him. He’s the goalie at UMA. Thought he had a good season last year. I think he’s somebody that they’re interested in, but they’ll have to once he decides to hang it up at Maine, which I believe he is expected to play another season at least. Um, he’s somebody that maybe they reach back out to and they say, “Hey, we’re interested in bringing you in.” They sign him as an undrafted free agent. I think he’d be a good addition to the pipeline. Um, so that could be a fit there too. If he has another season like his last season at Maine, then there will be a lot of competition because there even this year there was a lot of interest and he decided to go back. Yeah, he’s he was, you know, he won the Hockey East Championship. He was great in the playoffs, including the NCAA tournament. Uh, I really like him as a person, too. He’s a nice kid. Uh, and he’s I’ve never heard anyone say a single bad thing about this kid. So, uh, he would be a good gat if you could. All right, I think that does it for this episode. Thank you all for sending your questions. Thank you for listening. We’ll talk to you later in the 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.

In this mailbag episode we answer more trade idea questions, including many proposals that involved trading Casey Mittelstadt. Plus, should Matt Poitras get more time with David Pastrnak? And, is the Bruins’ goalie pipeline too thin?

Follow us on Twitter: @TheSkatePod | @smclaughlin9 | @briandefelice_ | @bridgetteproulx | Email us at skatepod@weei.com

Leave your questions in the comments and we will answer as many as we can!

Jump to:
00:00 – Opening shifts
9:30 – All-time Bruins’ starting lineup & where Pastrnak ranks
23:00 – Mailbag starts
30:00 – Marco Rossi trade idea
37:00 – Connor McDavid trade idea
43:00 – Mason McTavish trade idea
52:00 – Should Poitras get more time with Pastrnak?
1:03:00 – Is the Bruins’ goalie pipeline too thin?

Photo: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Follow The Skate Podcast on the Audacy App or wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/TheSkatePodcast

Don’t forget to subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/weeivideo

📡 LISTEN LIVE ➡️ https://www.audacy.com/weei/listen
📺WATCH LIVE ➡️ http://weei.com/watch
💻WATCH LIVE ON TWITCH ➡️ http://twitch.tv/bostonweei
Download the Audacy App today and stream your WEEI wherever you are! ➡️
https://go.audacy.com/y-listen-live-weei

FOLLOW US:
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/WEEI
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/weeisports/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/WEEI/

Thumbnail images courtesy of Getty Images/USA Today Network.