LIVE Bruins Beat: Why the Bruins are Rolling

LIVE Bruins Beat: Why the Bruins are Rolling

Live Bruins beat. Live Bruins beat on a Monday. We were supposed to start at 12. We’re starting at 12:14. Doesn’t matter because we’re here. Presented by Prize Pix as always. Use that promo code CLNS to get $50 in lineups. After you play your first $5 lineup and of course remember to go subscribe to Bruins Ringside on YouTube, we hit 10K. We’re very excited about it. So, go do that. Uh, and then if you don’t like watching and you just like listening, go subscribe wherever you get your podcasts from. Spotify, Apple, Podbean, there’s a million of them. So, go do that. And then obviously CNS has a ton of other great stuff. Celtics All Access, Patriots, Press Pass, those channels are humming. There’s always stuff over there. So, make sure to go check those out. I’m Evan Marinowski. That’s Conor Ryan. Connor, what is up, Evan? I’m doing well. How you doing? Doing great. Doing great. Uh, even no matter how great I was doing, it wouldn’t be as great as the Bruins right now. Six in a row. Beat the Leafs on Saturday night, five to three. They play the Leafs again tomorrow night on Tuesday. Um, I will hand up. Thought Saturday was a scheduled loss. Not actually, but I was like, this looks like a loss. You know, you’ve won five in a row. This is an inconsistent team. Uh, Makavoy’s out, Middle Stat’s out. You’re going to lose. just way is way not the case. Not the case at all. Yeah. No, very impressive. Uh to your point, yeah, this is another tough test. Uh I know Toronto’s kind of been up and down, but still a team that has the firepower, especially where you know what the Bruins roster was and the guys that weren’t out there. Um it was impressive and it’s something that I think you look at one of the biggest question marks for the Bruins going into this year is the depth, right? We didn’t think that this team was going to have even on paper fully healthy a team that can like outscore their mistakes or or put the other team on the ropes. Um and this is a game where you don’t just have, you know, no Makavoy, you have um no Elias Lindome, so you don’t have your top right shot D, you don’t have your top line center. Uh you don’t have your second line wing in middle stat who has been playing really good hockey. And what do the Bruins do? It’s like their their depth really I think stood out in this game and you got contributions all across the the depth chart. All the different lines were cashing in. Um you have Mason Laura getting back into the lineup and he was had an unbelievable game I think going back for you know five games off. Uh it’s tough to kind of just get thrown back into the fire like that. But had two assist two assists. um didn’t put himself in bad spots and you saw him kind of play to his strengths, but wasn’t just him, right? Like you had everyone kind of pulling on the rope. You had swimming made timely saves. You got a posture goal. You got geeky contributing. You got Frasier Minton scoring against his old team. It’s just uh when you look at this overall sixgame winning streak, you’ve had kind of games where it’s been a player or two that stood up that you know that stepped up and helped you out, right? You’ve had Ninov win you a couple of games. You’ve had Minton step up and this was a game where you’re just seeing it all across the depth chart. And as you’re a Bruins team that is, I think trying to build some momentum and feeling com, you know, confident about your game, it’s a a performance like this on the road in Toronto short-handed where a lot of guys step up that I feel like that’s a game that you can really kind of get galvanized uh and get, you know, a lot more momentum going in your favor moving forward. I was going to say that’s a galvanizing win. That’s a win where it’s like all right like we’re bought in and as Sturm said at the beginning of the year guy you know not enough guys are on the bus. I think everybody’s got a seat and is well accounted for on the bus at this point. I mean everybody seat belts on like maybe head against the cold window when you were a kid like on the on the school bus going into school like that was that’s them right now. They’re cooking and I think um you know it it it I was at New England Sports Center all weekend and there was a listener of the show who stopped me and said are you the host of Bruins beat? And I said, “Oh, no, God, no, please. I I swear I’m not.” And uh he was like, “You know, I I I got to push back on you a little bit. You say they’re not a playoff team. I think they are playing like a playoff team now.” And I could see them making it. I was like, “They are?” Yeah. I mean, I could at this point, I mean, they’re second in the Atlantic. Uh they’ve won six in a row. They’re certainly playing like a playoff team and I think they’re playing to the identity this team should be. Um and as you said, you know, you’re getting contributions from everybody uh on Saturday night. I think the biggest thing is like you know your top guys scored Morgan Geeky and David Posnock had goals. Pos’s goal by the way was like holy crap filthy. That was insane. But then you have contributions from other guys in the lineup too. You have Fraser Mitten scoring a goal. Um you haven’t got Arvdson like that second line keeps cooking. Um even without Middlestat there and Middlestat as you said has been fantastic of late. So you’ve all it’s just things are coming together. Um especially after such a rough stretch to begin the year. Um and I I I do wonder like that it’s you know you have a tough stretch coming up. You have Toronto Tuesday. You have Montreal. Um then you they go out west soon as well. You play a really good Ducks team. The Kings. I think the Sharks as well. Sharks are really exciting team. I was watching them the other night. Like celebrate. I don’t remember the college one. Well, it’s a really good school. The, you know, it’s it’s almost as good academically as it is sports-wise, but great great spot, but I I to me like I I look at what they’re doing right now and I I know that six wins in a row is not sustainable. You’re not always going to go on those kinds of runs, but the way they’re winning games is they’re playing better defensively. They sh they had low Ryan sheltered minutes, which I think is like right now that’s the perfect spot for them. And offensively, you’re getting contributions from everybody. Like it’s it’s coming together right now. Yeah. And I think you’re seeing guys that are just getting more settled into the roles and are are feeling confident about their games, right? Like we looked at Fraser Mincson as a guy that were saying, “All right, you know, he can be a guy that may maybe gives you 25 points, but if he’s solid as your 3C, he’s like, you know, playing at a really high level right now. He’s averaging, I think, close to 16 minutes of ice time over the last six games. I think he’s got five points during that stretch. Like and Bakur loves him, right? Like he pretty much said it before the season started. Said after Saturday’s game he thought he was the best player on the ice. I’m not saying that we’re getting swept up of like, you know, is this guy a 2C down the road, but he’s playing like he’s not just a 3C, you know, solid two-way guy that any offense is going to just be the cherry on top, right? Like he’s making those smart plays, but he’s he’s doing the things that leads to production. and he’s feels like he’s really kind of turned the corner after a little bit of a slow stretch there to start the season. So, he’s feeling good about his game to your point of like the second line like I mean Zaka has been on a roll the entire year but Arbertson I think is starting to heat up. It’s unfortunate that uh Middlestat is out. Uh Sturm mentioned today on Monday after practice that he’s probably week to week but they feel like he’s uh recovered pretty well already. So you maybe it’s by next week he’s back in the equation. We’ll see. But um but he was playing at a high level. You look at you know that third line, it’s not just Minton, but I feel like Jano and Castillic are playing really well now. Uh Castellic continues to I think impress since he’s really been here. But even a guy like Jano, right? A guy that caught a lot of flack um to start the year as far as that contract like has a great play to set up Cari’s goal on Thursday against Ottawa, right? where he draws the two guys to him, sets him up for that goal. And then I thought he was impactful again on Saturday against Toronto. And this is a player that uh in Jano who’s on pace for I believe 31 points this year, which would I think would be his second highest scoring year after that one breakout year he’s had. And it’s almost like all right, you compare him with a guy who he essentially replaced in Trent Frederick who’s got one goal and zero assists in 15 games with Edmonton. Oh, like again, there’ll be people who don’t like that Chanel contract, but he’s he’s playing to his strengths. He’s playing to the identity I think the Bruins want him to play at. I think you’re just seeing guys buying in all across the board. And to your point about this team knowing um like what they have to do. I think like you see it reinforced on Thursday, right? like the Bruins, like every team at the end of a game, a win, they hand out like the puck, you know, and usually it’s to the guy who makes the biggest contribution on the score sheet or, you know, goalie has a shut out, all that sort of stuff. The Bruins have changed it this year where it’s the grinder award. So, it’s not the guy maybe has the hattick or the two goals, it’s the guy that does the little things, you know, blocking shots, all that sort of stuff that helps them win games. So, Sturma’s mentioned that, you know, this is what the Bruins have to be this year. And I think you’re seeing the players, you know, embrace that identity. And it sure helps if you’re Marco Sturm, if you can preach that and then all a sudden the wind start piling up. And I think you’re seeing this team be one that, yeah, they may not have the high-end skill up and down the lineup. But they lot they have a lot of guys all across the depth chart who work their ass off. And if you do that night in night out and and guys are stepping in here and there, you’re at least going to be in these games. You’re going to be competitive. And right now, they’re they’re executing. You mentioned some of these guys in the middle that maybe aren’t high skill like Mikey Acimont four goals, eight points, 17 games. Arvdson starting to heat up, five goals, eight points, 17 games. Mittens has like five points in his last six, I think, and and has six on the season. Jano six. Castle five. Cari five. Like you’re getting those guys. They’re not just playing the right way. They are chipping in production. And I think that part of it too is helping them so much where it’s not the burden isn’t just on postnock. And we said, we’ve said this a thousand times on this show, you’re not always going to get production from your bottom six. You’re not always even going to get production from your middle six. You do have to rely on those guys up top, but I think the fact that they are producing as much as they have is a huge huge help to them right now. Um, and it’s encouraging to see that Castillic assist on Mittens goal. Woohoo. Like little tow drag in, draws the defender like that. Okay. and and that was it’s like all right, you know, and you can’t rely on that all the time, but it so first of all, it’s a reminder that even the toughest guys in the NHL are really freaking good, by the way. Like like when Sean Thornton at penalty shot goal, like they’re really freaking good. Um I want to get into the Mitten trade because that’s been something that’s on the minds of a lot of people. Brett asked a really good question about the deadline that I don’t think we’ve touched, so I want to get into that in a bit. But first, Miss Anderson, come on down. in trade the first trade them everyone out every every asset out. Uh but first our friends at Prize Pix. This episode’s brought to you by Prize Pix. You and I make decisions every day. But on Prize Pix, being right can get you paid. Don’t miss any of the excitement this season on Prize Fix where it’s good to be right. Bruins wise, I’m looking at you, Morgan Geeky. He just keeps scoring. I How do you not take more than.5 goals in a game that he’s in? And David Posrock, more than.5 points. To me, those are the two uh that I that I continue to ride with and continue to like. Prize Pix is simple to play. Just pick more or less on two to six player stat projections. And if you get your picks right, you can cash in. Prize Pix invented the Flex Play, which means you can still cash out if your lineup ain’t perfect. You can double your money even if one of your picks doesn’t hit. Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That’s code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. prize picks. It’s good to be right. Um, why don’t we start we’ll start with Mitten. We’ll get to the listener questions in a second. Um, Fraser Mitten. That trade has never looked better. And I’m not even saying off the goal, right? Like Brennan Carlos out of position, all that stuff. Mitten is developing into a really reliable middle six guy. He’s not even 22 years old yet. You you you see the speed. You see the the int you see the hockey IQ there’s an offensive flare like if he was just this for the rest of his career I think you’d be like cool like take it but he’s still really young and can still develop that end of it. You also have their first like what if the Maple Leafs stink. I don’t know like there is that part where it’s like what if that pick ends up being like realistically like 15th or 16th or 17th um and you you dumped uh Brennan Carlo in that. So that trade right now is looking pretty damn good. Yeah. No, I mean even if like we laugh about like oh what if like Toronto like actually plummets or something and they get the seventh pick or something. I know it’s top five projected. Even if that’s very unrealistic, even if it is something in the late teens, you look at how deep this uh this draft is. like you’re going to get a really solid like right shot D prospect or a really solid winger I think if you get a pick in the teens or even if it’s more realistically 20 21st right something like that you’re probably going to get a pretty good player in this draft if you um you know have one or two picks to work with there so that already is a plus in and of itself but then yeah like you look at what Minton has been this year and you hear from it’s not just Sturm I asked Zador off today um about like what’s stood out about Minton so far. And you know, a lot of the guys mentioned like, oh, like his like maturity, his approach on the ice. He’s like, young guys don’t like grasp like how active you need your stick to be. Like guys just let passing lanes um develop because there’s they don’t they’re not locked into those details. He’s like he’s like a veteran as far as how he is and he’s just going to get better with that. So, you know, he’s getting praise from his teammates, from his coach, and I think you’re seeing it right like to what I said earlier. I think if he was your steady 3C, you know, like a a Chris Kelly, right? Like great two-way player, great at faceoffs and gives you 25 35 points. You’ll take it because he’s so good defensively, but like what if he has more upside? Maybe he’s uh like elite third line center where he could be like a 40 like a 40point guy or even more. Or maybe he can play further up in the lineup. like you look at just his skill set and how much I think um you know the biggest question marks for him are not you know can he hang around can he adjust to NHL speed or anything like that it’s just I think what his offensive ceiling is not saying that all a sudden he’s got a 25 goal season in coming but I think you see the way he plays um if he plays to his strengths the production’s going to be there right like it’s not like he’s this guy that’s killing guys on the rush or he’s not you know dangling through players but if he plays to, you know, his approach, he’s going to be a productive player. So, you look at that trade beyond whoever the Bruins could get in this draft or you can even parlay that that pick into a player if you want to move it at the deadline that already helps out this team as far as their long-term plans. But then you add in a guy like Mintton who at the very least is going to be a middle six stalwart for this team. Trade’s looking pretty good right now. You make the same thing with like the coil trade as far as like what Will Zellers is doing at North Dakota and then even what Middlestat a guy who we’ve said is, you know, a guy that you’re trying to boost his his value for. He’s like a 50point guy on the second line right now. So, yeah, I I do think um like all those trades so far have been working out for the Bruins. If only if only the Bruins got a 2026 first from Marshand because like the Florida’s been kind of up and down so far this year. I think they’re going to be just fine. But um yeah, and even like I looked at another comment from Shane uh I know this is you can’t see it on the screen yet, but he’s talking about Houston as part of the Brazo deal, right? Like you’re having a lot of guys so far that are pulling on the rope and are doing things to contribute to help out this team right now. And what you hope for, they’re part of the equation moving forward. And that’s kind of what we mentioned, Evan, like before the year started. Regardless of where this team was going to end up, uh, as far as the standings this year, are they a playoff team or what or whatnot? What we were saying, like the priority for this team was you got to identify guys who are going to be part of this team once you come out the other side of this retool rebuild. Like last year, you found out that Morgan Geeki is a player. it’s validated more this year, but if you can come out of this year regardless of where you end the year and Minton looks like a legit player, Husand looks like a guy that could be in your middle six. Um, all those things are so key for this team. Um, and so far all these trades have been working out really well. Yeah, Shane Zeers came back in the coil trade to Colorado. So, that was that was that. But again, that was that’s a trade that’s looked really good. Really good. Um, back to Mitten. I think one of the big things with me, and this is sort of my trust in him, is like if they had to move him up to the top line for a couple of games, I’d be like, “Hell yeah.” Like, not only do I want to see how he plays up there, but I trust him. I think Sterm trusts him. Like the way he plays defensively, how he uh how he assists in the offensive game, like I someone mentioned um the Stall brothers. Like I think it’s very clear at this point that Mitten is going to be one of those guys that’s going to be with you when you’re on the other side of this thing. And by the way, you might not be on this other side of anything if you keep winning like this. It’s like, all right, well, just keep winning. Like, so what? Um, but I do think it’s clear that he’s going to be someone that you’re going to build around and he’s going to be a piece of this. And I think that’s really that is so so what they needed, a guy down the middle who’s reliable and and fits their culture. As much as the Bruins drafted for speed and skill, as much as the Bruins even got a guy like Houston Dean off uh or or Will Zeers at the deadline who were, you know, about speed and skill and offensive finesse, Mitten still fits here perfectly. Still fits really well. And I think that’s a huge part of it. Um as well, and it hits it at this somewhat. It was the first question we got. I got to go back and scroll through it. Brett asks, “Is it too early to talk about buying at the deadline? And if you sell when the team is over 500, what does that do mentally to guys like Kiki Post and Macka Boy? I can give you a definitive answer on the second part of that. If they are where they’re at now at the deadline, you can’t sell. You can’t like this team is notorious for believing that if they can get in the playoffs, they have a chance. When you have guys like Pos and Makavoy in their prime, you got to take every chance you can. Now, you could maybe still deal Arvdson and get something for him cuz he’s a pending UFA and then package picks or prospects for a a long-term player. If you want to say Rasmus Anderson, that could be someone. I’m hesitant though to deal your firsts. I am. I don’t care where they’re at. I I’m still going to be conservative on this. I still don’t want to deal firsts. I don’t. Um, and granted, I said that same thing the year that they were the best team in hockey, and it wasn’t until like the 11th hour that I was like, actually, yeah, like go all in. And maybe that’ll be me this year. But from what I’ve seen so far, I’m not dealing first. Um, I’m not dealing first. I want I want the I think it all comes down to there’s a lot of factors still, you know, at play here, right? We’re only on November 10th. Um, so you got to see the deadline, baby. That’s Yeah. So, you got to see where you got to see where this team is in March, right? Like, if this team is all of a sudden we’re we’re, you know, looking at this group and we’re at the deadline and the Bruins are like comfortably in a playoff spot. Let’s let’s say they’re like second in the Atlantic in March and like, yeah, they probably aren’t selling off guys. Like even a guy like Arbertson, if he’s on pace for 24 goals and 45 50 points, you’re probably keeping him, right? even if maybe he’s just going to cash in elsewhere after the season that’ll probably wrankle some fans, right? But I feel like if that’s the way the Bruins are playing, like, you know, but like maybe that changes, but maybe that changes if they’re on the outside looking in, right? If they’re just outside the playoff picture, maybe they’re the second wildcard team, right? Like that is exactly well. You know, Aiden, I I would say, you know, Pittsburgh, I feel like they’re kind of a paper tiger, so I don’t really No. Uh got a long ways to go. Ottawa’s going to be a tough matchup in the first round. Omar, that’s going to be that’s going to be a good storyline. Are they going to be hugging at the end of game? What are they going to do? Exactly. Uh but no, like I think so as far as the trade deadline, yeah, it’s going to depend on where exactly this team is, you know, as far as in the standings, what you do with some of the assets you have like a Iverson, like a a middle stat, Zaka, obviously. Um but then yeah, as far as buying, right, I think it all comes down to what you’re getting. Like if you’re getting a rental or a guy that is going to um you know, help out your team, but he’s not part of the long-term equation, then no, of course not. It’s kind of like similar to when they got Hampus Lindol, right? They immediately sign him to an extension. If you get a guy like that who’s going to be part of this team for the next five plus years as an impactful player, then maybe you change your approach, right? If you’re bringing in a guy like Anderson, um you know, if Jordan Kyu gets dealt or something like that, I know he’s already signed long term. Um maybe that’s where you change your approach. But we got a long ways to go until we get to that point. But let me tell you, I’d rather float these possibilities and have it be still on the table than where we were a few weeks ago. We’re like, well, you know, Verhov could probably be in the lineup in October by next year. So, uh, I don’t, you know, listen, a lot can change. The Bruins could still bottom out, but I’d rather have that conversation once we get to later in the springtime before, you know, it felt like it was almost a foregone conclusion before even Halloween that the Bruins were getting ready for a lottery pick. doesn’t feel like that’s the case right now. I said this Thursday night with court, enjoy this. Enjoy the vibes. Like what? Why, you know, don’t rain on it. Enjoy the good vibes. Um I the Arvidson thing is tough because like if you said, you know, 25 goals, 50 point guy, you’re right. You probably, you know, if you’re going for it, you’re going to want to keep that guy on your roster. Don’t you think though keeping him like in hindsight years later would look back and be like, you could have got something for that. Like if you’re if you know he’s gonna be he’d be 33 at the beginning of next season. He turns 33 in April. So like what does that next contract look like? Are you okay with doing that with where they’re at roster-wise? Like I still would want a dealson even if they’re second in the Atlantic. And I know that would mess with them. That would and and by the way this is the other part too in behind the bee who’s speaking up in the dressing room. Victor Arvdson. Like that’s a that’s a big that’s a big move. Um but again, if you’re dealing Arvdson, I would hope that you’re taking the second and the prospect that you’re getting for him or somehow if you’re getting a first. If he was that good, you’re probably getting a first for him. You’re only dealing him for a first. Maybe you package that first with a prospect or someone else for a Hampus Lindholm type trade. Um which then yeah, hell yeah. You’re kind of, you know, taking some chips off the table to go even more in. So like that’s my thing. Um, again, these are problems that are far ahead of us. These are not things that are being dealt with right now. Um, one other comment I saw about James Hagens being on the wing. From what I had heard, he’s on the wing just for faceoffs and then he switches back to the middle um once play gets going. So, I don’t think that’s too big of a thing to worry about. Another thing I saw was Zaka’s contract. Uh, what should Zaka’s next contract look like? I mean, right now you’re holding on to him. Like that’s for sure. Like if you’re continuing like this, you can’t deal him. On pace for what, 70 points? Yeah, that’s like a high-end second line center right now. That’s not like a solid two-way second line center. He’s he’s been awesome this whole year. You got to give credit to him because I always have liked Zaka’s game. I know last year his numbers dipped a little bit, which like we say dipped, he almost hit 50 points again, right? It wasn’t like Yeah. We’ve had like some of those years with like a guy like Coyle where you’re expecting like a 40point year. Then he had that one year where he had what 22, right? Like you had kind of different spikes as far as what he went up and down a lot. Yeah. As far as what uh his overall production has been. Zaka for his three years has averaged I think 54 points and now he’s on pace for even more of there. So he’s been awesome. Yeah. Again, if the Bruins were plummeting down the standings then I think yeah, you would probably get a hall for him. He still would, but it also goes back to, you know, what makes the most sense. If the Bruins really wanted to, you know, give their farm system a shot in the arm, yeah, you probably would still trade Zaka and you’d get, you know, what we say with Vancouver, you probably get Coots in a first round pick and hell, like probably another player as well. It’s the same thing with Arbertson. Like, what’s the best uh, you know, course of action for the Bruins business-wise, long-term wise? Of course, it’s trading Harvardson, but you know, you could also say like, “Oh, the Bruins in 2020, they weren’t going to resign Tory Krug, but you were you going to trade him?” I know he’s a I know Tory a long time. I agree. You know, like it’s apples apples and bowling balls as our friend Phil Leotardo said in Sopranos, but um but like still in terms of what made the most sense, if you’re just looking at it from the Vegas Golden Knights stone cold business approach, then yeah, it’s probably just trading the guy. But you do have to weigh some other things as well. So, I do get it. Um, as far as trying to pump and dump, right, like a player like that, but a lot of different factors that have to be at play there. So, be uh it’s a good sign if we’re still talking about this once we get to the springtime. Yeah, they treat Narvinson like a meme coin. Although, I will say Vegas would just Vegas would take him and then uh deal and deal what you got for him and get like a better player and be like, “All right, you know, Vegas is wheeling and dealing out there.” Um, friendly reminder also, make sure to go subscribe to Brewins Ringside on YouTube. Lots of great stuff coming. We’re doing these all the time. I thought, you know, when I used to say that, it was like, ah, we’ll do them like once a month or whatever. We’re doing these every week, so we’re just doing them live. We know you tune in. We love the the interaction and it’s really fun. I look forward to this whenever we do it. Um, and make sure to subscribe to Brewins, Poke Bear, Pucks with Hags, wherever you get your podcast from. And there’s lots of other great stuff CLS, too. sol Patriots press pass all that great stuff. I see a lot about Arvdson’s leadership. It’s made a difference. They they’re more bought in. It seems like that room is in a much better spot. Um, props to the Bruins video guys uh for going in the room when Sterm is screaming at them. I know that can be an awkward thing when you know you’re behind a camera and they kind of look towards you um and they’re like, you know, hey, get out. Get the [ __ ] out. Yeah, get out. Get get out. Um, but to their credit, props to the Bruins video guys, they stayed in that room and they got an awesome thing. And I think, you know, I think you can look to that uh Sturm yelling at them. And I love when he’s like, “I’ve tried to be nice, but I’m so effing disappointed in you guys.” Like, they needed that. They absolutely needed that. That came I think after the Anaheim game. Yes. And ever since then, outside of that Ottawa loss, they’ve been cooking. And I think he’s pressed all the right buttons. We’ve talked about it a number of times. Um, but look, he’s looked great. He’s looked great in these last couple of weeks. And again, you know, this winning streak is gonna end. Well, maybe it won’t. They’re just going to win every game the rest of the year. U, but it will end. And they’re going to have to get back to winning and losing, you know, games on a regular basis each way. Um but if they can continue to, you know, if they can play the way they’ve been playing, like I don’t think it’s insane that we’re sitting near um the deadline and and saying, you know, they do need to buy. Like if you have a chance to go for it, why not go for it? Yeah. I mean, it’s going to depend on Yeah. who’s out there and just how much this team is continuing to gel, right? Like I it almost feels like this team has so many moving pots that um it feels like they haven’t hit like what their ceiling could be though, right? Like you still have all these younger players who are still establishing themselves. You’re still, you know, seeing when middle stat is back and healthy like that line I think can produce even more. We’re not even looking at the fact that you know the first line uh last year Pasar and Geeki were automatic together. They were averaging I think like 4.1 goals per 60 minutes. This year it’s 1.8. Like they haven’t really even clicked completely at five on five. What happens when Elias Lindholm’s back and they get rolling, right? Like there’s even more upside there. I think there’s a lot more room to grow on the power play. I think you’ve seen that be more productive. So, as encouraging as it is that the Bruins are stacking wins and I think guys are starting to get settled in and they’re buying into the system, I also don’t think like not saying that this is not the ceiling, right? Like that they’re going to just go undefeated, but I think you can get even more production, more potential out of these guys as the year goes on. And I think that’s also really encouraging from both Marco Stern’s perspective and I think the team as a whole. Uh you I want to give you props. You mentioned the power play. Bruins are 12th in power play percentage. And what did you say all summer? You said if that power play can just get to like 19th. Yeah, I said 19th would be like a win, which Yeah, like if you can get there, they’re in 12th. Like credit to Steve Spot like 22.2%. Pittsburgh, by the way, is number one. Pittsburgh is like the story of the league. That is incredible. They were projected to be one of the worst teams in the league, by the way. So the Bruins. The Bruins were also projected to be down uh there, especially with like betting odds and everything. and they haven’t been. Um, but the power play has been so much better. That’s been a huge difference. Um, and they’re just they’re making incremental gains and, you know, they’ve been much better defensively of late, which is a a huge part of it. And they’re cooking like they’re in a good spot. The fact that we’re sitting here and and look, I am a firm believer you’ve got to make your picks. They don’t necessarily have to be first or second or third overall, but you’ve got to make your picks. I still believe that. But the fact that we’re even sitting here being like, “What if you traded one of them for a much better player?” Like, “What if you added a piece to your core at the deadline?” Like, they’re in a good spot. They’re they’re in a good they’re in a good Steve spot. So, hey, guys. I also think you look at like Pittsburgh as as an example. Um, it’s interesting, right? Like how successful they’ve been. And of course, a lot of it stops, you know, starts and stops with their elite core that’s been there forever, right? Like Crosley’s been Unreal. Malcon’s plan at a high level, but it also I think shows you how much of lift your team can get when also you just have younger players that can step in and contribute in other spots of your lineup where you weren’t getting that production. Like you look at how like Ben Kindle has been for them this year. And you look at like from the Bruins perspective, you’re getting some of those same production from a guy like Fraser Minton, but also you’ve got like James Hagens and Zeers and these guys on the way. And again, I’m not saying that Hagen’s going to come in and be a 60point guy, but like you you’re getting more reinforcements on the way that was a direct byproduct of blowing things up last year. But also like you look at Pittsburgh, you know, Crosby’s what, 38, Malcolin’s 37. The Bruins have an elite core, right? But also Posanok’s 29, Makavoy 28, Swayman’s 27. So if you already have those guys that are going to be leading the way, Zidorov is what 29 30 he’s worked his way into that core. Like Zidorov’s been fantastic of late. I So you look thoroughly impressed. You look at like um you know the Bruins and and what they’re trying to build here, right? Yes, exactly. I I mean no one will be better than Jack Agel, but um but no, like you look at I think what their blueprint has to be. It’s almost kind of uh like they you look at their top players, the Bruins have, it opens the the window of contention even more if your young guys hit and contribute right away. And I think that’s also encouraging as far as what they’re trying to build as far as a sustainable contender and a team that ideally if this team does exceed expectations, you kind of retoolled on the fly. And a lot of that is the byproduct of one ripping off the band-aid last year, the deadline, and also having a pretty young core still in place. I was just about to bring this up like I there is part of me and this is this is u thinking in a more positive way but I do wonder if we look back and say that was you know blowing things up at the deadline was all they needed to do. Now, the next segment of that is you need to hit on those picks, right? Your picks that you made this past year, your picks that you’re going to make next year, the picks in 2027, you’ve got to hit on those picks. But blowing it up got you Zellers, got you Mitten got you more picks. Like Hagens, Hagens. Like I do wonder, that’s that’s a big one. all these guys. I do wonder if we look back and go, “Oh, all it took was just blowing it up at one deadline, sending everybody packing and they rerouted themselves.” And you know, look, Zidorov’s been much better. Um there there are guys lower in that lineup that, you know, Dino’s holding his own at as the number one center. Is he the number one center of the future? No. But knowing that he’s a guy that you can slot in there in the middle six on the wing or at the center when at center when needed is a helpful thing to know. Um, and then you know, uh, um, you know, Peak’s been better. Like all these different guys have elevated themselves. Swayman’s been good, Nick. Corposal’s been good pushing him. And it’s like, maybe you have more here than you thought you did. Middlestat, Zaka, those are two other big ones. Like, I do wonder if we look back and go, oh, all it really took was blowing it up at one deadline. Now, that’s optimistic. The pessimistic side is they revert back to themselves the rest of the year and they’re somewhere in the middle and they miss the playoffs and the roster ends up not being as good as it has been the last six or seven games. Yeah, that could happen too. But I do wonder if we look back at that at the deadline last year and go that was really where it all happened. I mean I I also think even if this team does regress and it’s looking like another year where you’re either you know looking at a a first round pick in the teens or maybe one even higher if this team really does bottom out. I still think what you did last year, the deadline, if you looked at like just what steps had to be taken to really retool, rebuild this team, I think, you know, not just stealing away like Coyle, right, or one of these guys or Brezo, who you weren’t going to resign, but like ripping the band-aid off, getting all these picks, um, everybody. Yeah. I think it accelerated probably your timeline by like a year, year and a half off of just like moving all these guys at once, right? So again, you have to hit on these picks, right? you need, you know, it changes if Hagens’s uh to what someone said in a comment like if he ends up maybe not right away but ends up being a Keller or a [ __ ] down the line. Yeah, that helps out tremendously. But if Will Zeers can be a guy that can be a 15 20 goal guy, right? Like I think all these moves can pay off down the road. But I think just ripping that band-aid off did push this timeline ahead by at least a year. Not not a lot of teams do that. No one when you look at especially even the Bruins this year how the team bounced back over this recent stretch. It’s tough to wave the white flag where hockey it’s so tough to kind of just gauge like you know being stuck in one path as far as what a franchise needs to do. It’s tough to admit defeat and and move guys off their ros that have been there forever. But you’re seeing the the rewards right now and ideally they’re the rewards get even higher if these young guys hit and more guys you got at the deadline continue to thrive here in Boston. Yeah, I think Sweeny’s sort of put his Brad Stevens cap on where he was like, I get that these guys have been here forever, but I’m trading them and I don’t really care and I as as we’ve done a thousand times. Props to him for that. That was again like a huge huge thing. Mike Professional says, “I think you got to deal one of the four four first rounders you have. Top six doesn’t seem to come available through free agency.” I agree. You’re not going to get one of those top six forward in free agency most likely. Um, you can take your chances drafting them and that’s I think the triedand- trueue way is building your team through the draft. I do think though like if the perfect guy became available via trade, the Bruins have the pieces to go get that guy. Like I think that’s one of the big things is that being good this year and saying, “Oh, you have more than you thought in Zidorov and Middlestat and Zaka.” You say, “All right, you know what? Let’s let’s kind of push some chips to the middle of the table and let’s go get that guy, whether it’s a Rasmus Anderson or Rasmus Anderson like forward impact wise u that you go and get and you say, you know, we’re we’re further along than we thought.” I agree. I agree. But I I do want them to make their first round picks, especially their firsts. Like you need that influx of high-end young talent coming down the coming down the way. Like that I still am not sold on. Um so that’s the that’s the tougher part for me to kind of wrap my head around. But again, the fact that we’re even talking about this now means things are going good. Yep. I’ll take it. No problem there. Um Connor, what can the people look forward to from you over the globe.com? Yeah, you can read my stuff over at the globe andboston.com. We have you covered every step of the way this brewing season. We got recaps, features, columns, breakdowns, all that good stuff. So, please subscribe over on those two sites. And if you want to follow me on Twitter X, whatever you want to call it these days, uh you can connory_93. Go do all that. I want to answer this question real quick before we go. Sean asks, “Do they deal a guy like Lysel if a trade becomes available? They don’t seem to be interested in playing him anytime soon.” Um what are you dealing him for? like what are you like I think it would have to be like part of a like package deal right like you know maybe if it’s if you’re getting or if you’re getting like a a good player back right like Anderson or uh Kyu I’m just trying to think of some guys right it’s probably like you know first and you add in some sweeteners there and I think that a team if he’s part of that package you take the flyer on and see if you can unlock more out of them but I don’t think you’re getting a a third round pick for him or I don’t think like it’s a one for one you’re getting everything for the player. So throwing them in there is an extra thing if a team feels that there’s something there. As Aiden says, for Marty Nous, there you go. Marty Nusel. RIP to those narratives, right? Yeah, there to join. We’re on We’re on to Kempe and Kyru now. So that’s right. That’s right. Well, all right. That’s live Bruins Beat. Much appreciated to everyone who logged in and listened and watched and interacted with us. We love doing these. We’ll do more of them. That’s Conor Ryan. I’m Evan Marinowski. Your Bruins beat listeners. Have a great rest of your week.

On this LIVE episode of Bruins Beat, Evan Marinofsky and Conor Ryan react to the Bruins 5-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday and look at how the team has been able to succeed so much lately and if the team can keep the win streak going that currently sits at 6 games.

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