How are we feeling about the Bruins? w/ Belle Fraser | Bruins Beat - video Dailymotion

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Bruins Beat w/ Evan Marinofsky Ep. 415  Today Evan Marinofsky is joined by Belle Fraser of The Hockey News and The New England Hockey Journal to discuss the Bruins' recent struggles and how they can get back on track. Plus, with the deadline approaching, have the Bruins' needs changed given this tough stretch? That, and much more!    Topics:  - Bruins sneak out a win over Dallas  - There’s good…and there’s bad  - What must change?  - Are we confident in the Bruins before heading west?  - Evaluating Deadline needs after tough stretch at home    Fanduel Sportsbook is the exclusive wagering parter of the CLNS Media Network! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED when you place a FIVE DOLLAR BET. That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS in BONUS BETS – WIN OR LOSE! Go to https://FanDuel.com/BOSTON! The app is so easy to use and there are so many different ways to bet like:    ● Live Same Game Parlays  ● Find Bets in the NEW Explore Tab  ● Make a parlay in the Parlay Hub – the best way to find popular parlays  ● And more!    DISCLAIMER: Must be 21+ and present in select states. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, and Virginia. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 in Arizona, 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, 1-800-9-WITH-IT in Indiana, 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com in Kansas, 1-877-770-STOP in Louisiana, visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland, visit 1800gambler.net in West Virginia, or call 1-800-522-4700 in Wyoming. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.    This episode is also brought to you by HelloFresh. Go to HelloFresh.com/50bruins and use code 50bruins for 50% off plus free shipping!

Transcript

00:00 It's funny how this team's biggest problem going into the year was like,

00:02 "They need a number one center so bad!"

00:05 And it hasn't been the case at all.

00:07 I don't think you've mentioned the center position for the past, like, 30 minutes at all.

00:12 No, it hasn't come up once.

00:13 It's just a miracle.

00:14 It is, it is.

00:16 And, but, you know, I said this a lot at the beginning of the year.

00:19 And, you know, people were iffy on it.

00:23 But like, you know, Bergeron and Craigie gave you a ton, right?

00:25 Not saying they, I'm never saying they didn't.

00:27 They were outstanding.

00:28 They're, you know, incredible.

00:31 I'm all for Bergeron and Craigie.

00:32 But their production last year was not anything crazy.

00:36 It was good, but it wasn't irreplaceable.

00:38 And welcome into the Bruins Beat on CLNS Media,

00:51 presented by our friends at FanDuel and Factor Meals.

00:54 I'm Evan Marinovsky.

00:55 And today we're debuting a new guest.

00:57 There's a new guest on the show and it's Belle Frazier of the Hockey News.

01:02 She does a lot for BU with us at New England Hockey Journal,

01:06 but she does a lot of Bruins and it's time.

01:08 Belle, what is up?

01:09 Hi, Evan.

01:10 Thanks for having me.

01:11 Very excited to be here.

01:12 I've been a devoted Bruins Beat listener this year.

01:16 So ecstatic to be on the show.

01:18 Well, I am excited to have you and thank you.

01:20 Connor Ryan usually does the first episode of the week, but Connor is very sick.

01:26 He's got some viral thing.

01:28 I don't know.

01:28 He can't talk.

01:29 I've never been paid for one BU kid.

01:32 A Boston hockey blogger for one.

01:34 Well, so this is the thing.

01:36 And I realized it today.

01:38 I think we've had like three or four straight BU people on this show because it was you,

01:43 Scott McLaughlin comes on, Connor obviously is a regular.

01:46 And it's like, I'm getting a little sick of the BU people.

01:50 There's too many of you guys.

01:51 I know.

01:52 We've really infiltrated the Bruins Beat.

01:54 You have.

01:56 We've I've talked about this with a few people.

01:58 There's a couple UMass, but there's a lot of BU, which makes sense.

02:02 You know, you're a student at BU, you're a senior at BU, which is really impressive that

02:06 you're doing all this stuff.

02:07 So props to you, even though you do go to BU.

02:10 So we can agree on though, we don't like BC.

02:14 So we can.

02:15 Yeah, that's one thing we're totally fine on.

02:18 Yes, especially after UMass got porked this weekend.

02:24 You almost looked close on Friday.

02:26 I was like, ah, and then.

02:28 Well, I turned the game on.

02:30 I got home from a prep game and UMass was obviously hosting BC and it was like two to

02:40 one in the third.

02:41 And I'm like, all right, like they got this.

02:43 And then BC just, you know, Ryan Leonard just started going off.

02:46 And I was like, I got to turn this off.

02:48 But then they got screwed with officiating that night.

02:51 They got screwed with officiating on Saturday or excuse me, Sunday.

02:54 So that continues, but whatever, who cares?

02:58 It's in the past.

02:59 UMass is going to find a way in the tournament and that's all that matters.

03:02 Speaking of resilience, the Bruins get a resilient win on Monday, the afternoon matinee,

03:09 beating Dallas 4-3 in a shootout.

03:11 I thought when Craig Smith was coming in on that shootout attempt, I was like, that's

03:14 going in.

03:15 And I think Andrew Raycroft said this in the post game show and he's right.

03:20 It's kind of a little bit of a symbolism of how Craig Smith's career has gone the

03:26 last couple of years.

03:27 Right there, but not quite there.

03:30 I thought that one went in.

03:32 I was like, oh man.

03:33 The last thing it was like, because after McAvoy had won, it's like, you know, how

03:36 many more guys do you have on the bench that can go?

03:39 McAvoy though is sneaky, a very good guy in the shootout.

03:43 He's always a guy that goes later than he should, who is pretty good at it.

03:50 And again, thank God the Bruins got to the shootout because man, I think they touched

03:54 the puck what, like five times in overtime?

03:57 Yeah, never had it.

03:58 Yeah, no, I think that game felt like the most, one of the more must win games of the

04:03 regular season, just closing out the seven game homestand.

04:06 They'd lost five of their last six.

04:09 If they lost that, they would have only won one game in the homestand.

04:12 And, you know, I mean, honestly, homestand or not losing six of seven at this point of

04:17 season, it's not good.

04:19 And Jim Montgomery, his message the whole week has been like, I like our process.

04:24 I like our details.

04:25 We just have to like push it over the edge.

04:27 It's like, that's almost not an excuse anymore.

04:30 Like everyone's sticking to the process right now.

04:32 Like you just have to learn how to win games.

04:34 So I think this was a really important win, especially ahead of a four game Western road

04:38 trip facing some tough competition and Seattle, who they already faced last, I guess, last

04:43 week at this point.

04:44 Well, I was going to say like, you look at how this homestand went and it wasn't great.

04:49 You know, there were a couple of close calls in there, but you know, like Tampa, I couldn't

04:52 get that done.

04:53 And then you had some ugly games like Calgary and Seattle, but you look at Mondays and I'm

04:58 watching it and I'm like, you know, if they can't pull this out, they're going to go on

05:01 the road.

05:02 They're going to go on the road and road trips can be galvanizing and that can help.

05:05 Yeah.

05:06 But at the same time, you don't want to go off like that where you, you, you know, you

05:10 have a stinker against Dallas because let's face it.

05:12 And I don't mean to make this a negative thing, but you got two goals from the fourth line

05:17 throughout the game.

05:18 You're not going to get that all the time.

05:19 It's good.

05:20 You got it.

05:20 Congrats to Justin Brizzo for doing that.

05:22 I mean, that's awesome.

05:23 Dude's huge.

05:25 Gets a goal.

05:25 And Boakwest had a good game and he was rewarded by going in the shootout and getting a chance

05:30 to shoot it straight into Ottinger's blocker, but that's okay.

05:33 He still was in it, which was great.

05:35 But then, you know, you look at, you know, your, your one other goal was, was the six

05:41 on five posture knock, uh, one timer, you know, I, I don't mind getting out shot.

05:47 If you're getting a lot of high danger looks, they did have 12 at five on five, but it felt

05:51 like some of their sustained ozone time was just, you know, passing around the perimeter

05:57 shot from the point.

05:58 And I, I don't love that stuff.

06:00 So it wasn't the prettiest win, but I think it kind of hits back at like, you did it.

06:05 And I think that's kind of all that matters.

06:06 Well, I think, yeah, it's interesting talking about the high danger chances, especially

06:10 in the third period when it's tied to two, you could feel the TD guarding crowd getting

06:14 frustrated and even watching, you're just like, like learn how to extend a lead, you

06:19 know, like learn how to win in the third period.

06:21 And when Dallas scored to take the lead there, I mean, it just went silent.

06:26 It's like, are we really, are they really doing this again?

06:28 But then at the same time, like you have six on five with posture, posture knock in his

06:33 office, that no look pass from Charlie McAvoy was highlight real material.

06:37 I see it developing too.

06:40 It was good.

06:41 Yeah.

06:42 So it's great that the Bruins ultimately have that talent to fall back on and no matter

06:46 whatever situation they're in.

06:48 But yeah, it's so true in the third period, you really didn't feel that offensive fire

06:52 power that, you know, they're going to go out and score on this next shift that you

06:55 really saw in the beginning of the season.

06:57 No, you didn't.

06:59 And, you know, it's funny, like we're going to get to the trade deadline in a little bit

07:03 and kind of how things are looking heading out West.

07:06 And I love Dan Heinan's game.

07:08 I do.

07:09 But on the third line, I, you know, and again, like it's nothing against him personally or

07:15 anything, but I just think if you're going to go into the playoffs, you've got to figure

07:19 out something or, you know, a more long-term fit with that top six.

07:23 And it's tough because that's going to cost you a lot.

07:25 I think that's the really tough part is they don't have the assets.

07:28 It would take a lot to get someone who can, you know, stick in your top six, but you see

07:34 a guy like Heinen who pitches in scoring here and there, you know, plays a really strong

07:40 two-way game.

07:41 He's a great penalty killer, but I don't know if that's your long-term solution in the top

07:45 six.

07:46 And I think when you have a guy like that in the top six, there are going to be some

07:49 games where he pops and it's like, okay, didn't Heinen get you a goal and an assist or, oh,

07:53 you know, contributed to a few different big scoring opportunities.

07:57 But then there's games like today where it's just the scoring's not really there.

08:01 And I think that's the tough part with this top six is it's not, it's not rounded out

08:06 the way I think you would want a team that is a Stanley Cup contender to be rounded out.

08:11 Yeah, I completely agree.

08:12 I think the top six scoring, we can talk about trade deadline just hasn't fully been there

08:17 when you need it.

08:17 Like you said, the two goals from the fourth line was huge.

08:20 Like, I think that's been a really big problem for the Bruins this year.

08:24 Third line has been good, but they really haven't had a real identity to their fourth

08:27 line that they needed them to.

08:28 And you've kind of seen that come the past couple games.

08:31 It's a really small sample size, who knows how long these guys are going to be up for.

08:34 But there are games like this where it would have been nice if you know, your second line

08:40 right winger scored.

08:41 But at the same time, like, I don't know, I can't think of anyone that could go one for

08:47 one in a trade or one for one in prospect in a trade with the Bruins at the deadline

08:52 that would make them immediately better come playoff time.

08:55 I agree.

08:56 And I think that's the tough part in that, you know, I guess if it was for someone like

09:00 Lindholm and you really were like, we're going to lock him up long term and this and that,

09:04 then that makes sense.

09:05 And you can deal pieces and prospects for that.

09:08 But, you know, in terms of, I think the real addition to this team for the playoffs is

09:14 Jake Dubrask.

09:15 And this, I've said this a lot over the past couple of weeks.

09:18 I don't, I think you're at the point of no return.

09:20 You can't deal him off at this point because you're in the thick of a playoff push.

09:26 Unless you're dealing him for someone you're going to have long term that you know is better.

09:31 You can't deal a guy like Dubrask in a playoff push like this.

09:34 And so to me, that's sort of the addition that you have.

09:39 And I think that that isn't the greatest thing in the world, but it is something, you know,

09:46 like that is a.

09:46 I hope he gets going at the right time, because I think that's the thing with Dubrask.

09:50 This coming into this season, you know, it's a whole story.

09:53 Contract here wants to stay in Boston now, blah, blah, blah.

09:55 And it was like, he needs to be consistent.

09:57 He needs to reach the 30 goal mark.

09:59 The whole thing, like everyone was saying it.

10:01 And then he comes in and he's had spurts of three or four games among like two weeks of

10:06 each other where you're like, oh, maybe this is the turning point.

10:08 Like, I think at the hockey news, we've written three different articles like, oh, like, is

10:12 this like.

10:13 This is it.

10:14 Finally, you know, and he just hasn't put together, I think, like since the Christmas

10:20 break, more than five games in a row where you're really feeling him make a big impact.

10:24 But at the same time, he's proven what he can be for this team.

10:28 It's just how much patience does this team have?

10:31 Does Montgomery have do the fans have?

10:33 But I guess I mean, like you said, it doesn't matter.

10:35 Like they're past the point of return with with leaving Dubrask at this point.

10:38 So, yeah, it's kind of just honestly up to him to kind of be the player that they need

10:43 him to be at this point.

10:44 I want to hit on a thing with Dubrask that I think is important to note when it comes

10:50 to kind of forecasting what he's going to do the rest of the year.

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11:32 So I mentioned Dubrask before the commercial break there.

11:40 And, you know, when the Bruins were going good prior to this, prior to coming home,

11:45 prior to being home for seven straight days, their offense was generated on just working

11:51 hard, working hard below the below the goal line, forcing turnovers, finding guys in front

11:59 of the net and converting chances.

12:01 And that is where Jake Dubrask does well.

12:03 We've always said this.

12:04 Dubrask is not the guy that's going to dangle through three guys and go top corner.

12:09 He's not the guy that's going to set up for one timers like Ovechkin or something like

12:13 that.

12:14 And he's not doing much of that anymore.

12:16 Instead, it's a lot of the gritty stuff.

12:20 You know, he's a he's kind of got that gritty side to him.

12:23 And Van Riemsdijk is similar to this, too.

12:25 And at some point.

12:27 Love JVR's game right now.

12:28 Sorry.

12:29 I agree.

12:30 And so JVR's game right now, the little passes he makes in front of the net, how he creates

12:39 offense.

12:39 He's so subtle with some of these things.

12:43 And there's sometimes where he tries to go through his legs and put in a chance in front

12:46 of the net.

12:47 That's where you notice.

12:48 But there's just some small little small area passes he makes through like two defenders

12:53 in front of the net where you're like, that's an NHL veteran.

12:56 Like that guy's fucking been in the league a while.

12:58 And so the dreams is like that.

13:01 Dubrask, though, there is that there.

13:04 It's just do it consistently.

13:06 And I think both of those, you know, both of those guys sort of more so Dubrask finding

13:11 consistency, I think could really help you five on five scoring going forward.

13:14 A thousand percent.

13:16 And Montgomery talked about this, I think, last month about Dubrask where when goals

13:21 aren't going in for him, he kind of overthinks his game, as most players do and almost works

13:26 too hard.

13:27 And it's the cliche after every loss.

13:29 It's like we need to simplify our game.

13:30 We need to simplify our game.

13:32 But it's true.

13:33 And you've seen Dubrask's 200 foot game really improved this year defensively in the first

13:38 half of the season.

13:38 You're like, oh, like Dubrask a two way like forward more so than he was last year.

13:43 And he talked about that, too, just having to better the other areas of his game to help

13:48 the team win when he wasn't scoring.

13:50 But yeah, I think consistency is key.

13:52 And just with JVR, it's funny.

13:54 He was talking to the media earlier this week before his three point night against the King

13:59 saying he's kind of had to learn not to be known as a goal scorer later in his career.

14:03 Like he came in kind of top six like he's going to score the game winning goal every

14:08 night.

14:08 And he's really embraced the more like grittier net front veteran position he's had.

14:12 And then he goes and scores two goals the next night.

14:15 So he was kind of joking about that.

14:16 Like it was nice to actually have them go in.

14:18 But the way he's kind of embraced what he means to this Bruins team, I think, has made

14:22 all the difference.

14:23 And a lot of these guys, like even Danton Heinen, who obviously isn't the solution to

14:28 the top six problems, like he's been anything Montgomery needs him to be up and down the

14:32 lineup.

14:33 So I think that's kind of been key to and keeping the Bruins afloat, even when they're

14:37 hitting slumps like this.

14:38 They're still obviously in the playoff picture is these guys just buying into what they need

14:43 to do.

14:43 And, you know, you hit it there with guys like Heinen, Frederick, Geeky, you know, JVR,

14:50 guys that going into the year, you were like, maybe third liner, you know, but they've been

14:57 guys that can step up and step into any situation and do well.

15:02 It's just, you know, can they do it long term?

15:04 Can you sort of mix those guys up long term to generate something?

15:08 I think that's kind of the big question in terms of this upcoming trip.

15:15 You know, it's nice to end on like they did against Dallas.

15:19 You know, it's kind of a blueprint for how you're going to win in the playoffs.

15:22 Jeremy Swain makes 43 saves.

15:24 You win the game.

15:25 You know, you find you dig up scoring from in the lineup, you beat a better team, you

15:30 stick to your game, all that stuff.

15:32 But are you worried about the Bruins right now?

15:35 I a little.

15:39 Yeah.

15:40 I mean, I think it's a legitimate answer a little bit, a little bit.

15:45 I mean, I definitely agree with what a lot of the message coming from the team has been,

15:49 which is like the last three games, we didn't get the win, but it wasn't like we played

15:53 how we did against Calgary or how we played against Washington.

15:56 Like those two losses were really concerning because it was just zero effort.

16:00 It was sloppy.

16:01 There was not even more than a shift or two where they got to Bruins hockey.

16:05 And I think that was worrying where it's like, oh, like it's completely unraveling.

16:09 But the past four games, four or five games, I think they're playing quite similarly to

16:15 how they've played most of the year.

16:16 It's just the teams they're facing are a lot more desperate and they've gotten better since

16:20 the first time they faced them.

16:22 And they need the points too.

16:23 So I think a bit worried, but at the same time, it's just like the Bruins have it.

16:29 Like I know the roster doesn't look the same as it did last year.

16:32 A lot of Twitter mentions being like, this is an AHL team, whatever, but it's not like

16:36 you look at that top nine and that they've been pretty productive.

16:40 Yes.

16:40 The fourth line today all started the year in Providence, but hey, they had four points.

16:45 Exactly.

16:46 Can't argue with the scoreboard.

16:48 You cannot argue with that.

16:49 Yeah.

16:49 But I do think too, like facing Calgary again on this road trip is going to be huge.

16:53 Not that they shouldn't go into that game fired up, but if there's not a galvanizing

16:58 force to kind of like prove yourself after the showing they had at TD Garden, I don't

17:05 know what is.

17:06 So I think the road trip is actually coming at a perfect time.

17:09 Montgomery is joking about his wife being like, can you please go on the road?

17:12 And it's true.

17:14 He was saying it's weird for them to be in their home routines for this amount of time.

17:18 And I think team bonding, play cards, I don't know what you need to do, but I think they

17:22 have to get out and kind of come together here and get through this together.

17:27 Today was a good stepping point, but I think they need at least two dominant regulation

17:33 wins out of this road trip to kind of feel like they can push through the rest of the

17:37 regular season.

17:37 I agree.

17:39 It could not come at a better time.

17:41 It really could.

17:42 Seven games at home.

17:43 That's great and all, but you're right.

17:45 You get into the home routine.

17:47 You know, you just and it didn't go well.

17:50 If you win seven in a row or you win five of seven, then it's fine.

17:53 But that wasn't the case here.

17:55 I want to talk deadline.

17:57 I want to talk, you know, what needs to change, things like that.

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19:16 Now, back to the show.

19:17 So the deadline, obviously, is the big thing.

19:21 March 8th is the day.

19:22 What's it like two, three weeks away?

19:25 Around that.

19:26 So it's coming up.

19:27 We talk about it like every week.

19:30 How can you not?

19:31 It's the biggest thing.

19:31 What do you think is the biggest need the Bruins have?

19:35 I think it's two things.

19:39 It's the two obvious things I think everyone's talking about.

19:41 Like a top six wing, I think what we were talking, like a goal scorer, you know?

19:45 But also defense.

19:49 Like that third pair, I think it's held up well enough.

19:54 Kevin Shattenkirk and Parker Wotherspoon have been flipping in and out for one another.

19:58 I just don't know in a playoff series if it's going to give you what it needs to give you.

20:03 And, you know, Forward and Shattenkirk provide that veteran presence.

20:07 They're more gritty, whatever.

20:09 Like Shattenkirk has some offensive upside, but they're slow.

20:14 And the turnovers aren't great.

20:17 And it's not just them.

20:18 I'm not trying to throw those two under the bus.

20:21 Matt Griswold had an atrocious turnover today.

20:25 Jeremy Swayman.

20:26 That was too straight on that.

20:28 There was a pass in the middle that got knocked down.

20:30 And then, yeah, I agree with you.

20:32 Crazy to hear you say bad things about people who went to BU.

20:35 I did not think I'd see that out of you in this episode.

20:37 But here we are.

20:38 Unbiased reporter, Evan.

20:40 Yes, very unbiased.

20:42 Did you see Charlie Mack?

20:44 What shootout shot?

20:46 Anyways.

20:46 But no, I think some depth defensively.

20:54 Left shot for Forward, perhaps.

20:57 I think he's been struggling a lot with injury.

21:00 Montgomery has never really said that he's ever been back to 100%.

21:04 Scott McLaughlin asked Montgomery about Forward yesterday.

21:07 And he said he's a guy that's trying to get back into the rhythm of the game.

21:10 He's happy with some of his games.

21:13 He's sure that Forward wants to make some corrections on other ones.

21:16 So not that it's a glaring hole.

21:18 Because they had almost four defensemen earlier in the season.

21:22 Mason Laurie came out.

21:23 And then that's when Watherspoon really earned his keep.

21:26 And I really like Parker Watherspoon.

21:28 He's shown no reason not to stay up and be an option for them.

21:32 But yeah, it's not as a bulletproof blue line as the Bruins have had.

21:37 And you're going to need in playoffs.

21:39 You look at the Vegas D-Corps, just as a recent example of a Stanley Cup winning team.

21:44 And I don't know if--

21:45 I mean, that's always the goal for the Bruins.

21:47 But it just doesn't match up.

21:50 Even the New York Rangers, too.

21:52 Just looking at someone who's kind of neck and neck with the Bruins right now.

21:55 I just think there's a little bit more depth there.

21:57 But at the same time, it comes back to the same conversation.

22:00 What are you going to give?

22:01 Who are you going to get?

22:02 Do you just bust everyone up from Providence and hope it works out?

22:07 I-- it's interesting.

22:10 I see a lot of stuff on Twitter about Forbert and people saying, you know,

22:14 "He shouldn't be playing right now."

22:16 You know, "He's not good enough."

22:20 I couldn't disagree more.

22:21 He isn't good enough right now.

22:24 100%.

22:24 I mean, there were some terrible mental mistakes today.

22:28 There have been numerous missed coverages in front.

22:31 All that stuff.

22:32 This is when you play that out of your game.

22:35 This is when, in February, when you are safely in the playoffs.

22:38 I know Florida just overtook you for first.

22:40 But that's not because your third pairing left shot defenseman is messing up

22:45 and adjusting back to NHL hockey.

22:47 He was out for a while.

22:48 This is when you get ready.

22:50 This is when you play your way back into being an everyday NHL player.

22:54 But that doesn't mean you don't add at the deadline.

22:57 I agree with you.

22:58 He's someone you can, I mean, for obvious reasons, move.

23:01 Like, at all.

23:03 You're sort of stuck with, not stuck, but he's your only big guy like that that plays the way he does.

23:11 You have other puck movers.

23:13 You don't have a lot of guys like Forbert.

23:15 And when he's playing to his full potential, too.

23:17 Like, you see what he does for the team.

23:18 I think Brandon Carlo has really stepped up in the past month or two to kind of pick up the slack

23:23 in that puck eating, letting Hampus Limholm kind of find his game, which he looked like he got hurt

23:31 today and hasn't been playing his best hockey.

23:33 But it's a balance.

23:36 And I agree with you.

23:37 I think Forbert isn't something you can just look over and be like, oh, he's old and slow now.

23:41 Let's try to move on.

23:43 But at the same time, I do think some of the Bruins' struggles recently has been not being

23:49 able to push the puck up in transition.

23:51 Turnovers in their own end.

23:52 That type of thing.

23:53 So, yeah, like you said, it doesn't mean you don't add, but it also doesn't mean you

23:57 dismantle the veteran depth you have back there.

24:01 I mean, you think back to last year.

24:03 I mean, it's easy to do this, but you think back to last year against Florida in that first round,

24:07 right?

24:07 Where Florida just completely ruined your breakout.

24:10 You could not move the puck out of your own zone in those final three games.

24:14 And that was really, I thought, the biggest reason they lost that series.

24:18 Are you confident that this decor that's having those same problems now is going to suddenly

24:25 magically be OK come the playoffs?

24:27 And I think that's sort of where I look at it.

24:29 Like, obviously, you want to have bigger guys back there that can move guys out of the way.

24:35 Can Kevin Shattenkirk do that on a consistent basis?

24:37 Probably not.

24:38 You never know.

24:40 Maybe he can.

24:42 Maybe he can.

24:43 But to me, you need depth back there.

24:47 And again, it's going to be hard to find a guy who has some size who moves the puck well.

24:52 It's hard to do.

24:53 But Dom Tiano tweeted out something about Alexander Carrier from the National Predators.

24:58 I think he's like 5'11" right shot defenseman.

25:00 I'd be open to it.

25:03 Again, I'm all for adding depth to the back end at this point.

25:06 But I just, it's got to be the right kind of guy.

25:11 And you need a little bit of size.

25:12 You need to be able to move the puck.

25:14 I mean, that's everybody in the NHL these days.

25:16 But with this team, and I think, you know, and even guys like Hampus Lindholm,

25:21 who you're relying on as sort of that number one left shot defenseman,

25:24 he has his moments moving the puck.

25:27 And there are times with him where, you know, there was even,

25:30 I think it was today when he got hurt or looked to get hurt.

25:34 He won a 50/50 battle, but then couldn't quite finish it.

25:37 The guy kind of pulled him down.

25:39 Now, if that's an injury, then that's an injury.

25:40 I mean, I'm not, you know.

25:41 - Get up.

25:43 - Just get up.

25:45 Come on.

25:45 It's going to be fine.

25:47 But there are those things that worry me.

25:50 And I think the left side, especially where it's, you know, Lindholm, Grislak, Forbert,

25:55 they all have pretty big holes, relatively.

25:58 You know, Grislak and Forbert, especially, but Lindholm is sort of that number one guy.

26:02 So to me, you know, I think top six, I know you mentioned top six forward,

26:09 and I agree with you.

26:10 You do need one.

26:11 I don't know if you're getting one at this deadline.

26:12 I think Lindholm and Monahan off the board, like now's not really the time.

26:17 You don't have the assets.

26:19 What I would rather them look towards is some depth in the bottom six, you know,

26:24 another forward in there who can, you know, play a little bit of size and generate chances.

26:29 I don't know if Brazzo is that guy, because I mean, it was first NHL game.

26:33 Although right now he is averaging a goal per game in his career.

26:36 So I think you should retire.

26:38 Retire.

26:39 So you end as a goal per game guy.

26:42 But I think you do also need depth on D.

26:44 And I think you can do both.

26:46 I mean, do you think they can do both?

26:47 Yeah, I mean, I think I agree with you about you're probably not touching the top six.

26:52 Like there's just I can't think of anyone that would make sense

26:55 in terms of a package that the Bruins would be able to give.

26:58 But I agree.

26:59 I think, yeah, bottom.

27:01 Can I do both?

27:03 Probably.

27:04 Like, if you should be able to be blockbuster.

27:08 And and that's sometimes what works out the best.

27:11 Like, sorry for another Rangers example.

27:13 I grew up in New York.

27:14 Are you from New York?

27:15 Are you from New York?

27:16 My goodness.

27:17 But you look at the Rangers miracle run a couple of years ago.

27:20 And Chris Jury brought in Andrew Kopp, Frank Vetrano, you know, like guys that the NHL

27:26 wasn't posting like big posters for on Instagram for the big trades.

27:30 And they ended up being, you know, the stars of that run.

27:34 So I think it really doesn't matter about the name or the pre-trade value.

27:38 It's how is it going to fit into this Bruins puzzle?

27:40 Like, they don't need any defensemen.

27:41 They need exactly what we talked about.

27:43 I think bottom six size is really big and edge is really big.

27:47 Like a less maybe a less talented Trent Frederick, who's a couple inches taller.

27:52 Like they need some of that Bruins grit back in their game.

27:56 I think Frederick has really tried to carry a lot of that on.

27:59 And, you know, they have McAvoy and whatever.

28:01 But you want to be scared to skate against the team's bottom six, especially the Boston

28:05 Bruins, who are who are known for that, especially come playoff time.

28:08 So, yeah, I think they can do both.

28:10 I think they want to do both, especially looking at all the guys they've sent up and down the

28:15 past month.

28:15 Oscar Steen, too, like Montgomery had a really interesting quote today.

28:19 He said, I think Steener gave us all that he had and like that was great from him.

28:24 But like we needed to make a change when you're losing and he was the change we made.

28:27 And I don't think anyone in that bottom six has particularly been the problem, but no

28:32 one's been the solution either, you know.

28:34 So, yeah, you got to go get someone because you have to be able to roll four lines to

28:39 or three, three and a half if you're going to be in a series like Florida or honestly

28:45 against anyone in the East right now.

28:46 So I think you need that fourth line to click at some point.

28:50 I think you need a bad whether it's, you know, to take away a team's top line.

28:54 That was one thing the Bruins of a few years ago kind of had the advantage of was you had

28:57 guys like Corrali, Achari, Wagner, who could go against the team's top line and shut it

29:02 down and be cool with that.

29:04 I think the tough part now is they're all young.

29:06 I mean, I think Oscar Steen is going to be one of those between AHL and NHL guys.

29:11 I don't think there's a lot there in terms of a ceiling.

29:15 I think Lauco has shown that maybe there is a little something there.

29:19 I know Hags and I talked about it last week because, you know, Fluto had written about

29:24 Lauco potentially being a trade candidate.

29:26 I think there's still a little more there with Lauco into what he can give you.

29:30 And he intrigues me in that bottom six as someone that you should kind of see if he

29:35 can keep giving you something.

29:37 No, I completely agree about Lauco.

29:38 Like you kind of see glimpses of it and every time he's in.

29:41 And that goal, Rashard's first goal as a Bruin two games ago, that was Lauco against the

29:50 boards winning that puck battle, like really fighting for it, really set that goal up.

29:54 And you're like, OK, if that was you, if that was Lauco shift to shift, that would be what

30:00 a difference it would make.

30:02 Right.

30:02 So I think he's shown that he can do that.

30:04 It's just he just needs to be pushed that much more.

30:08 And I think Montgomery, whether he's trying to send a message or not, Lauco is also battling

30:12 an upper body injury, he said.

30:14 But having him in and out of the lineup, healthy scratch some games, I think it puts a fire

30:18 under him to to be that type of player that he was when he made that pass.

30:23 So, I mean, I think there's definitely more there for him in a way that there wasn't more

30:27 there for Steen.

30:28 I agree.

30:30 I agree.

30:31 And I just you know, that has to click at some point.

30:34 And I think the third line is close to finding identity with guys like Geeky and so and those

30:39 guys.

30:39 But yeah, I mean, I think you don't have to do anything big.

30:44 I've said this a thousand times over the last couple of weeks.

30:47 You know, I mean, bringing it back to 2011, which Bruins fans love talking about.

30:51 Everybody loves talking about it around here, obviously.

30:53 Yeah, exactly.

30:55 It's everyone's favorite year around here.

30:58 You went out and got Chris Kelly and Rich Peverly and Tomash Caberle.

31:01 And that was it.

31:02 You know, you added depth forward.

31:04 You added a puck moving defenseman who didn't do a heck of a lot in the postseason, but it

31:08 was an extra body.

31:10 I think you can do that again this year and be OK.

31:13 And you can supplement what you have.

31:15 Does Sweeney get crafty and add someone huge up front?

31:20 I don't think so.

31:21 I think like if you said to me, you know, Sweeney's going to go out and get Noah Hannafin,

31:26 maybe.

31:26 And I mean, that would help.

31:27 And I think that's someone they want and all that.

31:31 But up front, I don't think there's.

31:32 Yeah, he's saying Seb's guy is a local guy like that makes perfect sense.

31:37 Yeah.

31:38 But in terms of up front, I don't know who it would be.

31:42 I think free agency might be more the route this year.

31:46 It's funny how this team's biggest problem going into the year was like they need a number

31:50 one center so bad.

31:52 And it hasn't been the case at all.

31:54 I don't think you've mentioned the center position for the past like 30 minutes at all.

31:58 No, it hasn't come up once.

32:00 And you've gotten a miracle.

32:01 It is it is.

32:03 And but, you know, I said this a lot at the beginning of the year and, you know, people

32:08 were iffy on it.

32:10 But like, you know, Bergeron and Crecce gave you a ton, right?

32:12 Not saying they never saying they didn't.

32:14 They were outstanding.

32:15 They're, you know, incredible.

32:17 I'm all for Bergeron and Crecce.

32:19 But their production last year was not anything crazy.

32:23 It was good, but it wasn't irreplaceable.

32:25 It was, you know, it's like in Moneyball, you know, Moneyball when they're replacing

32:29 Giambi, Isringhausen and Damon and, you know, beans going around the table going like, what's

32:34 the problem that we got to replace Giambi, Isringhausen and Damon?

32:38 And they're like, wrong.

32:39 And it's like, the problem is you have to replace their production.

32:41 You got to replace their runs.

32:43 And with the Bruins, with, you know, Bergeron and Crecce, you know, you can't replace their

32:48 leadership, obviously, that's impossible.

32:52 But in terms of two way play and just points, Coyle and Zaka are on pace.

32:58 - I was gonna say, Charlie Coyle has not been praised enough for what he's done this year.

33:03 - Completely agree.

33:04 - So quietly too.

33:05 Like he is, yeah, the player he's turned into not only just like crushing all of his career

33:12 points, it looks like he's on pace to do.

33:14 But we've said consistency so much his podcast, but it's true.

33:18 Like Charlie Coyle has had very few games strung together where you're like, oh man,

33:23 like is he in a slump?

33:25 Like he really hasn't been.

33:26 And he's been such a leader for that group too.

33:28 I mean, and that was something I wanted to mention too.

33:32 I know it's not the stats or the stuff that really counts at the trade deadline or the

33:37 amount you believe in a team, but those guys like in the locker, they really believe in

33:41 each other.

33:41 Like the vibe in the room, even after a loss, especially after a win at practice, especially

33:47 the last couple of months has been good.

33:48 You know, like it hasn't felt, you haven't felt that panic in there.

33:52 And you know, it's like the little things like Swainman coming in with a drumstick or

33:56 like the camaraderie is there.

33:58 So I think that's a big thing too, where like they believe in the group they have.

34:02 And that goes a long way when you're like, you could add a couple pieces and we'll make

34:08 it work.

34:08 Or you could say, this is the team that's going to try to make a run and we'll try to

34:11 do that for you.

34:12 You know?

34:12 So I don't think they're in there being like, oh man, like get Heinen off, off my right

34:17 wing.

34:17 You know?

34:18 I hate this guy.

34:19 This guy stinks.

34:20 I agree with you.

34:21 The vibes are good, you know, but I will say this, the vibes were great last year.

34:25 The vibes were all time last year.

34:27 I mean, I think that's one of the things that I think from last year, that's what I mean.

34:32 Everybody's scarred from last year where it's like, okay, that's great.

34:35 The goalie hug is cool.

34:36 I'm all for it.

34:37 I'm not like, you know, I'm not like, you know, Felger being like, oh, get that out

34:40 of my face.

34:41 You know?

34:41 Like it's, I'm for it.

34:42 It's awesome.

34:43 But I need to see them win a round.

34:46 I've got to, because again, bell going into last year, I thought they were invincible.

34:50 I did.

34:52 I thought that they were going to cruise through when I saw them at the winter classic, it

34:56 was, you know, they were just the way they won and the way they won down the stretch

34:59 and all marks scored a goal and the goal.

35:01 Like, I mean, it was like, just pile on of like, how can you pick against this team?

35:05 And now it's like, all right, we're all protected.

35:08 And that's why I also think, you know, with this deadline, they rightfully went all in

35:12 last year.

35:13 It was good.

35:13 They did.

35:13 I'm glad they did.

35:14 I mean, imagine if they didn't do it and then they lost in that same way would be like,

35:18 come on, like, Sweeney's should be gone.

35:20 But I think they're looking at this year of, we don't have a ton of assets.

35:26 That's okay.

35:28 We have a good roster.

35:29 It works.

35:30 There's that potential.

35:32 We've talked about a number of times in the show where you do have guys like the brusque

35:37 and van Riemseek who can score and kind of gritty ways.

35:39 Let's just see what happens.

35:41 You have the goalies, you know, that if one stinks, you can put the other in and you can

35:46 go back and forth.

35:47 One thing on coil, I don't know if you saw this.

35:50 The athletic did like a player poll or they pull guys around the league.

35:54 Obviously it's what a player poll is.

35:56 And they ask every year, the underrated players and Barkov wins every year, which to my point,

36:03 like my point is like Barkov, if he's underrated every year, he's not underrated anymore.

36:06 Because you can only be underrated for like a year or maybe two.

36:10 And then you're rated properly.

36:13 You have moved into the mainstream.

36:15 I think Charlie coil got like 1% of the vote along with a number of other guys.

36:19 And it's like, that's a guy who's underrated.

36:22 Like that's a dude who for so long, it was like, he's not worth his contract.

36:26 Now it's like, oh, he's worth way more than he's making.

36:29 So I agree with him too.

36:30 I think it's a, one of the bigger things is that he's up to his offensive production.

36:35 He's up to his responsibility, but he's still that steadfast stalwart penalty,

36:40 penalty kill guy.

36:41 He's still out there in the last two minutes of a game with a one goal lead.

36:44 You know, the other parts of his game that made him valuable to the Bruins before he was

36:49 their number one, number two center are still so prevalent.

36:52 And he's just been able to put it all together and really round out his game, which is,

36:57 it's what they didn't just need a scoring center.

36:59 They needed Charlie coil and it felt like he is, you know, and he's really,

37:04 he's really stepped up to the plate in that, in that sense.

37:06 I agree with you.

37:07 And I, I, I, I have loved coils game this year.

37:12 I think he's moved well out of the, oh, you know, he's best as a number three center.

37:17 He has moved completely past that into, all right, that's a top six center.

37:21 You've got your guy.

37:22 The only reason I think now you have to go out in the off season and get, you know,

37:28 if you really want a top six center is if you want to move Zaka to the wing and that's

37:32 suddenly your way of like, okay, we're going to have a solidified top six by putting, let's

37:36 say Lindholm in the middle.

37:38 And we're going to put Zaka on the wing or put Lindholm on the wing with Zaka in the

37:41 middle.

37:41 That's the only way you do it.

37:42 It's not out of necessity.

37:44 Now, I don't think that's the case anymore.

37:46 I think you've, they, both of those guys, coil and Zaka have moved into their legitimate

37:52 top six centers.

37:52 And I've said this before on the show, the only way that you're really getting a number

37:57 one center of the future is if you draft that guy, which is why you need more first round

38:01 picks.

38:02 It's interesting too, it's Patra feels like he's so out of the picture now, but he's not

38:07 like, no, he's not.

38:08 He's not.

38:09 So, and I'm not discounting, I'm not discounting Patra.

38:12 No, but I was just thinking like when you said move Zaka to the wing, I'm like, oh,

38:15 that's so true, but he's got no reps there.

38:17 And then like, do you move Patra up and then do you move him to the wing?

38:20 It's like, it's interesting at the deadline, you're kind of thinking of the team for the

38:23 playoffs and for next season.

38:24 I, I mean, Patra hasn't crossed my mind when we were talking about it, but that's another

38:29 piece that you expect will come in better than he was this year, next season and healthier

38:32 too.

38:33 Well, I'm glad you brought him up because you're right.

38:35 I think that's another guy who, you know, if you're going to go out and sign a Lindholm

38:40 in free agency, you have to think, all right, what's the ramifications of this?

38:44 Are we going to now push Patra down further?

38:47 Do we need him as much?

38:50 And I think I want them to develop Patra.

38:53 I want him to get every opportunity to be a top six center because like you, I believe

38:58 he can be.

38:58 I think he showed it this year in spurts.

39:00 I think he's a 19 year old kid.

39:02 I like a lot of people like, Oh, he's, he's in over his head.

39:04 And it's like, no, he's not.

39:05 But as a 19 year old kid, you're going to have some off nights in the NHL.

39:08 You're going to get squished like a bug up against the glass at times.

39:11 It's okay.

39:12 It's not the worst thing in the world.

39:13 And I think when he comes back next year, fully recovered with a full off season of

39:19 working out and getting stronger and getting bigger and knowing what he has to work on.

39:22 I I'm very excited to see what Patra brings you next year.

39:26 So I haven't counted him out either in terms of potentially being a top six guy next year.

39:30 Yeah.

39:31 And that's someone I think you can't just put in a bottom six role, even if he's not

39:35 playing the best hockey everyone wants him to be.

39:37 I think you saw right before he got injured, when he was on that fourth line, it was like,

39:41 no offense.

39:42 Who was it?

39:43 Beacher at the time or Bocas at the time and seen in Lauco, but like,

39:46 Patra is not going to get better playing with those guys.

39:48 No reps, but yeah, I agree with you.

39:52 Like he should have every opportunity to turn into the young center that every Bruins fan

39:57 was begging for and praying for.

39:59 And he randomly kind of became for a couple of games there.

40:02 So yeah, we'll see.

40:04 That's also something gets to be excited for, for next season, even though it doesn't

40:07 apply to, you know, the immediate need for success.

40:10 What have you done for me lately?

40:12 That's what it's all about around here.

40:13 Bell, thank you so much for coming on.

40:16 What can the people look forward to from you?

40:18 You have a million different things you do lay it all out.

40:21 What are, what should people be looking out for you for?

40:24 Okay.

40:24 Well, first thanks for having me on.

40:26 This is a very fun for Bruins coverage.

40:29 It's the hockey news Bruins site.

40:31 My Twitter is bell Fraser one.

40:33 The link to the hockey news is there.

40:35 Previews, recaps, opinions, ciders, Twitter updates, rep practice games, et cetera.

40:42 If you're Boston university, tear your fan, which I'm sure everyone is.

40:47 Cause how couldn't you be Boston?

40:50 The daily free press full coverage of both men's and women's seasons,

40:54 Boston hockey blog.com, same on Twitter.

40:58 And then new England hockey journal saved the best for last.

41:01 We're working with and Pat, Josh, Mark, the crew.

41:06 What a squad.

41:08 That's a real freaking squad.

41:10 That is.

41:11 Yeah.

41:12 Everyone knows the new England hockey journal.

41:14 So yeah, that's about it.

41:16 Well, bell, we'll have to have you on again after the trade deadline or whenever, but bell,

41:22 thank you so much for coming on.

41:23 And that's been this Bruins beat.

41:25 I'm Evan Marinovsky, Bruins beat listeners.

41:26 Have a great rest of your week.

41:40 (upbeat music)

How are we feeling about the Bruins? w/ Belle Fraser | Bruins Beat

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