Bruins Training Camp Questions | Bruins Beat
On this episode of Bruins Beat, Evan Marinofsky and Conor Ryan take a closer look at the Bruins roster as training camp approaches and Swayman is still without a contract, questions around top prospects, and potential PTO additions. All that, and much more!
- Swayman, Swayman and Swayman
- Who could be PTOs?
- Future of Fabian Lysell
- Jim Montgomery situation
- Can other young guys make a push?
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- Swayman, Swayman and Swayman
- Who could be PTOs?
- Future of Fabian Lysell
- Jim Montgomery situation
- Can other young guys make a push?
******************************************
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00:00BruinsBeat brought to you by PrizePix and the GameTime app.
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00:23I am Evan Maranofsky.
00:24That is Connor Ryan.
00:25Connor, what is up?
00:28Evan, I'm doing well.
00:30How are you doing?
00:31Doing great.
00:32Doing great.
00:33Basically had my last weekend of the summer.
00:36Went to a Gunkwit, Maine for the weekend.
00:38Girlfriend and I celebrated our two year anniversary.
00:40A Gunkwit is...
00:42I love a Gunkwit.
00:43I grew up going there.
00:44Like that is...
00:46I think it's just peak vacation land summer.
00:49Like in the Northeast.
00:50So sad that it's kind of over now.
00:53Like summer's pretty much done.
00:56Kids are going back to school.
00:58It's just...
00:59I don't know.
01:00The colder weather.
01:01The cooler weather is coming in.
01:02Somehow September will be like a thousand degrees every day.
01:04Probably.
01:05Which sucks.
01:06Yeah.
01:07But summer's coming to a close.
01:08And as we've said before, we welcome fall.
01:11We're a pro-fall podcast and pro-winter, obviously, because that's what we the most talk about.
01:15Oh, yeah.
01:16It's one, the fact that there's more to talk about.
01:19Two, it's like I think the best weather.
01:21I'm...
01:22Listen, there's times when it's the summertime and it's like 85 and it's great, but like
01:27nice 60 degrees, shorts and sweatshirt, or you can throw on a pair of jeans and like
01:32a little life flannel.
01:35That's kind of weather.
01:36Again, it's not been the case.
01:37It feels like the last couple of years it's been like, hey, it's like middle of September.
01:40How about it be like a nice 88 degree day?
01:43And then it just stays that way.
01:44And then we get to like end of October and it goes from like 88 and way too warm to like
01:4845.
01:50It's like there's no there's no we don't hit that that median spot anymore.
01:53But hopefully there's a few more of those kind of days carved out for us moving forward.
01:58Get some apple cider doughnuts, get a few apples, ready for the hockey season, basketball
02:04season.
02:05Football is starting up.
02:06It's a good time of year, Evan.
02:07It is.
02:08It's a fun time.
02:09We're on the cusp of it.
02:10And one thing that's coming up soon for his training camp.
02:13And today I wanted to kind of look at sort of the pre-training camp questions we have,
02:20you know, going into training camp, going into captain's practices.
02:23What are the things that I have questions about that you have questions about sort of
02:28storylines that we need answering?
02:30And we don't have the answers today, unfortunately, so you will not be getting the answers to
02:34those questions.
02:35Today, it's like we're it's like we're teachers putting together a test.
02:39We have the questions, but you don't get to know the answers yet.
02:41It's going to it's going to be a little while.
02:44So I think the biggest pre-training camp question, and maybe this will be answered before training
02:49camp starts.
02:50I think Burns fans certainly hope that that's the case, but I think easily the the biggest
02:54pre-training camp question is when does Jeremy Swainman sign?
02:58And then the one the part B to that question is what does that contract look like?
03:03We've kind of speculated all summer.
03:06We've thrown out figures.
03:07We've looked at comparables, although there are not many.
03:11We've looked at all the factors, and I think we've ruled out him going elsewhere.
03:14I don't think he's going to be getting traded to a team or anything like that.
03:20But in terms of when he signs, what he's going to sign for, that probably is the biggest
03:27question looming over them, because I think if they go into training camp and he's not
03:30on the ice for those first couple days, even though we know it's probably going to happen,
03:36it's still jarring when you see your goalie of the future, your number one guy, a franchise
03:42pillar, potentially not out there.
03:44So to me, I think that's the biggest question going to the training camp.
03:47Yeah, I agree.
03:48I mean, I think you look at it, Evan.
03:50It's what we've said before.
03:51I don't think there's going to be any dramatic results here of an office sheet or like negotiations
03:58falling to the wayside or it being like, all right, we're settling on a two-year bridge
04:01deal, which I don't think anyone wants, right?
04:03I think you just want it to be over with and have your guy locked in.
04:07But of course, even if we're not projecting these worst case scenarios, you like to have
04:13your whole offseason to do list kind of wrapped up with a bow before we get to this point,
04:16right?
04:17It's still just something that's looming over this team.
04:19And it's not just, you know, DeBrusque or a player that's a key piece or whatever that
04:26you're just hoping to sign and get that done with.
04:28You're talking about your franchise goalie, a guy who was arguably the best goalie in
04:31the playoffs last year, even though he only played two rounds, a guy that I think Bruinsman
04:36should be excited about, not just where he is now, but where he can be in another couple
04:40of years and especially running with kind of the opportunity as that number one goalie.
04:46But we're still kind of in that waiting game.
04:48Again, I'm just, I'm not, my questions do not revolve around necessarily the, the whether
04:56it's going to get done or necessarily like the fears of this going into deep into preseason
05:02play where we're just have Copersolo and Bussie for the first two weeks of the preseason.
05:06Like I, you hope it doesn't get to that point.
05:08I'm just fascinated to see just what the final, what all parties kind of put pen to paper,
05:13what the term's going to be and what the payout's going to be, because it sure kind of feels
05:17like all parties would want a long-term deal, but who knows, like maybe Swainman's looking
05:23for like four or five years and hit the market again.
05:27Maybe the Bruins have questions over, you know, maybe they want to see how he does a
05:31full year, you know, you know, with like 55, 60 games played, like how he does there.
05:37I personally would just sign him to the longest term deal ever, you know, and just not worry
05:42about it.
05:43Have, you know, rip up the CBA, do the, the Ilya Kovalchuk, like 25 year contract that
05:49he signed that like the NHL was like, yes, we can't do this, no, no more of this.
05:54But again, you hope that it's like eight years, eight, 8.5 and you just, you know, get it
06:00over and done with.
06:01And that's a contract that if Swainman lives up to his potential he should, you know, fall
06:06honestly within market value in the next couple of years in terms of where other guys behind
06:11him like Ottinger and Shusterkin are going to make, but it remains to be seen.
06:18That's what I expect is a deal kind of like that.
06:20But if all of a sudden we look at it and it's a five-year deal or it's, you know, maybe
06:24below or higher than what we projected, I wouldn't be surprised.
06:28It's so tough just to gauge where you look at just his age, the state of the market,
06:34his representatives and guy in, you know, there's a couple of guys with track records
06:38of dragging out these negotiations quite a bit as well.
06:41It's just so tough to look at it and find like a comparable or a barometer as to where
06:45this ultimately is going to land just in terms of the term and the payout.
06:49Yeah, I agree with you.
06:51And I also like, I go back to, and we've, you know, discussed this a thousand times,
06:55but there's the whole argument of like, oh, they want to see what they have in him and
06:59before really committing a ton of money long term.
07:02And I think the danger with that is always, well, he proves himself right.
07:06And then, you know, you're paying him way more than you, than you would have initially
07:11paid him.
07:12And I also, I said this to Diver the other day, you know, there's a whole idea, that
07:16same idea where it's like, you know, get him on sort of this prove me deal.
07:21If the Bruins give him a three-year deal, if they did like a bridge deal to see really
07:25what he was made of, they would almost be betting that he's not going to be worth what
07:29they'd give him now.
07:30Yeah.
07:31And that's kind of a weird position to put yourself in where it's like, well, we think
07:34you're going to be good, but not that good.
07:38And I think there is that element there where maybe it motivates Jeremy Swayman where it's
07:41like, you know, hey, you guys aren't going to believe in me.
07:43I'm going to go sicko mode for three straight years.
07:46And suddenly it's like, oh, and the Bruins like, oh, we did it right.
07:48You know, it's like the Belichick with Tom Brady where it's like, we're going to, you
07:51know, we're going to poke and prod this guy forever and make him think he's the worst
07:55when he's really the best.
07:57But I do, I am curious when this gets done.
08:00I've, I've maintained, I think it's going to be right before camp sometime in the next
08:04two weeks.
08:05I was on the beach Saturday and Sunday.
08:08And all I could think of was like, yeah, that Swayman contract completely happened and I
08:11have no service and whatever, but it probably happened, didn't, didn't happen, obviously.
08:18So that's sort of my first big question, a follow-up one to that.
08:23And it kind of comes into hand in hand with signings.
08:26You and I have talked about this quite a bit.
08:29Do they go for any PTOs?
08:31And if they do, who are they?
08:33Now we've discussed some guys, Pat Turetti, Blake Wheeler.
08:37I almost said Casper's Documents instead of Kyler Yonemura, I don't know why that caught
08:41my eye.
08:42I don't think they'll be perusing the market for Casper's Documents again, but it's a shame.
08:47It's all about being creative, right, Evan?
08:49Who are we to judge?
08:51It's a shame.
08:52It's a shame.
08:53They could use him again.
08:54They could use a guy to...
08:55Maybe he's like Benjamin Button, the older, maybe like the older he gets, like the actually
08:57the quicker his skating ability is, like his legs get fresher the older he gets.
09:03That would be awesome.
09:04That would be a really good trait to have.
09:08But so Wheeler, Pat Turetti, Kyle Yamamoto, Tyler Johnson, Kevin LeBanc were some guys
09:13that we've mentioned kind of upfront.
09:17I think they do sign someone because they do love internal competition.
09:22So I think that's going to happen.
09:24Do you think they lean one way or the other?
09:28Because again, like Wheeler and Pat Turetti are sort of cut from the same cloth in the
09:32kind of PTO they would be, you know, older veterans who stumbled on some injury issues,
09:38you know, Pat Turetti more of a scorer, Wheeler more of a setup guy.
09:41And then you've got Yamamoto, LeBanc who are younger, maybe some of that untapped potential.
09:47What way do you think the Bruins might lean if they're going to go for a PTO?
09:51Yeah, I probably think it's, I would imagine it'd be probably someone who's probably more
09:56of an established veteran player that they want to just see how much maybe is left in
10:00the tank.
10:01And maybe it's a guy that could push for like a middle six spot if all works out right.
10:05I don't think they're gonna get Yamamoto and LeBanc and like, you know, a Johnson or someone
10:12like that, right?
10:13Where it's guys that necessarily maybe if they work out, like if Yamamoto works out,
10:18is he a guy that you could see being like a 20 goal, like 40 point guy?
10:22I feel like he's kind of like a plug and play like third line guy, which it feels like you
10:26have way too many like bottom six players that again, you've got to, you can really
10:31mix and match what you have there.
10:32But between Frederick and Geeky and, you know, Coyle, if you have him down there, Patra,
10:39you got like even guys that probably aren't making the team, Riley Duran, Max Jones, Justin
10:43Brazou, who's, you know, not setting stone for where he's going to be in the lineup.
10:47You have a lot of guys in it that I wouldn't necessarily block, especially if it's a guy
10:51like a Brazou.
10:52You know, I'd rather you see what you have in a guy like Brazou, who's a really intriguing
10:56young player as opposed, you know, not saying Yamamoto is not, but I'd like you to see what
11:01you have in house as opposed to looking for a guy that maybe would take a spot in the
11:04lineup like that.
11:05Now, if you think that, you know, Blake Wheeler or someone like an older veteran, who's got
11:10a pretty solid track record, has more to give, you just want to see how much is left in the
11:13tank.
11:14I'm all for that.
11:15Cause if like Blake Wheeler, you know, discovers the fountain of youth, or he's a guy that
11:20could give you a 45, if he's a dog of ends and just, you know, gets better with age.
11:26But if he's a guy that if healthy could give you like 40 ish points, and maybe he's like
11:31the guy that if a guy like Lysell doesn't work out, or you don't want to promote a guy
11:36like Geeky or Frederick to a top six role, if a guy like Wheeler's with, you know, Coyle
11:41and Martian is kind of the distributor on that line and it works out, I don't think
11:46there's any harm in trying out one of those guys.
11:48So I'm all for one or two players that maybe fits more of that role.
11:52I wouldn't like all of a sudden add three or four guys and further crowd a lineup that
11:57has a lot of intriguing pieces, but I feel like there's just way too many cooks in the
12:00kitchen in terms of necessarily where you want that whole lineup to, to work out.
12:06I also just I don't want to be blocking way too many younger players.
12:09We need to see what these young guys have going into this year.
12:12I agree.
12:13And I think that's sort of the thing where you have these young guys, which we'll get
12:15to in a second.
12:16You have established third and fourth line guys, as is they're all battling with each
12:20other already.
12:21I don't think you need more guys who are going to compete with those guys.
12:26You have enough.
12:29Your big hole is that second line right wing spot.
12:31And this kind of leads to my third question, which we'll get to in a second, but that's
12:36where sort of a patch already comes in.
12:37That's where a Blake Wheeler comes in.
12:39Those guys have filled those spots before.
12:42You know, if Fabian Lysell doesn't work out, you know, you have a guy like a Blake Wheeler
12:46in house.
12:47You have a guy like a patch already there.
12:48And if they are in that position, maybe they slot in on that second line and sort of draw
12:53those minutes.
12:54But again, as we said, when when Bergeron and Creechie came back, these are band-aids
12:59to longer term issues where like if Lysell does not work out on that second line right
13:03wing spot, you've got to figure something out there because, you know, is that long
13:07term option in house?
13:11You'd hope, but we'll see.
13:13I want to get to that Lysell question because that's sort of my third question.
13:16If you guys couldn't tell already, it's been a big question.
13:18We've talked about Fabian Lysell a little bit this summer, but first quick word from
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15:06So my third biggest question pre-training camp is can Fabian Lysell grab that second
15:11line right wing spot?
15:13Going back to development camp, going back to Sweeney's comments post free agency, it
15:19sort of led everyone to think, huh, this second line right wing spot seems to be Fabian Lysell's
15:24for the taking.
15:27And you know, he sort of had a mixed experience here with the Bruins.
15:33There's been some ups and downs in Providence for sure, some of them injury related, some
15:37of them just on ice related.
15:38When him and I talked, he talked a lot about sort of that adjustment period being longer
15:43than others have had to endure, coming over from Sweden, adjusting to sort of the style
15:50of play here.
15:52And it takes time for guys.
15:53It's not always immediate.
15:54Not everyone just comes in and lights the world on fire.
15:57And I think he's a good example of that.
15:59Can he be the long-term fix at second line right wing?
16:03Certainly has the ceiling to do so.
16:04He's the 21st overall pick from that 21, we used the 21 pick, right?
16:09I'm not remembering.
16:10I feel like there was, wasn't like a pick like vacated or something like that.
16:14Like I feel like it might've, depending on how you word it, but I do believe he was 21st
16:19overall.
16:20Yeah.
16:21Memory serves you.
16:22I wanted to make sure it wasn't just because he was the 21 draft.
16:23I'm like, oh, he was 21 overall too.
16:26I think he was.
16:27But again, first round pick has that skill, all that stuff.
16:33What are sort of your expectations for him in camp?
16:36Yeah, it's going to be fascinating, right?
16:38Because you look at this team that has so many, you know, established veterans, so many
16:43guys they added in free agency who clearly are more important to the overall success
16:48of this team.
16:49Guys like Elias Lindholm and Zdorov and all these guys, but Lysel, who's not played one
16:54game in the NHL, is such a consequential player this year.
16:57Cause you just look at that, that vacancy in that top six, where if he, if he runs with
17:03that opportunity and again, not saying that you're like, he just gotta be a 25 goal scorer.
17:07If he can give you 15 goals and 40 ish points in a set role like that and show a lot of
17:14promise, like how much that opens up everything else for this team.
17:18It's such a major question mark.
17:20And again, as we've said before, like they do have other options they can turn to.
17:24They can turn to Morgan Geeky or Frederick or someone else like that if they wanted to.
17:31They can address it at the trade deadline because every single, you know, we get to
17:34February and March and it feels like there's 10, 20 goal scorers who get dangled out on
17:38the market.
17:39And I'm sure that'll happen once again.
17:40So they do have options, but in terms of just making things easier for themselves, if a
17:45young player like Lysel, who has that skill that I think Bruins fans have been so, uh,
17:50intrigued by, of having a player with that, with that kind of skillset added to their
17:54pipeline, if he can run with that opportunity and just look like he belongs, right?
18:00Not don't put it same with kind of like a guy like Lowry where I think people are very
18:04excited to see how he does.
18:06He's the third pairing guy getting second power play reps, like have him just get established,
18:12get comfortable in that spot and show that he can really build off of, um, his NHL career
18:17moving forward.
18:18If Lysel can show you that, it'd be just, uh, it'd be huge for this team moving forward
18:23in terms of just having that spot because it, if you have a homegrown player like that,
18:27who's not making a lot of money, who can fill that top six when you already probably have
18:31like Zaka, Lenton, Pasternak, Coyle, Marsha, and Lysel, and it allows you to kind of keep
18:37guys like a Geeky and a Frederick who are really good.
18:40You know, they can step in when needed, but it's kind of like how we probably thought
18:44Coyle was a few years ago, right?
18:45Instead of like great three C, I don't want to put them up any further.
18:49Maybe like a guy like Geeky could prove us wrong, but like if you're a third line, all
18:52of a sudden is, you know, you have guys like, uh, uh, a Geeky and a Frederick down there
18:57full time.
18:58Pretty good.
18:59They're going to take advantage of their matchups as well.
19:01So just the domino effect of if Lysel can kind of prove his worth is going to be so
19:05huge for this team.
19:06So I'm really excited to see what he can do, how he adjusts to the NHL level.
19:10I think also the onus has to be on the Bruins that if he has a poor preseason or he has,
19:16you know, he hits a wall as all rookies do stay the course, because I think you need
19:21to find out what you have in this player as opposed to continuing to kind of put these
19:25guys in limbo when it feels like they've reached their peak down on the AHL.
19:29I was going to say like if he, if he has kind of a preseason or, you know, his first 10
19:35games in the NHL are like two points.
19:38Keep at it.
19:39You know, I want to see, I want to see an extended big sample so that, you know, hey,
19:44we put him in for 30 games.
19:45He gave us, you know, three goals and five assists and it's like, OK, you know, you have
19:50a pretty good idea there in a 30 game sample size.
19:52But I think what he ends up being and I've sort of stayed pretty consistent on this.
19:56I think he's a fine option there.
19:57I think this season at least points wise, I think, you know, he's not going to light
20:01the world on fire.
20:02You shouldn't expect him to do that.
20:03I don't think he's going to be a bust.
20:04I think he's somewhere, you know, if he over an 82 game pace, somewhere in the 15 to 18
20:10goal range, you know, 35, 40 points, I think somewhere in there, especially if he's playing
20:15with a coil and a Martian again, the lines could be completely different.
20:18But if that's who he is playing with, you're going to pick up some points there.
20:22And I know that's not the most dynamic offensive line, but if you can get that, like, I don't
20:27think that's expecting too much.
20:29I know he has not played a game yet in the NHL, but given his skill, his abilities where
20:33he'll be in the lineup, I don't think that 40 point range is crazy.
20:38I don't.
20:39I don't.
20:40Um, I think just given what he can do, um, and again, Connor, I mean, if people want
20:45to go watch maybe in lifestyle on the Bruins, or you want to watch football, you want to
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22:29What time is it?
22:30It's game time.
22:31Now, back to the show.
22:34So another question I have, I'd say it's definitely in my top five.
22:39And you and I, Connor, have discussed this a little bit.
22:42I think it's going to become more of a discussion is sort of what the future of Jim Montgomery
22:47is with the Bruins as head coach.
22:50Going into that final year of a contract, we don't have word yet of an extension.
22:56I believe Bruce Cassidy's extension came right before that 1920 season.
23:02And I want to say it was, was it pre training camp?
23:06I know.
23:07I think he had more than one year left on his deal.
23:09I think, um, yeah, whatever deal I believe that was the case.
23:14Yeah.
23:15So, I mean, he, yeah, there was never a time for Cassie, especially where he was kind of
23:19a lame duck, um, a lame duck coach or kind of coaching, I say coaching for a job.
23:25He literally was fired, but he didn't have like one year left in his contract or was
23:28in limbo in terms of, um, going into a season like Montgomery is at least for right now.
23:33Yeah.
23:34Never happened.
23:35Um, and so again, with, with Montgomery, I think the biggest thing is like the regular
23:40season success has been there in spades.
23:42I mean, you look at 22, 23 best regular season team ever, 23, 24, massively overperformed.
23:49Um, most models, most expectations, um, with a roster that is, we've called them a thousand
23:56times of the money ball Bruins, Van Reams, Dyke, and others like that.
24:00Um, it's been the playoffs that have sort of been his heel.
24:05And I've said this before, I don't know how you have a, a coach coach an entire season
24:12and be like, all right, well, it doesn't matter what you do in the regular season, cause you've
24:15done that already, but it has to be doing the playoffs.
24:17So you've got to win like two rounds to come back next year.
24:20I mean, you know, nevermind just the stress that puts on your job, but that also puts
24:24a lot of stress on you, your family.
24:26He has kids houses and all it's like, you know, living somewhere long-term.
24:32Um, I think they really extend him.
24:35I do.
24:36I think that's sort of the route that they take.
24:38Um, I think if there was ever a time to make a move, it was back when the season ended
24:43cause you had a, you know, whole slew of coaches and things like that.
24:47If you felt the need to make a change and if they'd lost to Toronto, I think we might
24:51have been having very different conversations that we ended up having, uh, back in April
24:55and May.
24:56Um, I think he ends up getting extended.
24:58Uh, but what do you think ends up happening?
25:00Yeah.
25:01I mean, it's definitely a kind of a precarious spot to be in.
25:03If you're Jim Montgomery, as you said, there's so much other things beyond just the, the
25:07day to day, the X's and O's the, you know, the part of the job that weighs on you.
25:11If you already have the pressure of being this team that has, you know, championship
25:16aspirations in this market after the last couple of years to then, you know, kind of
25:21be in this state of limbo going forward.
25:23It does feel like event they will, you know, give him an extension so he can kind of breathe
25:27a little easier there.
25:28And again, that's not to say that if they extend them and then this year goes by the
25:33wayside or it's another disappointing playoff run, it doesn't put his job in peril again.
25:38But, um, yeah, it's very rare.
25:40You see any coach kind of go into the year, um, on that, um, on that one year remaining
25:47kind of in that just very weird spot.
25:49So I agree that probably we'll get a deal done, but maybe it's something where it's
25:52like a couple of months into the year.
25:55Maybe it's something like how it is in like, you know, November, you see how there's that,
25:59you know, uh, what's that barometer for like Thanksgiving teams that are in the playoffs
26:03then tend to make it, or, you know, maybe that's kind of how they view it.
26:07Maybe the Bruins want to see like, all right, the numbers have been great the last couple
26:10of years when you had Swainman and Olmark, how do you juggle that kind of rotation now
26:14moving forward without having kind of a safety blanket and Olmark who, if you were in a rut
26:20or Swainman wasn't playing well, you could roll this other great goalie and kind of get
26:23back in the wind column pretty easily, or at least get a few points back in the standings.
26:28You have that, you have, you know, the team has invested a lot of money in these Freysens.
26:32How do you utilize them?
26:34One of the things that was marketed about Montgomery coming here was playing younger
26:38players.
26:39Let's see it.
26:40If, you know, we're at a point in November and December where Lysell is just not getting
26:45enough playing time or, you know, it's not worked out right.
26:48If it's more of like a situation last year where it's like, if we get to November and
26:52Lysell's playing, uh, you know, 14 minutes a night and has one goal and four assists
26:58over 20 games, you're like, all right, I don't know what really to make of them there.
27:01But if Lysell is playing every couple of games, playing 11 minutes a night in a third,
27:07you know, a third line, fourth line role, it's like, all right, there's no, we need
27:11to develop these guys.
27:12You need to give these guys some, some leeway, some runway here to develop.
27:16If he's not doing those kinds of things that I think is, was kind of market as to his thing.
27:20Maybe that changes the opinion of the Bruins as to whether they want to keep him longterm.
27:23But I could see it as opposed to like the Swainman thing where you feel like that gets
27:27done in training camp.
27:28Maybe that's something where Bruins see just where this team is, um, uh, you know, in November
27:34and December, and then kind of go from there.
27:36Cause I imagine they want to extend them.
27:38That seems like the best move for all parties in terms of just the baseline results.
27:42But it was, want to see just a little bit more before they commit that next contract.
27:46Well, I like, they bring in like Steve Kornacki from MSNBC to like November to be like, well,
27:52you're projected to be here by the end of the year and, and, uh, and all that.
27:57It's an interesting point you make about doing it, you know, a few months into the season,
28:02mid season, sort of seeing where the team's at now.
28:04I think if they don't, obviously if they don't extend him before training camp or during
28:09training camp, I think if they get out to a slow start in October, I would guess that
28:15he is very much on the hot seat.
28:16Um, you know, if they are 500 mid November, I think that they are looking to make a change.
28:23Um, given that he would be going into the last year of his deal, all that, you know,
28:27get that fresh voice in bolster stuff, bolster yourself up for the playoffs, all that stuff.
28:31I could see that.
28:32Uh, whereas again, in contrast, I think if, you know, this isn't saying anything crazy,
28:36I think if they're rolling and they're playing expectations, they're beating some expectations,
28:40um, November, December, I think then you probably would see an extension where it's like, all
28:44right, they seem to be in pretty good, pretty good spot for the playoffs.
28:47That's three straight years of, uh, Monty, you know, having a pretty solid ship throughout
28:51the regular season.
28:54Let's see what they do in the playoffs.
28:55Um, but again, I don't, I don't, that's also a risky move to, to extend the coach, um,
29:01you know, for, you know, during the year, you also don't want to sour those negotiations,
29:05right?
29:06If you, if there's a higher percentage chance, you do want to extend him and you go, well,
29:10we're going to wait a little while here.
29:12You don't want his side of the negotiations to just be like, all right, like screw this
29:15place.
29:16I don't want to be here anymore.
29:17Um, and again, there's no sign that that's the case that he just did the event in Lewiston,
29:21Maine this past weekend for the Bruins.
29:23But, um, I, I think you also have to consider that with, um, with, you know, just, you know,
29:29keeping him longterm.
29:30If you are going to keep him longterm, don't piss him off.
29:33Um, I think that's also important, um, when it comes to Montgomery.
29:37It is going to be kind of a, maybe a fascinating, kind of a slept on storyline for right now.
29:41Cause also don't forget, uh, kind of similar to the year before they moved on from Julian
29:46and Bruce Cassidy got the promotion and people were like, oh, this is a guy that if things
29:50kind of hit the wayside, um, should be in the mix.
29:53Uh, who did the Bruins add to the coding staff?
29:56Oh, Jay Leach.
29:57Jay Leach is back.
29:58I keep tabs on that as well.
30:02So, huh?
30:03Um, speaking of Bruins assistant coaches, uh, you know, who walked by my table?
30:09Uh, it was, I was having dinner at Gunkwit on Friday night.
30:12Uh, Kevin Dean walked right past the table.
30:14I was like, I did one of those like blades, blades, blades, walked past my table.
30:19And I'm like, wow.
30:20Oh my God.
30:21Blades.
30:22Um, but, uh, it, yeah, it was you actually in the blades costume.
30:26Um, I was eating dinner.
30:28I look up and it was like, huh?
30:31And I don't know.
30:32We don't know each other at all.
30:33But, um, I'm like, what the hell?
30:35And uh, I, I was like, what?
30:38Who is that?
30:39I was like, I was like, it doesn't matter to her, but I'm like, yeah, it was just a
30:42coach as well.
30:43They, you know, just so random to see, um, he's in Chicago now, right?
30:47He's with the Blackhawks.
30:48I think so.
30:49I think he's still with the Blackhawks.
30:50Yeah.
30:51I think he's still with the Blackhawks.
30:52Yeah.
30:53Um, there's supposed to be a better team this year.
30:54There'll be a little bit more interesting of a product.
30:55Um, I don't know how much more interesting, but better than last year, Dardback and, but
31:04it sounded like terrifying.
31:05And they sent a couple other guys.
31:06They sent a whole, a whole squad of guys.
31:09So yeah, I'm curious to see what they do.
31:12Like I was thinking this morning and this isn't one of my questions, but you know, we're
31:15talking about it right now.
31:17Like James Higgins is the clear number one, or as of right now is the clear number one
31:20pick for next year, generational transformative talent.
31:23Um, sort of like the next Jack Hughes.
31:25I was like, San Jose is going to be a little bit better, but still probably going to be
31:28near the bottom of the league.
31:29Yes.
31:30Yeah.
31:31I mean, but if they got Higgins, like if that team suddenly had celebrating Higgins, Will
31:35Smith, like that's wild.
31:37Um, East, West hockey, West, legit, any of Anaheim with goatee, but there are other Anaheim's
31:43another team that probably won't be very good.
31:45Um, the Utah hockey club should be okay.
31:48Shut up.
31:49L Frazier, by the way, last, you know, right out to covering the, uh, Utah hockey club.
31:53So congrats to her.
31:54Yes, absolutely.
31:55I, you know, but I, I like the worst team in the, I haven't looked at the odds yet,
32:00but I would assume sharks, ducks, black Hawks, am I forgetting someone?
32:05I feel like that's probably the safe pick.
32:06Those kinds of teams.
32:07There's probably some team out, out East and I'm not thinking about like, watch like Buffalo
32:11suck again this year or someone else like that, but, um, the Canadians will be a little
32:17bit better.
32:18There'll be a little bit better.
32:19I feel like Columbus might get a little bit better.
32:21Right.
32:22I think they've made a few moves.
32:23So they got a lot, they got enough younger guys that you expect would take a step forward.
32:27So I feel like it's going to be those teams out West flyers.
32:30Like I don't know, would they suck and not, I mean, they were okay last year, but like
32:34they got, they got Mitch cough now and they got a few younger players.
32:38So, but yeah.
32:40So I don't know.
32:41I think it's going to be those West coast teams.
32:42Those teams are, those teams are, but pathetic.
32:45Um, yeah, I think it's going to be one of them, but I, you know, again, like for Bruins
32:49fans, you'll be watching a lot of BC this year because of Dean Letourneau.
32:52So I would also say, uh, James Higgins is another good reason to watch.
32:56Um, just, you know, given how good of a talent he is, sorry to say it, Connor, um, except
33:02when they play BU, of course.
33:03Um, yeah, you're right.
33:04I think it's gonna be a team out West.
33:05Um, maybe it'll be the Bruins, who knows?
33:09Uh, that'd be fun.
33:11Interesting season.
33:12Yeah.
33:13It would be an interesting season.
33:14Um, my last big question and there's others, of course, you know, that are, we haven't
33:18really touched on defense at all.
33:20Um, but I think there are bigger questions up front.
33:23Um, Matt, Patra and Georgie Murkuloff, you know, we've already discussed Lysel whether
33:27or not he'll make the team, just posture, make the team, just Murkuloff, make the team
33:31different.
33:32I talked about this a lot last week.
33:34Um, Murkuloff has sort of grown out of the AHL, uh, in the sense that he's sort of done
33:39all you can do down there.
33:40Point per game player.
33:41Yeah.
33:42Like, what's, are you going to have him there for a third year?
33:46Um, Matt Patra looked really good at the NHL level last year.
33:50Still very young, has never played in the AHL, coming off shoulder surgery, um, which
33:56one makes the team?
33:57I think it's going to be hard for both to make it given that unless Murk goes off and
34:02they want to put him on the wing in the top six, um, which again, I think is, that's a
34:06slim chance.
34:07You know, I think he is definitely a center.
34:10Um, you have Lindholm, you have Coyle, you've got Zaka, you know, you're like, you, you're
34:15pretty set with top six centers.
34:17Um, I think it's one of, I think, I'm starting to think it's one or the other.
34:21Um, so I'm curious what your take on those two guys are.
34:24Yeah.
34:25I mean, I think it all comes down to how you use them in the preseason.
34:27Again, it better be something where I think I was speaking last week to Ty about it.
34:32It's how I think like the first game for Lyselle, um, in preseason, it was him with
34:36like Jason Megna and someone else.
34:39I'm like, all right, so this is like Providence's top line.
34:41Like I want to see these guys with a Pasternak.
34:43I want to see these guys with a Lindholm or a Coyle or a Martian and see what you can
34:48bring out of these players.
34:49So I think, especially in this preseason, if it is one or the other, which is probably
34:53the case starting out the year, and again, maybe the case that Murkulov like has already
34:58hit his ceiling.
34:59You could easily make the argument if you're the Bruins of like, all right, we love Patra.
35:04We expect him to be with this team at some point, but maybe we open the year with him
35:07in Providence, get him back up to speed, see how that shoulder is, have him feel confident
35:11about his game.
35:12Cause he could be a guy that I would see go down there and could be a point per game guy
35:16out of the gate, but just how he produces and what his skillset is.
35:19Um, but we'll see.
35:21I think you need to have a preseason where at least both those guys are getting legitimate
35:26top six minutes with NHL level talent and seeing what, how they kind of run with it.
35:30Because again, you see the numbers with guys like, um, with guys like, uh, you know, Murkulov
35:39in Providence, you see the highlights every year as he's lighting things up in the AHL.
35:43Then he goes up to Boston and plays four games, eight minutes a night.
35:47You get nothing out of that, right?
35:48Like now is the time to see what these guys can do in those spots.
35:52So I do think it probably would be one or the other.
35:55You know, you kind of weigh like, do you feel more confident with a guy like Patra who's
35:59done it before?
36:00Uh, but again, let's see what, what Murkulov can do.
36:03Um, and again, if it hits a point where all of a sudden you've got a good problem on your
36:06hands, if Murkulov lights things up and is like your three seed to start the year and
36:12Patra's in Providence gaining confidence and putting himself in a spot to come back up
36:16later on this year, that would be a great problem to have all three of Murkulov, Patra
36:21and, uh, and, uh, Lysel hit.
36:26Like you've got a great problem on your hand in terms of fitting those guys in a lineup
36:29with already a lot of capable NHL players already in place.
36:33So, um, but I do agree that probably, I think it's going to be one or the other to start
36:37the year.
36:38But if it's Patra being the odd man out, but he gets to play 19, 20 minutes a night in
36:44Providence out of the gate and build his strength back up, I also don't think that's the worst
36:48thing in the world.
36:49I think that also falls on Murkulov to prove himself.
36:51It does.
36:52Patra also is 20 and does not turn 21 until March.
36:55So you have someone who is still extremely young, very ahead of schedule.
37:01It's not a demotion for him to go to Providence and play an extended period of time there.
37:05I mean, you're coming, he's coming off of major shoulder surgery and just, you know,
37:12looking great in the end.
37:13I mean, he had some highlight real plays in the NHL last year, no doubt.
37:18But just the way that Murkulov is trending and how much he's played over the last two
37:22years of professional hockey, uh, would lead you, would lead everyone, I think, to believe
37:27he might be more of a fit for that third line right now than Patra is and that Patra needs
37:31a little bit more seasoning.
37:33I think that's fine.
37:34There's nothing wrong with that.
37:35Um, but again, we'll see, I'm curious to see how this plays out, but we don't know the
37:39answers yet.
37:40Connor training camp has not happened.
37:42I'm excited though, for when training camp finally does come around because it's something
37:46to do.
37:47I'm excited to see why.
37:48Something to do.
37:49Um, Connor, what can the people look forward to from you over at the globe and boston.com?
37:52Yeah, we'll have it covered every step of the way.
37:55Uh, with training camp starting up, we'll have a preview ahead of time.
37:58We'll have a roster battles to look for prospect, uh, profiles, all that good stuff.
38:04Hopefully a swim and contract, but we've covered every step of the way.
38:07Once camp begins over at boston.com and the Boston globe.
38:11So you can follow me over there.
38:12If you want to follow me on Twitter X, whatever it's called, you can do that at Connor Ryan.
38:18Go do all that.
38:21That has been this week's Bruinsbeat Connor Ryan, Evan Marinovsky, Bruinsbeat listeners.
38:25Have a great rest of your week.