Welcome back to Bruins Beat! In this episode, ESPN's John Buccigross joins the show to delve into the latest insights surrounding Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins! We’ll discuss Swayman’s comments from the Amazon Prime documentary and what they reveal about his mindset as a restricted free agent.
We share thoughts on when Swayman might sign, hinting that it could be soon. We’ll also explore whether a trade is still a possibility for the Bruins and examine Swayman’s potential as a key player. Finally, we’ll look at the future of head coach Jim Montgomery and what it means for the team moving forward.
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Welcome to the #CLNS Media Network’s YouTube channel for Boston #Bruins hockey. CLNS Media is the leading online provider of audio/video coverage for the Boston sports. Get complete inside access to the Bruins at TD Garden, the game day skates at Warrior, and everywhere on the road. CLNS #NHLBruins' credentialed insiders Mike "Trags" Petraglia, Evan Marinofski, Conor Ryan, and Joe "Haggs" Haggerty. Providing instantaneous news and analysis all in real time, as well as full access to complete videos from the players, coaches, ownership and everyone else on Causeway Street.
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We share thoughts on when Swayman might sign, hinting that it could be soon. We’ll also explore whether a trade is still a possibility for the Bruins and examine Swayman’s potential as a key player. Finally, we’ll look at the future of head coach Jim Montgomery and what it means for the team moving forward.
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Gametime - https://gametime.co
Take the guesswork out of buying MLB tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply.
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Welcome to the #CLNS Media Network’s YouTube channel for Boston #Bruins hockey. CLNS Media is the leading online provider of audio/video coverage for the Boston sports. Get complete inside access to the Bruins at TD Garden, the game day skates at Warrior, and everywhere on the road. CLNS #NHLBruins' credentialed insiders Mike "Trags" Petraglia, Evan Marinofski, Conor Ryan, and Joe "Haggs" Haggerty. Providing instantaneous news and analysis all in real time, as well as full access to complete videos from the players, coaches, ownership and everyone else on Causeway Street.
For the CLNS award winning Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, College hoops, NBA History, go here to featured channels- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiP7KyKodc3OHuN_XhEyPPw?sub_confirmation=1
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00:00Bruins Beat is brought to you by PrizePix and the GameTime app.
00:07And welcome into the Bruins Beat presented by PrizePix. Go use that promo code CLNS to get $50 back when you play, just $5.
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00:25I'm Evan Maranofsky. That is Jon Butchergross. Butchy, what's up?
00:30Peace from Plymouth, Massachusetts. Bro, the Pilgrims landed.
00:34Exactly, and we're in the same state. Because you're back in Plymouth. How's that ride to Bristol?
00:41It's two and a half hours. When I leave at 1am and there's blinking lights and not as much traffic, I can make it in 2.19.
00:50It's not a five-day-a-week job anymore. I'll drive up, do my intermissions, and drive right back.
00:57But otherwise, I've got a few play-by-play games as well. I love the South Shore, especially in the summer.
01:03And the fall is gorgeous, so it's great to be here.
01:06Yeah, the South Shore is amazing, and you're right. Right now, I think everyone focuses on the South Shore in the summer.
01:11But I think the South Shore in the fall is spectacular, too, with the foliage and everything.
01:17In terms of the Bruins, this Jeremy Swayman situation, are you surprised by this? Where are you at with this in general?
01:26Yeah, I am a little surprised. I didn't realize. I've known Jeremy for a little bit, been around him.
01:34I wasn't really privy to the fact he was quite wired this way, to be a little sensitive and write down the criticisms.
01:44But maybe I should fast-forward when I was his age and I was in my business.
01:48My broadcasting is somewhat similar to the athlete's business in terms of we do have contracts.
01:54We do have negotiations. There are agents involved. I haven't had an agent for 15 years.
02:00I'm one of the rare ones in the business who doesn't use an agent.
02:04I've done it myself with ESPN. It's gone very well.
02:08The biggest reason why I didn't want to have one or got rid of one after a few years at ESPN was I didn't want the communication and the messaging to get muddled.
02:18What's my agent going to say to ESPN? What might their retort be?
02:23Is my agent maybe working for a different client? Okay, I want this client here, this client here.
02:28And that doesn't work with so much at hockey. There's a limited amount of jobs.
02:32I'm sure Jeremy's guy is trying to get the most that he can for him.
02:36But it's somewhat similar. Certainly, there were times in my career when I felt like,
02:40man, I think I'm at a different station. I deserve more or whatever. We all feel that way.
02:45But again, in terms of really writing down those slights and remembering them,
02:51and there's something certainly in my mind I've heard from bosses 20 years ago, 15 years ago,
02:56that I can still kind of remember, but I've let go. But maybe I didn't let go right away.
02:59Maybe it's still fresh for Jeremy. But certainly, he's a hyper-competitor.
03:03That's why he's as good as he is. So yes, I'm a little surprised by that.
03:06But in the end, I hope that he realizes that this is a great job to be the goaltender for the Boston Bruins.
03:12It's a hockey market that matters. There's not a lot of those. There's a decent number of them.
03:17But there's not a lot of those where it's just different in Boston. It's better in Boston.
03:21And for the next eight years to be set for life, for your kids to be set for life,
03:26and probably your grandkids to be, at least college will be paid for,
03:30it's a pretty good gig to have that guarantee in a great hockey city on a good team.
03:36That's the other thing, too. The team is ready to compete.
03:39So now you're building a personal resume that who knows, someday may equal the Hall of Fame.
03:44Certainly, he's off to a good start. You start to need some business and some playoff success.
03:48A long way to go there. But again, those are kinds of things when you factor all that in.
03:53Playing the long game, as I say, I think the right move is to figure out the number here with the Bruins.
04:00I remember you tweeted over the summer, 8x8. If I'm remembering correctly, it kind of makes the most sense for him.
04:06And I agree with you. I said all summer, 8x8.
04:09Because the reality is, at this current moment, he's not worth exactly $8 million, just given what he's done so far.
04:17But I think everyone sort of expected those first couple of years, maybe not quite worth $8 million,
04:22but then definitely worth $8 million in years 3, 4, 5, 6, and then 7, 8.
04:26He's over $8 million and then can negotiate after year 7 to get that extension after that.
04:32But I continually be surprised. It's interesting you referenced those slights he writes down.
04:39And he said in that Amazon Prime documentary, which I think comes out today, right?
04:45I'm not sure what time, but tonight. Yeah, I'm looking forward to watching that.
04:48Have you gotten a look at it yet?
04:50Usually I get some previews sometime to this stuff, but I didn't this time, which I don't mind.
04:54I like to watch it in real time with the rest of my hockey fandom, so I don't mind.
04:57I'm a more patient man, so I'll be tuned in tonight to watch.
05:00Yeah, I was going to say, I have not gotten a look at it either, so I'm curious.
05:04But there was these quotes that came out through, I think, Greg Wyshynski.
05:08Swayman said, quote, I mean, I don't want it to end. This could be the last time I wear a Bruins jersey.
05:13I know I'm going to do everything in my power to be a Bruin for a long time.
05:16As a kid growing up in Alaska, this was in my wildest expletive dreams.
05:20I never want it to end. I'm just so grateful that the sun's going to rise tomorrow,
05:24and there's another opportunity to get better.
05:26And then he spoke on his arbitration.
05:28When you go into that room, you don't say a word.
05:30My arbiter started first. He said all these great things.
05:32The arbitrator on their side, their job is to help the management side and to rip players.
05:38And hearing that you're not worthy of what you think you're worthy of, that was hard to hear.
05:41You don't forget what was said. I wrote him down, and I looked at him the other day,
05:44and I had a couple of check marks.
05:45My biggest knock was how I wasn't trustworthy in the playoffs. Check.
05:50So it's interesting because you and I, Brady, obviously around here,
05:54kept every slight against him and used it to motivate.
05:57I think there's nothing wrong with that. I think that that's a good thing.
06:00We've heard a lot from him on this in a short time, just about arbitration.
06:05He did take the Bruins to arbitration.
06:08I'm like you. I didn't expect this to be this contentious.
06:14Obviously, if the Bruins submit the right offer, he's going to sign it.
06:19I would be shocked if he didn't.
06:21But to hear a pending RFA say, well, I don't know if I'll be back, that's a wild thing.
06:26I was surprised by that.
06:28It's a little dramatic, right?
06:29But again, that's the scar tissue from the arbitration process,
06:32which he shouldn't be in the room in that situation.
06:34I don't know why they do that.
06:36If I'm his client, I'm not going to go in there.
06:38Negotiations are ugly.
06:40Like I said, I've gone through things like that.
06:42At ESPN, they get contentious.
06:44But it's not personal. It's business.
06:46But again, the Bruins, they should have more nuance than that.
06:50I can't believe some of these teams would say these things in these arbitration hearings.
06:54There's a nuanced way of saying that.
06:56Hey, he's just yet to prove it in the playoffs.
06:58We love Jeremy. We believe in him.
07:00But this process is about what you've done.
07:03There's a little bit of forecasting, what you might do.
07:05But right now, there just isn't a playoff track record.
07:07That's how you put it.
07:08You can put this in a nuanced, diplomatic way where you don't have to be an idiot about it.
07:13So again, maybe that's a little dramatic from Jeremy.
07:16But again, I call Jeremy my third son.
07:18I have a 32-year-old son and a 25-year-old son.
07:21Jeremy's my third son.
07:22I want him to be happy.
07:24I want him to be a happy guy.
07:25So I look at all these players that age, and I want them just to figure it out.
07:30But again, they're that age.
07:31They don't have the wisdom of the years or the experience yet to look back on how this is a business and how it works.
07:37So yes, in the end, I do think maybe the Bruins, Cam Neely said $64 million, whether or not the timing of that was messed up again.
07:45But again, I assume that's what he meant 8 times 8, whether it was not quite offered, whether he thought someone pressed send but didn't press send.
07:52I don't know.
07:53He's not going to be there every step of the way with negotiation.
07:56I don't think he's on speakerphone with Don Sweeney every time or whoever is negotiating the Bruins contract on their side.
08:01But at this point, I think you just go 8.2.
08:04You try to make them a little bit happy.
08:06It's 8.2 times 8.
08:08Like you said, that's an overpay for arbitration for two years, but that's their own fault.
08:12So, you know, so I guess, okay.
08:14And it's weird.
08:15Jeremy is an RFA, but he does have a little bit of leverage because this is a very good Boston team, and they trade the visiting winning goalie already.
08:22So they just kind of, you know, they obviously fumbled this a little bit, maybe underestimated Jeremy.
08:27But I think there is an answer here.
08:29And it's still a bit of a risk.
08:30Again, he hasn't gone that deep into playoffs yet.
08:32But again, I believe in this athlete.
08:34He's great for the city.
08:35He's a great personality.
08:36It's a great ambassador.
08:37He's an excellent talent.
08:38He's at a good age.
08:39So I don't think this is an outrageous risk.
08:42They're all risks.
08:43But, you know, in the end, it's an investment and a bit of a bet.
08:46And you're betting that Jeremy Swayman will be good.
08:48And like you said, in eight years, if the rights go up, then eventually a goalie will be $10 million a year probably for the last two or three years of his deal.
08:55That could be the peak.
08:56So, yeah.
08:58But I think the Bruins should go at least 8.2 now.
09:01If they were going to stop at 8 times 8, 8.2 is a good contract, like I said, and a great hockey market on a really good team.
09:08And I think in the end, you know, they both need each other.
09:13Bruins probably need Jeremy a little bit more than he needs them.
09:16But, again, you don't want to start sacrificing paychecks and money you'll never see again.
09:20Yeah, I agree with you.
09:22And I think it's interesting because you think about kind of what's been reported.
09:25You know, the Bruins came with, I think it was like four times 6.25 first, and then they moved it up to 8 times 7.8.
09:32Swayman's camp went from 8 times 9.5 down to like 8 times 8.5.
09:38And everyone's kind of moving.
09:41Again, I'm not a negotiator.
09:43I don't know.
09:44I'm not in the room.
09:45But I think, you know, you look at sort of how the Bruins, you know, definitely, you know, obviously, I think it's clear.
09:52Swayman's camp has been talking to some, you know, and Swayman was obviously on that podcast about a month ago talking about the negotiations.
10:00But you also look at the Bruins coming out on Monday and you have, you know, Neely's comments.
10:04You have Montgomery naming the starter already for game one.
10:07I do wonder if the Bruins say, all right, you know what, this has gotten ugly.
10:10We're going to put, you know, an extra 200,000 on that AAV.
10:13Let's, you know, 8.2, as you said, let's call it even.
10:16And I think that satisfies both sides because according to all reports, both sides have moved closer and closer as time has gone along.
10:24I think a lot of those initial reports came when it was four times 6.5 versus 8 times 9.5.
10:31And it's like, holy crap, she's not coming back.
10:35I, you know, I think that that's probably the right area.
10:40I want to get into sort of what happens next.
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12:06Now, back to the show.
12:07So you mentioned an interesting thing earlier about this is a great hockey market.
12:12There's not a ton like Boston.
12:15Say it stands alone, but Canadian markets do exist.
12:18So, you know, there is that.
12:19There's New York and Chicago.
12:22Philadelphia.
12:23There's some Philadelphia.
12:24Absolutely.
12:25And you see them.
12:26You're around.
12:27You do a lot of these games.
12:30The only teams that could really trade for Jeremy Swayman are teams that are not those markets.
12:37It's, you know, Chicago's one.
12:39But you have, you know, Columbus.
12:41You have, you know, Anaheim, San Jose.
12:43And there's nothing wrong with those markets.
12:45But you are not in Boston anymore.
12:47There is not that pressure.
12:49And some guys like that.
12:50You know, some guys would rather be in a nicer area or a place that isn't as intense as Boston.
12:57But I don't think he's one of those guys.
12:59I think he likes this.
13:00And I think he enjoys the pressure that comes with this.
13:03And I agree with you.
13:04I think that, you know, the reason I'd be willing to give an eight-year deal is because
13:07everything we've seen so far has been good.
13:09There are no red flags with this guy.
13:12It's not like we're like, oh, but he's been bad in the playoffs.
13:15Or, oh, but he hasn't been great in the regular season.
13:17Or, you know, this or that.
13:19It's really just, oh, he hasn't played quite enough yet.
13:21And that's not his fault.
13:23What happens next?
13:26Is there a chance that this ends in a trade?
13:29Or do you see this getting wrapped up fairly soon?
13:32I think highly unlikely.
13:34I would think this weekend it gets wrapped up.
13:36I don't think it'll end up in a trade.
13:38Again, you never know how firm the Bruins are in this situation.
13:41And where the price point is for a swing.
13:43I don't think he wants to start to sacrifice paychecks.
13:47Again, I don't think this is a difficult negotiation.
13:49Because they kind of both need each other in the end.
13:51And those tend to be the easier ones.
13:53You mentioned just an excellent guy to have on your team.
13:57A front man.
13:58Obviously a team player.
14:00The way he reacted in his relationship with Lena Solmark.
14:03The other number one goalie.
14:04To have two number one goalies and have them be that close.
14:07That says a lot about both guys.
14:09It really does.
14:10So, yeah, it just seems like an easy one.
14:12I think it should be taken care of this weekend.
14:15They're too close, as you said.
14:17And it just makes the most sense.
14:19Whether or not he starts in time for Tuesday, probably not.
14:22That probably is a little too quick.
14:25But, yeah, I think it gets done this weekend.
14:28I really do.
14:29Is that informed opinion?
14:32Or do you think that's what it is?
14:34No, that's just a gut.
14:36Again, going through these things.
14:37Whether it's personally.
14:39Or whether it's watching hockey for the last 40 years of my life.
14:44Since I was a real young kid, 50 years of my life.
14:46It just seems like the timing and the rhythm is now to hunker down this weekend.
14:51Get it done before the season.
14:53It would be a big lift to the Bruins.
14:56All the guys on the team.
14:58It would be a relief to Swayman to have that contract that sets you up for life.
15:02To be in a great hockey market on a good team.
15:05As you mentioned, don't go to a crappy team.
15:07That doesn't mean anything.
15:08It's a good travel city.
15:11There's so many benefits to staying here.
15:13I think it would be a big regret of his to give up or to feel slighted over a few hundred thousand dollars of AAV at this point.
15:22It seems obvious that's what we're down to now.
15:25I agree with you.
15:27And I also think you look at Monday.
15:29And I remember sitting there Monday night and seeing the Louis Gros statement.
15:35And being like, okay, this is rock bottom.
15:37These negotiations have hit complete bottom.
15:39This is worst case scenario.
15:41I don't think it can go lower than this.
15:44And so ironically, when you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up.
15:47And I do think that there hasn't been much said by either camp in the last couple days.
15:53There's been some new things reported.
15:55There certainly was Tuesday morning.
15:57We're now recording this Friday morning.
15:59There hasn't been a ton since.
16:01And at the end of that statement, at the end of that thing that Louis Gros put out,
16:05it was me and my client are going to take a few days to talk this out.
16:08And I think the right thing, and I think you agree with me on this,
16:11is get a deal done as soon as possible.
16:14Don't let this linger.
16:16Don't go back to the negotiating table in late October.
16:19And I also think once the season starts, if he's not signed, he's a competitor.
16:26You want to be out there.
16:27You want to be with your teammates.
16:29And I get, obviously, you have your contract.
16:31And you want to get the most amount of money.
16:33But I think when games are happening, whether or not Jonas Corposalo is doing well,
16:37whether or not the Bruins are doing well, those are your guys.
16:40That's your team.
16:41I think it's a weird feeling.
16:43You probably, if you're sick and miss a broadcast that you're supposed to have
16:46and you're sitting at home like, I think I should be doing that.
16:49This is so weird to watch this.
16:52I think he's going to have that feeling if it lingers into the regular season.
16:56I don't know how you don't.
16:57Oh, for sure.
16:58But I think he is locked in as a businessman now.
17:00And he's getting, obviously, this agent is a firm one.
17:04So I don't think he's just going to sign a deal to sign a deal.
17:07I think it's going to kind of have to be on his terms.
17:09He's going to put the Bruins' feet to the fire
17:11and then come up with the best possible deal he can make
17:15to make himself look as good as he can.
17:18And also, again, not to sacrifice a paycheck.
17:20These are big paychecks you're talking about
17:22when you're up to $8 million a year, which is probably now the minimum, it appears.
17:26Now, again, whether they go down to four years or try to make it,
17:29I don't know why the Bruins would do that.
17:31That doesn't make much sense for them to do that.
17:32They want to get this all the way to eight.
17:35I don't think deep inside they think there's a question mark on his talent
17:39or whether or not he can play until he's 33 years old.
17:42I think they believe in their goaltending coach to always have a good backup
17:45so he doesn't overplay.
17:46A 50-game guy for the next eight years, that seems very reasonable,
17:50fresh for the playoffs.
17:52Their core is at a pretty good spot.
17:54They're a little bit older, obviously, a little bit up front.
17:58So that will have to be addressed in the second half of his contract.
18:01But, again, at that point, you can always trade him.
18:03And he would want to be traded if they start to go south
18:06as Marchand retires and Pasternak gets in his mid-30s
18:09and if the young guys just don't support at a high enough level,
18:13then they would trade him anyway in four or five years.
18:17So, yeah, this is just a deal really to get done for the next four years.
18:20The back half of these deals don't really matter.
18:22It's kind of like dry saddle.
18:23You just sign the deal as long as you can, as much as you can guaranteed.
18:27And if things don't work out on either side halfway through or 60% through,
18:31then both sides will want to be traded.
18:33And that's easy.
18:34So, again, this isn't going to be too difficult.
18:36I would be shocked if it's not done by this weekend.
18:39I know they want this done by opening night for sure.
18:41And there's time, and they're too close not to do it.
18:44I was going to say, it seems like they're close.
18:47It seems just everything that's been reported,
18:48they are within a couple hundred thousand dollars.
18:50I know both sides are not happy with each other.
18:53The Bruins are clearly pissed, and they have their reasons to be pissed.
18:56The Swainman side is pissed.
18:58They have their reasons to be pissed.
18:59I think the way that this gets done is shake hands on a deal and let the guy play.
19:04And I think that that's a legitimate thing that has to happen at this point.
19:10I'm just surprised it's here.
19:14I thought it would be right before camp or a couple days into camp.
19:17But, again, and you mentioned sort of the back half of deals.
19:22Obviously, if a guy has no movement or no trade, that can hinder things.
19:26But, as you said, if the team is bad, and Swainman wants out,
19:30and the Bruins are rebuilding, let's say, in year five.
19:33They'll always make it happen.
19:34The player has some control.
19:36Yeah, the players have some control.
19:37But you can always do a three-way trade.
19:39You can figure that part out.
19:41That part's not difficult.
19:43And, again, Swainman will probably outlast Neely and Sweeney anyway in this contract.
19:48So he shouldn't have to worry about feeling that personal.
19:50Yeah, you should get what you feel you deserve.
19:52But I think eight-plus is a great number for a guy who is still an RFA
19:57and really hasn't been the number one, hasn't carried the load yet in the NHL.
20:01But he carried Maine back in the day in college.
20:03He clearly is built for this.
20:06He can play 50 to 55 games, obviously, at a great level in the regular season.
20:10And then, as we saw last year, he can play at a very high level in the playoffs.
20:13It doesn't bother him.
20:15So, yeah, this is the spot for him.
20:17It's the spot that he can get his number retired.
20:19Maybe win a Stanley Cup.
20:20Maybe get to the Hall of Fame.
20:21He's off to a good start with his career.
20:23These are things you want to think of down the line.
20:25And, again, you always come back to the Bruins old-timer.
20:28Their alumni is strong.
20:29That should matter for a player when he comes back to a team that has that kind of history.
20:33It just enriches your life.
20:35It makes your life better as you age.
20:37And you come back.
20:38You get to come back to this city and wherever he ends up living.
20:40And so it's just I hope he's counseled that way while still trying to get market value
20:45and getting the most you can because eight years is a lot of time.
20:48Yeah, $200,000.
20:49That's not a lot.
20:50Not different.
20:51Well, it's $1.6 million.
20:53And that's a good number.
20:54So you always have to do things time eight or whatever.
20:58I always tell my kids, hey, if you're able to save $600 a year by not going to Starbucks for a year,
21:04you don't look at it like you should.
21:05Do everything times 10 because the world goes so fast.
21:07Our lives go so fast.
21:08So that's $6,000 I can save by not getting a quadruple latte sprinkled with Tylenol or whatever.
21:17So you have to do times eight, times 10.
21:19It does matter a little bit.
21:21You're right.
21:22As I save money in like a 401k and Roth and stuff.
21:25At this age, it's like, man, I'd rather have that couple hundred bucks.
21:28Max it out.
21:29When I'm 65 or whatever, I'll be like, damn, thank God 25-year-old Evan decided to make a smart financial move.
21:37Exactly.
21:38Anybody can get rich in America.
21:39It just takes 30 years.
21:40You just got to hit that IRA when you're 25 to 30.
21:42If you wait 30 years, you'll have a million bucks.
21:46There you go.
21:47That's all it takes.
21:48Or I got to sign my eight times eight.
21:49I got to sign my eight times eight.
21:50That's even better formula.
21:51Waiting for that.
21:52Yeah.
21:53I'm waiting for that.
21:54It'll happen at some point.
21:55What did you think of the Neely comments on Monday?
21:58What do you think of the Bruins tactics?
22:00Obviously, Neely runs hot.
22:01He's an emotional guy.
22:02That's why he was a great player.
22:03That's why he's in the hall of fame.
22:05I would think after this amount of time, though, you would have a bit of composure.
22:12You don't need to tell who cares what the media thinks, who cares almost what the public thinks.
22:18Your job is pretty secure.
22:19You've had a good run.
22:20Again, everyone reacts differently to stress.
22:22You want to say, hey, wait a minute.
22:24We offered eight times eight.
22:25Again, that was obviously the timing there doesn't look great.
22:28Again, I'm sure he's thinking that's a really good contract.
22:31$64 million guaranteed.
22:33Man, that should be enough.
22:36He's going to run hot that way.
22:37But in the end, he's a player, and the players understand that.
22:40I still think everything will work out, be smoothed out, and you almost forget about it.
22:44I mean, Carl Yastrzemski used to have contract squabbles with the Red Sox.
22:48Kevin McHale and Larry Bird held out their rookie year until they got the deal from Red Auerbach.
22:54These things have happened forever.
22:56They go way back.
22:57They've happened since the 19th century baseball.
23:01There's been disputes.
23:02It's just part of the deal.
23:04Each new one feels fresh.
23:07They can never make up.
23:08They'll never forget it and things like that.
23:10But they will.
23:11They'll come to a deal.
23:14Sometimes one side will go nuts, and they'll just know I'm out.
23:17And that happens, too.
23:18But I don't think it'll happen at this point.
23:20Yeah, I also don't think it happens at this point.
23:22I mean, we've discussed trades on previous podcasts.
23:24But again, the Bruins are losing 90% of those trades.
23:28I see people on Twitter.
23:30I see YouTube commenters.
23:31I see talk radio callers saying, no, they should trade him.
23:35It's like, no, they absolutely should not trade him unless it goes to complete nuclear.
23:41And I think on the Bruins end of it, I think they were really pissed at that Ryan Whitney
23:47or not comment, but sort of what someone told him, which was that Sweeney wasn't returning
23:51calls for three weeks.
23:52I think that I was at that presser preseason or before training camp started.
23:58And I think they were pissed about that.
24:00And I think that's exactly what you said, where Neely runs hot.
24:03I think that's what happened on that, where it's like, I'm going to stick up for Sweeney
24:06and I'm going to drop a little bomb here on that 64 million thing.
24:10But again, why they care what the media says.
24:13And I know that's the messaging.
24:15That's a whole other thing.
24:16Right.
24:17Just say, hey, that's not the case.
24:19We've been in contact.
24:20Obviously, there were some things that happened in the offseason training camp.
24:25You might not get back to him right away, but it wasn't three weeks.
24:27We want this player.
24:29We need this player.
24:30We like this player.
24:31And you can always just, you know, diplomatically do it that way.
24:34So it doesn't have to be such a competition with your own employee.
24:38So, yeah, I'm always surprised when coaches and GMs react that way and why they're not more measured.
24:45They're very well compensated.
24:47They've made plenty of money.
24:49They have plenty of money.
24:50They're going to make plenty of money.
24:51And those front office positions, you know, they're one million plus salaries a year at least.
24:57So I don't know why they act that way.
24:59They should be much more composed and much more in charge and just not getting bothered by anything or anybody
25:07and just explain the situation honestly.
25:09You know, that's what you do.
25:11Here's the deal.
25:12This is what happened.
25:13Now, if they're going to try to fudge that for whatever reason.
25:15And, again, if they said, you know what, that was my bad.
25:17I thought, you know, Sweeney, I talked to him this day, and we offered this much and maybe that.
25:23But, again, those are little things, and I don't know why there's so much drama there.
25:26But, again, it's good for attention, good for the league.
25:28Any drama is good for the league and good for promoting the league.
25:33So I'm okay with that as we get ready for the NHL season.
25:36This has been a nice little attention-getter for Boston and New England and the rest of the hockey world.
25:40Even the Hoc Toa podcast weighing in on it.
25:44So it's just, you know, it never ends.
25:46It's terrific.
25:47Well, look how far we've come as a sport.
25:50It really goes to show.
25:52I want to get into Jim Montgomery's future real quick.
25:55But first, quick word from our friends over at Game Time.
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27:33Now, back to the show.
27:35So, I think one storyline that hasn't been discussed a lot, and it's pretty obvious why it hasn't been,
27:40because the Swayman saga has been happening.
27:43But Jim Montgomery rumored, you know, when he signed here back in 2022, a three-year deal.
27:51We have no word of an extension yet. Sweeney's mentioned that they've talked, you know, nearly,
27:56when he was asked sort of about, you know, whether or not they wanted Montgomery to be a lame duck going into the year,
28:01and, you know, going in, remember in Moneyball, Art Howe coaching on a one-year deal, can't coach on a one-year deal.
28:07It is a stressful thing.
28:09I am a little surprised that they have not come to something, and I just wonder, like,
28:14when does this happen?
28:16And are they still looking for something from him?
28:19Because I think, obviously, the one thing that hasn't come with him is the postseason success.
28:23He's been outstanding in the regular season.
28:25It's the postseason.
28:27I can't envision a world, though, John, where they say,
28:31all right, you gotta win, like, two rounds, and we'll give you the extension,
28:34you know, the Monday after, you know, you win that second round.
28:39I just, what do you think happens here?
28:43Yeah, I'd be surprised if he lasted the year without an extension,
28:47whether he's fired at some point, because they got off to a slow start,
28:51or what, or signs the extension.
28:53I would think those are only two things I could think would happen.
28:56But I've always been a Monty fan, going back to his time in college hockey at Denver.
29:00He was one of the guys I pushed for on Twitter, saying this guy could coach in the league.
29:04Went to Dallas and did very well.
29:06Obviously, fired there for circumstances, and it took a while to get back into the game.
29:12And so the Bruins had the leverage, you know, with this first contract,
29:16and maybe they feel like they still do have a little bit of leverage.
29:18But at this point, I think Monty is probably fully rehabilitated in the league.
29:22He would get a job very quickly.
29:24But, you know, you never know.
29:26What's the relationship with the staff?
29:29They have a very experienced staff.
29:31What happened behind closed doors?
29:33Is it really as smooth as they say?
29:35You never know how they talk in the media.
29:38And like you mentioned, you know, obviously the Panther loss after the record-breaking year,
29:43that's a scar tissue that you just wonder is ever going to go away for a while.
29:47And you were hoping last year maybe you had a chance.
29:50Obviously, great success early on.
29:53So, yes, I am surprised as well.
29:56Maybe the Bruins are still trying to get a deal.
29:58Maybe they felt like they did Monty a favor the first time around.
30:01And maybe the number's just not there yet or the term.
30:04But it is a little surprising that, you know,
30:08and obviously you have the Swayman thing going on,
30:10but I would think the number of the deal wouldn't be that difficult to come up with,
30:13whether it's three times four or whatever it is.
30:17You know, maybe Monty wanted to wait.
30:19Hey, in case we take it, make it deeper on the cup, then I have more leverage.
30:23But so it is an interesting one.
30:25It's a tough one because, again, behind the scenes, you know, I mean,
30:29I had heard just like there wasn't it wasn't all real harmonious last year among the coaching staff
30:35and the players and stuff.
30:37I'd heard a few chirps about that.
30:39Again, that can happen a lot.
30:40And some people overdramatize that on every team because it is a hard, long season.
30:45So you never know if that's tangible and real.
30:48But, you know, and I don't know if that caused the Bruins pause or again,
30:51maybe it's a year thing or salary thing.
30:53But I would think in the end, the way he is with the media, that he's an offensive minded coach.
30:59He empowers offensive players.
31:00He was an offensive player himself at Maine when they won a national championship.
31:04So I would think that would get done at some point.
31:07Bruins get off to a good start, solid start.
31:09There's everything looks well with this because they do have new players.
31:12So maybe they want to make sure Ken Monty put this team together like we want it to.
31:17They're getting big players.
31:18They're signing big players.
31:19They're drafting big players.
31:21The Bruins realize they're identifying the Florida Panthers as an Eastern Conference foe
31:26for the next five to seven years with how they're built.
31:29So we need to get, we need to compete with them.
31:32We need to be, you know, at least as good as them because we're not going anywhere.
31:36They're in our division.
31:37They're in our conference.
31:38So the Bruins are obviously reacting to the Panthers, losing to them two years in a row,
31:42and they're getting bigger and meaner and stronger.
31:44Every step they take, they're getting bigger.
31:47Yeah.
31:48And I think you even see it.
31:49Like I can't remember a first game they've hyped up more in a season than this one
31:53where it's like game one against the Panthers.
31:55That's the measuring stick.
31:56Like, and I think it's interesting and it makes sense.
31:58I mean, they've been knocked out by them the last two years.
32:01As you said, they've gotten bigger, meaner, stronger.
32:03I, you know, it's funny with head coaches.
32:05I have a kind of a college mindset and I think you do too, to an extent,
32:08where it's like, you know, you want coaches to let, you know,
32:11let coaches cook for a little while.
32:13You know, you look at John Cooper in Tampa Bay.
32:15You know, there were some really hard years there at the beginning.
32:18There was that collapse in 2019 against the Blue Jackets,
32:21where, you know, they kept him throughout all that
32:25and then ended up getting two Stanley Cups out of it.
32:27And he's probably the best coach in the league.
32:29I think it takes time.
32:30The problem is teams aren't patient and voices run thin.
32:34I mean, after the Bruce Cassidy thing in 2022,
32:37where they let him go after, you know, a lot of success here,
32:40I think it kind of opened my eyes to, like, as you said,
32:42there's a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that we don't see.
32:45We're not privy to.
32:46We'll never hear about.
32:48And I think you also look at who's on that staff.
32:51You know, Joe Sacco.
32:52Like Joe Sacco is a former head coach.
32:54Yeah, like they have guys in-house that they might feel are better at some point.
33:01So I want coaches to stay.
33:04I don't know everything going on behind the scenes with Jim Montgomery.
33:07I can just say, like, from obviously what he's given,
33:10I think he's done a solid job, regular season-wise.
33:13And I think it's good to hold on to coaches and not consistently have a carousel.
33:17I think one of the common threads among the worst teams in any sport
33:21is you're running through head coaches left and right.
33:23In the NHL, you know, you have your guys that just kind of keep getting recycled.
33:28So when you have a good one, hold on to it.
33:30I think the question, and we won't get this until the playoffs,
33:34can this team win two rounds?
33:36And I think this roster with Jeremy Swayman should win two rounds.
33:40So I think that that's a whole other thing with Montgomery and that contract.
33:45For sure.
33:46And, of course, they lost to the team that went to the Stanley Cup finals
33:48two years in a row.
33:49So it's not like they lost to a bad team or were upset.
33:52So in the end, that has to be part of it.
33:54But now, again, now it's a job for the GM is to construct a team
33:58that can beat that team.
34:00And the coach, you know, has to also deliver as well.
34:03So was it the coach? Was it the GM?
34:05So it's kind of a combination now.
34:07And, you know, there's a pretty good chance they might see them again,
34:10third time in a row.
34:11Yes.
34:12And that's when the ultimate test will be taken.
34:14But, again, that's the thing.
34:15If the Bruins wait that long and don't sign him,
34:17and then they beat Florida and maybe move on in the postseason,
34:21then Montgomery has all the leverage and he can move on.
34:23His price goes up as well.
34:25So there's a lot in that.
34:27Again, negotiations are very interesting.
34:29It's like buying or selling the stock.
34:31Same thing.
34:32When do I buy?
34:33When do I sell?
34:34When do I go to a car dealership?
34:35You're trying to negotiate a car.
34:36How much does this guy need to sell this?
34:38Are his sales down? Are his sales up?
34:40You know, do I have the patience to say no and to walk away
34:43and look for another dealership or wait for another month?
34:46That's what life is, man.
34:47It's negotiation, especially in a capitalistic society.
34:51Yes, it is.
34:52It very much is.
34:53And I think it's going to be fascinating to see what he ends up doing.
34:56I do think if they blew that 3-1 lead to Toronto in April,
34:59I think he would have been gone.
35:00Yes, he would.
35:01For sure.
35:02No doubt.
35:03No doubt.
35:04That would have been easy.
35:05Yes, that Game 7 saved him.
35:07That Lindholm pass to Pasternak.
35:09Electrifying play.
35:11Iconic play.
35:12Definitely saved his job.
35:14All right, John, this has been awesome.
35:16I really appreciate you coming on.
35:18What can people look forward to from you this year?
35:20There's a lot you've got going on.
35:21Yes, just doing some college hockey.
35:24I'm actually doing my first women's game tonight.
35:26Wisconsin and Boston College up at Connie.
35:28Looking forward to that.
35:29Number one team of the country, Wisconsin, under Mark Johnson,
35:31the Miracle and Ice hero of the 1980 Olympic team.
35:34Always great to see him.
35:35My first game is Carolina home to Tampa Bay,
35:38the first game of the year for both of those teams next Friday.
35:41I have an Edmonton at Nashville game,
35:44which I'm looking forward to this month.
35:46Nashville at Chicago, year two of Conor Bedard.
35:49That will be fun.
35:50I have a Bruins game in Boston, my first one.
35:52I'm really excited about that.
35:53Kind of a bucket list game of my career.
35:55They're home to the Red Wings early December.
35:57I think it's the third.
35:59Then I have a Minnesota at St. Louis game.
36:01Some play-by-play, some in-between period studio stuff.
36:04I feel most alive this time of year.
36:08September is my favorite month.
36:09Early October here down the South Shore, as we talked about.
36:12The weather is perfect.
36:13You can still go to the beach.
36:14It's not as crowded.
36:15Hockey's starting.
36:16All four sports going at the same time by the end of the month.
36:20This is great.
36:21This is really my New Year's.
36:22For me, New Year's is the start of hockey season and that calendar.
36:27I am ready to go.
36:29Yeah, and also your college hockey rankings every Monday.
36:32I remember when I was doing rankings for NCAA, I'd put mine out.
36:35Then I'd go and look and be like,
36:36what did Bucci have for his top 10 team?
36:39I'm like, oh God, am I way off?
36:41Yeah, BC should be good again.
36:43BU should be good again.
36:44The Frozen Four is in St. Louis this year,
36:46which is kind of interesting.
36:47Then Las Vegas next year.
36:49But yeah, New England should still be represented strong in college hockey.
36:53Like I said, Boston College disappointing last year.
36:56Obviously, Will Smith turns pro,
36:58but now they have the number one pick in next year's draft coming to play
37:01center between Leonard and Perot.
37:03They're going to be good again.
37:04Exciting times in New England for college and the Bruins.
37:08Yeah, BC I think is going to be real good.
37:11It's funny, Jay, I've said on past Bruins Beats,
37:13if you're going to trade Swayman,
37:14trade him to a team that probably gets the number one pick.
37:17Trade him for the first round pick and get James Higgins.
37:20Easy, come on.
37:22Exactly.
37:24John, as always, it's been a pleasure.
37:26I'm sure I'll see you around.
37:28And that's been Bruins Beat.
37:29That's John Bucciaross, Evan Maranofsky,
37:31Bruins Beat listeners.
37:32Have a great rest of your week.
37:51I'm John Bucciaross, have a great rest of your week.