On this episode of Poke the Bear, Conor Ryan and Evan Marinofsky discuss the comments made by Bruins team President Cam Neely about the trade deadline. Could the Bruins actually be sellers? Or is the team finding a spark at the right moment? That, and much more!
Topics:
- Bruins take care of Lightning
- Matt Poitras provides a spark
- Jeremy Swayman is starting to heat up
- What to make of Neely/Jacobs’ comments💰 Prize Picks - https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS
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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
Topics:
- Bruins take care of Lightning
- Matt Poitras provides a spark
- Jeremy Swayman is starting to heat up
- What to make of Neely/Jacobs’ comments💰 Prize Picks - https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS
Download the app today and use Code CLNS when you sign up & Get $50 instantly when you play $5!
🎫 Gametime - https://gametime.co
Take the guesswork out of buying NHL tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Terms apply. What time is it? Gametime!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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SportsTranscript
00:00PokeTheBear is brought to you by PrizePix and the GameTime app.
00:07And welcome into PokeTheBear episode 295 presented by PrizePix.
00:11Go use that promo code CLNS to get $50 back when you play just $5.
00:19And we're presented by GameTime.
00:21Go use that promo code CLNS to get $20 off that first purchase.
00:25Terms apply.
00:26I am Evan Maranofsky.
00:27That is Connor Ryan.
00:28Connor.
00:29What is up?
00:30Evan.
00:31I'm doing well.
00:32How you doing?
00:33Doing great.
00:34Doing great.
00:35It's the dog days of winter, which always weird.
00:38So cold out.
00:40It's just freezing.
00:41I don't think I've left my house yet today.
00:44Not while this is the worst part of the calendar.
00:46Like once you get past the holidays from now until and even like you have some stretches,
00:52right?
00:53You still have football playoffs, stuff like that, that are a day here and there that's
00:56entertaining.
00:57But until you get to like April, we're in the doldrums and like this is the only stretch
01:02of the year I complain about because I get to April and you got playoffs start up.
01:06You know, you get the weather's getting a little bit warmer again, hoody and shorts
01:10weather again.
01:12And then you go right into the summer, fall, I think is the best time of year and go right
01:15into the holidays.
01:16We're coasting for like nine months.
01:18I'm not complaining that much, but this is the this is when you're trudging through
01:22right now.
01:23That's not even counting for getting snow or anything like that.
01:26It's just me when it hurts to go outside like the I, I was just thinking like you mentioned
01:33April with the playoffs and we talk a lot about, you know, what should the Bruins do
01:36this year?
01:37Should they retool?
01:38Should they all that stuff?
01:39We've never, ever not podcasted for a team that went to the playoffs.
01:46That'd be tough.
01:48That'd be tough to do April like we've had the Bruins lose in the first round quite a
01:54few times.
01:56So that's not a big deal.
01:57But like no playoffs is tough.
02:00It's like, you know, that's something I think like we and we'll get in it in this episode
02:03with some of the comments Cam Neely and Jeremy Jacobs or excuse me, Charlie Jacobs made.
02:08And we talk a lot about wanting to retool, but like no playoffs tanks, man.
02:14Ah, the only the only consolation there, Evan, would be like if this team does not make the
02:18playoffs, there's probably going to be a lot to talk about.
02:21There could be some changes if that is the case.
02:23So I don't think it's just going to be like, well, we'll get them next year.
02:26But even then, an extra two, three, four weeks of just no, no Bruins game to talk about.
02:33We're going to have to parse things out a little bit.
02:36We're going to have some evergreen stuff we're going to be talking about by I think mid July,
02:40middle of August, I would say we'll be interviewing ourselves at that point.
02:44We'll be like, yes, exactly.
02:45How did you get into the industry?
02:47Tell us a little bit about yourself.
02:48We'll get to that point, which is like makes my head hurt.
02:53Interesting stuff, though, in terms of the Bruins wanting to make the playoffs, in terms
02:57of just kind of getting back on the right track, Bruins beat Tampa six to two on Tuesday.
03:03They don't play again now until Saturday.
03:05No game on Thursday, which is odd.
03:07I would weird lull in the schedule.
03:11Crush Tampa after losing to them in Tampa.
03:14They've now won two in a row after beating Florida.
03:17Patrick comes up, makes an immediate impact.
03:19My biggest thing again, though, like good win.
03:22Happy for you.
03:24Good to see different guys get on the score sheet.
03:26Still getting outshot.
03:27You're still getting outchanced.
03:30Other teams clearly better.
03:31We'll get to Swainman in a bit, but I don't know if this is sustainable.
03:35Yeah, I don't think it's sustainable in terms of just the strategy of winning these games.
03:41And yeah, I think you've been bailed out.
03:43Obviously that game down in Florida, we beat the Panthers where Swainman was unbelievable
03:46and he was strong in this one as well.
03:49But yeah, you're probably looking at an eight game losing streak if it's not for Swainman
03:53being locked in there.
03:54I'll focus on the contract.
03:57Oh my God.
03:58I will say, like I know the last couple weeks have been, I would say, rather dour.
04:03I would say, Evan, in terms of this team and the content of our podcast.
04:07So I'll focus on some positive.
04:08I think good to see, especially in a game like that, where you look at the depth shot
04:12and the amount of guys that are hurt, guys that are in the lineup.
04:16That's when you look at it at like two o'clock that day, being like, this might be a long
04:21one.
04:22This might be pretty rough.
04:23It was bad when people were comparing it to like the 2021 COVID lineup.
04:27So that last game of that year, when Cassidy sat like the entire team, because they were
04:31already in the playoffs and you had, you know, like Jack O'Shaun as your number one defenseman.
04:35So that's when you're like, oh my God.
04:37So I mean, give him credit.
04:38Like a lot of guys stepped up and played well.
04:41You had Michael Callahan step in and did his job.
04:44You had Parker Willis who gets his first goal.
04:46I think Peek had a really good game.
04:47He gets the empty netter, but kind of made everything happen on Pasternak's goal.
04:51And again, like, even if it's not pretty and like, you know, you're not getting maybe a
04:55complete effort.
04:57This is a team that even when we talked about before the season felt like it went off the
05:00rails, which happened game one of 82, we looked at this team and looked at their roster and
05:05how their bullets were like, well, even if they got to sort things out, if David Pasternak's
05:09playing at a high level, if Jeremy Swain's playing at a high level, they're going to
05:12win more games than they're going to lose.
05:15And I think you saw Swainman has continued to play really well.
05:18I know we'll get to him a little bit more, but David Pasternak's got, what, six points
05:22in his last two games.
05:24Pawel Zaka had three points as well.
05:27So it's not been pretty, but you're seeing, I think, what this team needs to do to consistently
05:32be in games and be competitive.
05:34Like we look at where they were a week ago against the Oilers.
05:37Like that was a game that wasn't even competitive at all.
05:40Like they did not put up a fight.
05:42So for them to jump out to an early lead, you know, build, get, give themselves some
05:47breathing room and then take care of business at the end of that game, like they kind of
05:51let go of the rope and Tampa got back into it and you worry, you know, they pull their
05:55goalie and you worry a team that's as, you know, has as much firepower as Tampa thinks
06:00you'd get away.
06:01And that'd be a backbreaker for this team.
06:02They took care of business.
06:04You know, they get to empty net goals, handle things.
06:07A lot of guys step up.
06:08And as you said, like, even though Patra wasn't like, I don't think people were expecting
06:13a three assist night or anything like that.
06:15You saw the promise and what he can provide to this team, you know, setting up Frederick
06:19just, you know, under five minutes into the game.
06:23And if that's a step forward for Patra, you'll take it because I think you saw in that play,
06:27even if, you know, there's going to be growing pains, there's going to be times where he's
06:31going to get out muscled along the, along the wall, stuff like that.
06:34He's got to keep his head up as is the case every single time he's out there.
06:39But you see, even in those spurts, what a guy like him can do to this team that is so,
06:44I think, barren or in desperate need of skill and playmaking, especially further down the
06:49lineup.
06:50You saw there what he can provide to this team.
06:52And yeah, it wasn't perfect, the win against Tampa, but sure it was a lot better than what
06:58we saw the last couple of weeks.
06:59And I think Alden considered a step in the right direction for a lot of players.
07:03The team game's not there, but on an individual aspect, I think a lot of guys are slightly
07:08right in the shipping and playing to what they need to do in terms of getting, you know,
07:11getting on a roll here.
07:12So this is the big positive for me is that we've talked all year about when is water
07:17going to find its level?
07:18When are they, instead of going down, like you normally would say for when is water going
07:22to find its level?
07:23When are they going up?
07:24When, when are guys finally going to perform the way that they can?
07:27When are you going to get depth scoring?
07:28When is the power play going to kick in?
07:31You're seeing it the last two games, two power play goals to beat the Panthers.
07:34We talked about that earlier this week, um, Swaymans are playing a lot better, which we'll
07:38get into.
07:39You get goals.
07:40Yeah.
07:41Frederick goal the other night.
07:42As you said, peak played well, like you're getting these contributions from everywhere.
07:47Is this, as you said, when the ship starts to turn, I wonder, you know, posture, not
07:53three goal, three points, three points, six over the last two, like I wonder.
07:59But again, it's the team game that I'm like, Ooh, Ooh, I don't know if that is sustainable,
08:05but if you can continue to build this confidence and B, I mean, those are two really good teams.
08:09You beat two divisional opponents.
08:11Like you needed those wins.
08:12Now you've got Ottawa Saturday, you got San Jose on Monday.
08:15Um, you know, the question is, can you build off it?
08:18Can you continue this?
08:19Can you continue to get scoring from everywhere?
08:21Can posture not continue to be that guy?
08:23Posture knock, by the way, now is over a point per game, over a point per game for the season,
08:28which is encouraging because he started off, you know, relatively slow and over the last
08:32month and a half has been really solid points wise.
08:36So, um, again, good that they won that game.
08:39Also entertaining game.
08:41They haven't had many of those this year, fights, physicality, and it's, this is my
08:47thing.
08:48Pat Patrick Donnelly and I were talking about this the other day and Pat's big on this and
08:51I agree.
08:53Why do they still have, uh, every team playing every team twice?
08:59Why, why, why, why, why, why?
09:02I don't get it either.
09:05You know, do away with that.
09:07Play one division a year in the other conference.
09:09Make it a cool thing.
09:10When, when Boston, Boston goes to Vegas every two, three, four years, so it's a big deal,
09:16right?
09:17Helps tourism out there.
09:18Bruins fans will make a trip out of it, whereas they go every year.
09:21They don't need to go to Vegas every year.
09:22I mean, the players might want you, but they don't need to, they don't need to do that.
09:26Um, play your division more, play your division more.
09:29Not as much as that, uh, COVID season where it was like only the weird divisions that
09:34was boring.
09:35That was brutal.
09:37You want to play the Philadelphia fly is like 20 times a year.
09:41You have to do it right.
09:42The New Jersey devils when they were at their most boring.
09:44That was fun.
09:45I think like Ty mentioned it.
09:47I think someone tweeted at him about like looking back at, I think it was the 21 season
09:51and how much that year just does not resonate with me at all.
09:53And like, it was so like, obviously unique in terms of how things were set up, but like
09:58now when I look back on it, I'm like, what the hell was that?
10:02We were all up there.
10:03We had like, well, they gave us like, uh, Cal zones that were like packaged.
10:08They gave us giant boss waters.
10:09We didn't see anyone.
10:11You couldn't like go down to the locker room.
10:13Very, very odd.
10:14It was, I wish I had like a, a full recording of just like a day in the life, just going
10:18in that building.
10:19Cause like, it really was like the twilight zone.
10:21Very, very odd.
10:22Obviously imagine if that's like the year they did like go on a run though.
10:26And when, like, listen, I think you take a cup any way you want, but I remember like,
10:30just like when the lightning won that year, everyone's like, yay, you know, like, yeah,
10:37Canadians, they beat Montreal, which was also like bizarre.
10:40Didn't didn't Montreal play Vegas in the conference final to get, yeah, it made the only thing
10:45that would be unbelievable.
10:46If the Bruins did like go on a run that year is if they played Montreal in the cup final,
10:50which like they probably, they probably lose.
10:52Like that's usually what would actually happen.
10:53Bryce would have went nuts, but like, yeah, you look at that entire run, like how much
10:57that would have obviously, listen, you take the, you take the championship band has hanged
11:01forever.
11:02But yikes.
11:03If that's the only thing I remember from that entire Stanley cup run was Kucherov hammered
11:07taking, uh, taking interview questions on the zoom.
11:10It's the only thing I remember from that entire run.
11:12Is that with those, the lightnings, two cups, the one in the bubble and then that one in
11:16the bubble.
11:17And in that year where it's like, was it like it was Florida.
11:20So, but it was like, what, like 6,000 fans were maybe in the building, but like did not
11:25feel like a playoff game.
11:27That's what you'd rather have one cup in 2011 or those two.
11:30I mean, let's, what do you mean?
11:34Like what I read?
11:35Would I not take two championships like I'd rather they win championships, but yes, yes,
11:42I would take the two cups.
11:43It would be, it would be a shit.
11:45I think it would be like, let's say the Bruins one, one of those years, and then they don't
11:48win for another 30 years.
11:50You're like, shit, like that's the, that's the year they finally get over the hump and
11:54you can't relish it.
11:56Right.
11:57Like you look at like the Celtics, like, and they were what, 16 years between the last
12:00time they won.
12:01But like you saw the excitement, the parade, everything like just not being able to soak
12:05in that, especially when it's been a while and the patent, the fan base is so passionate,
12:10especially here.
12:11Like, man, that would have sucked.
12:13That would have sucked.
12:14Yeah.
12:15No, it's funny.
12:16That 2021 season.
12:17I am with you.
12:18It always gets lost.
12:19It all.
12:20I mean, I remember like they traded for Taylor hall that year after they got their ass kicked
12:25by the capitals.
12:26It was like, yes.
12:27Later on that night, like 2.00 AM.
12:30Well, cause that was, I think, did we do postgame shows after every one of those games?
12:34I don't remember.
12:35I think it was the year after it.
12:37Cause of, were you allowed to cough like coughing each other's faces back then?
12:41No, no, no.
12:42But I mean like virtually like this, I think we did.
12:45And I, cause I remember the night they traded for Taylor hall.
12:47It was like, it, it happened late butcher grass tweeted out the picture of Boston.
12:52Yeah.
12:53But that season is weird.
12:54And even like the, the prior that summer playoffs in the 20 in 2020 was also bizarre.
13:01And it's funny cause now we're getting to be like three, four, five years away from
13:05all that stuff.
13:06And it's like, Holy crap.
13:07And like with Tik TOK potentially getting banned, it's like, that's when I really got
13:10into Tik TOK was passing time during COVID and it's like, Oh my, I can't believe we did
13:15all that stuff.
13:16Like I, I like the masks up, up on level nine and we couldn't go to the room.
13:21And it was just like, Oh, it was so twilight zone.
13:25Oh my God.
13:27I don't miss it in the slightest.
13:28No, I think I'm not a part of me, but I did see, I know we're going on and on about the
13:342021 Bruins and people want to hear this about this current team, but just one last
13:38thought.
13:39I did see someone tweet the other day about, I think it was maybe in response to Ty's 2021
13:43tweet.
13:44Like, Oh, you know what game gets forgotten.
13:45That game won against the Islanders where everybody came back and the building was packed.
13:50That was an all time game bliss.
13:53That was, that was one of my favorite games I think I've ever been to.
13:56That was the one I would agree on when tweeted, I think at all of us, one of those, the people
14:00who are trying to get the scuttlebutt.
14:02So they tweet, it's like, they tweet a general question and then it's like at a Marinowski
14:06Connor, Ryan, Ty Anderson, it's like an entire list of everyone.
14:11And it's like someone like tweeted at all of us, they were like, the beers run out at
14:14Sully's tap.
14:15And I was like, it's like seven 45.
14:18What are you talking about?
14:19I was like, yeah.
14:20And after.
14:21Yup.
14:22Yeah.
14:23And I, cause it was an 8 PM start time and that place was loud.
14:27Oh my God.
14:28And Poshlock had the hat trick.
14:31It's crazy.
14:32They lost that series.
14:33Yeah.
14:34Insane to me that they lost.
14:35To a very boring Islander scene that played good defense and gets timely scoring when
14:39it needs to.
14:40And didn't, didn't Butch, uh, kind of go at Islanders fans and that got them going.
14:46He said something like, or Trott said something or I forget.
14:50Well, Trott's would call out Bergeron.
14:52That was his whole thing.
14:53He would be like, oh, he thought he would cheat on draws.
14:55Yeah, yeah, exactly.
14:56Also for people who are upset about us reminiscing about the 21 season, get ready for what's
15:00going to happen to this team.
15:01Doesn't make the playoffs.
15:02Cause we're going to be like, do you remember when Tommy Cross was playing top four minutes
15:06on the 2017 Bruins?
15:07Yeah, that's right.
15:08So don't get mad at this.
15:09Yeah.
15:10Shout out to Tommy Cross.
15:12Don't get mad at this.
15:13Um, anyways, before we, I want to, I want to talk about Swayman cause Swayman's a big
15:18deal right now.
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15:42No Patriots, obviously, but if you want to keep things interesting, if you want to keep
15:46it fun, you want to compete with friends, go to prize picks.
15:50I, I, I have a tough time watching a full game of two teams that I'm not invested in.
15:58Like I'm not, I, or a team I don't really care about.
16:01And that's again, most games.
16:03So this keeps it fun.
16:05This keeps it fun.
16:06And for the Bruins posh dogs humming six points in his last two.
16:11Like if I get a chance to do more David Pasternak goals or points, I think I'm taking it especially
16:16Saturday against Ottawa.
16:18And then you have San Jose on Monday, which again, 1 PM start.
16:23So that's 10 AM their time.
16:25Bruins should put up a lot of points against San Jose and also take Macklin Celebrity as
16:30well.
16:31Celebrity has been kicking ass.
16:32Holy crap.
16:34Um, anyway, download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 instantly.
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16:53your game.
16:54Um, so Jeremy Swayman, this is two really good starts in a row to, I mean, Tampa's tough
17:00to say a stolen win, but I kind of want to say it like they had a lot of chances.
17:06I know it was six to the last two goals.
17:08I believe we're empty netters with Zaka and, um, with Zaka and peak.
17:13Um, but still like I, I'd put Swayman as your number one star in that game.
17:17And he was obviously your number one star in Florida.
17:19If he's hitting his groove now and they start winning more games because of him, I don't
17:25know.
17:26I don't know what, I don't know if we're doing, I don't know if birds are doing a retool.
17:29Yeah, no, if he's planning at this level.
17:31And again, I don't think anyone's really surprised that, um, listen, he was not good for the
17:36first half of the year was not what you needed him to be as an M one goalie.
17:41I don't think people were expecting him to open the, like a nine, three, eight, say percentage
17:45through 40 games or anything like that, but it was not giving you nearly enough, especially
17:50with the limited margin of error that you've had.
17:52But, uh, credit to him, I think what are the last eight games?
17:55He's got a nine 25, say percentage.
17:57I think he's got like a, uh, three and five record over that stretch, which also shows
18:01you that the guys in front of them have not been pulling their weight either.
18:04But at the very least of Jeremy's payments playing at this level, um, he's not going
18:10to steal every game from you, but, or for you, he's not going to, yeah, exactly.
18:16Uh, he's not going to steal games, uh, for the Bruins, but, um, you're going to be in
18:22most of these contests or you're going to be, uh, competitive.
18:25And I think when you look at this team and how clearly flawed they are, um, you need
18:29a guy like Swainman to kind of keep you afloat, keep you off the ropes and you're getting
18:33that from him right now.
18:34So it's probably one of the, the best signs.
18:38If you're looking for the glass half full approach of this team in terms of like, I
18:42think we've all accepted that if the team makes the playoffs, they're not going to be
18:45the favorite.
18:46Uh, the only way they are going to probably make some noise is being that stingy, tough
18:51out team.
18:52And that only happens if Jeremy Swainman stands on his head.
18:55He did it last year.
18:56You wouldn't have got past Toronto or even given a Florida, a little bit of a pushback
19:02wasn't for him playing at a high level.
19:03And if that's the case, that has struggled even more to score and has probably more holes
19:08up and down the lineup, you're going to need a locked in Jeremy Swainman.
19:11And it wasn't pretty at the stop, but you're certainly getting it right now.
19:14He's a fine right now.
19:16Yeah.
19:16So my Swainman thing right now, and we'll, we'll get to some of these comments made by
19:20Cam Neely and Charlie Jacobson a bit about retooling in two different paths.
19:24But I do wonder if over the next month in the lead up to the four nations face off,
19:30if Swainman is hot and he's playing well, and I'm not saying he's stealing every game
19:35for you.
19:35Like you're not going to get the last two starts every game, obviously, but if he continues
19:40at this pace, I have a tough time thinking they're going to just be like, all right,
19:45we're going to sell pieces at the deadline.
19:47And I don't, again, I, I still hold like the pieces you would sell are not going to
19:52make or break your playoff chances, but you know, there is the argument, you know, Morgan
19:56geekies in your lineup.
19:57That's better than having, you know, just a younger guy in there or elevating somebody
20:01else up the lineup.
20:02But like, I wonder if, if, you know, they look at it the same way that you just mentioned
20:06it like, oh, last year we beat Toronto because Jeremy Swainman was on fire.
20:11And then we almost, you know, we put up a good fight against Florida because Jeremy
20:14Swainman was on fire again.
20:15And I wonder if they're like, Hey, let's get in the playoffs and see what we can do.
20:18If Swainman can stay hot even longer.
20:20I wonder if this, if Swainman might end up being the deciding factor in what they, what
20:25decision they ultimately go with.
20:27Yeah.
20:28Again, it's one of those things where when he's playing at a high level, there's, he's
20:31in that, I think top tier of goalies.
20:34And again, it's not like this is you're projecting what he could be or anything like that.
20:38You saw last year, you know, him being a guy that could win you a couple of rounds, right?
20:43Like the Bruins again, as much as you look at how frustrating that Florida series is
20:48and like, listen on paper, like if they meet again, we know who the favorite is going to
20:53be like Bruins as much as I saw someone comparing, it's like, well, like, you know, and this
20:58is something even that March and mentioned yesterday of like, you know, there's a lot
21:01of teams that sneak in the playoffs and go on runs.
21:04I'm like the Florida Panthers in 23 were a sleeping giant.
21:07Like they also had like Verhagen and Anton Lundell and, uh, Reinhardt and a whole bunch
21:13of guys that were ready to get on a roll there.
21:16Like they had won the president's trophy the year before.
21:19Yeah.
21:19Yeah.
21:19That team was a sleeping giant that year.
21:21So I don't think the Bruins are going to be that.
21:22But again, if, if you are the Bruins and you are looking at the glass half full approach
21:27and we can debate whether what should be the realistic or the right mindset, the Bruins
21:32should have, uh, if they are just kind of fretting water, uh, in the next couple of
21:35months.
21:35But, um, yeah, like this is a team that you look at some of these other matchups against,
21:41like, let's say they're the second wildcard team and the capitals are the number one scene.
21:45They play them.
21:45Like we know who's the favorite, but like, it's Raymond's hot.
21:49I don't know.
21:50Like, listen, like they're what?
21:52One in one this year.
21:53Right.
21:53Yeah.
21:53Ryan Leonard in the first round.
21:55That'd be fun.
21:56That is actually terrifying.
21:57Cause like he could, I feel like Ryan Lennon is going to be one of those guys that like
22:00makes his debut and like the caps, you know, let's say they go, they get to the conference
22:05final.
22:05He'll have like seven goals in like 18 games or something like that.
22:09Like he feels like one of those players.
22:10So listen, if the Bruins play the caps, we know who the favorite is going to be, but
22:15you look at that matchup, look at the way they play them this year, whether it's that
22:18game on the 23rd and even that game on new year's Eve.
22:21Like, I know that the capitals won that, but that was also one of the Bruins had a
22:25lot of good looks.
22:26The capitals blocked a bunch of shots.
22:27They're a good team, but if swimming's locked in who the hell knows.
22:31Right.
22:31And I think maybe that is the mindset that Bruins do take.
22:34It just depends on, does that mean you're just avoiding a retool for the sake of that?
22:39Or, you know, are you buying as a result?
22:41So it makes things tough in terms of the Bruins as far as what exactly is the best path.
22:47Because again, you don't want to do it.
22:49You know, what happens if you don't do anything and you get in the playoffs and you play the
22:53caps and it gets to a game seven because Jeremy Simmons got a nine 40 say percentage, but
22:57you can't score a goddamn goal.
22:59Like, but again, is that worth trading a first round pick for a scoring wing or something
23:05like that?
23:06It's tough, right?
23:07Like you're in a spot where the, it seems obvious that this team is due for like some
23:13sort of retool.
23:14Like they need a, an overhaul in some regard, but also when you have a 26 year old goalie
23:20that's can play at a very high level, a 28 year old 60 goal scorer, you know, a lot of
23:25these other guys, it does make it tough in terms of picking and choosing when to wave
23:29the white flag and be realistic.
23:31And when you're tempted by when three or four of your best players can't get on a roll.
23:37So it's, it is kind of tough.
23:39Well, it's tough because again, you don't want to waste years of guys prime and you
23:42don't want to waste big contractual years early in a deal, especially like posturing
23:48still early in his deal.
23:49Obviously Swayman's deal hasn't even started.
23:52So like I get that end of it.
23:54We're going to get into that because of some comments made on Wednesday night, but first
23:57our friends over at game time, I said this to Ty Anderson on Bruins beat.
24:03It's the dog days of winter dog days of winter.
24:06You need something exciting to do.
24:08You don't want to be out in the cold though.
24:09Something you can do outside, go to a game, go to a game, spice it up, spice it up midweek.
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24:53And I love the all in pricing to Connor.
24:55Like I said that every week because I actually enjoy it for years and years when I used other,
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25:03Like, oh, I'm going to spend this and then I get to the checkout and I'd have to spend
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25:40Connor, what time is it?
25:42Game time.
25:43It is game time.
25:45It is in fact, game time.
25:47So Cam Neely spoke last night at the Black and Gold Gala to benefit the Bruins Foundation
25:54over at the Fairmont Copley.
25:56And there was a quote that went around and people are discussing it.
26:00So we will join with other people and discuss this quote.
26:05He said, well, we'd certainly like to improve, but as I said, we'll see what happens with
26:10what teams decide to do heading into the four nations face off.
26:13And then after four nations is done, it's a race to the deadline.
26:16So we will see where we're at.
26:18I think right now we've got to look at two paths, one that we're buying and one that
26:22we may just be retooling a little bit.
26:24We still feel like we've got a playoff team here and we certainly don't want to jeopardize
26:27getting out of the playoffs because we made some moves that may be good for the future,
26:31but not good for the present.
26:32You also should listen to Bruins Beat and Poke the Bear and subscribe to Bruins Ringside
26:35on YouTube.
26:36I didn't know he said that last part.
26:37It was really I didn't expect it either.
26:39You know, you know, you go to these things and they, you know, give the general pleasantries
26:44of, you know, the foundation and all obviously the great work they do and happy to be there.
26:48And then at the end, he threw an endorsement at the podcast.
26:50It was it was great.
26:51Wow.
26:52Wow.
26:52I mean, geez, that's usually stuff you have to buy.
26:54You just know, especially an important answer.
26:56My God.
26:58Wow.
26:58Got to respect Cam Neely for that.
27:00Um, but the two paths, the two paths thing is what everyone's kind of held up about.
27:05And in theory, you always have two paths.
27:07You could always retool.
27:08You could always try to contend.
27:09Anybody can do it any year.
27:10Right.
27:11It's very deep.
27:12They can.
27:13It is.
27:13It's profound.
27:14It's that time of day.
27:16Uh, they can talk about retooling all they want.
27:19I won't believe they do it until they actually do it.
27:22I just don't.
27:22I don't think that's in their cards this year.
27:25I, you know, especially obviously the last two games don't nullify the previous six or seven,
27:32but they've never done a real retool like at the deadline.
27:37They never really sold off parts.
27:40And I just, I don't see it.
27:41They put too much money, especially in the soft season.
27:45Yeah.
27:45I mean, it is something where, um, I mean, I think it's good that at least Neely who,
27:50uh, say what you will about him.
27:52And sometimes he can be maybe too candid as you saw with like the Swayman contract, uh,
27:57talks.
27:57Right.
27:58But he is generally pretty candid and will kind of shoot straight in terms of,
28:03you know, being realistic about what, you know, options are or stuff like that.
28:07Um, so good for at least him, you know, acknowledging that that might be something
28:12on the table as opposed to, you know, like Charlie Jacobs, who also spoke
28:17kind of gave what we expected is like probably the stance from ownership,
28:20right.
28:21Of like, he still, you know, gave a endorsement of Kim Neely and Don Sweeney and how they've
28:26made the playoffs eight straight years.
28:28He didn't say that making the playoffs is not the goal.
28:32Right.
28:32Which again, like, we'll, we'll see what exactly, you know, if it seems it's not like
28:36the playoffs, what the consequences are then, um, because the last time a GM did not make
28:40the playoffs, he got, he got, yeah, he got the boot, um, but, uh, or at least, you know,
28:47before Sweeney took over and they had a couple of lean years after that, but I don't think
28:51that Sweeney was going to miss the playoffs.
28:53We're going to get fired after missing the playoffs his first two years on the job.
28:57But, um, I do think that, um, you, as you said, good for Neely to mention those things.
29:04Um, but believe it when you see it, right.
29:06Like, you know, he mentioned the fact that, you know, someone asked him, is there an
29:11appetite for retool?
29:12And he, again, referenced the two paths and being realistic there.
29:16Charlie Jacobs was asked the same thing about it.
29:18If there's an appetite and said, like, he wasn't going to kind of get into that talk
29:20yet until they reach that point and falls on the front office to make those decisions.
29:25So a little bit of a non-answer there, but, um, it is tough though.
29:30Cause again, for, you know, the, the Bruins front office, like there's multiple reasons
29:36why you probably don't want to wave the white flag and admit that you need to retool.
29:39Cause one doesn't look good on your part, right?
29:42Like there are consequences for them in terms of doing it.
29:44But also, as you said, like this was a team that, and it wasn't, I think just the front
29:49offices, uh, point of view.
29:51I think we all agree that like, you look at where they were last year and how much they
29:54overachieved and how much you thought that there was a lot of good pieces there.
29:58We thought they were going to take another step forward.
30:00Like we thought this was going to be the start of a new window with, with these, uh,
30:05off-season additions they made.
30:06So to admit that like, nah, this ain't it.
30:09We got to really not maybe completely blow things up, but you can't win with these cats
30:13as Kevin Durant says on his burner accounts.
30:17You know, if that is the case, if that is the case, it doesn't look good in terms of,
30:23you know, your own, you know, performance as a front office, but also what you expect
30:28for this team for the next three, four years.
30:29And it's not to say this team can't with a purposeful retool and a clear vision, this
30:34off-season change things around and right the ship.
30:37You know, as long as you have a core still.
30:39Featuring Swayman, imposter knock and McEvoy and some of these other players, you can write
30:44the ship pretty quickly.
30:44If you hit on a draft pick or two, if you make the right deals, yeah, you reshuffle
30:49your roster.
30:49You can do that, but still, it was not the ideal situation for this front office.
30:54So I agree.
30:55I think it's good that at least they acknowledge that, you know, stuff might hit the fan of
30:59this team.
30:59Listen, if this team continues to lose the next couple of games to Ottawa and they fall
31:04out of the wildcard picture and they're treading water with the games in hand and all those
31:08things, um, they have to be realistic.
31:11And it does feel like, I don't think you're going to get like the 20s, you know, 16 deadline
31:15where they're giving up picks for John Michael Lyles and stuff like that when that was a
31:19losing cause, but it's going to be tough in terms of when exactly, um, you know, they
31:26are going to wave the white flag and just the appetite for it.
31:28Cause even if the writing's on the wall, it's still going to be pretty painful for this
31:32team to admit that they have to punt on this year, even if it is the right long-term decision
31:37for this franchise.
31:38And I know a lot of fans as we, as people who cover the team and stuff, uh, believe,
31:45you know, a retool is probably the right thing.
31:48It sucks when they're not in the playoffs.
31:50Like that, that first week or that, you know, that second or third week in April when the
31:54playoffs begin and your team isn't there blows, it stinks.
31:58Like I, and I think people who consistently say, Oh, I want them to blow the whole thing
32:04up.
32:04It's like, you say that, but you don't mean it.
32:06Like you don't actually want that.
32:08A retool is, and that's hard too.
32:10Like, and that's why I think it's hard for us even to sit here and be like, yeah, I mean,
32:13we talk about this team.
32:14We, you and I do this multiple times a week.
32:17We want good things to talk about.
32:19We want there to be games.
32:20We want there to be developments and progressions and things like that.
32:24Um, and it's not fun for us either if they did a retool, but I do think they need one.
32:29And the reason I don't think they will is a, they've never really done one, especially
32:33at a deadline.
32:34Um, but number two, it's those Lindholmen's Adoroff signings this off season.
32:39Like I, I think they put a, they put 80 million into that 80 million into those two guys.
32:46I don't know if they, I don't know if you can do that.
32:49I don't know if you can do the retool less than a year after, you know, signing on the
32:54dotted line with those guys.
32:56Um, and you're right.
32:58It hurts their own status.
32:59Like, and you also don't know if I'm going from their perspective, we say retool and
33:05we, we give examples of retools that have worked, but there are also retools that haven't
33:08worked.
33:09There, there are things where it doesn't work.
33:11Guys get mad.
33:13Um, and then it becomes a rebuild.
33:15You know, where guys like, I don't want to lose.
33:16I've signed on here to win and we're doing this now.
33:19I don't think, I don't think this would be drastic.
33:21I don't, I don't think trading Trent Frederick and Morgan geeky and, you know, guys who are
33:27not core, core pieces.
33:28I don't think that's gonna, you know, it's annoying.
33:31They're all friends and they're good guys, so you don't want to lose them.
33:34But I don't think it like completely, you know, prohibits their ability to win next
33:38year if they lost those guys.
33:40Um, and then there's the other end of it.
33:41Whereas like if, if those draft picks that you accumulate don't pan out, well then you,
33:46you're shown the door immediately because this is the second time that you're doing
33:50this.
33:50Um, so I think that's another reason why I don't see it.
33:54Uh, and it's funny.
33:54Nealey also mentioned this.
33:55He said, we've gone all in a number of times over the past 10 years and rightfully.
33:59So we gotta be smart.
34:01If you do it again, you've got to know that you're a team that has a good chance to have
34:03a deep run.
34:04You don't want to go all in and then not really feel confident that you're going to have a
34:08deep run.
34:08I just don't know how you think this team can have a deep run.
34:11I don't.
34:12Swainman is your number one key.
34:13So if Swainman is, is doing great, then great.
34:16But is that a, does he get you a cup?
34:19Like is, is he just going at a hundred thousand percent?
34:25Is that getting you a cup?
34:26Cause I don't know about the scoring.
34:28I don't know about the depth.
34:30I don't know about them defensively.
34:33So it's like, and here's the other thing too, right?
34:35Connor, like the East is, is mid, as I like to say.
34:39Yes.
34:40Mid.
34:40Okay.
34:41See, now the tick tocks going out.
34:42I've got to preserve my Gen Z lingo.
34:45You gotta go back to Twitter like I do or X.
34:47Sorry.
34:48Go back to me and Kevin Durant.
34:50That's right.
34:51Yeah.
34:51No, that's Gen Z.
34:52We're going to stick on, uh, we're gonna stick on tick tock.
34:55Um, but the East is so mid and let's say the Bruins at the end
35:01of the year decided to retool.
35:04And at the end of the year, they were like, I don't know, seven
35:08or eight points out of a wildcard spot.
35:10So they were like pretty out.
35:11Yeah.
35:12But that's not like tanking.
35:14They could still end up with a top 10 pick because the East
35:17is so close.
35:18Yes.
35:18So like, that's the other end of it too, where like, if you
35:21retool correctly, you should, you could be competing again
35:25next year.
35:26Like, I don't think that's out of their own possibility because
35:28they're not going to be, you're not trading McEvoy and sway,
35:30but imposter on.
35:31Yeah, exactly.
35:32I mean, it, it's tougher with the cap space now, but like,
35:35you can also make moves.
35:36You can, again, there's more of an appetite to make, you know,
35:40roster resetting moves and, and trades and stuff like that.
35:43It might make for uncomfortable deals, but you can do it.
35:46Like look at, again, the capitals who, you know, sold off
35:49assets and 23 lucked into a great pick, you know, number
35:53seven, number seven, eight overall with Leonard.
35:56So I'm not saying the Bruins are going to eat.
35:58I think it was, I'm not saying the Bruins are going to fall
36:00in and get a guy like that, or even be a top 10 pick.
36:02But like, if you're all of a sudden looking at number 11 or
36:0512 or something like that, if the way the East is set up and
36:08you get a guy that I don't think is making an impact right
36:11away, but a guy that could be a legitimate blue chip prospect.
36:15And you do look at, you know, another year of like, what
36:18happens if Swayman has a full camp and it's back, back to
36:21normal, if guys that are banged up, have a clean bill of health.
36:24You look at it again, like what the capitals did this past
36:26off season, they also, you know, made a key signing, you
36:31know, bring it in.
36:32Well, it wasn't a signing, but trades for guys like checkering
36:35Dubois, who had his value at an all time low, like you can
36:39make moves to really accelerate a retool on the fly.
36:43Especially when you do have so many good core pieces in place
36:45there.
36:46So, yeah.
36:47Exciting young coach.
36:49Yeah, exactly.
36:49That if, yeah, you know, like coaching high or stuff like
36:52that, overhaul the power play, whoever you want to do it.
36:55Like, that's not something that does present a clean plate that
36:57if the Bruins do decide to retool and they just don't have
36:59it, they can make some moves to, to write the shit pretty
37:04quickly here.
37:04This isn't, I know it's, you look at the prospect pipeline,
37:07you look at the fact that, you know, how flat this team has
37:09been for most of this year.
37:10And you, you, you do have the fear, right.
37:13Of this team just going into like three or four pretty lean
37:16years of hovering around 90 points a season, maybe a wild
37:19card team, what have you.
37:20But, you know, it's tough to kind of gauge and be a really
37:24consistent hockey club in the NHL teams make huge strides.
37:27And then they take a step back.
37:29Look at the devils two years ago and injuries and regression
37:32hit them last year.
37:32And they're right back at it this year.
37:35You know, it's kind of tough to gauge where a team is going.
37:37But yeah, if this team does set out a clear path and are
37:42aggressive this off season in terms of really kind of retooling
37:45and be willing to roll the dice and take risks, like, yeah,
37:48they can acquire another player or two that can change their
37:52fortune in short order.
37:54So it's not, if this year doesn't go according to plan,
37:57which as sure has not so far does not mean that all of a
38:00sudden we're looking at three, four years of us talking about
38:02the 21 season.
38:03Once we get to April and late March, 20, 27, we're like, man,
38:07remember those COVID days.
38:09I agree with you.
38:10I don't think like you can retool this year and be back in
38:13the playoff hunt next year.
38:15I don't think that it's separate.
38:17I don't think it's either or I think to me, the right path is
38:20what we've talked about.
38:22A minor retool where you recoup some picks.
38:26You make your picks in June, you make smart moves in free
38:30agency and, you know, you fill lineup spots that way depth
38:35pieces and you see what you have in young guys.
38:39You see what you have in young guys the rest of the season.
38:41Can Lysell be a piece for you going forward?
38:42Can Merkuloff be a legitimate center for you?
38:46Where can Matt Potra fit in?
38:47Where's that going to be?
38:49Easier said than done.
38:50This is all easier said than done, but I think that beats,
38:55let's go out and trade a third round pick for this guy who's
38:59going to marginally help us, but not really.
39:01And then we snuck into the playoffs.
39:03We're facing Washington or, oh, we're facing Toronto.
39:06And, oh, we just lost in five or six games.
39:09What was the point of that?
39:11What was the point of any of that?
39:13And I, you know, again, like you build your team through the
39:17draft and again, not every pick is a guarantee.
39:20I heard a podcast recently be like, we're going to list all
39:22the Bruins draft picks off since 2017 and it sounds terrible,
39:26but most teams miss on most of their draft picks.
39:28That's why you have a lot of them because, you know, you're
39:31not going to hit on most of them.
39:32You know, like that's the way it goes.
39:35But you need, you need to have them have, even have a chance
39:39at replenishing your system and replenishing core pieces and
39:42guys like that.
39:44So, and that's something that the Bruins obviously have not
39:46had in a lot of recent seasons.
39:49Connor, what can the people look forward to from you over
39:51at The Globe and Boston.com?
39:53Yeah, we're going to be covered every step of the way this
39:55Bruin season over at Boston.com and The Boston Globe with
39:58recaps, features, columns, breakdowns, all that good stuff.
40:02So you can read all of it over there at Boston.com and The
40:05Boston Globe.
40:05And if you want to follow me on Twitter X, whatever it's called
40:08these days, you can at Connor Ryan on discord.
40:1193.
40:12Go do all that.
40:13That's Connor Ryan.
40:14I'm Evan Marinovsky.
40:15Pump up the brand listeners.
40:16Have a great rest of your week.