Boston Bruins 2025-2026 Schedule Will Test The Team EARLY!

Boston Bruins 2025-2026 Schedule Will Test The Team EARLY!

Hey, here we go on a Friday eve. Boston has entered the chat on a Thursday, July 17th. Welcome inside our Salem 5 studios. Travis Thomas, George Vichi, Boston. That means you has entered the chat. Come on in. The water’s fine. Hey, we’re still asleep away from baseball and the actual diamond getting back, but the Bruins gave us something to talk about. We’ll do it here in this very program, my friend. I can’t wait to get into it. I I don’t I’m like you’re not into it. You’ll get into it, but you’re not really into it. I’m not a schedule release date guy. He isn’t. Hey, so and so put out the schedule. Cool. I’ll look at it another day. I’ll People get fired up. I’ll watch a half of a video, maybe a half of three separate videos. I don’t care. But then I’m going to talk like, “All right.” Yeah. Talk it. When are the Panthers back in town? Oh, October 21st. Oh, the Bruins have another outdoor game in Tampa February 1st. All right. We’ll see how McDavid comes to town. There are things to talk about. We’ll get into it, but we want to hear from you. We always say this 617-7928. Call us. Would you leave us a voicemail? You can also tweet at us using the hashtag Nessen chat. Email us the chat at nessen.com. You could catch Boston has entered the chat. 8 a.m. Monday through Friday on Nessen. 9:00 a.m. right here on Nessen Nation. Okay, George Schu has been released for the Bruins. Now, we did hear from a famous comedian from around town. We’ll get into that, but let’s start with the home opener. The home opener is against Baddard and the Blackhawks. The season opener, though, on the road in DC taking on the Capitals. Those are the first two things that jump out to you. Your thoughts on that? Back-to-back nights, too. Yeah, back toback nights. Cool to open against OV on the road. I uh in DC was when I say that on the road against OV. Really good team, young team, really good down the middle. That’s what had the Capitals have so much regular season success. Yes, it’s opening night of the NHL. What level of hockey will we get? You’re not going to get the 100%. But that’s like a litmus test right off the bat. Sure. Then I think what’s really cool is the original six matchup. Blackhawks Bruins anytime it’s in Boston is great. Great jersey matchup. Blackhawks another young team too. And with Conor Baddard. That’s right. And it is you’re going to have David Poshnock against Conor Bard. You’re going to have this really good team in the Bruins. It should be veteran le against the young and upcomers in the Blackhawks as well. I like that to open, especially for a home opener for the Bees. Yeah. Then you look a little further down the schedule. I mean, October is tough. The way you open up, they’re going to have the Panthers. They’re going to see the Knights. They’re going to see playoff team after playoff team. Brad Marshant, fresh off that cup October 21st in TD Garden. How has he received? Is there a video tribute? A congrats Brad. I think there should be. It should be. For his second cup, I think there should be. It should be. It’ll be bittersweet for Marshon. It’ll be bittersweet for the fans. That’s something I’m looking forward to. What’s a pageantry around that? I don’t know if it’s going to be sweet. It’s just going to be bitter. I I Yes. I’m still not over it. I still just just him with the Panthers is what does it? It’s not the I understand the business of why you had to trade him. I get all of that. I really do. I’ve processed all that. But it’s just the fact that he ended up on that stinking team and you just knew they were going to win the cup and they did. And I It almost feels like there’s another one loading. But I’m clearly not over that. I I’m with you. I mean, honestly, just looking through this, I think that early stretch, Tampa, you get at home, they are an older team, but Tampa, then you go to Vegas, then you go to Colorado, that jumps out at me. You go to Utah, that’s a long road trip. And then Florida back here, as you said, I think that stretch early in the season for a young Panthers or a young Bruins team with a new coach trying to establish the culture, trying to establish what is it that we’re going to do here? What are we? What’s our identity? Boy, I think that’s a tough stretch there for him. But let’s see what Bill Burr had to say. He announced some of the marquee games for next season for the Bruins. And of course, it’s hilarious. Take a look. Hey, what’s going on? It’s Bill Burr and it’s that time of year. Uh, the Bruins are releasing their 2025 2026 um NHL schedule. We got a I’m going to put my glasses on so I seem smarter. We got a new coach. Perfect name, dude. We got Marco. We’re gonna be fine. Supposed to highlight a few games here. We got uh the original six. Some games coming up here. The home opener is against the Chicago Blackhawks. One of the one of the original six teams of the NHL. You ever been to Chicago? You see how fat those people are? They should put them on skates. Uh then who we got? November 11th. A It’s a Toronto Maple Leafs. Are they still doing it this year? Every year. Every year, you know, they give it the try. Every year, the the Toronto Maple Leafs remind all of us that, you know, you’re not too old to try. You know, they’re going to sign a bunch of free agents. That’s what they do every every offseason. Just putting rims on a Prius. November 11th and March 24th, you can watch the Leafs go out to a big lead against the Bruins and then blow it. Be exciting for you and your son or daughter. Uh 11:28 they have the uh November 28th they got the New York Rangers. You know they’re good for a Stanley Cup once every 85 years. 1218 oh here we go. Edmonton Oilers Conor McDavid and Leon Dryidle. One of the greatest pushpull names in the NHL. Leon Dry Thidle. Um 1223 right around Christmas. You know, there’s always that one relative that always comes around and ruins the holidays. Well, this year for hockey fans, it’s the Montreal Canadians. And it’s not really the team, it’s their fans, you know, with their loafers and their little pocket square. Blue Blunky Rouge. How about late Blue Blanc? Um, that’s 12:23, 2 days before Christmas. Um, February 1st, they got the Tampa Bay Lightning, which in my world is still an expansion team. You know, for some reason you want to go down in uh Oh, that’s the outdoor one down there in Florida. You can dodge a bunch of alligators and watch people play hockey outside next to a big pirate ship. I think I was supposed to sell that game a little harder. And then, oh, the big babies of the NHL. March 1st, the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrating at least 20 season of stay away from Sydney as they sign every leg breaker in the league. All right, that’s it. Uh, let’s go Bruins. Here we go Bruins. Here we go. I’ll see you there. That was fantastic. I love Bill. My favorite comedian. If we’re picking nits here, maybe little production value. Yeah, he was in a hotel. Is there whatever city he’s in? Could he go to a local rank? Is he on tour? Like Yeah, he’s probably on a tour. Let’s look Let’s look into this. Let me see what city is. I’ll fill a buster for you. I if if he’s on tour, right, he should go to whatever city he’s in, local rank, and just do something there. Every city has a Where? Oh, where is he? Milan, Italy. Oh, my guy. Nancy Bill. Bill Burr. Sorry. You know what? That guy seems a little busy. And now I get it. Now I get it. Good for him. Jeez. Milan. Wow. Bill, here I am thinking he’s doing auditoriums in random cities. Wrong. Who are we? Shame on us. Anyhow, I do agree with a lot of his dates though. December 18th, Conor McDavid’s here and I need to be in the building to see him play. I have not seen him play live yet. Have you? No. Okay. So, done. We’re there. We have to be there. Let’s go to Warren’s Tavern before. Yes. You know me. I’ll handle the logistics. Yes, I do know you. And yes, I know. You pick something. I got the rest. Yes. So, we’ll we’ll go see Conor McDavid in person for our first time February 1st. Even though he made fun of Tampa Bay, I think he called him an expansion team still. I do like all these outdoor series games. Like I think it’s cool. So that game I’m not gonna go to Tampa for it, don’t get me wrong, but I will be watching. Tampa’s a nice city. I know. I’m a fan. I’ve never been actually. Really? Yeah. Don’t tell Casey. She It’ll be a fight. Wait, she’s from Tampa? She loves Tampa, bro. I don’t think I’ve never heard her talk about it. Like you never hear me talk about Jersey. I see what you’re doing. I see what you’re doing. Dude, the stretch that gets me is you see these like pockets of games. Yeah. where they end March, it’s the Stars and this is the end of the season. So that’s the last game in March. Then on the road, Panthers, Lightning, Flyers, throw in the Hurricanes in there, then back home against the Lightning. We’ll see. This is a team that is a wild card team. That stretch at the end of the season, that’s going to that’s going to decide seating. Yes. Those five of six games right there, that’s end of the season. That’s gauntlet. That’s when you find out about the young guys and you find out about the leadership of this team. So, what are we thinking here? Let’s see if we’re on the same page. A lot of times young teams, especially with a new coach, they’re slow starters. Figure it out. Is a, you know, it’s a long season. They kind of figure it out and then towards the end, they’re surging. They’re peaking. They figured everything out. Now you’re getting the best version of that team. Generally, that’s how things work. Is that how you feel when you look at this schedule? Because as I told you out of the gate, it could make a lot of sense for them to be slow starters at Washington home against Maddard and the Blackhawks who I do. Let’s let’s have this combo for a second. I like what the Blackhawks are doing building around that young guy. I think they’ve done a good job and they should be starting to get better now. We’ll see. Yeah. Uh Tampa, you go to Vegas, you go to Colorado. We talked about that road. I I mean, look, the month of October is pretty tough scheduling wise, George. So, if you told me they got off to a slow start, I wouldn’t be surprised. They have to turn it around at some point, but if they got off to a slow start, I’m almost anticipating it. It’s still Oilers, Canucks, Senators, Canadians. Yeah. Playoff teams. Yeah. Canadians and Senators were the last two wild card teams to get in last season in the East. That’s right. That that says a lot. And then, you know what? The Oilers obviously making it to the finals. Canucks just missing the playoffs. Sure. But the Senators with Brady Kachchuck, how well they’ve been playing. And this is a Conucks team not far removed from having success, too. I just I go back to that stretch. Then you get the pockets where they’re playing like the Sa the Sabres, a while, the Blue Jackets. All right, it’s nice. But they they have it every month. And you know what? We could go through every schedule. And this is my thing with the schedule release. Everyone has these tough pockets. Everyone has these tough stretches. It’s the end of the season for me especially, but it’s also that December into New Year’s Eve. Got a nice prime time game. 9:30 at night, East Coast, New Year’s Eve. That’ll be cool. That’s against the Oilers as well. That’ll be cool. But that is something where they have these tough stretches December into the new year and then especially end of the season. That’s what I’m watching for. I’m looking at the wild card standings just because you brought it up last year. I’m looking at teams that just missed it. Just trying to get a an idea for where I I cuz I happen to think the Bruins are going to be fighting for a wild card spot. You know, 40 wins last season didn’t get it done. George, uh, actually the Columbus Blue Jackets had 40 wins and they missed the postseason. So, this is tough stuff here. How about the Red Wings? remember they were hot shack all year and then kind of faded down the stretch. They had 39. So, we’re talking about you you’re going to need 45 or so wins to get in there. You think the Bruins are going to be right around there? I I’m more of the mentality of 40 and then it’s just a matter of 40 is skinnier teeth getting in. Yes. Do the Islanders get better? Do the Rangers get better? That’s where I’m at. Is 40 enough will be the question. And the Red Wings I expect to get better, too. It’s a team that Well, they faded down the stretch. They were there last season it felt like. And then they, you know, the we can say like 40 is enough. Yes. To answer your question, in the East 40 was enough. Yes. You need 45. If you want to leave getting it, you need 45 wins. Agreed. It’s that point threshold cuz 40 points put you around 90 91. That’s right. Where if you get to 45, that’s just like high 90s 100. They’re going to be there. We’re going to be sweating this out. But this is the beauty of hockey. It is what it is. We’re ready for it. Bring it on. I’m ready for hockey and football. I did love the digs at the Leafs. like, “Oh, they’re still doing that.” I know. It’s funny. Bill Bur is the best. God bless him. Still coming up here on Boston has entered the chat. This is a show for the people by the people. We’ll hear from you when we come back here on Boston has entered the chat. Remember this, get the latest up to date live. We’ve got Boston sports headlines along with your daily dose of trending sports and social topics every weekday right here on Boston has entered the chat. 8 a.m. on Nessen, 9:00 a.m. on Nessen Nation. Tune in. Ah, welcome back to Boston is under the chat. See, Travis Thomas, George, for no reason. George here. S Young voice. We’ll be talking about him later in the show. Well, you’ll you’ll see. Yeah, you’re asking about pitchos, man. Let me tell you when I was pitching in 1902. See, it’s like a cigar thing. Just uh stay tuned. You’ll understand. Um I’m doing my night. That was my night cap. day one by day as a custodian show. This is my favorite segment where we get into voicemails and comments and all the rest from all of you. But before we get into them, I’m thinking about our guy Jeff who last week called the show and was so upset at the Red Sox celebration like when they run the cameras. You remember that? And he dare how dare Yeah. He said the kids are doing it in little league. It’s Alex Cororus vault. This team isn’t professional. I’m thinking about him now and I’m just wondering, Jeff, if you’re watching, are you calm down now? Leave us like we need a check-in with you. Leave us another voicemail, please. Like are you know Babs though? Babs was the best. Barbara. Oh, she checked them. Jeff, shut up. She checked them. I love Babs. It’s like let the kids have fun. Her and her getting coffee tomorrow. You want Yes, I do. So, this is what we do. We get voicemails from you. We appreciate it. Let’s get it started here. This is anonymous. I wish you put your name on it, anonymous, cuz I could not agree with you more. Take a listen. What about Nathan Evaldi and what would it cost player-wise to get him back in Boston? Be a great number two. Thank you. Bye. Oh, George, this one is near and dear to my heart. Yeah, because I said it at the time. I was only here one season. Saw Valdi pitch. He had that dog in him. Team wasn’t very good, but he did his thing. Yeah. And I thought, pay him. Pay the guy. What? Like, he’s the least of your problems. There’s other things on the roster that need tinkering and fixing and rearranging. He ain’t one of them. Pay him. I know how premium arms are in this league. So, why not pay the guy? They didn’t. He goes to the Rangers. The rest is history. And now the rumors are circulating he could be coming back. By the way, this happened last season, too. I remember he was on the trade block. They didn’t move him, but it was a similar situation. And I’m like, that’s a guy that should have never got away in the first place, George. He should still be a Red Sox. Fans loved him. I loved him. He should still be here. This is one where you were a thousand% right on that. And he’s having a career best year with that 158 RA. His his expected erra, one of the few times I’ll pull that out is a 316. So it still nails and he would slide in perfectly as a number two. He goes deep, bro. He has rings. He understands the postseason. He is an absolute workhorse of the late games. And he’s never phased by any stage. No. It’s a 2021 playoff run. It’s what he does at Fenway Park. It’s what he does on the road. Yep. This is a guy that you bring him in, he’s that number two starter, no doubt about it. And he would boost a Gelito. He would boost a Beao. He’d have the back of a Garrick Crochet. And to your point of the workhorse, he can take the workload because we have a lot to be seen about Garrett Crochet doing a full season as a starting pitcher as an ace. Lucas Gelo, is he fully back? Is Brian Beo, is this really him? He started 30 games last season. This is one if the price isn’t too steep. I think this could be a prospect because the Rangers are out of the wild card spot by three and a half games. They’re eight games back of their division and they held on to them last season because in hopes they could get a wild card, go on a run and they didn’t. I could see them being a team that sells. I do too. They’re right on the brink. What would the price be? Maybe a Luis Pales, maybe a Miguel Blaze. Give up some top 15 prospects more than being an ARM. Yes. Me, too. Because if you believe in this team and you only give up prospects and you bring in a native Aldi, they still need to get a big bat. Yes. So maybe you give up a bat to get a bat like in a Taylor Ward, right? I really like that right-hander. Can’t play left, but I think he’d be a DH. That’d be that power bat in the lineup. That depends on what you do at that point. Or you could do that where you get a Valdi and a starting pitcher or Joe Ryan. Right. Sure. And then you can All the rumors are between Jiren Durant and the Padres’s. Yes. You could get one of their middle relief pitchers or one of the setup guys in the seventh or eighth and you boost this pitching staff so much by doing that. I also am not married to the idea of Jiren Durant to the Padres’s just because that’s the team that’s flirting. Yeah. Like if anything, I would be interested in using the Padres’s to drive the price up for a Jiren Durant. By the way, assuming he gets traded, he may not be going anywhere. There’s no lock on that. There’s no lock on that. All right, let’s talk more pictures. John from Dennis on the rumors around you brought this name up. Twins pitcher Joe Ryan. Take a listen to this one. Good morning, gentlemen. John from Dennis calling in because I’m seeing a lot of noise about Joe Ryan from the Twins coming over to the Red Sox. I’m seeing some names. Jiren Durant maybe being a part of the trade package. What are we all thinking about having Joe Ryan wearing the Red Sox uniform before the trade deadline? Love the show as always. Thanks for listening. We appreciate you, John. And mostly we appreciate your lifestyle. It’s something that George and I both aspire to be is sitting on the beach. And not on the Cape. No, I’m good. I’m good on the Cape Cape. No cape. I’ll never go to the cape. I’ll take the Cape. I’ll never go to the You’ll never go to the Cape. Wait, this is new. I don’t traffic. One way in, one way out. Bro, I grew up going to the Jersey Shore. I have family. I live in Long Island. Like, one way in, one way out. Now, the ferry to province town. Okay, you got my ear. I’ll explore that option. Traffic, you’re out. I’m good. All right. I love Maine. I love I love Wells. I love Maine. I do, too. I don’t think John deals with traffic. John feels like he’s just there, right? That’s the life. Toes in the sand. So, he brings up Joe Ryan. Now, it’s interesting because Joe Ryan’s 29 years old. Yep. Two years of arbitration left. Two years of arbitration control. Nathan Avaldi’s 35. Now, I I will say this. I think Aldi’s asking price would be less. I’m intrigued by that. I think Joe Ryan, you’re going to have to give up somebody to get a Joe Ryan. And I mean a somebody I think and then some. I think again it would be prospects. You do. And for a team for a team that just drafted 15 pitchers, they’re revamping their entire pitching staff. Again, it’s is it uh the password the outfielder Jockton right in in the minor leagues? Is it a Bla1 Jordan? Is it Miguel Blae? Is it Luis Pales? I’m not touching. I’m keeping Payton Tolley. I really like him. I’m keeping Gibbs because that’s a guy that could be a big bat eventually. Yeah. But if it’s a couple top 15 prospects, maybe one further down the line has a slight higher ceiling and then maybe you go that route. But that is something where they need to know who they’re willing to part with and what the price can be. But for Joe Ryan, he’s 29, two years arbitration left. This is an outlier year. 270 RA. Yeah. And for a Twins team, like they’re not they’re not terrible. They’re serious. It’s it’s an unserious ball club. I think this can be done with prospects, too. That’s what makes it interesting. But it’s also okay. How many years do you have left of Lucas Gileo? Yeah. And you would have Garrett Crochet who’s 26, Joe Ryan is 29, Brian Bea who’s coming into his own. That’s your one, two, three, who could be for the next few years. Fair question. And then you bring up some prospects as well like a Payton toy. Yes. And that’s what makes sense long term. I I I like the Joe Ryan, but you don’t hate Aldi. What does he do in the postse? I love Avaldi. You don’t hate Avaldi, but it’s it’s different timelines. Avaldi is now. Yes. Aldi is now. Yeah. And ofaldi, you know what you’re getting in the postseason. Yes, Ryan. Look, he’s younger. I think he’s a better player to be honest than Aldi, but at the same time, you don’t know what you’re going to get coming to the postseason. I would take Native Aldi over Joe Ryan, but again, that’s if you’re on You’re talking postseason. Yes. Or period. I’m saying period right now. You would the age is not a concern. It’s it’s what’s the timeline? What do you see with your team? What are the predictions? And that’s what matters. Well, Joe, but Joe Ryan’s two birds with one stone in a sense of he’s right now and also exactly you still have two years of arbitration and when you get to paying guys, he could be in line to get a payday as well. That’s all I’m saying. I think Joe Ryan is now and the future of Valdi’s more so of the right now because of the age and the mileage. All right, here’s another one. Uh, this is a lifelong Boston fan, Katherine. She’s pitching a WNBA team for a Boston team. I know you’ve talked about this in the last few. I didn’t come up with anything good. All right, let’s take a listen. Let’s hear what you say. Hi, this is Katherine. I’m a lifelong fan and I think the new WNBA for the Boston team should be the Boston Tea Party, aka like the parters. I think that would work so well and I think the marketing could be perfect. Anyways, love Boston chat. Biggest fan ever. Thank you so much. All right, rock and roll. Thank you, Catherine. What do you think? The Parters. It sounds like a minor league team. I like the idea of Boston Tea Party. Boston Tea Party. I would take that. When did the Boston Tea Party happen? I think uh if I’m not mistaken, Sai Young was pitching that day. Yeah, it was 1773. December 16th, 7073. That’s when the I was hoping it would overlap. You can do like a game where you wear those jerseys. But I like that we got some good tweets, too. We got the dunks, which actually works. The dunks like dunking and dunking a basketball. All right. The Midnight Riders. Little Paul Rivervier ode. Oh, I don’t hate that. Kind of like that. And you could you could play that. The Riders. Like you could Yeah, I like that. The Clovers. I don’t hate it. What about Shamrock playing off the Celtics? Shamrocks. Yeah, I like Shamrock. Banshees. Banshees. Beacons. There’s the Revolution with the MLS team. Oh, Robert Craft’s not letting No, no, no, no. He’s shutting that down. Rebels. I don’t know. That’s what this country is founded on. I know, but it it’s too many down south teams that are rebels. It doesn’t. Yeah. You’re thinking of like UNLV like shooting miss. It doesn’t hit the same. It’s a different type of rebel with miss. I agree. But that’s what you’re saying. That’s what I mean. Like the association. I’m thinking revolutionary army. I don’t I kind of like shamrocks. I think I said the light like a lighthouse, but it would be like the beacons. That was another tweet you got. Yeah. What do you think of Shamrocks? Shamrocks. You could call them the You know what I would like? Like they do their own thing. Why does it have to be intertwined with the Celtics? The same way the Fleet are a PWHL team here, but they did their own thing. Colors and everything. Used to be the Boston Pride. Same colors as the Bruins. Now the Fleet did their whole whole own thing, which I do like. Could you go colorbased? Like I know it’s still kind of Celtics, but could you go the green like the green wave or the green something? They’re just all green. You don’t love it cuz the tie into the Celtics. They could keep it could be the Boston Sun. The sun rises on the east over the Boston Harbor. They keep the sun. Would it be the worst thing? I don’t hate the I don’t dislike the sun name. I think the sun is good. The sun works. That’s not a bad idea from Katherine though. The tea party. The tea. There’s something. You got to We got to put I don’t know. It’s kind of hard to say, isn’t it? Right. For our job. And the Boston Tea Party go up. 87 73. That’s weird. Too many syllables. It’s Yeah, it’s too Celtics. It has to roll off three max revolution. Of course, Bruins too. But you also have to think too with team names. You’re saying it. You’re saying it in shorten them. So like revolution. No one says that. They call them the revs. The C’s, the PS, the socks, the B’s. So you you had to think of the T’s. Like she said, the the parters, the Boston T. The Boston T. And you think it could be it could be a guy throwing a bag of tea off the boat. Yeah. And then they could play into the tea. Never runs on time. I don’t hate it. But the Boston T always show up on time. My only issue is not very intimidating. No, we’re taking on the tea tonight. And that’s the thing with the tea party. That’s what I think with the clovers, the dunks. Yeah, intimidation factor. That’s why I kind of like the shamrocks a little cuz you could call them the rocks. You could do an alter ego. You got to walk that line of something that’s intimidating. But I don’t need people like the Valkyries. What? Like what? Yeah, I don’t know. That’s too much. You’re doing the most S. Yeah, I got to like research what that is in order to get intimidated. A fighter jet pilot. I don’t like it. That’s what I picture. Uh we have another one. Edward from Bill Ricka on Stefon Diggs and the Patriots wide receivers. Take a listen to this. My name is Edward Jones. I’m from Bicka, Massachusetts. I believe that Stefon Diggs is going to be a great receiver for the Patriots. Um, I don’t think wide receiving problem is going to be anything to worry about. I think we got a better coach. I just hated to see Gerard Mayo go though. But I got improved confidence in Mike Vable. I think he’ll do a good job. And that’s what Drake May needs. He needs some good good receivers. And the number one guy is going to be Stefon Digs from the Buffalo Bills. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Edward. I think is everything all right. You may be the only person sad to see Gerard Mayo go. I That’s my first time ever hearing that ever. Did you watch last season, Edward? I did. I was shocked. I was happy to see Gerard Mayo get hired. I know you were. But I was not upset to see him go because it just didn’t work out. Like I Hey, Robert Crab, thanks for being a man of your word. You told this man you give him a chance. You did. And again, props to Robert Craft too. I was wrong. You got to go, my man. But hey, thanks Edward. Uh I hated to see Mayo go. No offense to Gerrod Mayo. Shocked. He was given a spatula and two hamburger patties. And was told to fill a 100 people in a Michigan Star restaurant. You’re right. You’re right. Grod May was set up for failure. He was hate to see him go. Uh wide receiver, nothing to worry about. Yeah. I don’t know. Uh dude, if Kyle Williams doesn’t click, then you have Stefan Diggs a slot underneath receiver. Kendrick Bourne, older slot underneath receiver. Dear Douglas, undersized slot. Yeah. Jaylen Pot and is unproven and can he pick up playbook? No. M C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C Holland who’s a third down big body Ben package receiver you got something to worry about with the wide receivers man to add Yes. Hey, Terry McLaren’s available. He wants 30 mil a year. Garrett Wilson got 30 mil a year. I I mean, go get him. You have the money. Give him the guaranteed money. It’s 55 million just at signing. That’d be a million more he got last. Jawan Jennings wants to get paid. Uh, right. But he would instantly be the best receiver on this team. He actually would. I know. Downfield, outside, run blocks, big body. Would you take Anquin Balden on this offense? Yes. Okay. That’s Jawan Jennings. Yeah. Right. And that that’s I’m taking Awan Bolton right now at his age right now. Whatever he is, we’re gonna get him in shape. We’re acting like he’s old. I swear to God if he’s I swear to God if he’s younger than No, he’s got to be 40. No, he’s got to be 40. Anquin Bowen, 40 years old for the 44. What is he? What is he? 44. Oh, he’s older than I, dude. That man’s old. He was playing young as hell. Anquin Bowen was a beast. You have a lot to worry about with this wide receiving room. Yes. And I’m the guy that goes, “Hey, look at the, you know, I’m Mr. Optimism.” Not me. This why the skill the skill group is again, they did a lot right. They don’t have a left tackle. I won’t believe it until I see it. They don’t have a left guard. They don’t have a center because it could be a rookie instead of Garrett Bradbury who’s just okay. They have a right guard. They have a right tackle who’s 34 years old coming off 11 seasons in the NFL and surgery on his knee. They don’t have an offensive line. M they don’t have a receiving room with solid proven guys. This offense is hampering on a lot of unproven commodities. Yeah. I tell you what though, Edward. I’m not holding my breath. I’ll agree with Edward. Not on Mayo, but on the wide receivers if they got a Terry McLaren because all of a sudden you get him, Stefon Diggs, and the rest of these names you threw out, then I feel comfortable. Imagine Terry mentoring Kyle Williams. Oh, that’s what I need. Inject it into my veins. What the Patriots need. Hey, call us 617-7900928. We always love hearing from you. More Boston has entered the chat next. Don’t you go nowhere now. We’re partying. Stay with us. Time now to see what’s trending in the world of sports and your group text. I mean, let’s face it. Me and George are all up in your business trying to see what you and your friends are texting each other about. This is it. How about this? The Suns buy out Brad. Oh, you’re in there. You’re in there. Are you in there? Good. Yeah, I said just keep texting. Okay, cool. The Suns are buying out Bradley Beal. I want to make sure I get this number correct here. I’m just texting them the this the number. $97 million to go away. That’s right. Here’s Sean’s tweet. Three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal has agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns. I’ll throw this in. This isn’t Shams. This is me. 97 million to get lost. To go away. Yes. Now, he plans to join the Clippers on a 318 billion career earnings. Oh, no. George has caught the money flu. He’s a bucket. Yeah, he is. 97 million to go away. And that should be the look on his face, man. Bro, good for him. Like you’re going from Phoenix to LA, I guess. Like that good destination after good destination. His agent’s the goat. And his agent is Kevin Durant. Facts. His agent deserves an insane raise. There’s so many layers to this in the NBA. It really is disgusting, isn’t it? You give him all that money, you know what he is. And two seasons into this deal with Bradley Beal. Yeah. Which we knew he was getting up there in age. You knew the limitations on his game. And you also knew if you pay Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, Deon Booker all this money, you can’t really fill out a team around them. It was Matt Ishbia, the new owner, new shiny toy, wanting to spend money. And that’s fine. Invest in the team. He doesn’t care about paying the tax. Yeah. 97 million to go away. When he signed this crap in DC with the Wizards, that’s 19 million a year over the next 5 years when he signed this this deal with Washington. When it got him like that 20 million plus and he wasn’t listen, they weren’t winning. Deal was putting up stats, but they were not winning and there was no one on that team other than him. Okay. So, at the time I went on air and I said, “Well, this is like empty calories. You’re paying a guy all this money for his stats, for what he brings.” I don’t even think Bradley Beal’s a kind of marquee name that sells tickets to be honest. So, he’s he’s what other player would they get in DC, right? So, so at the time I’m like, you’re not winning. He’s not a big enough name or his game isn’t flashy enough, I think, to sell tickets. Yeah. What are you doing? So then he goes to Phoenix and it was supposed to be this big three. That’s really Durant, him and Booker were supposed to work. Yeah. And I remember thinking, well, at least they found someone to get that deal off of the books for that franchise for Washington. The the Suns were dumb enough to do it, right? Okay. Well, then it didn’t work out. So now he’s a journeyman. So now if you’re him, I would look at a Boston Celtics. You’re friends with Jason Tatum. You guys grew up together. Okay. What did he get? Two years, 11 million. That’s something the Celtics can offer because that’s affordable. George, the Suns are picking up the tab here. You can go to Boston and win. Your boy comes back. All of a sudden, championship windows open. You Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derek White, you kidding me? That works. But no, where does he go? To the Clippers. Yes, it’s a cool city. I’m with you. LA, but uh Kawaii never ever plays. James Harden you can’t count on when you know what hits the fan. And Bradley Beal, that’s not going to work either, bro. He’s repeating what he just did in Phoenix. The best thing is him wanting to go to LA. I did not want him coming to the Boston Celtics at all. If he came to the Boston Celtics, we talk about Dame and all this. Does he does he embrace the role he may play? Does he own being a guy maybe coming off the bench only playing closing minutes? Whatever. The one thing with Bradley Beal is that there is that delusional aspect to it where he’s a bucket and he’s not even that good of a bucket anymore. He’s not that good of a scorer. His shot has gone away. His points per game has dropped off. He doesn’t play defense. He just eats a lot of money and eats starting minutes. Brad Leil coming to the Celtics would have been malpractice. And the fact that he went to LA tells me a lot that Jason Tatum made the wise decision because you know Jason Tatum would love to play with Bradley Beal. St. Louis days, best friends, all that. If Bradley Beal came to the Boston Celtics and I’m a significant player with the Celtics, I’m picking up the phone and going, “You’re getting me the hell out of here because this is a joke, right?” I just I don’t want any Bradley Beal talk coming to the Boston Celtics. He’s washed. He is washed. So, I just I want to quell that right away. If anyone wants to call me and give me a case on why Bradley Beiel would have been good fit with the Celtics, bring it on. Would love to hear it. You’re wrong. But let’s hear it. Fox Sports reveals their all-time Red Sox team. Did you see this, George? I want to get your thoughts on this. So, here’s a look at it here. I mean, as you look at this lineup, do you have any issues? Because the only one that jumped out to me and look, you know, I wasn’t around to watch Sai Young. Okay, so respect to him, the the the awards named after him for a reason. I get it. His career numbers are insane. I get it. I wasn’t thought of back then. Okay, we’re talking 1800. My parents weren’t thought of. I mean, this is 1800s. parents were thought of. Yeah, exactly. So, with that being said, 1903, with that being said, I would have preferred Pedro, but that’s just me. I don’t want to offend anyone. I saw prime Pedro, so maybe I’m I’m a little biased here. I thought Pedro should be the starter. Pedro when, you know, the league was almost at its maximum amount of teams, you know, when they were international players, you know, after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Oh, that league. Yes. That would take Poverty. dominant pitcher that we know of. Didn’t fail any drug test, didn’t have any stuff around him against steroid era guys and he’s still working them. Sai Young pitched from 1901 to 1908. Like, hey, Jimmy, how you doing? You’re being disrespectful. I’m not putting someone that pitched in that era where it was not a league that was integrated. It was less competition. You didn’t have to do and it was guys that would get done with their job as a florist and then go bat in a major league team at night. I’m not putting a picture there. The tough part is, let’s pull that that song with you, bro. Pedro in 99 and 2000. He led the majors in RA four times during his Red Sox tenure and he won a ring. Why was that young a florist? They all were playing in that area. Now, the tough part is that outfield, bro. You got Yaz, you got Teddy Ballgame, you got Muki, which we know what he did in 18 and 19. Yeah. Where do you put Jim Rice? You got to put Jim Rice somewhere in there. The DH is definitely Ortiz. I can’t argue Wade Bogs at third base. You got to put Jim. I think I go Mookie. I go Teddy Ball game. And then I put Jim Rice in left field. I’m kicking out Yas, which is insane to see. I might kick out Mookie, bro. He didn’t want to be here anymore. Okay, if we’re going to talk errors again, just cuz my feelings are hurt. What? What? You don’t want to be here, Mookie? Then get off my old time. I don’t even want Bro, remember Mookie in 2018? I do. You remember that trophy case? I’ll be honest. Look at what he’s doing now. And I love all these guys who are bringing in the Red Sox playoff run, in the Dodgers World Series run, in the Dodgers World Series runs. He is a high impact player and he’s been absolutely fantastic. You put Mookie in the outfield. He’s an alltime Red Sox great. I just again I don’t I really don’t have an issue with this team at all to be honest, but just not seeing Pedro as my starter bothered me a little bit. It did. And I get it. Again, I I don’t even want to use the voice. Put the money in the bag. See, I don’t want to do I don’t want to do I want to be respectful here. You put him on the pitch m I’ll be the number two starter behind Pedro Martinez. I didn’t want to be disrespect. Baseball’s still around. Wow. I did not make it past 1922. Shai Young, nice to meet you. This is what the group texts are like. We told you like that’s but like no like 1903 they won the World Series. Great. That was the first World Series Red Sox won. Yeah, was great in that postseason. Yes. Awesome. Give me Pedro. You can’t find any video of Sai Young. There’s not motion photos. I just see some big dude throwing off his back foot. Like I don’t even know what his pitching motion is. I go up and I throw 10 strikeouts. And then I go back to my union job the next morning. Union job. If you could get it too, keep it. Those that stuff’s nice. In other news, it’s not your unions. Yes, you are. It’s trending in the world of sports. Bill Bellichic and Jordan Hudson. I know before you roll your eyes, you’ll like this one. They got absolutely smoked. They got roasted at the ESBs. Shane Gillis had jokes. Take a listen. A bookie is what Bill Bich reads to his girlfriend before bedtime. They do. They read uh the very horny caterpillar, the little engine that could but needed a pill first, and of course the classic goodn night boobs. That’s my favorite one. Cooking them, man. I didn’t watch this. I know you did. I love He was cooking everyone, wasn’t he? He’s really good. Unique humor. It’s like, you know, that broy like white boy humor. He was cooking everybody. Yeah. What was the best too is like he was putting jokes out there like made a Deshun Watson joke and then right away he goes, “I didn’t write that. ESPN wrote that for me.” Oh, you bring in a comedian, let them write their own jokes. Mhm. Let Shane Gillis cook. The best one, too, he did. What did he say a name? He was like, “Uh, shout out Trinity Hicks, fourtime WNBA allstar.” And the crowd, everyone applauds. He goes, “I made that name up. That’s my boy’s wife.” He’s He just He take He takes shots at the leagues, too. He goes, “I knew you guys would laugh at that. It’s a joke.” And it shows like you don’t know the WNBA, right? I would applaud too. I You tell me a fill in the blank. I’d be like, “Yeah.” Was he at He wasn’t at Brady’s roast, right? No. That’s where you could have got an unfiltered cuz like you said, if you bring in a comedian, let him like what Sam Jay did. So, I’m saying if he did this in an SBS, imagine him in a roast setting where they’re, you know, it’s no holds barred. He’ll get it. He would destroy people. I I just love those jokes, dude. Are you into the SBS? I I I don’t know why. My wife kind of asked me this last night like, “Why do you hate the ESV so much?” I was like, “I don’t know.” I think it’s because I don’t care for the award shows anymore. Oh, just tell me who won. Venture for you. You don’t Oscars, none of that stuff. Pageantry, all that stuff. Yeah. It’s just like I could I’ll watch the highlights. Yeah. If I’m locking into something, it’s sports like that. That’s my thing. That’s how I am. And yeah, it’s just like the SVS. I was into it growing up. I remember Dewey Bazella’s speech. He won the Arthur Ash award for perseverance because he was wrongly uh accused of murder. He was in prison for a long time. Picked up boxing. Yeah. And Dewey Bozella, what he said is, “Never let fear determine who you are. Never let where you come from determine where you’re going.” I’ll never forget that quote the rest of my life, right? Yeah. And that was it. I just I think it’s where like all those shows have jumped the shark. Yeah. In a way, they’re just like pushing so hard to be entertaining. I’m just like good. You’re over. I have my core memories. I watched them growing up. I’m good, man. I’m good. I think I’m bitter because this time of year there’s no actual sports to watch right now. That’s why they have it now. So that’s why they have it now, which makes sense. But I’m bitter that there’s no sports, so I protest watching them. Does that make sense? Other than hate in my heart. If you got hate in your heart, let it out. Thank you, Chappelle. Here on Boston has entered the chat. Still to come, Bill Bellichic against Robert Craft. Steel Cane. It’s Can Okay. Well, it’s something like that. We’ll explain next. Bill verse. Huh? I heard that after the break. See, it’s a prize fight. See, next on Boston has entered the chat. Travis Thomas, George Vali inside our cozy Salem 5 studio here. All right, now that all the love’s out of the way, let’s get to the hate because I want to I need you here to talk to me like I’m a kindergarter because I’m confused. Okay, so I saw a headline yesterday. I was out yesterday. Okay, I saw a headline yesterday that said basically Robert Craft or Bill Bich took offense that Robert Craft said it was a gamble to trade for Bill Bich at the time which I don’t really understand why Bill Bellichic would take offense to that. He did trade for Bill Bich. It worked out. Okay. But of course at that time it is a gamble to trade for a coach who you don’t look we didn’t have a large sample size of Bill Bichc the head coach. No five seasons in Cleveland and he was only fired because Cleveland moved to Baltimore. Yeah. It’s I I sort of got Robert Craft’s standpoint but I don’t know enough to know enough which is why I’m telling you to break this down. What am I missing? What’s a risk if you’re Robert Craft? Let’s start there because your franchise was absolute dog water, right? Absolute dog water. The Patriots had two Super Bowl appearances and aside from that was one of the worst teams in the NFL. Yes. And under the ownership of Robert Craft, as they continue to be, it’s one of the most cheaply owned teams. Fair. Least amount of money literally put into player contracts. So, Robert Craft traded for Bill Bich. You don’t like facilities either. You And it worked out. The facilities suck. And the only way the facilities actually get improved, it takes multiple years of the players complaining through the NFL PA. That’s right. Um survey, right? But this what it really boils down to was Robert Craft and it’s the long thing baked into Bill Bich’s contract. Okay, that Gerard Mayo would be the successor. Bill didn’t like that. It’s Robert Craft taking the shots to Bill Belch and trying to redefine the legacy and take ownership as they did through the documentary they put out on Apple that the Patriots and Robert Craft owned. It was after the what was it the like elegant solution they found? Yeah. of Bill Bich and Robert Craft mutually parting ways. Yeah. Robert Craft goes on the Breakfast Club 971 in New York City and says, “Oh, I fired Bill.” And Bill’s like, “All right, bro. I agree to say that we are mutually parting ways. I could say you fired me.” And then everyone would turn on you. Sure. And then it’s Robert Craft saying this right here on Dudes on Dudes podcast. So, what was your best decision that you’ve made as an owner to date? Well, the one that got questioned the most was in 99. I gave up a number one draft pick for a coach who had only won a little over 40% of his game to get him out from I don’t know if there are any Jet fans here, but uh I think getting Bill Bellichic to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk. and I got hammered in the Boston media, but I think he was with us for 24 years and we did okay. So, he he’s taking credit in a way and this is again Robert Craft continuing his campaign to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, right? Him hiring Bill Bich, Bill Bich drafting Tom Brady, that’s luck. Bill Bich had one head coaching tenure. It was with the Browns. He was eight games below 500, had one playoff appearance, and was fired because the team literally moved cities and changed ownership. He was still building something good with the Browns. It’s what it would have been long term. Yes. And it could have been what the Patriots became. Robert Craft saying he took a risk. Yeah, there’s some risk involved, I guess. He’s fired. You had to trade him from the Jets. Bill also didn’t want to be the Jets head coach. That’s right. It was Bill Parcell’s left and he was like, “Hey, go take this job.” Because also that was baked into Bill Parcell’s Bill Bich agreement, too. That’s right. Then Bill’s like, “I don’t want to work for the Hess family. I don’t want to work for a team that’s about to sell. He was Mayo of that time. Exactly. It’s Robert Craft continuing in the media to take credit for Bill Bich’s success. And when you say like why are they doing this? Cuz we’ll get into the Bill Bichc quotes. Sure. It’s an egotistical 83-year-old billionaire against an egotistical 73year-old millionaire. Yep. Yep. these guys. I just I cannot compute when you have that much money, that much success, why you care so much about what other people think. Sure, bro. I’m broke. I don’t care what other people think. I’m just living my life. Same. One day at a time. We We trying to make it. I don’t know that guy from a hole in the wall. We’re treading water. And that man, Robert Craft, that’s on his pants every morning, same way as I. I think he probably needs assistance from other people. He’s getting up there in age. You would think that was rude. But like, why why do they care? But it is their ego. It’s their pride. It’s their legacy. Yeah. And this is where I get with Bill Belch because Robert Crab’s trying to take away from him. This is what Bill said. As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job. I already had an opportunity to be the head coach of the Jets, but ownership situation was unstable. I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots coaches as well as other members of other NFL organizations that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles. That means he ain’t spending no mula, baby. Cheap ownership. Bill Parcels has said the only person worse than Robert Craft is Jonathan Craft. Pete Carol took shots, too. Pete Carol has a story of he came from the San Francisco 49ers. They fed the players well. They put the resources into the players and then Robert Craft is like, “Oh, no. Sandwiches and chips.” That’s right. The bologn sandwiches. Yeah, like your like your little leaguers. I made it clear we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success. What was a previously attained success? Bill Parcels’s head coach. That’s right. The Jets were a solid team after three years of rebuilding under Bill Parcels, which included an AFC Championship game appearance. Meanwhile, the Patriots organization had dismantled their 96 AFC Championship team and became one of the worst in the AFC. It didn’t help they were 10 million over the cap heading into my first season as head coach in 2000. And later in the article, Don Vanetta uh noted that the Patriots ranked 31st out of 32 NFL teams in spending since n since I think it was 94. I think it was since Robert Craft became owner. Yes. You think Don Vanetta just like knew to look that up? That is Robert Craft making these comments. It’s Bill Bich picking up his phone, calling Don Vanetta, giving him these giving him the tea. These Yeah. giving him this and he goes, “By the way, I would reach out to someone and find this. Look up cap spending since ’94.” Yeah. Yeah. And then that shows the Patriots and Robert Craft are one of the more more cheaply spending teams. You know, I I appreciate you providing some clarity for this. Where I’m from, if you take a shot together and you hug it out like these two did at at Brady’s Roast. Yep. I like this. It’s squashed. The beef’s over. Yeah. To Bellich’s credit and and you said this every time you turn around Yeah. It’s Robert Craft in the media continuing this thing. You’re like, “Bro, I got other fish to fry now. I’m in the college game. The block is hot cuz of my young girlfriend. Like, I I can’t do this with you.” And every time you turn around, you’re doing an interview about me. This was on Robert Craft. You can’t take a shot with me, hug it out, let bygones be bygones. We’re cool. And then every time there’s a microphone in your face, you’re talking about mwah. I’m going to take offense to that. So, I’m glad you laid this out for me. I’m on Bill’s side. Now, I still think that sound bite we played is not the end of the world. Like, he did take a chance, but it’s a sub, but it’s just the fact you keep going back. You keep, you know, rehashing all this stuff that we thought was water under the What’s the best decision you made as owner of the Patriots? No doubt about it. It’s hiring the greatest football coach of all time, Bill Bich. Yes. And then that opens up the combo. Yes. But it’s him taking credit. I had to take a big risk. Right. This is also Robert Craft who bought the team in January 94. He inherited Bill Parcels. That’s right. He inherited a bunch of that roster. Now, Robert Craft saved this team from going to St. Louis. Sure. He saved this team and kept them in Foxboro. He built Gillette Stadium. He’s done so much for the game. You’ve done so much. You have the greatest franchise in the history of the NFL because of the success from 2001 to 2018, 2019, that season. Sure. Whatever. You have all that. You don’t need to take digs at Bill Bich. And to your point, too, where Bill’s like, “All right, I’m hanging out in Chapel Hill. I’m coaching in college. Got his own life.” When he interviewed for the Falcons job, Arthur Blank called Robert Craft and Robert Craft told Arthur Blank, “Don’t trust him.” If anyone, if you called me about something like, “Hey, whatever.” I’d be like, “I wouldn’t trust him.” That’s saying, “Don’t work with them.” That’s right. That’s what that is. And that’s messed And again, Bill’s like, I’m down in UNCC because now fine if you don’t want to trust me or not, but you did that to me, bro. To your point, I am minding my own business. Yeah. Led by a gun. Sometimes it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie. And Bill is doing that. But Robert, Bill’s Bill’s doing it, but Bill’s also at the same time he is. He’s not taking the high road. Meaning, yes, this old man keeps bringing your name up. Let him do it. Don’t Don’t respond. Every time Robert Graph does this, Bill gets back at him. So, you’re right. It’s egos. It’s back and forth. They’re both being petty. But from zooming out, George, and looking in on all this and then talking about it on TV, it does feel as though it’s Robert Craft that continues to stir the pot. Just let that thing simmer. Let it simmer. He can’t help himself. When there’s a microphone in his face, he’s asked about Bill. He goes into these long diet tribes. And I think it’s not doing either one of them any favors. New England ranks 31st out of 32 teams in spending since the NFL instituted the salary cap in 1994. Robert Craft bought the team in 1994. Bill Bich was very tough with the cap. He believed no player should make more per year than the head coach. That’s something that he seriously believed written in books. But also he had to go in and manage a team that was 10 million over the salary cap. Had to offload contracts. Had to figure out a way to get Drew Bledo out of there. Lawyer Malloy the guys throughout the years. All the guys that built it. And it was like he was like a savage. That still hurts lawyer Malloy to this day. All time great Patriot, all time great safety, but he Don Vanetta have that nugget in there. Bill is taking the high road. I would like to see Bill platforms are out there. He’s got a girlfriend that knows what go on a pod and go at Rob, but he doesn’t. He’s not going to do that. Here’s the thing. When Brady’s statue is revealed, our craft and Belich check there. Is Belich in attendance? No. I think I think it’s a Brady. And by the way, as always, Brady looks great in this, doesn’t he? Thanks for watching us here on Ness. The party keeps rolling though over on Nessa Nation. Join us on Boston has entered the chat and join us there every Monday through Friday right here. 8 a.m. on Nessen, 9:00 a.m. on Ness Nation. Roll with us.

The Boston Bruins recruited Bill Burr to help with their 2025-2026 schedule reveal! The Bruins will wlecome the Blackhawks in their home opener, meanwhile October shows some challenging stretches off the jump for the Boston Bruins. Travis Thomas & George Balekji take a look at the Bruins schedule, they react to viewer voicemails, and dive into the latest surrounding Bill Belichick’s & Robert Kraft’s never ending drama in the media.

GET NESN 360: https://nesn.com/download-the-nesn-app/

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/NESN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NESN
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NESN/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nesn
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nesn

0:00 Intro
1:21 Boston Bruins 2025-2026 Schedule Release
12:28 Fan Voicemails
28:56 What’s Trending
40:42 Bill Belichick vs Robert Kraft
51:32 Outro

#BostonBruins #NHLBruins