Three Bruins Players With Most To Lose This Preseason | The Skate Pod, Ep. 469

Three Bruins Players With Most To Lose This Preseason | The Skate Pod, Ep. 469

Welcome in to episode 469 of the Skate Podcast. I’m Brian Deliz joined by Bridget Pru and back from vacation, Scott Mclofflin. Scott, before we get into opening shifts is a couple of quick hitters that Bridget and I want to hear your response to. Number one is we talked last week about the Will Zellers interview and during an interview I asked what his baseball walkup song would be. We gave you one for you. Uh, pinina coladas, I think. What’s Bridget? What’s the song called? Escape. Escape. The panina colada song. Mhm. We’re going to give you the opportunity to maybe stick with that or change it. And then we also got to get your opinion on the Bruins away uniforms since you weren’t here for the fashion segment. Okay, let’s start with the most important one. Bruins away uniforms. A+. Just absolute money. Bridget, cannot believe you called them. Okay. What a hot take, huh? Just an absolutely insane take. Sorry guys. I mean, you know that you guys are like the fashion people, so I I come in and I’m like, you know, you guys are like really high and really low about stuff and I’m just like normally just like, “Yeah, they’re good.” You know what I mean? Like that’s kind of where I was. And I still I I stand by what I said. Uh they’re they’re all you want to give them like All right. What do you give them on a scale? They’re like a 10. They’re like maybe the best uniforms in the NHL. Like best single uniform. Really? That’s a bull or road. Okay. I was going to go like eight, which is still good, but it’s just not, you know, it’s it’s not 10. You know, I heard a comment. I I was getting dinner with friends last week and and it was a topic of conversation. And one of one of the comments I heard was they kind of look like they kind of give practice jersey vibes. And now listen, we all know how I feel about the uniforms. I think they’re outstanding. I’m trying to see what people are thinking here. I’m just like, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Like they’re they’re they’re unbelievable. Like they’re so good. I mean, there’s a couple of modifications that if I were the designer, maybe I would do differently. For example, right, the shoulder patch, I would do the meth bear, right? I would I would I would I would prefer there not to be a Rapid 7 jersey. Yeah, these are things that in a perfect world, but we’re not in a perfect world. And I think the jerseys are absolutely outstanding, right? Like like the jersey patches, like everyone has them. Like you just you can’t avoid that now. There’s nothing you can do about it. And that’s not the designer’s fault either. They can’t control. Yeah, you are right about the shoulder patch. Like, so I guess I guess maybe I don’t go a full perfect 10 because a perfect 10 would be meth bear on the shoulders and both sides. So like maybe I deduct 0.1 points for both of those and give it a 9.8, but like that’s about it. Yeah, I think people have been brainwashed into thinking that like you need some sort of shoulder design, you know, like like like Yeah, like their last uniforms had. And and you don’t like I think that’s where like the practice jersey uniform comment comes from. And I just I just think it’s wrong. And I said and I said I said to the individual and this person wasn’t throwing shade. They they admitted they were like I I I think I just need to see him in in game action. and I’m just used to them there being more on their shoulders. And I said, “Well, I think less is more in the shoulders, so I think it’s great.” I said, “But you think the Blackhawks have good whites?” He’s like, “Yeah.” I’m like, “There’s nothing on their shoulders.” Same with the the the Maple Leafs. Same with the Red Wing. Like all the all the great jerseys in the league, the shoulders are bare uh for the most part. So, no pun intended. But yeah. Um so, I don’t know. I like for some reason, and I think this is just my preference, I like the the darks better than the the whites. Um, but I kind of am like that with with most jerseys that I like. Um, so I like them slightly better. I I think I like the the black uniform slightly better. Where do you fall there, Scott? I put out I put out a poll uh last week to to fans basically saying would you rather the the the Bruins dark jerseys or white jerseys be their home jerseys? you know, NHL rules aside if we were up to the the voters and I think it was it was low 60s to high30s um in percentage for in favor of the whites, which tells me looks like Bruins fans might favor the white jerseys over the over the black or or the white uniforms over the over the black ones. I think both pretty pretty sick. Yeah, they’re both really good. I the white everything kind of just pops a little more for me. Um, so I’d probably give that a slight edge, but they’re they’re both great. And I’ve I’ve long advocated, and I think Brian, you’re on the same page with me, like it should be a mix. Like teams should be able to mix up and and choose either dark or white at home. Some, you know, get a little bit of both, mix it up, like be more like the NBA or the NFL where you relax the rules a little bit. And I know John Butcher has he’s done it a couple times where he’s kind of teased that we might be seeing white jerseys at home at some point in like the next few years that there might be some sort of change coming. And I I don’t know if he’s I don’t know if he’s teasing like a full flip back to White at Home, Dark on the Road, or if he’s teasing like what I’m talking about like a more hybrid just like relaxed rules about it. But I hope it’s that. I hope it’s like you can do either one. Yeah, I agree. Yeah, I think um when it comes to the dark jerseys at home, the here’s here’s the here’s the issue that that one could have with it is that okay, so you’re going to see the same uniform in a in a in a non-hybrid situation world, which I’m I’m with you on that, Scott. That would be perfect, right? But in a non-hybrid situation world where you have to do one at home. So if the home team has to wear one jersey, that means that the home fans are going to see the home team in the same jersey every time. So the problem when you go dark is that so you always see them in their darks. That’s great. But then the visitors, you’re always seeing So now you’re always seeing the home team in one uniform and then you’re always seeing the away team in a white template. Yes, with their own colors and logo, but now you’re kind of seeing just a little bit too much of the same every home game, right? you’re seeing the Bruins in black and then you’re seeing the the away team in white. But if it’s white at home, yes, you see the Bruins in white every home game just like you see them in black every home game, but the whites are still sick. And now you get to see the away team come in with their their full colors and uniforms, and it provides just more contrast every home game for the home fans. Yes, we get that contrast for road games, but obviously we’re not in person for those. So, um, and then there’s there’s many people out there that say, “No, we we want darker at home always. It shows dominance. It’s it’s it’s it shows superiority about the home.” Like, whatever. But I think the the NHL I’m I’m pretty fuzzy on like pre-1970, but I do know that when when Bobby and the Big Brad Bruins were were in town in the early ‘7s, I do know that they wore black at home for many games. I know from the mid70s when they went to the those Ray Bour Cam Neely era jerseys that were first worn by Terry O’Reilly and others. They wore white in Boston and in the NHL from like the mid70s until the 03 uh 0203 season. So it was about 30 years. Then they switched to Darks at home from the 0304 season. Then you had the lockout to modern day. So, it was whites at home for about 30 years and it’s been darks at home now for uh over 20. Um, so the NHL doesn’t make these changes very often. So, I’m not sure when they do it. Maybe they’ll do a hybrid like Bucha Grass uh or that like we want Scott or maybe they go full white at home like Buchas is hinting. Who knows? Have you DM’d them to try to find out if you can, you know, put your word in? No. No. So now Bridget, what’s what Bridget’s hinting at is some off some offline chatter about, but we know a couple years ago I DM’d USA hockey about uniforms I wanted them to use to the Olympics. NHL players ended up not going to. I never got responded. I was ghosted. And then more recently, more recently, I I I I DM’ the Duffer brothers on Instagram. For those who don’t know who the Duffer brothers are, they are the creators and writers of the Netflix hit show Stranger Things. and I DM’d them with a song suggestion for the closing scene of the show, which is gonna happen at the end of this year. So, we’ll see if they uh if they go by suggestion or not. But that’s why we’re being right now so that if people hear it and it is actually the song, people be like, “Holy crap, Ryan, they listen to you.” So, those who aren’t Stranger Things fans right now are probably going to be bored, you know, uh very much so. Say the name of it. Just say the name of it. The name of the song I suggested is The Promise by When in Rome. And I want I ch I just want if if people know the song, great. If not, listen to it. If you’ve watched Stranger Things, you know that it’s it’s an 80s theme show. The the song I suggested comes come came out in 1988. Seasons 5 is set for 1987, 1988, so it times out perfectly. And I think it’s the great it starts off a little slow, then it picks up. Great song to end the show on that has a legendary soundtrack. Scott’s Maybe it should be Scott’s goal song. Oh, great transition. Scott, what’s your walk upgal song? Well, well, hold on. So, so those are kind of two different things, right? They are like the walkup song. So, it’s funny because I went to So, I went to a Red Sox Dodgers game a couple weeks ago with some friends and we actually had this conversation and didn’t give it a whole lot of thought, but the answer I concluded, unfortunately, Bridget was not the panic colada song. Um, no, I said it should be You don’t know You’re Beautiful by One Direction, but then I took it for myself. No, I mean, not not bad. Uh my my answer was Reptilia by the Strokes, which is a great song that I feel like I feel like could fit, but that radio song. Yeah, I think that’s I think that’s a better walk up song than a goal song. Like because Reptilia picks up pretty quickly, but like it starts like slightly subdued for a few seconds. I feel like a goal song like you really you can do that with a walk up song or like coming out of the bullpen. Yeah, but you got you just it starts playing from the chorus, right? Like they don’t play it from the beginning. Yeah. Um like I’m imagining I I score a goal and they’re just like right too. Yeah. You light up, right? So that’s the thing like a goal song needs to like immediately go into celebration mode. Like it needs to hit hard right away. So like I probably wouldn’t pick Reptilia for that. Um I don’t know. Like we you guys brought this up like right before so I haven’t given it a ton of thought which might be better. Um well if it comes back to you later you can come back to you know but or just whatever’s in your heart right now. Maybe uh 1992 hit Babies Got Back by by Sir Mix a Lot. Clip that. Okay. Wow. Clip that. Yeah. I mean there there’s all sorts of songs, right? Like I think a goal song in hockey. Yeah. It’s got to be it’s got to be an upbeat song, you know, probably rock or something like that. Um, you know, a walk up song in baseball. It could be more of a singalong song, right? Cuz you’re you’re going from the batters box to the plate and, you know, you you mess around with the the wristbands. You take your time. There’s also a third type of song which is a a walk out song from the bullpen. Now, Mariano Rivera, did he have Enter Sandman? Yeah. That that is a legendary combination right there. That is that is sick. Yeah. That’s where you can really get some great ones cuz you can then you can really get like a song that builds up like Trevor Hoffman at Hell’s Bells. Um the the one the one that Edwin Diaz has with the Mets like that gets the whole that um Oh yeah. Why am I blanking on? But it’s like you know you know what I mean? Like it’s like a Latino song. Yeah. But that gets like the whole place going crazy. Um Yeah. Wild Thing. Was it Wild Thing in uh Major League? Oh yeah. Uhhuh. That’s a good one. Yeah. Well, Jonathan Pabbleon always had shipping up to Boston, which like would be cliche now, but really worked at that time. For th for those listening, if you’re on in your car or at home, you can tweet at us or email us your answers. If you’re watching on YouTube, give us your answers. If you want to give us three different answers for a goal song, walk up song, bullpen song, go for it. Just one of them, two of them, whatever. I’m going with mine for all for all of the above. You just wonder what was yours? One Direction. Yeah. You don’t know you’re beautiful. That’s right. That’s right. Well, thank you, Bridget. That’s very nice of you. Um, so let’s get right to the opening every he hates that song now. I ruined it for him. 134 minutes later, let’s get right to the opening shifts. Wait, what about Taylor Swift’s new album? Okay, we’ll get into opening shifts. Oh, yeah. Bad bad news. Uh, Taylor Swift decided to go on Travis Kelce’s podcast and and not the Skate podcast. So, unfortunately, she’s not going to be with us on Thursday’s episode. No. Nope. But, uh, good news is she’s dropping Thursdays. No Taylor Thursdays. Scott’s latest rendition of a Thursday theme. Yeah. Yeah. We’re gonna have to find something else. We need to find something else that has alliteration. But, um, but yeah. So, we are we really we’re going to do opening shifts, right? Like a real Yeah, sure. Mine, so mine’s about uh so Kevin Paul Dupont in his Sunday notes caught up with Hamus Lindholm uh who’s over in Sweden for most of the summer and uh the biggest takeaway is that Hamus Lindholm said he’s now completely healthy and he is skating quote full and at pace uh in recent weeks which makes it sound like you know there was still some recovery that extended into the summer um which you know this whole thing like this whole injury which reminded for people if they forgot he had a fractured kneecap um and then had some sort of setback needed like a second procedure to kind of remove a a piece of I think they called it a piece of hardware so like I don’t know one of the screws or something from the initial surgery. Um and then you know at by the end of the season he still uh was not practicing but felt close to getting back on the ice. So obviously he did shortly after the end of the season and based on this interview with Kevin Paul Dupont uh sometime in probably the last month has been up to full speed. So says he’ll be ready to go for training camp. says he’s excited to show everyone that he’s completely back and um you know is mo talks about being motivated to pick up where he left off because again if people forgot like the first month of last season he was probably the Bruins best player like he was one of the very few guys who actually got off to a good start. Um and it all started with being motivated to make the Olympic team. Obviously, he didn’t make the four nations team for Sweden. Couldn’t have played even if he had been selected. Um, teams will have an extra two spots for the Olympics. So, most I think most teams will be bringing eight defensemen. Um, and he, you know, if he gets off to a good start and shows he’s healthy, like he should have a very good shot at making Sweden’s Olympic team. So, um, just thought that was interesting and obviously can lead into a discussion about the importance of Hampus Lindholm wi-i who again obviously like if this team is going to have any shot of turning things around and being better like having a healthy Charlie Makavoy and Hampus Lindholm on the back end and having them playing at a high level is going to have to be like probably step two after Jeremy Swayman turning things around. So, um, just hugely important. Yeah. And I I remember on breakup day, I forget if it was Hampus himself or Sweeney, but they mentioned that he would be back to skating and and, you know, trying to get back to full pace in May. So, if that’s just happening now, like it say in July, that’s a little bit further back than what they originally thought. Um, it’d be interesting to get a chance to talk to Hampus and when everybody comes back to Boston. Um, and yeah, I mean, there’s also different there’s obviously like different levels of buildup once you’re skating. Yeah, like did was May just to literally just put the skates on and do like a nice little uh light lap or what? But uh but yeah, so I mean it’s good to hear him say he’s back to full pace and then we debated like it probably doesn’t mean full contact and that’s still probably not going to come until training camp starts. Yeah. which like there wouldn’t be full contact in the summer anyways. Um you know a lot of those groups that get together to to skate it’s I mean there might be some checking but like they’re not they’re not going all out in the middle of the summer. No, definitely not like uh you know a regular practice or anything like that but uh so my opening shift has to do with something that is happening Wednesday. So, we’ll we’ll have a podcast Thursday reacting to whatever um news comes out of this, but there’s going to be a back to school um charity event, I guess, at TD Garden um where some of the players are going to be giving out backpacks and different school supplies to kids in the community. and um Johnny Beecher, Mason Laurai, James Haggins, Bob Sweeney, and Charlie Jacobs are among the people who are going to be there and potentially um there they’ll potentially be available to the media for uh interviews and and to just talk to them. And obviously James Hagen’s all the story lines we talked about with him this off seasonason. If we get a chance to talk to him, maybe update his um where he is uh in terms of college uh deciding to go back to college and um hear it in his own words because uh we only got kind of like a little quote out of an interview that he did at the World Junior Showcase and not a whole lot besides that. and it sounds like he’s going back to college, but obviously to talk to him in person and and get to hear it from his own words. Um, you know, what his plans are coming up in the fall. And then Charlie Jacobs, another person that if he is available to talk to, I’m sure there’ll be some interesting stuff to come out of that. And then obviously Laura and Beecher. And then next week, Scott and I were talking about this before the podcast, too. We’re we always end up with at least one Bruins guest during the Jimmy Fund. So that’ll be something we can react to at some point next week. Yeah. Jimmy Jimmy Fund Radio Tellathon coming up Monday, next Monday and Tuesday. So um I I will be there both days as I have been for this will be the 12th year I’ve done it. Um just an incredible two-day event. Every year raises anywhere from three to$4 million for cancer research. Um, so we we obviously won’t be recording during those days. Bridget is away for Bridget’s a bachelorette party, right, that you’re going away for. Yep. Um, so we’ll probably we’ll probably just have one episode later next week. Um, but yeah, tune in for that. Please donate if you can. Um, every dollar helps and obviously it’s a it’s a great cause. Scott, last episode Bridget and I discussed the conversation surrounding what what’s a storyline or what’s a player that we aren’t talking about right now that this time next year we think could possibly be a a narrative going into next year or a player that that is on the roster that we’re not thinking of right now. like every every year it seems like something some storyline, some narrative, some player pops or or something happens negative or positive that we just weren’t anticipating in the summer. And it’s tough because there’s so much to talk about in the summer when it comes to projecting the seasons and stuff that certain people get lost in the shuffle. Um, so that made me think of this question for you guys, which is for my opening shift. Which young player do we think has the most to lose at training camp this year? Because it’s only a month away and I think that there’s some obvious candidates for this question. But when you look at the openings in the lineup right now and you look at some of the players that the Bruins have signed, some some middle-aged to this point lifetime AHLers or mid20s lifetime AHLers that have been prolific scorers, right? So like a mate Blumal or an Alex Steves like those guys maybe one of them middle age would be that’d be a good story. Yeah, that would be a good story. But I mean I mean hockey middleage which I guess even that doesn’t make sense. to be mid mid20s is still young but they signed Blue Mel and Steves to come in. Those guys are going to challenge for roster spots, right? That’s why they signed him to to to compete. You obviously have Fabian Lysel, Matt Potcher, Frasier Mitten, you have Dan Los, you have you have just countless Moratus and Dino. You have countless young names that don’t necessarily have a guaranteed spot on this team, but they’re in different points in their careers, right? So, if you could think of one player right now who has the most to lose at training camp specifically, is there a name that comes to your mind right away? So, two for well, so I guess the first one that comes to mind and I think probably my answer would be Fabian Lysel. um who you know I always hesitate like I don’t like calling anything a last shot for a guy because I truly don’t think you’re at like your last chance until you’re literally out of professional hockey and like there’s just no opportunity for you. Fabian’s obviously not there. But it does feel like he really needs to show something very soon if we’re going to still talk about him as someone who might have a real NHL career with the Boston Bruins. Um you saw some good things late last season when he comes up for a 10ame sample and then you see him go back to Providence and have a quiet postseason and get healthy scratch down in the AHL. So, you go from like this like kind of encouraging end of the season to this little post script that maybe, you know, casual fans didn’t even follow. That was pretty disappointing. Um, and, you know, he’s he’s been inconsistent in training camps before. It has not been a strength for him to come out and get off to a great start and win a job. Um, and it feels like he he has to figure out a way to do that. like he has to figure out how to have a really good training camp start to finish. Doesn’t mean you have to be great every single day, but you got to be like 90% really good days and just an occasional off day. It can’t be this like two or three on, two or three off, good game, bad game like that. You don’t win NHL jobs doing that. So, I think he has he has a lot to prove. And yes, to answer your question, I think he also might have the the most to lose because if it is just another up and down inconsistent training camp where he doesn’t take a job and run with it, then I think you’re asking some hard questions about like what what is he like when or if or will he ever be like actually ready? Yeah. He’s my answer. Yeah, he he was the first person that came to mind for me and and in theory the right wing is up for grabs, right? Like there’s it’s not like every single spot on that right side should be uh completely solidified with who they have right now. like if you’re a a young skilled right winger, uh you know, a first a former first round draft pick that has already had a lot of time to develop down in the AHL, like this would be the perfect time or maybe even a little bit past due, honestly, uh to to really push for for a spot because I mean, behind posture, is there really anything solidified on the right side like shouldn’t he be able to to force his way into the lineup if he if he has a good um preseason and and training camp? And I I see no reason for him to not be in contention for one of those spots. But in terms of having the most to lose, him he comes to mind and Matt Potra because I feel like that that was the that was the second one for me because I feel like Lysel is like his last chance to crack it and get in and Patra would be like more of a if he spends a majority of his of his season in Providence again, it’s like now he’s on the outside looking in, right? because we feel like he probably should be on the inside with like some some development opportunities down in Providence. But if he ends up being there a majority of the season again this year, I feel like that’s you’re you’re now an AHLER, right? Like when he came in, he was an NHL right off the bat. And uh yeah, so for him it’s important because we saw what he was able to do in his first season, a great training camp and a great preseason, put him on an NHL roster as a 19-year-old and now he’s 21 and he he needs to do something similar um in order to to get a spot at a camp because technically the Bruins center depth chart is like the longest list of of depth because a lot of guys are centers slashwingers. So, uh, and he’s one of those guys who I guess could be either, but, uh, I feel it’s this training camp’s going to be really important for him. Yeah, those are two great names you guys bring up and and just looking at the lineup right now, their projected looking at their personnel, right? I mean, these are the these are the players and these are the lines that I feel like are pretty safe bets right now as we talk on August 12th, right? I think Geeky, Elias, Linholm, and Pastnac. I think we can we can probably lock those guys in as that that top line. I think the second line I do think it’s a combination of Zaka, Middlestat, and Arvidson. Now, Bridget, to your point, like could Fabian Lysell like when you when you talk about the the right-wing depth beyond Passnak, could somebody bump Arbertson to the third line right away? Sure. But like I think right now that’s something that has to happen. Like right now Arbertson’s pencil on that second line I believe. So so you those are your top two lines. So right now in your top six there’s not a there there’s there’s no openings. There could be there’s possibility for upgrades but there’s no openings right now. Like you have some some NHL players that can fill those spots. Now you look at the third line, right? And I do think Frasier Mitten should have an inside track to being your third line center. And I think I don’t think he has a lot to lose anyway right now. I think he’s young enough. I think his future’s bright enough. I I I think his stock is high enough in the organization. I think Mittton’s not entering camp fearing for his life. Not saying he shouldn’t play that way, but I I think he’s fine. So, you have him on the third line. Okay. I don’t think they signed Tanner Snow, at least right away, to be on the fourth line. I do think they probably want to have him in a in a in a top nine third line role. Then you have that that that right side of the third line. Okay. So, is Minton gonna play right wing instead of center? Well, let’s have him at center for now. So, that rightwing spot, you have Pchra battling for it. You have Liz Cell battling for it. You have Blumel battling for it. You have Steves battling for it. You have Lash Melis battling for it. I mean, that just gets us to the fourth blind now. So now the fourth line you probably have Castlick Carali and Michael Eimont. Where does Johnny Beecher fit? So there’s really there’s there’s if we’re talking that third line, there’s probably one opening in the third line. I think it’s I think twothirds of it is going to be Jano and and Minton. Then I think you have like five guys battling for that spot. I forgot. You forgot one. And I forgot. No, no, but but but you’re right, Bridget. And that’s the point. It’s like there’s so many options for this bottom six and there’s only a couple spots open. You know, Jano is going to be one of them. You know, Castlick, Carali, probably Eimon are going to be the other three, right? So, it there’s a lot of competition for a couple of spots. I know the Bruins forward lineup isn’t doesn’t boast a ton of elite talent, but it does have a lack of spots right now, right? Like there’s a lot of guys for a couple of spots. Yeah. But but my point is that none of those guys are like if Fabian Lysel is going to break in like that’s not the hardest lineup to crack, right? Like there’s not a a gap, but it’s like could you pass those guys? Like yeah, he’s a firstline pick who’s developed and you know it shouldn’t be impossible to do. But hence why hence why if Potra and Lizel are beat out by by a Blue Mel or a Steves or Husand or a Los Malis. That’s why they have the most to lose because and and and and the last name I mentioned Losmell like I actually I’m I’m fascinated to see him in camp. I really am. I think he’s going to make some tough decisions for people, right? like like Potra and Lysel like it’s it’ll be kind of disappointing if they can’t beat out career AHLers or guys who you know put up 10 to 20 points a year in the NHL like or you know maybe a little more than that like an ECont or Corali or um you know I mean Cass looks like a different kind of player obviously but like yeah like you want to see those guys win roles over those guys over those kind of players and if they don’t but they’re battling for different roles too Scott right like they’re not really battling their fourth line but what I’m saying is like if if Podra and Lysel don’t win third line jobs then then they they can just be like oh well we can move Jano Eimontus off whoever like we’ll just move them up to the third line and now you end up with like basically two fourth lines like right okay you can absolutely see the Bruins doing that where it’s like there there’s a path here where you get these younger, more exciting offensive players winning third line jobs and now that’s how your third line looks and then everyone else can battle for their fourth line jobs. And then there’s this other path where those younger offensive players don’t do enough and they just decide to go the safe route and load up the entire bottom six with all these names we just mentioned who we know they can all play a bottom six role in the NHL, but they’re all ideally fourth liners and but all a sudden the Bruins go, “Well, you know what? We’ll just we’ll roll them out there on our third and fourth lines for now because we at least know that they know how to play NHL hockey. And they’re also not the shiniest toys on the on the prospect shelf anymore either. Like we’re talking about them having to beat out like career AHLers right in Blue Melon Steves. But you know when James Hagens is ready, he’s making the team. He’s going to have a top nine spot certainly, but we obviously expect top six spot probably right away. So like again it’s like if they don’t like the last couple of years like especially for Lysel if he doesn’t make the team out of camp well there’s always next year. Well it’s now that the prospect system is starting to get a little bit better like next year is really not guaranteed for him anymore. And oh by the way he’s also what 22 entering camp this year. So it’s like it’s it’s it’s it’s now or never. Like not you don’t like to Scott’s point earlier, you don’t want to say that, but it might be now and never with the Bruins. Yeah. Right. Because Yeah. Because like right now he’s still the first or second name that we’re bringing up in these discussions. He might be a year away from being the fourth or fifth name and like then all of a sudden you’re you’re really down the depth chart and now it’s like no one’s even really expecting anything out of you. Yeah. I mean, I much rather, and this is probably just because once again, like the three of us and as well as a lot of our our listeners just based on the questions we get from them would like to see those guys given a chance and would like to see a young maybe a younger more higher upside third line than a safe, you know, NHL fourth line becoming like a third line. You know what I mean? Like Scott, you’re saying, right? which by the way like isn’t isn’t I think the Bruins will see it as safe. I actually don’t think that’s safe because you need a third line that can score and you need to develop people like you need like you need Minton to get more time. you need posture to get more like if you really believe in them like you you’re better off letting them you know sink or swim and and but but that’s just my opinion and I also we also come from a background of like college hockey so we we like to see that we’d like to see growth and and chances given to to players who um first of all earn earn that starting spot and then just see if see if if they can really truly be an NHL third liner and then you know move up from there if they if they can. But like if it was a who’s Nadino Mitten Potra third line I would like that so much better than if it was you know plug in any of those those bottom guys that you know say East Mott say I mean Carl would probably be fourth fourth line but you know what I mean they have an abundance of those guys at the bottom. Um, and I’ I’d feel like I’d so much rather watch a who’s Nadine off mitt and potra third line even if it wasn’t pretty like because you know some of those like who’s Nadino and Potra maybe aren’t as defensively sound or or whatever like it’s and and maybe they’re um because of their lack of experience they make mistake more mistakes. Uh but I’ I feel like I’d rather watch that and I feel like there’s uh there’d be a benefit to to letting those guys figure it out there. Yeah. And and there’s going to be it’s it’s going to come down to who wants it more. And that’s why this camp is going to be fascinating because it it really does feel like it’s three or four or five of these guys fighting for one spot. I I I the reality is they did sign Tanner Jano and I and I I just when you already have Corali Castelic Beecher and Acimont I I I think they intend on having Jano in like a third line role probably to be alongside a couple of kids right to try to balance out that line. So I I think one of those kids is going to be Minton and they have Arfordson at right now it’s at at second line right wing. So again, I just I I I it’s tough for me to envision a scenario right now where out of camp both and Lizell are on the same roster, let alone let alone like who’s Cindy enough you could have as the extra forward potentially maybe or maybe like maybe they wave somebody. I don’t really know how that’s going to go. You got to have an extra forward, but I don’t see potra I have a tough time I should say seeing potraell in the same lineup, let alone lollis, let alone blue, let alone Steves. So, I mean, it just seems like it’s it’s yeah, it’s it’s going to be it’s going to be a battle for for that for that roster spot. Now, obviously, injuries happen, opportunities present themselves, whatever. But, if we’re talking just training camp and winning jobs, I don’t see Lizel and Potra on the same opening night roster. Do you guys? Probably not. Like, I think I think there’s a path to it, but you’re right. like just kind of looking at style of play and which spots are open. Yeah, it would seem like there’s maybe only room for one of them. Um I was I was also going to mention of them are on it then the people who are off it’s probably like we’re probably looking at Beecher and like who’s maybe offer he’s like that’s probably off. Yeah, but then it’s like who’s a they’re a fourth line role now? Like I I think it’s more likely like Aubbertson gets hurt and now there’s a second line opening like he gets hurt in camp or something like I don’t I don’t see one of those guys being on the fourth line even if a Beecher does get waved, right? But it’s just a m like it bumps other like it maybe bumps up to a fourth line role and then like Beecher is gone completely type of thing. Um but I was going to also mention Beecher as someone who has quite a bit to lose. I think like he might like I mean he’s only on a one-year deal. Like he might have his future in Boston to lose. Like if he gets beat out by all these guys, you know, he’s one of the guys you’d look at and be like I he probably can’t play up on a third line. Like there’s just not enough offense. So he has to win a fourth line job or 13th forward job. And if he doesn’t, if he loses out to all these veterans that they brought in, he goes on waiverss and, you know, maybe he gets claimed, maybe he goes down to Providence and kind of gets buried down there. Like that it would feel like a it would feel like a pretty significant step back for Johnny Beecher to to not make this team. And yet, I think it’s if he doesn’t really come out and show himself well in camp, I I think that could definitely be on the table. Yeah, he he only had three goals last season in 78 games. I mean, that’s not normally enough to to keep you around. Um and he was scratched, you know, quite a few times at the end. And so, we’ll see. Um he was somebody that when when the season ended and and we’re trying to figure out, oh, who’s getting qualifying offers because he was an RFA, like who’s getting qualifying offers, who’s not? Because uh there were some guys that the Bruins didn’t give qualifying offers to, but they they did. Wait, do we did we ever mention that Jacob Loa went back home to the Czech Republic? No. He he signed He signed over there. So, Jacob Loa will not be in North America this year. So, he he’s probably just sick of the whole thing. Well, I think so. I saw and again, you always have to be careful with translated articles. Um, but there was a Czech article where it sounded like he wanted guaranteed playing time because he he wants to make the Czech Olympic team and the Czech Republic obviously has some stars at the top. Obviously, David Posnock’s going to be there. Pavl Zako will be on the team, but like they’re the kind of team that gets thin pretty quickly. So, like you absolutely could see Jacob LaCo as a fourth liner on the Czech Olympic team. And I think he felt like let me go to the Czech league play, you know, a key role on my team and show myself there rather than like, oh, maybe I’m a 13th forward on NHL team or maybe I end up in the AHL. I think he just felt like especially in an Olympic year that opportunity playing back home is going to be better for him than bouncing around and having like no guaranteed playing time. Yeah. I mean he was he was at Worlds. He So I mean obviously that’s not a full complement of of every country’s players because there’s still there’s still teams in the playoffs at that time. Um but he went uh as well as Zaka and and Pasta. So he he was there for world. So that means he’s at the very least right right there and close to making the Olympic team. Um a good sign for him, I guess. Um and maybe it does help to go to Czech Republic. Maybe it doesn’t. But I al you could also tell he’s getting frustrated with just how often he had been changing locations and up and down from you know getting playing time, not getting playing time. And I do feel bad for for guys like that who’ve gone through multiple teams and then ends up back in Boston and they don’t offer him anything. Like it was just I’m sure it was just a roller coaster and frustrating as well. Yeah. And and as far as Beecher goes, like we mentioned, um he was he was somebody we were letting go by the wayside in our off our offseason mockup of what we would do for the Bruins, right? So the my my problem with Beecher is ultimately the puck just the play just dies on a stick. plays die on his stick and and I just don’t think he uses his very evident speed nearly effectively enough. And ultimately, yeah, you just have you have to impact the game in more ways than he has been so far. And that’s exactly why you saw him sign on a on a one-year prove it deal for for less than a million dollars. That that it’s that simple. So, yeah, he has something to lose as well. bridging. We have we have a small mailbag and the very first one actually relates to what we’ve just been talking about. So you guys want I can go into that. So Liz sent us an email and I’m gonna jump to part two first because it’s what we’ve been talking about. Um she says, “Why was Toronto willing to give up Fraser Mitten if according to so many pundits he’s amazing in the Bruins 3C for the foreseeable future? I thought he was good in Providence but not great. He’s strong on defense, but it this team needs offense. And I think putting a playmaker like Potra on the second or third line is more important. Well, immediately I’ll just say that they they thought it was their best chance to win a Stanley Cup. They felt as though that they were a right shot defenseman, top four defenseman away. So, they acquired Brandon Carlo. And the cost to doing so was giving up a prospect that they were probably high on. I think ultimately it was it was a win now move and and win now moves have repercussions when you don’t ultimately win. Yeah. And and I think the Bruins were probably targeting Minton and maybe even aiming a little higher for East Cowan. And I think East Cowan was where the Leafs drew the line and said we’re not giving him up and then probably begrudgingly give up Minton. um who is maybe like as a prospect half a tier or a tier below Cowan. Um so yeah, I I think he was valued by Toronto for sure. Um I don’t think that was an easy decision for them, but like Brian said, like they felt like Carlo was something they were missing and and he was like they that team needed help on defense. So, um, you know, regardless of whether Carlo gets them over the top, like there’s other there’s a lot of other factors in that. Obviously, it didn’t happen this year. We’ll see how they look this coming season without Mitch Marner. Um, but I will say I think Liz’s points about Minton’s offensive game are fair because I share the same I don’t know if they’re concerns or just things worth pointing out, which is like he has not been a high-end scorer really at any level. Um, and generally guys like that don’t turn into scorers at the NHL level. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a valuable player, but yeah, like Liz is right to I think raise a fair question about like should we be so quick to just write him in as the 3C of, you know, the next five, six years. I I still think it’s entirely possible that Frasier Minton doesn’t score enough in the NHL to be a third liner. It’s absolutely possible that he ends up as a fourth liner. Um, I I do think he plays a smart enough game that he is an NHLER, but I could see that happening and that would be Yeah, obviously like that’d be a little disappointing. I think the expectation should be that he’s going to give you enough offense to to be a good third liner. That’s certainly what the Bruins think. It’s why you heard Don Sweeney compare him to Charlie Coyle. Like that’s how they see him. They see him eventually as like the next Charlie Coyle. just, you know, a rock solid third line center. Um, but I don’t I don’t think it’s at this moment a given that he’s going to be that. No, I I I agree. The the way I would describe my feelings on him right now is I I think it’s not a given, but I think it’s close to a given for me. He’s again he has to earn it in camp that he will get that opportunity on the third line to start his you know first full season in the NHL. What he makes of that to all the points that Scott has mentioned uh stemming from Liz’s question I think is is fair. Yeah. TBD. Yeah. And I I think that when when she says the pundits are all like you know at a consensus that he’s going to be on the team to come out of camp like I think first of all I don’t know are are we pundits too? Um, who are the pundits? But, uh, I think we I think we qualify. I think we qualify. Yeah. And I think because there’s not really a whole lot of Bruin shows going on in the summer, uh, is probably other podcast hosts as well. But, um, what I’ll say about um, where I form my opinion about Fraser Mitten and why I think he’ll, um, he has a good chance of making the team out of camp is because we we get to see him in person. Um, we got to, you know, watch him firsthand, get to know his his style of play, his personality, um, how other people think of him and, you know, his confidence level, and you see what they’re missing and the the opportunity to take that third line role is there. And uh I just think that from watching him firsthand, I was I was watching his his play and saying, “Okay, I could see how that fits here. I could I could see how he could be a good fit in that spot.” And I could see him with even more time in the NHL growing and and getting better. And um I would say he’s a probably a safer choice. um not a more offensive uh ceiling kind of choice than Potra, but safer in that uh his all-around game is maybe a little bit more solid and his uh strength is and his size are more NHL size. So, yeah. And he’s positionally sound, which is imperative at the center position. I mean, one thing that I noticed in his brief time in Boston last year was that he he does he he does know where he is on the ice. he knows where the play is going and he he’s he’s responsible positionally and that’s impressive for a young player uh in the NHL. So, and then yeah, Bridget hit the other points too. It’s also a combination of opportunity and there’s only so many guys that that have the offensive upside to fill that role. It might not be as as high as a posture like Bridget said, but it’s it’s higher than somebody that’s down in Providence right now. It’s higher. It’s I mean again but but Potra could make a case. Pra Pra could Potchra could be the third line center and Minton goes to the wing. We Los Melis is a center wing prospect whether like again he very well may start in Providence to start the year but he also may have a better camp than somebody next to him like we we’ve seen that before. So, there are other there’s a couple of other options that could, I think, be third line center besides Minton. Here’s another one. Does Casey Middlestat eventually just slide down to the third? Like, there’s so many different ways that it could go. It’s tough to It’s tough to call. This is just a a guesstimate at this point in the middle of the summer. Yeah. And then her other part to Liz’s question was, “Do you feel that Mate Bluml will have an unfair advantage heading into camp since Pasta vouched for him and obviously the Bees want to keep their star player happy?” I mean, I think he’s going to wear an A opening night. Is the whole team wearing A’s this year? Just every single jersey has an A on it. Well, not not only Posanak, but also Steve Spot, new power play coach, assistant coach who came over from the Dallas organization, but he also had an uplose uh look at Mate Blume Mel when he was with that organization. Um, and I think I think it was Sweeney or maybe it was Sturm who referenced that when talking about Blue Mel. So, uh, he has some links on the team, but I don’t think that gives him an unfair advantage. Ultimately, it still comes down to who who wins a spot, like who has the best camp. And if Mate Blume goes out there and looks really good in camp and earns a longer look and hangs around and ultimately wins a spot, I think it’s going to be because he outperformed other guys going for those spots. Um, if he doesn’t have a great camp, then I don’t think, you know, having a a check or coming from the Dallas organization is going to save him. Like, if he’s not the best guy for the job, he’s not going to make the team, right? And especially if he’s battling, again, we’ll mention him for the 18th time this episode, probably five times more, but if he’s if he’s battling Matt Potra, I mean, Matt Potra is a Bruins draft pick. He already has been teammates with a lot of the guys in the room. So, you know, being being countryman with Passion and getting a text from him isn’t going to outweigh or or having experience being in the same organization as Steve Spot, your new power play coach, um is going to necessarily outweigh having already been in a dressing room with with these guys before and knowing the systems and stuff like that. And Potra is just one example, right? But that could be same could be said about or anybody else, right? I mean like the Bruins also put Frzier Minton stall next to Pastern and Posnock spoke highly of him. So like yeah I don’t I don’t think Pastn’s gonna be like playing favorites here. It’s I I think David Pnog wants to win hockey games and you know is not going to be trying to influence who makes the team and and yeah I don’t and I at like the expense of other guys that he also likes and you know he’s friends with with all them probably he’s not he’s not Tristan Cases for so for people who don’t get that reference I think we brought him I think we brought this up on a another pod recently or maybe that was an off-pod discussion but I think it was off um Red Sox first base and Tristan Casus who is out injured this whole season once again. Um during training camp this year was asked about like the Red Sox three promising prospects, Roman Anthony, Marcelo Meyer, Christian Campbell, all of whom actually have contributed this season. Um and whether like like did he see a spot for them? I forget the exact wording but and he answered like basically like I don’t think they should make the team. I think those jobs should go to veterans, which is just like an insane comment for a guy who still, by the way, hasn’t like fully established himself as an everyday major leager to to say. It was just it. But that that’s a guy who doesn’t think before he talks and doesn’t say the smartest things. Um, just throwing throwing three young kids under the bus basically. Like I don’t think there’s anyone in the Bruins who’s going to do that. No. No, I wouldn’t I wouldn’t call Tristan Casses uh future future leadership material probably. And I I I saw what I needed to know about him in that Red Sox documentary that came out like 6 months ago from it was covering like the 23 24 season or whatever it was. And after the game there was this kid at Fenway behind the dugout park had already cleared out and he’s like he’s like Tristan Tristan and he and he looks up he’s like what? And he’s like can I get an autograph? He’s like, “No.” And he just walks down the tunnel. It’s like, “Buddy, have some humility in life.” I did not see that. I did not see that his interview about the tree. He people are people are saying, “Oh, he does yoga in the outfield or, you know, he he has like the you know, he he’s flamboyant with like the nails, what that stuff that stuff is. I don’t care about that shit.” But when when when you have a kid that like it’s it could have been very well that kid’s first and maybe only Red Sox game he ever goes to and his memor is going to be a big leager saying if you if you don’t want to say anything to him then just go down to the dugout or go down to the clubhouse. But he answers the kid. He goes what? Like what? What do you think he’s going to say? Like like can you give me a job? No. He’s gonna ask for an autograph like and then he goes no. And just walks down. He’s like you know buddy [ __ ] you. Like like that’s I hate that [ __ ] Seriously. Well, he he never seems to skip out on um talking to someone like me down there or you know some of the other female reporters. He’ll come talk to us, but I’m sure he will. Yeah. Yeah. But anyway, uh how did we end up talking about Trista Casses? What is this? Um I’m going to do one more. We have a few more. I’m going to do one more because we’re we’re already almost at an hour. Um and this one is just interesting and it’s from a guy named Scott. And I don’t think it’s our Scott, but maybe it is. Um, Scott says, “I hope you guys are enjoying your summer. I catch most of your shows here in Seattle while walking my dog, Whiskey Jack. Great name for a dog, by the way. Great dog name. That’s awesome.” Um, as the Bees make this transition with coaches, players, leaders, and the core group. I think they will have to stay focused on a steady decor to keep games close and to allow some of the young guys to find their place on the roster. I’ve recently heard Zaka and Anderson’s names being brought up on the trade block, meaning Raasmus Anderson of the Calgary Flames. Um, and so I’ll read off what he his trade idea is. He says, “Maybe Donnie can pull this one off. I would like to get your feedback on this trade.” So, Bruins sent to Calgary, Pavle Zaka, Henry, Yoki Haru, and Ununis Corposalo, which that adds up to about 10.7 million in cap space. And Calgary sends to Boston, Raasmus Anderson, Blake Coleman, and even Provito. Prov um Ivan Prov. Oh, I Okay. Yeah. Wow. That’s Anyway. Um 10.4 four million about in in cap space. So, slightly less, but um what’s to your guys reaction to that trade proposal? So, I don’t really think this moves the needle enough for either team. Um, it kind of just feels like swapping parts, but if you have the Bruins and you can do it with an extension in place for Raasmus Anderson at at least a somewhat reasonable price, then I think it would make a lot of sense for the Bruins. Uh, sounds like Raasmos Anderson is not going to resign in Calgary, which is why his name has been in so many trade rooms. He’s 28 right shot defenseman making 4.5 million now unrestricted free agent after the season. So Bruins should not be in the market for any trade where they’re only getting a guy for a year. That doesn’t make sense to me. But if Rasmin Sanderson wants to sign here and look, you already have some Swedish connections. You have a former teammate of his and Elias Lindholm. Um probably Nikita Zadorova was teammates with him too. um like that then I can be talked into like that can make sense to me and you know from Calgary’s perspective again they’re probably losing Anderson no matter what I would think they probably want someone a little younger or with a little more term than what this deal gets them but you get Zaka signed for another year after this uh Henry Yoki Haru just signed a three-year deal this off season um I will say generally doesn’t go over great when if you sign a guy and then trade him like that same summer usually not really looked upon very positively around the league but um I I think I think ultimately a guy I would like this you know Blake Coleman’s getting towards the end of his career but like I said Raasmus Anderson with an extension in place would be the key get yeah and you Zach is 28 So, I mean, he’s not he’s not in his 30s, so he’s still somewhat young, like in his prime. Um, and yeah, when I when I first looked at it, I I like you, Scott, just don’t really know how much this would change things for either team. Like Blake Coleman, I like um as a player, but he’s 33 and his cap hit is higher than what I thought it would have been. It’s right about 5 million. Um, and so I’m not sure I like that contract. uh bring him in as a a left wing. Uh so I mean I guess he would be a third liner for you, but he might have to be a second liner if you’re trading away Pavle Zaka, which is kind of another problem, but he’s not really like Zaka’s contract is a better Zaka’s contract is less than Coleman’s contract. And I think Zaka is a better player and you’d be trading away a top six guy, which we’ve already talked about at Nauseium. why trading away top six guys unless you’re getting, you know, another top six guy in return doesn’t make any sense for this team. But, um, Yoki Haru I have no problem with giving up. I just don’t, like Scott said, think that the timing is right for that. Corbos, fine. You know, that that’s okay. Um, you know, I mean, I I think getting out of that contract is a positive. So, yeah, like to me, like that would be another plus for the Bruins. And then you can have DPro and Protov like battle it out for the backup job. So, so yeah, it kind of it kind of parts of this deal kind of strike me as robbing Peter to pay Paul and it’s okay. So, we got that top four defenseman that we kind of want on the right side, but we’re we’re sacrificing that top six forward. I guess if you’re the Bruins, do you plan on resigning Pavo Zaka at the end of his contract, right? You see where I’m going with this? Like, is he somebody that you plan on not h being on this team anyway in the future? If that’s the case with an extension in place for Anderson, then maybe that makes sense long term. Um, yeah, it’s an it’s an interesting deal. I think generally speaking, I think the Bruins have more players in the system that we can potentially see being in a top six role internally than we can see top four defenseman internally right now. I’m talking prospects. So, if you’re talking about replacing that position, like I think the Bruins are better suited to replace ironically Zag Zaka as a top six forward with maybe Hagens down the line or somebody else. But I I just ultimately I just feel like if you’re trading Zaka, I feel like you want him to be I don’t know. Well, let me ask you let me ask you guys this. Where do you see how do you see them addressing the right side of their top four defense when it comes to personnel? I know that they’re going to make do with what they have this year, but we all agree here that it’s not Peak and Yoki Haru are not optimal options for that second line uh right shot defenseman. So Anderson would solve that. But I don’t know if the market’s great next year in free agency outside of Anderson if he’s not traded. I know Kale Mar’s up. You’re not getting Kale Mar. So like what what what could they do? Where do you where could they go externally if it’s not this option for Anderson? Are there any names that are on a league that you’ve thought of potentially next year, next summer? Um I I haven’t I haven’t really looked that far ahead honestly. So, you know, but like I I think Raas Sanderson is is a solid option again without having like a full list in front of me. And again, you as I’ve said before, you have to be careful with those 2026 free agency list because a lot of those guys are not going to get there. A lot will even get signed right before free agency starts. Like we thought Dante Fabro might be an option this year. He signs what, the day before free agency starts. Like there’s always those. So I I think like if an opportunity presented itself where it’s like, hey, we can acquire Raasmus Anderson and he wants to sign an extension here, sometimes the grass isn’t always greener. Like you you might think like, oh, maybe we’d like to wait and see what else is out there. Well, then you get to next summer and it’s like, damn, kind of wish we had traded for Rasmus Anderson because boy, we don’t really like any of these options now. So, um, yeah, and look, Rasmos Anderson not a perfect player. Like there’s some lapses defensively there. Um, but he is a puck mover. He’s a good offensive defenseman. He could even be another power play option. Um, so there’s like I could see a pairing of him and Hampus Lindholm working pretty well. And that would be, you know, a little different look where obviously Ham Lyn has spent a lot of time with Brandon Carlo, a more defensive player and so that’s been a more defensive pair. I could maybe see Lindholm Anderson kind of like more opportunity for both to kind of get up and get involved on the play. So, um I I would be interested like I think you could when we talk about filling in that right side of the defense, I think you could do a lot worse on Rasmanderson as your number two. And to your point, you can’t rely externally on trades and free agency, but you also can’t rely on the prospect system right now because I don’t I don’t think that right now the Bruins have a defensive prospect on the right side that even has a top four ceiling any day right now. I mean, let alone in a time frame that matches up with, you know, some of their current current core players. So, I I think I think I would I would make this trade. I think that it’s I think that the ability to solve the unknown of a future long-term legit top four right shot defenseman would be worth giving up a final year of Pavle Zaka on a on a really good contract who by the way well I I guess it would be the final two years of of Zaka’s tenure in Boston but again if if if the Bruins don’t plan on signing Zaka beyond his current contract then it then then you know you’re just getting something for the inevitable anyway. And and I do think you would be solving your your your big question mark on the top four right side and you could trade Zaka and to our conversation earlier about not enough spots open in the top six for some of these players battling, right? It would open up an opportunity for a younger player and you do have a kid like Hagens coming up in the wings and you have some other young prospects too over the next couple of years and then you do have other trade options or free agency. So, I do think that you could you could replace Zaka far more easily than finding who the next top four shot defense will be behind Macka Boy. So, I I I would do this trade, I think. So, I’ll say too that Scott, the listener who sent this in, not Scott, our buddy Scott Mcgo right here, uh, emphasize that I mean, he’s aware that you’re you’re trading you’re the tradeoff is prioritizing the defensive side of things over over offense and and over the top six because what he said he’s he’s saying is I think they should stay focused on the decor to keep games close. Um, and basically also saying, “Hey, if that opens up a spot for a younger guy, then it opens up a spot for a younger guy and see see who takes it.” So, um, yeah, but also just the numbers game like like more top six forwards are would be available in a free agency class and top four defenseman. It’s just a numbers game. So, like when you’re talking about mapping out a positional need, top four right shot defenseman is more valuable. Then I would say whatever Zaka is certainly long term because you don’t have you don’t have the prospects and all those things. So like Anderson and Zaka player for player like in like a one-year snapshot. Yeah. It’s kind of like a wash like you’re gaining traction at one position, you’re losing another. But big picture it would be it would be it would be this this deal with an extension in place to Scott’s point would be beneficial for the Bruins for a combination of reasons. Yeah. And part of improving offensively though is having defenseman who can get involved and can help drive that. And like Raasmus Anderson, so only 31 points last year, but did score 11 goals, but you look at his seasons before that, 50 points, 49 points, 39 points. Like he’s just because like people might not watch the Calgary Flames much, like this is not a defenseman who’s a zero offensively. like this is someone who will contribute offensively and be involved. And yeah, it’s not a one forone replacement for like Pavlo Zaku who can get you 50 to 60 points, but it does upgrade what your back end can contribute offensively. All right. So, I guess good trade proposal because normally if we talk about it for an extended period of time, that means there’s a lot to consider and normally that means it’s a good a good offer rather than sometimes we look at it. Somebody sent us a McDavid trade proposal and we’re like, uh, all right. I don’t know. I don’t know how how we can answer this in in long form. But, for the record, I I like McDavid trade proposals in the summer when there’s nothing else to talk about. Like, just just just get crazy with it. Like, who who cares? like there’s not actually serious discussions happening. So, no, I mean we spent 10 minutes talking about like Taylor Swift and walk up songs and who knows and then we we we ended up talking about Tristan Cassus. I don’t know how but uh and Stranger Things. It’s Yeah, it’s August. We all know this. Uh but before before we wrap up, shout out to Ela Cavaleri who is leaving the who is leaving the Bruins. um has been just an absolute wizard on their social media accounts. Um be it Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, the whole thing. Um she’s a rock star and I don’t know where she’s going next, but she’s great at what she does. Um we I think I don’t know if you guys knew Elaine from like before, but yeah, I did going going way back like she used to work at EI. Um came up through there. So, um, I’ve known her for a long time. I was a guest. I was a guest on the Lucy and Elaine podcast a few times. So was I at one point and I’m glad that all of those episodes are scrubbed from the history of the internet. So yeah, I don’t think you can find those anymore, but but yeah, I was I was a guest on there a few times before she went over and started doing brew and stuff. So whenever I see her, I always we always end up having a nice conversation on the ninth floor. But yeah, I think she’s I I think she’s getting out of sports. So, um, unfortunately for the Bruins because she did a really good job with their social media. Just another organizational need the Bruins got to fill right head into the season. So, you got top six forward, top four defenseman, huh? Are you available maybe to They wouldn’t They wouldn’t want me handling their socials. I can tell you that much. He he’d be DMing all the people we said earlier about from the Bruins. They’re just like, “Brian, you have to post more players than just Morat who’s Nadino.” Like, “I’m sorry, but that’s your ninth post about Morat today.” Uh, Brian, I don’t Why Why is our Why is our team Twitter sending out a prompt about if we should fire Sweeney 10 games into the season? Listen, I’m just trying to create some buzz here on the team right now. We’ll do it. answer the poll. If if the poll comes up, you know, more a majority of people say do it, we’ll do it. Imagine if that’s how teams worked. Like they you put a prompt up and like the fans voted on it and you had to do what it said. Oh man. Yeah, that would be a nightmare for them. That’d be an absolute nightmare. Ryan, stop telling people we’re wearing the white jerseys at home. The NHL isn’t allowing us to do that. I like to think I’d make a few people chuckle if I was running the account, but it wouldn’t be good for business. That’s for sure. Um, all right. Well, that probably does it. Anything else left to talk about? I know Scott, you have a you have a you have to get to a meeting, so we can let you go. And we’ll be back Thursday. Um, it won’t be a tailor Thursday to Scott’s uh disdain, but I mean, it might listen, we haven’t settled on a theme yet. That’s true. That’s true. Um, all right. Thank you all very much for listening and we’ll talk to you soon. Hey guys, thanks for watching Escape Podcast. If you want to see more of our videos, visit our playlist. Not in front of a screen. You can listen to us on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on social media. And if you enjoyed this video, please don’t forget to give us a thumbs up, subscribe to our channel, and leave a comment.

We discuss three Bruins who have the most to lose if they have a bad training camp and preseason. Plus, we answer a few listener questions about Fraser Minten, Matt Poitras and a trade proposal that targets a right defenseman.

Follow us on Twitter: @TheSkatePod | @smclaughlin9 | @briandefelice_ | @bridgetteproulx | Email us at skatepod@weei.com

Leave your questions in the comments and we will answer as many as we can!

Jump to:
00:00 – Intro
13:00 – Hampus Lindholm skating at full pace
19:30 – Which young players have the most to lose this preseason?
37:00 – What does Beecher’s future look like with the Bruins?
41:00 – Mailbag starts: Why are people so high on Minten?
54:00 – Listener trade idea that targets a right defenseman

Intro: Jake Zimmer

Cover photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Uniform photos: NHL Bruins

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