Is It Time for James Hagens in Boston?
Brian DeFelice stops by to talk about the Boston Bruins dropping one to the Florida Panthers 2-1 after winning their last four games against strong opponents. Why do the Bruins continue to play due to non-playoff teams?
Riechel is barely seeing the ice now in Boston, so is it telling us that it’s time to see James Hagens in Boston?
The Bruins second line is one of the best lines in hockey and could be the reason for the Bruins’ success this season.
Is David Pastrnak a top-five forward in the NHL? We think so, and we’re going to tell you why.
All this and more on the latest episode of Bruins Diehards.
#nhl #nhlbruins #bostonbruins #bostonbruinsnews #jameshagens #davidpastrnak
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43 Comments
Is it time to call up Hagens?
Pasta is the turnover master on this team.
You should do a live pod.
I really think the Bruins have the best hockey podcasters. We really have an embarrassment of riches.
Court and Brian, gotta love it. 1 hour of awesome B's talk. If they lose another game or two it may very well be time for Hagens. I think this road trip will decide it. If the 3rd line with Reichel hits the dirt it's gotta be time. It's the absolute perfect spot for the B's to give him a shot. On the other hand if they win the next few i don't think they'll make any changes.
The rEichel🥀 experiment is over
Bring up Hagens
my 10th grader daughter is on her HS's girls baseball team
jackde1965 says it all for me. Great show, thanks for all you do 'hockey/baseball dad'.
The box score from the Florida game: Reichel 0 0 0 0 10 mins TOI. Jokiharju -2 Hamphus -2. They should have brought brunet up a month ago and Hagens should have had a look. The flyers brought up Martone. The Blackhawks brought up frondell. Sure, the Blackhawks are out of the playoffs, but the kid is ready to play.
Hagens, 4 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS , -1 . His goal was on a PP. Not exactly lighting it up. You had it right the first time, there is a huge leap from college to the NHL. Let him bake in the AHL this year. Allow him to grow. Forcing him into the lineup when the Bruins are fighting for a playoff spot could hurt both Hagens' growth and the Bruins' playoff chances. If anyone is called up it should be Poitras.
Incredible thumbnail. Thanks for having me on buddy 👍
Arvidsson, to me is the new Marchand. The Rat has been replaced by the Weasel.
He deserves two years.
Do you think the Bruins will hang on to their playoff spot?
I wasn’t sure it was worth bringing him up considering we’re where we are with the team we have. But I think you’re right that if we want to make a splash in the playoffs we have to energize that third line somehow. I also agree it’ll give him the best look at what NHL hockey is like and make him the tough as nails bruin that we want.
I do always worry about younger players coming into the playoffs because it can be so brutally physical and you’d hate to see a young guy get hurt because he isn’t ready. Probably more a knee jerk reaction than anything. After all pasta and McAvoy have gone through it survived 😂😂
Compare middlestadt to Taylor hall. Middlestadt will be trsded
At this point I think it’s maintaining his full ELC, they want to push his RFA status out so they save on cap. Not saying it’s right, but a GM would factor that in
Everyone hives lohrei such a hard time. I love the kid and his positives outweigh. Point it’s – jokiharu led to both goals in this game. Need lohrei back in and bring up hags for reichel, or put steeves back in!!
Great show fellas.
Walking the aisles of shoppers drug mart before the game last night. I spot an older fella rockin a Bruins spring season style coat.
We shot the shit for 10 minutes.
Mostly about Minten and the importance of the leafs first rounder. Pasta having a great year for production while the turn overs are an issue.
Looking over the last 5 games, Geekie has put up nearly all zeros .. is he injured?
That was a brutal loss. Gonna be tough to catch Montreal, and maybe even worse this increases the chances of the Leafs keeping their pick.
What a showcase ot elite goaltending last night. Only saw the clips of the game but it looks like Swayman got peppered a lot. Clear vibe of the Bruins: " you guys are defending Stanley Cup chsmps 2xs over. We are not worthy " To that theme, Pasta never plays elite and dictates his offense agsinst narly tough teams.
Hagens: Swerney is sending s terrible message to Hagens – you are not good enough to help us, we don't believe in your 200 ft game and are putting you at wing regardless of your play making skills behind both sides of the net because we are re-signing Zacha and Minteni is our # 1 center of the future.
If the Bs have a good run in the playoffs and Zacha and Arvidsson get re-signed and extended respectively, Sweeney should deal Hagens to Toronto for Matt Kneis and throw in Lohrei , if necessary . Hagens thinks he is elite like Berdard and Celebrini at the center spot and he is going to bail on Sweeney after his rookie deal is up.
The amount of stuff florida gets away in a game is astounding
Providence Bruins are bound for a deep deep run. Why would we want Hagens to miss out on that experience? Playoff experience and deep run in ahl is great pro experience. This year, the Bruins "might" surprise, but more likely are a first round out. Which is fine with me, we are running on house money this year. Lets not rush things. (Hagens has 1 goal, 1 assist, -1 in four games, nothing incredible in production. His game has been good.)
You sissies need to cuddle . Nothing worse than Boston sports media . I'm a Masshole from the Cape and its embarrassing.
geekie's not coring because he should be on the 1st line with Minten and Pasternak-big mistake-what is Sturm thinking?
After the loss, at least Florida hopefully wont get a top5 pick now!
I trust they handle the Arvi situation properly, he's done more than enough to prove his worth, and the team also talks about his energy in the locker room – which we also know is important. We need that drive for winning, and the line could potentially be the carry into 2nd round.
I feel like the lines are starting to come together, still with issues, but with fine tuning there's potential in there.
Bring Hagens up for the last few games and see what he can contribute on the 3rd line and power play.
Pasternak shouldn’t be on the point on the power play he makes too many lazy passes that get picked off, how many times last night did he give the puck up, he should be on the left side in place of Geekie. Hagen and Reichel aren’t making them cup contenders.
Geekie is gonna need to have a Happy Gilmore rant at the puck.
I would love to see Reichel/Hagens/Geekie, even tho Lindholm was scoring last few games❤
It sucked watching the let down against the Panthers, but loved seeing the fire in the third; it's been a long time since we could count on strong efforts in the third on the road. It's a good feeling when you EXPECT them to get that tying goal and it's been a minute since I've had that.
Sway was a rock and Geekie found his on switch. Zacha used to sneak onto the ice, quietly go about his competent 200 foot game, and then slide back onto the bench- not anymore! You notice him immediately- he flies onto the forecheck, he's danger incarnate on the rush, he shoots! He actually shoots- and when he misses the puck thunders off the boards- He is finally feeling it and it's so great to see a responsible 200 footer come alive like that.
Pasta is the TRUTH. I mean he's the Paul Pierce of the Bruins; he's chill AF and pulls off plays like a damn wizard, but then he looks like a noob and turns it over so badly its an immediate odd-man in the other direction. Both guys are all-timers though.
Good job Court. If Hagens is called up I'd be much more excited about the playoffs. I've always believed Swayman is the main reason for the Bruins being a playoff team but Hagens playing with Pasta would be epic. In '88 the Bruins brought up Janney and Joyce and it really boosted the team and helped them get to the finals but I'm doubting Sweeney would do it.
If Reichel hadn't come in & provided some spark to the 3rd line & or the Bruins had fallen out of a playoff spot, Hagans probably would have already been called up
I doubt it's about burning his ELC & more about ensuring he plays as much meaningful hockey this year as possible & at least initially, that path seemed to be in PVD
At this point Hagans probably only gets called up if they get an injury
As for Geekie, he's just shooter that does little else on the ice
To get the most out of him they need to play him with Pasta or Zacha
As they aren't going to disrupt the 2nd line, it seems putting him back with Pasta would be the way to go
As for the Bruins playoff chances
They are piss poor defensively at 5×5 & on the PK not to mention they've been a .500 or below road team all season
Without even talking about their good traits no one can look at those bad traits & not conclude that they're likely to struggle in the post season
The Bruins have also been incredibly lucky offensively as they are 22nd in 5×5 xGF and they're 27th & 28th respectively at 5×5 High Danger Shots & Medium Danger shots
This means for a team that sits actually 6th in total 5×5 goals scored, they haven't just been lucky….
They've had powerball level luck in terms of their 5×5 goal scoring as they are essentially a bottom 5 team in terms of 5×5 chance & shot generation
Bad defense
Bad PK
Bad road team
Incredibly lucky 5×5 offense that's 100% backed up by advanced stats
Elite goalie in Jeremy Swayman who is having a Vezina worthy season
An above average powerplay that's struggled a bit post Olympics
Not sure the Powerplay & Swayman will be enough to carry the day in the playoffs
Have the Bruins been any better defensively post Olympics?
Um, nope
PK has dipped to 27th
28th xGA
26th HDCA
Post Olympics losses to SJ NJ TOR PHI NSH & FLA
Folks also seem to be clamoring for CAR or BUF in the 1st round but the reality is, Boston has struggled big time with the speed and skill teams that can skate & score them into the dirt, even the teams with poor goaltending & who are also poor defensively
That's why teams like NJ VAN TOR SJ and other speed/skill teams that stink defensively & or who have poor goaltending have given Boston fits all year
Look how Boston recently handled MIN & DAL. Two teams that are talented but more big, physical, defense & goaltending teams like Boston is
Boston controlled those two games
Then look at win in DET where DET out skated them for two periods and clowned them 14-5 in High Danger Chances or the loss vs SJ where they got skated around in circles for 60 minutes
BOS would be better served getting Tampa in the first round & or avoiding any of the high end speed & skill teams like CAR BUF & MTL
They won't be able to to skate or keep up scoring with those teams & their only hope would be Swayman stealing games and series
Which quite frankly, is really Boston's only hope in the playoffs really anyway…
That is Jeremy Swayman going nuclear because outside of that, Boston's chances of advancing very far this post season seem limited at best
Especially considering again the Bruins have not only been incredibly lucky offensively at 5×5, they've probably had their luckiest 5×5 scoring season in franchise history
It seems foolhardy to expect that kind of luck to continue in the post season either
Boston is 6th in 5×5 Goals For overall but the luck they've had this year has been astonishing
xGF
22nd
Goals For Above X
3rd
Goal Differential Above X
1st
X Goal Differential per60
27th
High Danger Shots For
22nd
Medium Danger Shots For
25th
Again, this is probably Boston's luckiest 5×5 offensive year ever!
I think you two might be my favorite Podcast duo in sports
lol changed your mind on arvi eh? lol i been telling you , but then again who am i
Nice your daughter wants to ply baseball… careful what you say at the field.. I said "If you need anything let me know" as I was walking away after dropping my daughter off, and (totally did not mean it) and ended up as a coach. But it is actually fun as they figure out team work.. it almost really compels teamwork – but at a slower pace. It is awesome and you will really get into it.
As for Hagens, I think if the pro contract is already kind of started, they may as well show him a little of the high pace of playoff race. I recall Marchand sort of came in this way.. "Champians!"
Thank God we don't have to see Florida until next year because they have the Bruins number. Panthers have dominated the B's going back a year and a half now. 👏🏼
Great conversation as always guys! Before making a decision, I want to see how the next 3 games go for the Bruins. See how they play right now with this line up against Tampa and Carolina since those are two teams they could be playing against in the first round. Then revisit the Hagens decision. Would get to see how Hagens plays in a few more games as well. Right now, I still lean towards Hagens staying down in PVD for a long playoff run, but I do agree that this 3rd line and Geekie could use some help. I do wonder if they sit Reichel for a game and put Steeves in there to see how he does after watching from the 9th floor. Geekie has played a lot with Poitras in the past and had success with him, but in order to do that you would have to move the 7 million dollar center to wing (though he could still take face-offs) and I doubt the B's are willing to do that.
How to get Geekie scoring goals again?
Question. If the Leafs were to finish with say the 7th worst record, but due to the lottery they end up picking 4th, will the Bruins get that pick?
when court does these interview shows, he sounds like he's on 3 espressos compared to his prerecorded videos. gotta listen to these at half-speed… haha
I want to see him play this year, but I'm not certain its actually the best decision.
I think that the Panthers goalie had a specular game as did Swayman. Florida got a few bounces in their favor and that was the difference. I am not really worried and hope they bounce back.