The PuckUps Podcast with Brian DeFelice, Ep. 38: Which Bruins players are UNTOUCHABLE?

Brian discusses the Bruins signing Lukas Reichel to a one year contract extension, Charlie McAvoy's 6-game suspension to start next season, and answers listener's comments and questions in a mailbag segment. 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:01

You're listening to the Puck Ups Podcast. It's time to hit the ice with Brian D Felice. Welcome into episode 38 of the Puck Ups Podcast. I am Brian D. Felice and thank you all for joining me. On today's show, we're going to touch on the Boston Bruins' most recent signing, the suspension handed down to Charlie McAvoy, and we'll finish off with questions and comments from you, the listeners. But first things first, if you haven't done so already, please go ahead and subscribe to the puck ups on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else that you get your podcast. And to get in touch with me or be a part of the show, you can email me info at thepuckups.com. You can tweet at me on X at Brian D Fleece underscore. You can tweet at the show at the puck ups or leave a comment on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, anywhere the show has a social media account and post content. Now before hopping into the Charlie McAvoy conversation and our listener QA, we have to start off with the most recent Boston Bruins signing. On Thursday, they extended forward Lucas Reichel, who was an RFA, to a one-year extension through the 26-27 season at a cap hit of $950,000. How do you feel about the deal? In a vacuum? I like it. And here's why. Reichel has youth, he has speed, and he has skill. Is he raw? Yes. Is he a proven commodity? Is he a guaranteed part of the Boston Bruins' long-term future? No. And no. That's going to be on the player to prove himself next season. But the Bruins took a flyer on Reichel this past year, sending a sixth-round draft pick to Vancouver for what is, let's call it, a classic reclamation project. Now, I don't know if Reichel pans out in Boston. However, a one-year extension for under a million dollars. I have no issue with that term and that dollar amount. It's not enough time to really see what the Bruins have in him. Obviously, Reichel has bounced around now from Chicago to Vancouver now to Boston. And he's only 23 years old, I think. So he's bounced around a little bit, and teams, you know, they've had a short leash with him. So we'll see. I don't I don't dislike the deal. I don't dislike the player or the potential. Obviously, he has some proving to do. But if the Bruins are gonna take a chance on a player, I would rather that player be one that has youth, speed, and skill. And Reichel has all those things. If he doesn't pan out, well, it's a short commitment and it's short money. Okay, but hopefully, we'll see. Hopefully, he pans out. And like I said, if not, it's not the end of the world. I will say, the Bruins entered this offseason only with four players from last year, not under contract. Reichel is one of them. Okay, he was an RFA no longer, right? Now he's under contract. Jordan Harris, still without a deal. RFA. Andrew Peak, UFA. Victor Arvidsson, UFA. And a lot of people out there want the Bruins to re-sign Victor Arvidson. So if you bring back Arvidsson, you just brought back Reichel. What exactly is changing with this roster? You have too many guys under contract. So I have felt all along this summer that the Bruins are going to try to move some contracts that currently have term on their roster. And somebody online mentioned to me with in terms of Reichel that there are some expiring contracts in Providence, and Reichel may be an up and down type of player, so he might not really be hamstringing the Bruins NHL roster in terms of contracts. And you know, that's fair. I'm not very privy to all the details about how that works. So sure. I mean, if you're telling me that there are Providence Bruins on expiring contracts and Reichel's going to be in Providence for much of next year, then okay. Uh same time, I would also say you'd rather Reichel be somebody that is on the NHL roster because of his speed and skill and and youth. But again, if the player's maturity isn't there, then yeah, I guess he'd have to go back down to Providence, but we'll see with that. But in any event, I I just feel like the Bruins are going to be moving moving contracts. I I I'm going to do an episode on it, I think, next week. So I'll I'll tease it and I won't go into too much, but there are about five, six, seven players that I have circled in my mind as players that the Bruins are probably going to try to shop. And then there's a couple other players, there's a bit of a different category where there's contracts the Bruins can move for different reasons, right? Maybe maybe a contract, maybe a certain player has a ton of trade value and they try to explore that. Or maybe somebody's a an anchor of a contract. I think we all know who I'm talking about there. And they could, if they could, they would move that, but I don't think that's realistic. But there are about five or six names I have circled this offseason where I think they're movable contracts. And I think the Bruins are going to try to explore moving said contracts for one reason or the other to try to gain some roster flexibility and provide some room for younger players to take uh bigger steps going forward. So, in a vacuum, I like the Lucas Reichel deal because it's short money, it's a short commitment, and it's a player with youth, speed, and skill. And so worth it to me. Um, and we'll see how that pans out. Let's move along now to the other Boston Bruins news that came out this week, and that is Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy being suspended six games by the NHL's Department of Players Safety for his two-handed Paul Bunyan chop job on Zach Benson in the dying minutes of game six against the Buffalo Sabres. Before we get into the commentary on it, let's first listen to the ruling and the audio and video that the NHL Department of Players Safety put out regarding this play by Charlie McAvoy and why he was penalized six games.

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As the video shows, late in the game with the score out of reach and the Bruins about to be eliminated from the playoffs, Benson trips McAvoy on an icing play, a dangerous trip for which he is penalized. After the whistle, McAvoy gets to his feet and pursues Benson to deliver some retribution. He charges towards Benson, who is skating in the other direction, chokes up, raises his stick over his head with both hands, and swings his stick violently at Benson, striking him in the arm. This is slashing. All parties agree that this is an intentional and forceful strike delivered to an opponent's body specifically for the purpose of retribution and message sending. It is important to note that players are not excused from illegal acts just because of a prior foul by an opponent. McAvoy has been suspended twice and fined once during his 573-game NHL career. The Department of Player Safety has suspended Charlie McAvoy for six regular season games.

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There you have it. Six regular season games for Charlie McAvoy. So the Boston Bruins will be starting next year without their top defenseman in the lineup for the first half a month of the year, right? So not ideal. Not ideal for the Boston Bruins. That was a costly, costly mental mistake by Charlie McAvoy, whose wires crossed, and understandably so, right? Zach Benson, I mentioned it before the series began against the Buffalo Sabres. As a Boston Bruins fans, if you haven't heard of Zach Benson before or you haven't watched him play, you'll know who he is by the end of this series because he'll be a thorn in the side of the Boston Bruins and their fans. He's cut from the same cloth. I'm not comparing him to Brad Marshan in terms of what his ultimate career will be, but he's cut from the same cloth as Brad Marshan. Undersized forward, tons of skill, great skater, but can really get under your skin. And we all saw Brad for years here in Boston, especially in his earlier years. He tended to cross the line a little bit, and then he toned it down later on in his career when he got enough suspensions and whatnot. Zach Benson, maybe he'll get to the point where he's toning it down too, but until he gets those slaps on the wrist, he'll probably continue to do what he's doing, which is being a very effective pest. And you know, young skilled forward. Which is probably why some people are kind of confused about this play, because maybe they thought that aside from McAvoy and his suspension, which was deserved, like no doubt about it. You want to give McAvoy four games for that, five games for that, six games for that. I don't really care. I mean, I know it's subjective, and people are saying, oh, it's too many games, one one game too many, two games too many. Either way, it's a multi-multi-game suspension. Um, whether it's four, five, six, or seven games. Like he McAvoy deserved it. I think what people are annoyed about is the fact that Benson's slew foot on McAvoy was I'm not gonna say as dangerous because they're two different plays, but it's certainly dangerous. The audio even said as much in the clip I just played where they deemed Benson's dangerous trip that would that was penalized. They made sure to say it was penalized in the play. Um, not suspension worthy, but hey, he got a trip. So hey, don't look at us. RF's called it on the ice trip. But people obviously felt like Benson should have gotten some sort of supplemental discipline for that slew foot. I mean, sure, like I mean, uh at the end of the day, Benson getting a game or two or three, it doesn't change the Bruins' fortunes to start next year. I mean, I I understand it makes people lose faith in the process of the Department of Player Safety, which they've been getting it wrong for years. It's nothing new. I don't I don't think that when it comes to the Department of Player Safety and officiating on the ice that hockey fans are ever going to be satisfied with the product that they're seeing, and it is what it is. I mean, it's that's always been the case, but there's no doubt Benson got away with what could have been a minor suspension. I don't I don't think Benson deserved anything crazy beyond maybe a couple of games worse case. But either way, even if he did get those games, how how does that change the Bruins going forward next year? They're still without McAvoy, and they still would have been without McAvoy. So Benson suspension or not, McAvoy deservedly got suspended for what he did. And let's be honest, that was a moment of of weakness by Charlie. I mean, I don't know why he didn't just go up to Benson and drop the gloves and fight him or try to fight him. I mean, to do the Paul Bunyan axe is just it was clearly short-sighted by McAvoy because that's a suspension all day, every day. And now the Boston Bruins go into next year without their top defenseman for six games. So not great. That's basically how I feel about the situation. Like McAvoy's suspension was deserved. Call it what you want: four games, five games, six games, seven games. I don't really care. I mean, he should have gotten a hefty suspension, which he did. And you know, the video spoke to Charlie is a repeat defender, not that exact play, but he's been suspended twice before. He's been fined, he has a history. So you can say what you want about McAvoy getting elbowed in the face by um Vilmanis of Florida right before the Olympics, and how that was missed and should have been suspended. I agree. It was missed and it should have been suspended. You can talk about Benson getting away with a bit of a slew foot and should have been suspended for maybe a game or two or whatever. I don't disagree with that either. Sure, there's inconsistencies with the NHL Department of Player Safety. The sky is also blue, right? Um, so those things are true. McAvoy's gotten the short end of the stick in terms of being on the other side of dirty plays that intentional or not, like the Vilmanus one. I don't know if that was malicious or intended to be a headshot, but it was, right? The result was a headshot. The Benson one clearly had some intent behind it. Doesn't excuse McAvoy's two previous suspensions, his previous fine, and what's now his third suspension. So it is what it is. I think it's a story that's gonna die down now that McAvoy's officially been suspended. So oh well, it is what it is. Let's move along now to the mailbag segment of this show. Thank you all very much for always reaching out to me on Twitter, uh, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, email. Um, I see all of your comments always. The support for the podcast has been great so far, too. Uh, I appreciate the the kind words and uh and your comments and questions. So um I tried to grab I think maybe 10 or 10 or 11 of these, maybe 12, and we'll just try to go through them and and uh hear what you all have to say. So starting off, we have Marshan Fan63, says Brian Greypod. Love the last episode. I'm not sure when this was from, but he says, what does it take to get Matthews? Ooh, okay. He's talking about Austin Matthews. He says, Patra, Elias Lindholm, 2028 first from Toronto, Laura and Hagen's question mark. All right, so off the bat, I'll just say this. I have never been one to be talented in terms of giving you mock trades that are accurate or realistic. So I'm not the person to come to from that. Uh, I I don't I don't really know. I really don't know. Um, this question in particular, uh Austin Matthews. I, you know, obviously there was a bit of a story the morning of the draft lottery where Chris Johnson of the Athletic had an article saying that Matthews informed the Maple Leafs that he's not sure if he's coming back to the Leafs next fall, unless he you know hears that there's a good plan in place that he can get behind and and how they're gonna improve the roster significantly in in different areas. And and there was a nearly 60% chance the Bruins were getting Toronto's first round pick, a top 10 pick when that story came out, and then that night things kind of changed. We all know Toronto wins a draft lottery, they're expected to draft possibly Gavin McKenna. So, did that buy the Maple Leafs a little bit more time with Austin Matthews? Maybe, or maybe Matthews still wants out. Elliott Friedman came out on 32 Thoughts the following day after the draft lottery and said nothing's changed. Matthews still wants to hear uh a very, very convincing plan of attack this offseason by the Maple Leafs about how they're gonna improve the roster the way he he wants them to, or else maybe he'll walk or he'll you know demand a trade. Not walk, but demand a trade. You don't want that, you don't want a captain who wants out of your city, out of your team, when you have a first-round draft pick in the room either. That's not exactly a great culture set. So anyway, I I'm the Matthews thing is curious to me. I don't I don't think he's gonna be in Toronto long term, whether or not it's to start next year or something happens throughout the course of the season where it's kind of like a Quinn Hughes situation, Quinn Hughes 2.0 where he's just miserable and and essentially is just demanding a trade. So we'll see. But as it pertains to this question from Marsh and Fan63, hope you're doing well in Florida, by the way, Marsh. But yeah, I I I don't I don't think I don't think anybody's taken Elias Lindholm. I can tell you that much. Uh Lynnholm's back issues, his age, his contract, his no movement. First of all, that's that's the first problem. Here is he Elias would have to agree to go to Toronto, which I just I don't know if he would do that. Um, so yeah, I don't I don't this this trade right here. Uh I just I just don't think it's really uh anything that would ever happen. And yeah, Elias Lindholm, I think, is probably a a non-starter if you're Toronto. But then again, you never know. Maybe they'd want to resurrect uh you know him maybe in Toronto and whatnot. But ultimately, I don't think, yeah, I just I don't know. I don't know how to again, I'm I'm not good at these things. So I just see Elias Lindholm's name and I and I I I say no one's gonna really want that contract, especially for Austin Matthews, right? So obviously the prize here is Hagan's and a 28 first from Toronto, which you know who knows what that will be in a couple of years. Patra, Laurae, good good pieces, but yeah, uh, and honestly, uh from a Bruins perspective, I mean what yeah, I don't know, whatever. All right, let's move along to the to the next question here. We have um ad name here on Twitter. Well, let's call you uh let's call you Simon, huh? Let's call you Simon. Simon says, Brian, I'm inclined to put this poor defense on a lack of true leadership within the players. The coaches likely pointed out over and over what needed to be fixed, but there was never a buy-in, no commitment from players to fix the details. They don't have a captain. Hmm. They don't have a captain. Well, you raise a point that has been pretty subjective among fans and media alike the last little while. I think that video of David Pasternak on Behind the B, where he was just giving it to his teammates verbally after the first period of game four against Buffalo, where is truly the worst playoff game I've ever seen the Bruins play, and that first period alone was probably the worst period, the worst period of hockey I've ever seen the Bruins play. Um that kind of struck me and and many others as a moment of leadership from Pasternak. Charlie McAvoy, all the while was quiet. Now, it was one clip. Maybe there's other times where McAvoy is very vocal, but I I I think right now, if you had to give people truth serum in that room, I think David Pasternak is the Bruins captain with or without the C currently. Um, but to your point, I'm inclined to put this poor defense and a lack of true leadership within the players. I mean, I don't know. I mean, maybe a little bit. I mean, I don't know. This team, this team overachieved from a results perspective all year. Now, we've talked about it in recent episodes that the Bruins their uh shots against were among the most given up in the league, their high danger chances against were some of the most in the league, their high danger chances four were some of the worst in the league. So their their expected goal differential was minus 30. Their goal differential in all reality, I think was plus 22. So from a results perspective, this team that nobody believed in rallied and made the playoffs and got 100 points. I don't think you do that with poor leadership. I just don't. Now, the flip side is all those numbers I said, which is their expected goal differential being minus 30 and their chances for and against being lopsided. Okay, so that speaks to the process. But I think that they struggled generating chances for and they gave up a lot of chances against because of a lack of talent, more so than a lack of leadership. I I I just think that the Bruins played a they played a defensive style of a hybrid man on man versus and zone. And I just think that they struggled in man on man. And I think that teams play a defensive style of hockey when they lack speed and skill. When you can't take the game to your oppositions on a nightly basis, you kind of you you you try to cave in and you and you try to. play a bend but don't break style of hockey. So I think that that's why the Bruins gave up so many chances and that's why they created so few because they didn't have the skill the the the speed and the skill and the talent to to overwhelm oppositions. So was that a is that a leadership issue at times I think I think the Bruins had some leadership issues in the playoffs for sure. I mean there were definitely key moments in in that Sabres series where the Bruins just couldn't stop the bleeding and you and nobody stepped up. So I think that's valid. But from a macro perspective I don't know I mean David Pashnak had 100 points like for the fourth straight year he's doing what he's supposed to be doing offensively. Is it his fault that you know the rest of the team around him kind of lacks in in talent I think I I have a hard time looking at Pashnak and saying he's not being a captain. He's he's pulling his weight right Charlie McAvoy had a had a really bad playoffs in my opinion and in the opinion of many but in the regular season he had his most productive offensive career uh year of his career arguably you know his best overall year of his career he took steps in the power play he dealt with a lot of personal injuries you know I don't know about you guys I would not want to take a uh 85 mile an hour slap shot to the jaw and and see my teeth and and blood spread spread all over the uh Montreal ice back in November right we know what he dealt with with the shoulder the year before and you know so I I I think it's more to do with the lack of talent than it is uh a lack of leadership I'm not saying that the leadership can't be better but I don't know man I I think I that that's that's my two cents is is McAvoy or Pasternak an alpha captain no I don't think so so to your point there I I understand what you're saying but again they need more they need more speed they need more skill they need more talent and could they use more leadership consistently sure but I think the first two things I mentioned are are the Bruins biggest issues all right let's move along here to seven year Chris Stitch yeah on on theme here uh McAvoy is good but not great he's shown time and again in the postseason that he's not a true shutdown guy opponents best forwards have no problem solving him yeah I mean I can't I can't argue the postseason element of it I I don't think McAvoy's been great in in postseasons past now dating back I'd say the the Bruins last three at least their last three postseason runs if not four uh he's left me wanting more right I mean this past year against Buffalo obviously was not great for McAvoy so chalk that one up as a loss the last postseason run before that they they beat Toronto in round one in the centennial season and then they lost to Florida in the second round I thought McAvoy was okay in that in that run I thought the that Bruins team was just completely overmatched by by Florida and and even against Toronto Toronto had way more uh skill in their in their lineup that year than the Bruins did but somehow someway the Bruins you know without a true number one or number two center that year I mean Pavel Zacca Charlie Coyle you know they they played well and and they played above their skis but that Bruins team that was a that was a money ball type Bruins team that year that that uh in the centennial year post Bergeron post creachy no Taylor Hall who who who got traded that offseason um Tyler Bertuzzi left in free agency Nick Felino left even though he was more of a role player um you know Dmitry Orloff Garnet Hathaway guys he brought into the deadline the year before they were gone so that Bruins team they they were overmatched I don't I don't know if I blame Charlie McAvoy in the centennial year for not getting past Florida or you know I mean that that Bruins team was they weren't very good if we're being honest. I know they were a top 10 team in the regular season I think based on points but that team was not that great on paper. The year before the centennial or the the record breaking year yeah absolutely put Charlie up there with everybody who who should have egg on their face for losing that series up three games to one you know Charlie has his moments in the postseason where he steps up and crushes a guy but yeah I don't I there's no excuse that's that that record breaking year where they collapsed to Florida. There just wasn't Charlie was absolutely outplayed by some of the players in Florida um Brandon Montour Aaron Eckblad Gustav Forzling like those guys those guys are the best defensemen in that series Charlie McIlvoy was nowhere to be seen. If we if you were ranking your top five defensemen in that series probably yeah I mean Brandon Montour number one Gustav Forzling number two Eckblad three um you know I thought goodas was effective in that series for Florida I thought Dmitry Orloff was decent for Boston in that series but I mean McAvoy was yeah he's just I don't know so that was that year the year before that was against Carolina where the Bruins lost in the first round to Carolina in in game seven uh I thought McAvoy again I I thought Carolina was the I thought they were the kind of the better team um McAvoy had that big hit on Sebastian Aho but besides that kind of forgettable of a series for him the run before that they beat the Capitals uh in round one the year after the COVID struck and then so you know he was okay in that series and then they lost to the Islanders in round two where McAvoy and everybody else kind of got bullied around and they lost in what five or six games I think McAvoy had one goal in that series so okay but wasn't great there. Uh the run before that was the bubble the the COVID bubble he had a great hit on on Jordan Stahl in round one against Carolina. That Bruins team they won a president's trophy when the league got shut down and then they just got completely outmatched out you know outperformed by Tampa Bay in the bubble. They just weren't ready to go the year before that was the was the the cup final so yeah I mean listen not to go on a rant here about you know all of Charlie's runs but uh I would say in Charlie's first two years he was very good in the postseason uh his first three years hit because the first NHL hockey he ever played was in the playoffs back in 2017 and he came onto the scene and we were all wildly impressed so the year against Ottawa check plus a plus for Charlie that year despite the Bruins losing in round one the the following year they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in round two they beat Toronto in round one I thought Charlie had a good um he had a he had a good playoff run that year as uh in his first full season he was effective against Toronto in shutting down Matthews he was good against Tampa Bay even though there was that one play where Kucharov kind of hooked McAvoy behind the net and it led to a one-timer goal by Stamkos again it was a missed call but that's kind of memorable and then the year later they go on the cup run he was very good you know you can everybody can take blame for the loss against the Blues but you had to get there right so yeah uh Charlie McAvoy good but not great certainly in the postseason you can say that in the regular season he's been underwhelming in in some recent years with some injuries but I do think he was very good in the regular season this past year. We'll see what next year brings. Thanks to the question there seven year Christic hoping I didn't ramble too much on that one but yeah when you bring up Charlie McAvoy he is kind of polarizing because when he first came into the league he he was just he was the he was the the Bruins most talented defenseman since Ray Bork. I mean I know you can sit Chara was a different type of player but Chara Chara's raw skill wasn't that of a McAvoy like McAvoy's raw skating ability and and puck handling and and his hockey sense like Chara was the greatest of all one of the greatest of all time because he understood how to utilize his his body and what he knew what his strengths were and what his weaknesses were. But he was a very if if anybody saw Char back in the 90s playing with the low lock monsters or his time with the Islanders Chara was very raw and even with the senators and the Bruins at times like he had to find his way Charlie had Charlie I think had the most skill out of a Bruins defenseman probably since since Ray Bork. And then I don't know he's just kind of plateaued at different times and again this past year in the regular season was good for him and he won an Olympic gold medal with team USA but Charlie's kind of left people um hoping for more at times I guess I'll put it that way um this is from Mike 8099M on YouTube. He says I would take Dorofiev in a heartbeat he's a super clutch and he's a shooter. Yeah so this is from an episode recently with uh Shukree rights Shukree brought up the idea of the Bruins going out there and offer sheeting uh Pavel Dorofe from the Vegas Golden Knights yeah young player great shooter great scorer uh Vegas does have some cap issues going forward so I agree I would take Dorothyv in a heartbeat as well this is puck picks on YouTube I've stopped taking these press conference things seriously it's just posturing and politics words are cheap let's see what kind of action takes place this offseason yeah puck picks I agree I mean he's referring to the or she is referring to the Bruins um ownership brass management brass and their their end of season press conference and and yeah I mean I would agree most of it's posturing and politics but you have to have them you have to ask the questions they have to answer the questions and we had an episode breaking down some of the answers and takeaways from that episode or from that that press conference and uh puck picks commented in response to that and I would agree uh talk is cheap action action speaks louder than words and we'll see what the Bruins do this offseason it's a big one for for Don Sweeney and the Bruins. CJ on YouTube I want Sweeney to go all in and get Robert Thomas I don't think you waited out otherwise you were going to basically have the same team as last year. Enough of the endless fourth line signings with players that are on their way out of the league. Bring up Frederick Brunei Matt Patra if they're not traded for Thomas or a right handed defenseman curious to see what St. Louis would want in return especially since Montgomery has insights on most of the Bruins roster. I think Darren Radish ends up in San Jose Lindholm needs to get to LTIR ASAP don't let him take up a roster space before the season starts otherwise you're scrambling to find a last minute replacement and screwing up the chemistry of your lines you don't want to find you traded Patra and then need him at 1C or need him at center yeah I mean I don't think that uh I don't think that Elias and home is is going anywhere right now to be honest with you CJ we'll see maybe I'm wrong but as far as all the stuff you said uh up front yeah I mean going all in for Robert Thomas is interesting. Uh if that costs you James Higgins are you doing it I I I'm I don't like I don't like the idea of moving on from Higgins there's something about moving on from him I just do not like it. I like Robert Thomas a lot I would give up pretty much everything else besides Higgins to get Robert Thomas um I just I speed kills James Higgins has speed the kid has speed he can skate like the wind he can survey the ice very very well can make plays at a high level I just if you can if you can get Robert Thomas without giving up Haggins I know it's kind of like having your cake and eating it too but I don't know I think Dean Laterno is going to be a hell of a prospect too like hell of a I think Laterno could be um a very very very good NHL player because there aren't many guys with his size and skill and you're starting to see Laterno figuring out how to utilize his size um at BC this past year. So we'll see I'm not saying that Dean Laterno is going to be the next Tage Thompson but you could easily see Dean Laterno being a a very difficult player to to move away from the front of the net he's he's got great skill he's he he's lengthy he's got reach he can he uh I don't know Laterno could be a very valuable trade chip if the Bruins wanted to try to get a Robert Thomas um but I don't know if I see Robert Thomas going anywhere. I just St. Louis has a lot of draft picks he had a great end of the year with them I I I don't think he's going anywhere. I really don't I really don't but we'll see what happens with that thanks for the question CJ let's go to Donald on YouTube. Donald says you have to understand the Bruins need young high-end talent that means you trade Pashtenak who is 30 now and will never bring the Bruins the cup I would trade Pashtenak to San Jose for the second overall pick and Michael Misa. You get that package and now you have the Bruins as a young exciting team and think of a team having Misa Hagens Minton and Verhoff with the second pick so Donald I mean I I appreciate the the bold take and and honestly the creativity I I mean that that is the type of big time hockey trade that you know that you you you you once once in a blue moon you see um I I think honestly it would take more than misa in the second overall pick the the Bruins would have to get something else from San Jose for what is a bona fide top five forward in the NHL. So you though those types of players I think you'd have to get more from San Jose for the for for Paschenak. But either way if you trade David Paschenak and you know to Donald's credit here he he he says that he doesn't think that Pashtenak will ever bring the Bruins a Stanley Cup so if you're if you're of the same mindset as Donald if you're don sweeney and Cam Neely if you don't believe in David Pasternak then yeah I mean he then you might as well move him um I don't think the Bruins think the way that Donald's thinking I don't think that a lot of Bruins fans probably think the way that Donald's thinking here although again like to Donald's credit he doesn't think Pasternak's going to bring him a cup. If that's the case then yeah yeah try to get the biggest haul you can for him because the reality is if you do trade David Pasternak you your hopes of winning a Stanley Cup or at least contending for one in the next 10 years I think they're gone. They're gone like you know you you could possibly trade Pasternak and bring in a Misa and a second overall pick whether it's Verhoff or uh Stenberg or McKenna if he fell or um Reed or any I mean whomever like whoever whoever gets selected number two overall in that situation yeah you add them to Haggins and Minton and Laterno and Zellers and Husadinoff if you want like sure sure but uh you know you you wouldn't be relevant for for at least three four five seasons of terms of a team that could probably maybe make the playoffs let alone contend for a Stanley Cup so just know that right just know that if you're trading Pashnak your your your hopes of contending for a Stanley Cup you you just push them out at least probably six seven seasons at least at least so you though those those scores don't grow on trees I I I don't I don't know why right now you still can't have Pashnak with with a young core coming up soon. In fact you can you can like the Bruins don't have to get that desperate right now you can win a sailing cup with David Pashnak it he he needs more round him so the Bruins need to get creative and I do think they have to get bold at certain areas but if you trade David say goodbye to any hopes of winning the cup or contending for the cup in the next 10 years I think and you know what if you take that gamble and you win a cup in 12 years or whatever and that and and that's worth it to you because you think that winning a cup in 12 years from now is better than never never winning a cup at all which in theory that's true um you go for it but yeah I just don't think the Bruins feel the same way as you Donald that they'll never win a cup with with with Pashnak or I just don't I don't think they feel that way. But like I said I I appreciate the outside the box thinking and uh and yeah let's move along to Bruno Buck on YouTube. Bruno says great conversation with Mr. Wrights that's in reference to the episode with Shukri I don't like giving up prospects for winning now mode. We keep doing that and it's not working. The best year was 2023 and we didn't win despite being loaded in all four lines and between the pipes we need to plan midterm and that involves the farm and being bold to bring up young fast elite talent that we already have instead of trying to Frankenstein them into Patrice Berger on 2.0 keep the identity grit hard to play but add to it speed talent giving up Hagan's Laterno Zellers etc in a trade is crazy Bruno I think that I feel the same way ultimately I really do the the the one thing the one player that really challenges me with this is Robert Thomas. And I again I don't think Thomas is going anywhere but Robert Thomas is a legit 26 27 year old first line center in the National Hockey League that right now would would line up with with the core uh or the the prime of your core players like Pashenak and McAvoy and Swayman and and others right Zaka Geeky um you know Zodoroff like whatever so that's the one that kind of trips me up a little bit because of his position like Jason Robertson Brady Kachuk I know people love those guys too but the Robert Thomas the difference for me is his position to have that true number one center right now is is instrumental. And I do think I might give up some of those prospects that you mentioned probably outside of Haggins for for Thomas. Now there might be a lot of you who would give up Haggins for Thomas or I don't know but you have if you were to get somebody like Thomas you have to give to get quite frankly but outside of him I'm with you I'm with you I I think that you just let let the youth movement keep going on here and stop selling the farm stop selling all these prospects training all these prospects for for when the Bruins not in win now mode right now basically and that's that sucks to hear for David Pasternak and for Charlie McAvoy who feel like that they're approaching the back nine of their careers they're at the turn getting hot dogs but guess what as Don Sweeney said in the press conference to end the year Patrice Bergeron Susan Chara Brad Marshan David Craichy though those guys they had to take a risk on on the young players like Charlie McAvoy and David Pashnak and others being effective players and helping them when they were in the back nine of their career so the Bruins have been very competitive for 99% of David Pashnak's tenure over a decade now and they're gonna continue to be competitive but you you can't expect to be a Stanley Cup contender for 20 straight years. I think patience is important here but I question how much patience the Bruins will have I just do. We'll see we'll see this question is from Lil Chips 999 is James Haggins untouchable in your opinion if you can get Robert Thomas or any other legit long term core player but had to give up Haggins would you in my opinion it's pretty close to untouchable yeah I mean I'm with you man I I I I there's something about Hagg's youth he's only 19 years old even a guy like Robert Thomas it's it Yeah, Thomas is 27 to start next year. And yes, he fits the prime of Pashtanak and McAvoy, but there is there is a there is an eight-year gap there between him and Higgins. Like I I I think I'm with you. It's tough to call anybody untouchable. Uh depending, you know, like who we do are we talking to Robert Thomas? We talking Connor McDavid or Leon Dreisidel, right? Like, you know, it it really depends on what we're talking about. If we're talking Robert Thomas, which is what your question says, I I I'm uh man, it's tough. It's tough because if if if Higgins did go the other way and you bring in Robert Thomas, you know, do you keep a Laterno and a Zellers in the process? I I I think James Higgins is untouchable for me in a Robert Thomas deal. I I I think I've come around to that. I I don't think Rob Yeah, I don't know. That that that's that's my that's my answer. It's tough. It's really tough. I don't want to ramble, but I'm gonna I'm gonna say, yeah, Higgins is pretty much untouchable for me uh in a trade for Robert Thomas. So I don't know, maybe I'd regret that, but that's my answer. I'm sticking to it. Adrian on YouTube loved how honest and to the point the show was. Always great having Court's perspective and knowledge. So this is after the episode with Court Lalonda, Bruins Die Hards. Shout out Court. Um, that episode was fun, fun episode. Court uh did not make a lot of friends uh among Maple Leafs fans with that episode. But um if you enjoyed uh Court on this show, uh he'll definitely be back. He'll be among um my most re recurring guests, I would say. That's a safe bet. So um thanks for listening. And yeah, Court's great. James on YouTube, your sweeney impression is hilarious and spot on. Don, how come the Bruins gave up so many grade A chances because we have a good goalie? WTF.

SPEAKER_01 46:12

Well, thanks, James. Uh, you know, I appreciate that compliment, and uh yeah, give it a shot yourself. It's uh, you know, you could get the rasp in your voice, and you know, got a bit of a bit of a condescending tone there, and uh, yeah, it's gonna be great. And um you keep listening, I'll keep impersonating. So thanks, James. Take care.

SPEAKER_02 46:28

All right, moving along here to GRETs. Everything looks like the Bruins will shoot for Robert Thomas. Have I say Robert Thomas's name this episode? But I'm not sure, by the way. But what would be the absolute most you'd be willing to give up for him? For me, it's got to involve at least one of those 28 first rounders. I just don't want them touching Minton or Higgins. Yeah, well, yeah, I'm kind of with you on that too. I mean, Minton, Minton's also kind of untouchable to me. I I would agree with that. Minton, I don't want, I don't want going either. Uh, I I I would take if you're asking me right now, would I want Robert Thomas next year at 27 years old plus for the next you know five seasons at being a legit 1C, or would I want the next potential 15 years of James Higgins and Fraser Minton? Uh I'm taking Minton and Higgins there. I mean, Robert Thomas is great. I don't know if he's worth giving up all that. Um, what would yeah, I mean, the most I'd be willing to go up for Robert Thomas, again, uh, to I think Don Sweeney fan, 6'3 earlier. Um I'm really bad at mock trades. Uh, it's not my forte. But I guess I'd be willing to give up, yeah. I mean, multiple first-round picks for sure. Um, and then maybe like Laterno and Patra or something like that. Like, I you'd have to give a significant package to get, especially if you're not giving Haggins or Minton in that deal. So um, you'd have to give a lot. I I'd be pretty much okay with anything outside of those players you mentioned. So yeah, that's that's that. Um, let's go to one final question here to end off. This is from Lord XOR on YouTube. Um, love this podcast and escape podcast. Shout out Bridget and Scott, my escape pod co-hosts. I feel like both breezed by Sturm's comment about Higgins being a winger in 26-27 on Tuesday. So, this this is from I think last week after the press conference or something, or breakup day, maybe. They drafted him to be a center. They have all off season and preseason to work with him at it. And we have a massive hole at one C. Maybe that's getting filled via trade, but I suspect it won't. So it seems like a massive miss that they won't be planning for him to be one C with Pashnak to start next year. We all know he needs to learn the NHL game, but there seems like no better place to do it than a guy like Pashnak on his wing. Would love to hear you or the three of you discuss on an upcoming pod because this sent major alarm bells through me about the Bruins messing up another young prospect. So, what I would say to this question, and I can definitely bring up an escape pod too to get Bridget and Scott's um opinions on this, but I don't think it's that big of a deal because James Higgins will be a center in Boston. It just might not be to start next year. I wouldn't be surprised if he was a center at some point next year. And I, you know, I think Marco Sturm has even said so himself that he views James as a as a center, but that he's not ready right now. So does right now mean next October through December and then mid-season, they'll make a transition? I don't know. I I don't think that it should be a big worry that he's not playing with Pashnak to start the season. I mean, you're this is this is the long game we're talking with uh with Hagen's. So I I would be surprised if he wasn't playing center at some point next year. I think he will. Somehow, some way, I think he will. There's so much to figure out with this roster. To what you alluded to earlier, do they do they bring in a uh a number one center somehow? Like a Robert Thomas, if they are, is Higgins part of that deal. So yeah, uh long term, I mean, James Higgins is gonna be a Boston Bruin for for the next decade and a half, right? We're gonna look back at this and say, oh, we don't even remember him playing wing to start the 26-27 season. Don't forget, Patrice Bergeron played a lot of wing uh in his rookie. I know it's a long time ago, different, different era, but it's not uncommon for for young center Iceman to come in and play wing for a little bit. I don't think that um as far as alarm bells, I mean Marco has said that he wants to play Hagans at at center. He just said he's not ready for it right now. But you never know. Higgins could come into training camp next year and completely wow Marco Sturm and say, oh, maybe he is ready right now. Like he could have a great training camp, great, great preseason, and maybe he does start the year at center somehow, some way. Um, but if he doesn't, I don't like again, I I don't think it's uh it's a big red flag because your head coach and you know even even Cam Neely said that he thinks that Higgins and Minton could be top line centers one day. So I don't think the Bruins are playing on planning on Higgins being a winger long term. If they were, if they had rhetoric kind of talking about him being a winger long term, then yeah, I'd be right there with you. I'd be upset about that. Or I'd be I'd be I'd be puzzled by it. Um so I would expect him to be a center next year. Maybe not right away, but at some point. And I don't think there's anything wrong about that. As long as listen, as long as Higgins is playing decent top six minutes and is on the top power play, whether he's wing or center in that in that time is is less important to me. I I care more about him playing big minutes and power play minutes too. And then the centeri stuff that'll come. And if he's not playing center to start the year, I don't think it'll be long before he is. So it's it's not, it's not, it's not uh to me, it's not the biggest deal in the world where he starts next year. I I don't think I'm at the alarm bells right now. I'm just I'm not, and I don't I don't think he should be either, Lord. I think it's gonna it's gonna be okay. He'll be playing center for this team. He's he's too smart, he sees the ice too well, he's he he skates too well. I I would be surprised if he plays the entire year next year at Wayne. How's that? That that's what I'll say. So if he's not playing center right away, don't let it get you too up in arms. You know, he'll he'll be he'll be playing center soon enough. Okay well that'll do it for this episode. Thank you all very much for listening, and I will talk to you next week.