The PuckUps Podcast with Brian DeFelice, Ep. 42: Should the Bruins OFFER SHEET Jason Robertson?

Brian is joined by WEEI writer and Skate Pod co-host, Bridgette Proulx.  They discuss if the Bruins organization already has a future top line center in either James Hagens, Dean Letourneau, or Fraser Minten. Which players should the Bruins explore moving on from? And should the Bruins consider offer sheeting Jason Robertson if possible?

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

You're listening to the Puck Up Podcast. It's time to hit the ice with Brian D.Pheliete. Welcome into episode 42 of the Puck Ups podcast, Bridget. The Puck Ups podcast. It trips me up. I had Scott on recently, and it was very difficult to not say the skate podcast. But right now I am joined by WEEI Writer and one of my two favorite skate pod co-hosts, Bridget Bridget. Thank you for being here.

SPEAKER_03 0:35

He's not here.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

You can say what you want.

SPEAKER_00 0:38

We'll start off with some of the world championship conversation. Obviously, James Higgins, Alex Steves, Mason Laura for Team USA, Fraser Minton for Team Canada. They played earlier on Thursday. This is coming out on Friday. And you and I discussed with Scott, but it was a bit of a disappointing game in terms of Bruin's prospects. Fraser had a quieter day, but James Higgins only seven minutes of ice time.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

Yeah, and nothing in the third period. So that was I obviously you and I and Scott, we were all watching it knowing we're gonna try to analyze it and talk about it later. So we're trying to glean information about the player, and he's just not even getting on the ice. So uh that was it was tough. And I think I won't say he was misused. I'll say maybe he was failed in a way because you you do dress him, you do give him a chance in the lineup, and then you take it away. And I I just worry that this was almost a similar ending to the way things ended with the Bruins, where he starts, he's given his his chance on the wing, he's playing with the new kids line, and then he's scratched, right? And then uh he wasn't scratched in this world's game, but he was benched for the third period. So uh interesting tournament for him though, because it kind of was up and down. Well, it started low and then he got put to center and he was getting second line minutes. It's like, oh, oh, wait, if things are trending, and then right back down today against Canada, obviously. Uh really tough team to have to go play against for somebody that age. You are playing against Sidney Crosby and Travares, and the they they had legit uh they had a legit roster, more so than the US did. So it was definitely um a decision to keep the younger guys out of the play, especially once they got down.

SPEAKER_00 2:42

Yeah, and it it's it feels like since Higgins has turned pro, certainly he started off in Providence and then to Boston, now to world championships with Team USA. He he's been judged a lot by people for not having a ton of production. But I've I've been telling you and Scott and listeners all along, like it's his details for the most part have been pretty good. And it feels like he's had a shorter leash than than some. It made sense with the Bruins because he was coming into a situation he was the youngest player, but even with this team USA over in Switzerland, there are some prospect caliber players that I feel like had a bit of a longer leash than Higgins. And and he hasn't had a ton of production, sure, but he still has had some defensively reliable play, and he's been driving play and creating chances. So I I'm confused why his leads has been so short. And I definitely didn't have him playing on the penalty kill before the power play on my bingo card in the world championships. But for some reason, a player like him, it's uh he needs to be playing you know more frequently at five on five, and and on the power play, creative players get their confidence and their touches on the power play. So to be not getting a ton of power play time in Boston, the brief time he was there, and none with Team USA, I just feel like I know it's a team sport, but if he's gonna be on the ice, if he's gonna be on the roster, I just feel like his skill set, even at 19 years old, even as an unfinished product, that's not being optimized to help his game, but more importantly, to help the team's game around him. I just feel like he's he's an asset that they're not putting him in the best situations, even though he's young and very much still developing.

SPEAKER_01 4:25

Yeah, and and you feel that way for about his usage at worlds as well. Uh obviously that's part of the frustration. It's like, okay, the comp the line combo he's on doesn't necessarily make a hundred percent sense. The not playing him on the power play, for him, it just must be really frustrating. And I go back to his year at Boston College and think about that because I was uh was at many of those games uh for my other job, uh broadcasting hockey east. And you know, so I have to watch the the games live. Sometimes I I have to catch up and watch them um, you know, on the app after they happen if I was doing another another game. But I saw so much of him this past year, and he uh he's obviously a great power play facilitator. If you watch uh clips from him in college, you can see that um him and Dean were both great on the power play this year. Laterno actually led hockey east in power play goals, but um he is smart, he is, I think, maybe smarter than people give him credit for. I know that one of the the labels that every coach and and you know Sweeney and everybody has put on him is good hockey IQ, but I feel like they don't let him have the kind of flexibility to use it, if that makes sense. Like they don't give him enough runway to be creative uh without getting in trouble. And and it makes sense in the playoffs to not do that. I agree with if you really didn't feel like this was the time for for him to have that extra room, that's okay. Um, I did think he was probably a better option in the playoffs than others that ended up in the lineup, but that's a different conversation. Um, but he is really smart, and I think there's a term you always use, Brian, and I don't even know where it comes from, but the uh kids' gloves kids' gloves. I don't know what that means, but I I know you like to use that one. And uh yeah, they they treat him like he's like a little brother, kind of like, oh, what are we gonna do? He doesn't know what he's doing yet. Let's give him a timeout for a second, and he can watch over there while we all do the the grown-up stuff over here.

SPEAKER_00 6:38

Yeah, I thought you were gonna make fun of me again with the caution to the wind phrase that I that I get wrong, apparently. Um I I I learned today uh from Bridget and from Scott the the proper usage of the of the phrase caution to the wind. It means not showing caution. So uh I thought that's what you were gonna bring up again. But yes, kid gloves, it's it's uh it's difficult because everybody talks about, especially a lot of the old timers, that it's uh NHL is not a developmental league and it's not, but you you do have to to players that are making their NHL debuts, you have to give them a bit of a a bit of a leeway to to learn on the fly because that's the only way you do learn. There's no such thing as a finished NHL product prior to get to the NHL. So that is something that I expect going forward next year with with Haggins and the Bruins. Uh I I I understand the I may not have agreed with it the whole time, but I I did understand the playoff element to it. But I look at this world championships and how he was used in the first three, four games he played, fourth line wing. And just not a not a situation that a skilled player is gonna thrive in. But then he goes to second line center, and he looks a lot better playing about 15 minutes a game in those two games, and then against Team Canada. That's why we were so happy to look forward to this game against Canada. And his first shift is a it's a D-zone draw, and 20 seconds later he has a chance to get it out. He doesn't, right? So I can't excuse that. And it turns into a Canada scoring chance from the slot, we'll call it. One mistake. And the next five on five shift, he's out there, or he should have been out there with his linemates, he's benched for Lafferty, and it's like other other guys make mistakes the whole time. Um, and they go right back out there. So it yeah, it's it's you have to allow kids to make mistakes if they're gonna be in the lineup, otherwise, don't have them there.

SPEAKER_01 8:40

And I was I was hoping that because of the the nature of this tournament um and the fact that he was put on the roster, uh, that they were going to believe in his upside and play him through those things. Cause like you kind of know who he is, right? Like you bring him to this tournament full well knowing he's not a uh polished, finished product. So like you're gonna take what you get with him and roll with it, is what I thought. Like, you know, the good and the bad, you put him out there, see if he can work through it, see if he can provide you that upside when he's you know in the offensive zone. Um, and and see what you have. And also because this isn't just a tournament about uh this year, it's about developing US talent as we go on here, and then maybe eventually one day he's on the Olympic team, not just this kind of a roster. So um, in in that way, I feel like this tournament is a bit of a developmental tournament, but it didn't seem like that was the philosophy that the US had 100%. Um, or maybe they just had that philosophy more towards other people at the expense of James Higgins. But now that he's finished his playing for the season, like now we're like full off season for him and some of the other guys who have been knocked out of this tournament, right? Like Laura, uh Steves, uh there's just a bunch. I mean, Mitten's still playing for now. Um, you know, Kihari's still playing for now. But um now we're at the point where it's like, all right, now we've seen what he did this year in so many different ways at college, world juniors, Bruins, Providence Bruins, worlds. Uh and now it's up to him to take what he learned this season, which was I'm sure felt like was coming at him quickly. Uh, because so many he played for so many different teams since like March, right? Like just like March to May has just been insane for him. Um, so maybe he'll be able to take some time now, really look back at it, get some feedback, work on what he needs to work on in the offseason in order to make the team out of camp next year. Because I want to ask you, Brian, and this will be a conversation that I'm sure we have closer to development camp, but it's it's always it's been in the back of my head since uh the end of season press conference when I asked Sweeney about Hagan's. Um it was the the comment that he made of like he'll have to make the team. And I'm I'm just wondering if you're at all nervous that there's you know, what percent chance do you think he starts out in Providence again? Because it's not a zero percent chance, and uh obviously a lot of it's up to the player, but to me it would it would be really detrimental, I think, to start him there again next year. But are you worried about that at all? Because that that little voice in the back of my head saying, we're not out of the woods yet on this one, I think.

SPEAKER_00 11:41

Yeah, no, it's it's hey, it's a good question. I I can't sit here and say that I'm 100% certain he's gonna be on a team to start next year. I'm like 95 plus, but you just never know with the Bruins. You really just don't. And uh we'll see what kind of off-season that they have, but I would expect him to be on the team, but what I don't want is for him to be on the Boston Bruins, but being uh you know a 13th forward. I don't want him being uh on the ninth floor half the season. I don't want him playing fourth line wing. Like i if he's gonna be on the Bruins, he needs to be in a situation that makes sense. And if their intention is to not have him playing, in my opinion, center at some point this year in a top nine role, then you're just gonna have him be a fourth-line winger or third line winger in and out of the lineup, then honestly, that maybe I'd rather him playing center in Providence in all situations. I mean, uh, and that's coming from I don't want that, but if if those are my two options, yeah, um, you know, but I I think he's gonna make the team. I I I would be blown away if if he didn't. And uh you can imagine my reaction on on on both shows that I'm on if that happens. So for my sanity, Bridget, I hope that's not the case. But uh I I don't know, you never know what the Bruins.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

I want to remind you of a podcast that we recorded at midnight a few months ago.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:02

When when they signed him uh to Providence, uh and said, you know, he's starting out, he's starting out in Providence, and then we're we're recording at literally I think like 11:30 or midnight, and like losing our minds, like what? Uh, but yeah, I mean, we've been surprised before.

SPEAKER_00 13:24

We have, and I and I I was okay with with with that with that signing at the time, uh, you know, the ATO he was on, I was fine because I it was a means to an end. But uh speaking of Higgins, and you're right to bring up the offseason, it's a big off-season for him, a big off-season. And and and I do think that even though his usage uh in a short stint with the Bruins, but mainly at world championships too, the fact that he has been exposed to professional hockey, certainly NHL playoff hockey is another level, but even world championships. It's it's not the best roster that USA could ice. If it was, he wouldn't be there actually. Uh or Canada. But it's still pros from from the NHL and you know, the other you know, European teams that they're they're full of pro pros from around the around the world. So for him to feel that speed and know what it feels like, that was my biggest reason for wanting him to play with the Bruins this year. Was I want him to go into a full off season knowing how fast the game happens, knowing how quick time and space is taken away, um, rather than being told about that. Like it's important that he felt it. And you know, even though some of the coaching decisions along the way I didn't agree with that he was at least up close and personal, and that much is I think is worth it. But uh including Hagen's Bridget, you you mentioned Fraser Minton earlier for for Team Canada at World Championships, and you also mentioned Dean Laterno um leading BC in was it power play goals?

SPEAKER_01 14:55

Or leading one leading hockey east in power play goals.

SPEAKER_00 15:01

You've seen Dean up close and personal. Like you've actually interviewed him in the past too. Um if you I'm not gonna look for a clear-cut answer because it's impossible to but if you're leaning in one like closer to one way or the other, do the Bruins have their future number one center in the organization as you and I currently speak to each other? Do you between Minton, Higgins, and Laterno, the combination of any one of them? If you had to lean one way or the other, do you feel like they they could have that guy? Or do you think I just don't see it with any one of them, but they'll be good players?

SPEAKER_01 15:38

I mean, they could, they definitely could. I mean, Higgins has been the number one center on most teams he's played for up to this point. Um, he was the number one center for BC this past, or actually, no, he was the number one, he was a winger for BC this past season, but he was number one center when he played at juniors. He was number one center um just coming up, and and that's always kind of been his role. So um he had a little bit of a detour this year because uh they played him at wing most of the year. Uh, whereas Dean played the entire year at center uh for the most part. But um yeah, he's he's done it before. Obviously, this is a different level, and and this is where size really does come into question because um, you know, people are stronger in the NHL than any of the competition that he's played at before. I I think he he could be, but it's so uh I almost feel like I've I feel safer calling him a good second line center. I don't know if you feel that way as well. Um but there's there's so much time left to to decide that or for for him to develop into one of those things. And as of right now, we've not seen him in that role for the Bruins. But uh when they drafted him at seventh overall, they were looking for a future number one C. And there were other centers left on the board that were really good centers, really good prospects um in that range that they decided to take Hagins instead of, like Roger McQueen, big center, went 10th overall instead of seventh. He was on the board when the Bruins were picking. So uh there were other guys that they looked at and they thought, no, actually, James Haggins is more likely than these guys to be that top center of the future. So they took that risk on him. They believed that. And it was another conversation with Sweeney that I had asked him right, this was also at midnight, like right after uh the draft, uh, first round of the draft. Uh and he he mentioned, yeah, we picked him because we think he's a 1C. We didn't we weren't going after a 2C, we were looking for a 1C. Um, and with a pick that high, you hope that that's the ceiling. You hope that's what they turn out to be. Um, I think Dean is so interesting. Uh Laterno is somebody who had such a night and day sophomore year from his freshman year. He didn't have a single goal his freshman year, and he was playing with a hand injury. He had a broken hand at one point, uh, his freshman season. Um and then his sophomore season, he just goes off. And him, him and Higgins were both the top two scorers in hockey east the whole year for the most part. And his confidence is here now, and his he's able to use his body to his advantage now. He's massive, he's a six foot seven uh center, and he's learning. And I feel like I just watched him progress so quickly, it was such a rapid growth for him, um, and a growth and confidence as well. And I've talked to a bunch of college coaches about him because um, you know, there's just different comps. And so his coach, Greg Brown, said he tells him to watch tape of Tage Thompson um and how he how he wins face-offs, how he protects Pucks, like every everything about just the way that he maneuvers his body, because that's the kind of frame that Laterno has. And Tage Thompson is obviously a number one center, like Tage Tage Thompson has turned out to be a great NHL player. And if you could get that out of Dean Laterno, I almost feel like I might lean out this might sound crazy, but like I could see him being that. This year I I start feel like I started to see it. And and even in college, because I this will age me a little bit, but I was in college when Tage Thompson was in college uh at UConn. And I think Dean looks better than Tage did at that time. Um, and Tage learned a lot also once he made it to the NHL. He's he worked on a shop more. Um, yeah, because I talked to the UConn head coach too, uh Kavanaugh, and he was like, Yeah, he he was good while he was at UConn, but he even added more after that. But uh, but in my mind, I think Platurno may be ahead of the curve that Tage Thompson was at in college. So that's encouraging to me.

SPEAKER_00 20:18

Oh, totally. And Dean has something that you can't teach, which is size. And but with that being said, you have to learn how to utilize that size and that reach. Sometimes when you're that big, you you feel like Bambi out there, right? Like your limbs are so long, you know, maybe you're kind of you have a goofy stride because of it, or you can't, you know, pucks that you get you you can't really handle them in tight because you're so lengthy, but it really feels like he took major strides last season in in learning how to utilize his body and get bigger, stronger. But his release bridge are like you know, if you go back and just watch his highlights from last year, I don't really think any outside of one or two of his goals were garbage goals. They were all just like really strong one-timer releases or curl and drag releases, and they were just lasers to the top of the net. And you know, that's a dangerous thing when when somebody with his size and skill can start to learn how to utilize it. With with the way the NHL is going, it's gonna get it's a faster, more skill league. It's not as rough and tough as it as it was in the in any of the the past generations, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s. You like you know, he's not he's not gonna be battling uh Zadano Chara or Chris Pronger or Scott Stevens if when he's in the NHL, he's he's gonna be battling like it's just it's just it's a different game. And so can I see Dean Laterno at 23 years old, four years from now, like being a a top forward on a team in the NHL? One of them? Yeah, yeah, I could because the game's changing, and and it it it seems like he's he has that. Potential. Um, you know, same with Hagen, same with uh Minton, not in terms of their size, but can I see those players and their I mean Minton's only 21, right? And he's already kind of in a top six-ish role with the Bruins. I mean, what's he at 23, 24? What's Higgins at 22? Like they're so young. They have a ton of potential. I I do I am encouraged by their potential.

SPEAKER_01 22:22

Do you think they could have three one C caliber guys? Yeah, do you think that they're all one C get three first lines coming in the future, centered by Hagens, Laterno, and Minton?

SPEAKER_00 22:37

Yeah, I don't know, I don't know about that, but could could the combination of the three of them turn out to be one? Um, maybe. I mean, I I I'm either way, I'm encouraged by the three of them as prospects. I mean, Minton is I mean, do you want to call him a prospect at this point? I guess maybe he still is. I don't really know, but um, yeah, uh last year with with Dean was was just very encouraging. And and Hagan's Hagen's for his youth, like his details have been so encouraging, to say the least, and in very early action of pro hockey. So yeah, I I think I think patience is required when watching these players, like they're still so young.

SPEAKER_01 23:13

Yeah, and to a conversation we were having on the skate pod about like not wanting to get rid of not wanting to let Laterno or Minton or Higgins out of the system, out of your organization, even if it were for a big piece of you know, in part of a big trade. I am so intrigued as to what Laterno could be that I really would not want to watch him develop for somebody else. You know what I mean? Like he's in St. Louis and he's now their top center or something like that at some point in the future. I feel like that one would hurt to have to watch him do that somewhere else. And um, but but I think the good news is his value is pretty high at this point, right? He's his stock has risen from well, certainly from what it was last year. Um, and to the point where people maybe they're like, huh, maybe we should have taken a chance on that that kid at, you know, we had uh a slightly higher pick, like we had a late teens pick. Maybe we should have taken uh him instead of someone else. But um yeah, he's he's also a good kid. Uh we've we've had him on my show uh this week in Hockey East, and he was funny. He was he was a good interview, um, nice, nice kid. Um and he's going back to BC for next season, pretty much confirmed. I'm pretty sure Greg Brown said it. I don't know if he was supposed to, but uh yeah, pretty sure he's going back for one more year and uh or or potentially two more years if he wants to go the full four years of college. But um yeah, I want to see him can he do even more as a junior? It'll be interesting because college hockey, the best players normally they don't make it to their junior year, so he's kind of maybe more of the the big fish uh on a BC roster that will have a lot of younger guys.

SPEAKER_00 25:06

Yeah, I I look at it as his team next year, right? Uh is Teddy Stega going back or is he going pro?

SPEAKER_01 25:14

Uh I don't know that one actually.

SPEAKER_00 25:16

But I mean, even if he's going back, like I still kind of view it as Dean's Dean's roster. Uh BC's losing, they lost Higgins, Gasso, Yelvik, like you know, um, so we'll see.

SPEAKER_01 25:26

And well, he's the their leading returning point and goal scorer, so right.

SPEAKER_00 25:33

And also, like, I feel like it says a lot about his his his uh mental toughness and character to have the sophomore year that he did, knowing that so many were shitting on him for what was a premature freshman year for him. I mean, he was supposed to go to um the USHL and and Will Smith goes pro, and so the spot opens up, and he obviously had the pretty much no production, the broken hand, and people are calling him a bust, and he has to hear that all summer. And so to come back and have the season that he did, I think speaks volumes to his character too. But yeah, um, we'll keep an eye on all of that, and uh it should be fun to watch all their developments um both at BC and in Boston next year. Yeah, I want to play uh a bit of a game with you here. I know how much you love predictions. Um so uh the Bruins, the Bruins, I think you and I both agree there were a lot of positives last year with uh making the playoffs and some feel-good stories along the way, and and they worked hard and and and that's all great, but they did give up a lot of chances and they generated very, very little. And when you're bringing back a roster um where most of those players are still under contract, I feel like something has to give this offseason if they want to make some improvements, even if they want to have you know significant cap space to make some changes and even in free agency, right? So I tried to put a list together of players that I realistically think the Bruins have a decision to make on either re signing them or if they wanted to maybe explore a trade with them, i.e., I'm not gonna name Elias Lindholm because I don't think anybody would take him right now, and he has a full no move. So I'm gonna not I'm not gonna name players like that. And I'm curious if you think the Bruins uh you know should should prioritize keeping the player or maybe exploring other options. So we'll start off with some of the uh free agents, uh both UFA and RFA. And we'll start off here with Jordan Harris. Do you think the Bruins are prioritize re signing him or not?

SPEAKER_01 27:51

I would think that of the list that you're about to go through, he probably is, you know, he's not gonna demand a lot of money. Like that that's a contract that you can probably do. It's such an unfortunate thing for him this season that the injury took up as much time as it did. Um, he really did not get a chance to show what he was. He made the team out of camp and then got injured, what was it, like eight or so games into the season? It may not even have been that much. So um he just was out while they were making their case to to get into the playoffs. And uh he comes in eventually in the playoffs and immediately, you know, has a bad turnover and and you know that that may be a sour taste that's left there, but he really didn't get a chance this year. So if you if you believe in the player that you you thought you got l like at the beginning of of the 2025-26 season, maybe you still believe in him enough that you're like, well, he still can be that. Uh and it wouldn't be a big contract. So prioritize, I don't know if it's the right word, but uh he I could see him being back.

SPEAKER_00 28:59

Okay. Yeah, I'm with you on that. Uh okay, Matt Potter, RFA.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

Uh well, they'll they'll bring Pacher back, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:08

Okay. Let's do Andrew Peake, UFA.

SPEAKER_01 29:13

This one I think is interesting because I genuinely don't know if it's going to be possible to get someone else. Like we saw it last year with Yoki Haryu. It felt like Yokiharyu, who they traded for, had a deadline at the end of his contract. They were like, this could be somebody that we put here, but he almost just felt like it was a placeholder to get through the end of that season, and then they were hoping to maybe upgrade in the offseason, but nothing was available in free agency. And they're like, Well, we got Henry right here, we're gonna sign him again because what what options uh are there? And I feel like there could be a situation like that with Peak. I do wonder what other teams value him as. Um, and I just don't know if there's it going to be an upgrade, an affordable upgrade out there. So I would I actually could see them bringing Peak back.

SPEAKER_00 30:11

They have a bit of a log jam there if they did, because you still have Yoki Haryu there.

SPEAKER_01 30:16

Yeah, I like Peak more than I look like Yoki Haryu, but obviously one's under contract and one's not well.

SPEAKER_00 30:22

You know what, Bridget? I'll give you some creative freedom because you know your favorite Finn may be on this list. So we'll get to that a little bit. Uh how about Victor Arvidson? I I believe his projected contract, according to AFP analytics, was two years four nine, which in that situation, um, I think it's you know, I think it's very fair for the Bruins to want to bring him back. But if he wants, you know, term in top dollar, I don't I don't know if I believe that prediction that that projection, but what about Victor Arvidsson?

SPEAKER_01 30:53

Yeah, that projection might be, you know, based off of what someone his age, you know, I don't know what what uh algorithm they put into to make that projection, but I had thought that he would certainly be asking for longer term than that, uh, with his age and wanting to probably get that last for sure deal, right? You sign it and you're safe for pretty much uh the rest of your prime because he's not out of his prime yet. I would say he's nearing that, but he's not out of his prime yet. So get one um long last, you know, medium to longer term contract if you can. Uh, I think that's what he wants. And I think the Bruins would like to bring him back. And if that was what if that was all they had to do, then yes, absolutely do that. Um but and I don't know if I know I've mentioned it on our podcast before. I got the sense from talking to him, talking to Sturm, just the whole vibe around it. I got the sense he's not coming back.

SPEAKER_00 31:58

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 31:59

Just reading reading body language, uh reading in between the lines.

SPEAKER_00 32:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 32:05

I think. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:07

Well, I don't know why if I'm him, I would settle for for two and four-nine. Like, I don't I mean, if there's something better out there, which I I think somebody would give him more than that, but we'll see. Um, I think we're on the same page there. If it is the two and four-nine, then like yes, but anything more than that, I I just don't think it makes sense for for either the team or the player to have a longer-term situation. I want to be clear, I make it for Robinson, but not for the Bruins.

SPEAKER_01 32:34

Yeah, yeah. I I want to be clear. I wish they could keep that second line together. Yeah, like that second line worked. Um maybe this then forces you to think about getting an upgrade in your top six because you're going to have to fill a role in the top six. Can you go find something a little bit better? Uh, but Arvidson certainly had a good year. He he did everything Stern wanted him to. He was uh it was like he was a proud dad watching his son like succeed. It was they had a good relationship and they they just kind of meshed what what Stern wanted to do, Arvidson could do, and he was a good fit here. And I had originally thought maybe he would take a little bit of a discount to stay in a situation that is good for him, but I'm just not I'm not convinced at this point. I if I could just explain it like the way it's in my head, like I want you guys to understand what I'm saying, but uh I just I didn't get a whole lot of confidence from those conversations.

SPEAKER_00 33:41

Well, that's all that's all that's all we need to hear. Uh your gut feeling is that it's he he he's gonna want a little bit more and probably go somewhere else. All right, let's go to some players that are still under contract, right? Like I mentioned uh the Bruins have they have a lot of players under contract, so I don't see them bringing back the the identical team plus you know one RFA. Like I think that they're gonna try to get creative and and make some things happen this summer. So um they'll need some cap flexibility to do so, and maybe there's some hockey trades that involve some of these players too. But let's go to and again, I I chose players that you know they have movable contracts uh and or they could potentially bring back some some value because other teams may covet them. So let's start off with Casey Middlestad. He had he has a cap hit of 5.75 million and a nine-team no trade list, and he's got a year left on his deal. Do you think the Bruins will explore moving on from Middlestad? There's no there's no rush here.

SPEAKER_01 34:38

These players are all under contract, but I think that there's a few guys that are under contract that lend themselves more to being part of a trade, and he's one of them because his contract is expiring soon, and so is Zaka because his contract is also expiring soon. So they're they're in this window of you know, as people always talk about, trying to get something for them before they become free agents, if you can, or um, or do you want them to be part of your long-term future? So uh for Casey, it's deciding is he here for you in the next four or five years? If so, you gotta extend him. If not, this is the time that you would have to be looking to trade him. And to me, I feel like he was good this past year, but I I just don't really know how much long term they they do, they want him to be a pillar here for the next five years with a with a new contract. And uh I don't know. I I I lean more towards them choosing that route for Zaka than Middle Stat.

SPEAKER_00 35:48

I would agree with that. Well, with that said, let's just go to Pavel Zaka right now because he's on the list as well. So Zaka has a cap hit of 4.75 million and an 18-no trade list. Now, and again, similar to Middle Stat, a year left on his deal. So the middle, the the middle stat one, um I don't think the Bruins view him as part of their long-term future. I that's just me. That doesn't mean they'll trade him this summer. Maybe they'll revisit it at the trade deadline, or maybe they're okay with him, you know, walking at some point.

SPEAKER_01 36:18

I don't think they are either, Brian. I just want to throw this in to like back up that statement. Sturm had at different times in the season said things about Middle Stat, uh, including he scratched him a few games earlier in the year. Um, but just that he still had like a little bit of fight that he needed, right? Like he still needed just to battle a little bit more. But uh he overall, I think, had had a good year. But I never saw the team maneuvering players to be like, oh, we really gotta get Casey going, or like we really gotta put this person with Casey because that's really gonna get them going. Like it's not like with Posternock, where you put anybody with Posternock and it's like, all right, that this is gonna, it's all about the production here, but um I don't know. Can you think of a time where Casey Middlestat got like moved somewhere to help with I just no, no, he's Zocca does Zaka gets moved around to to try to help spring other people.

SPEAKER_00 37:24

Yeah, on that second line, Middlestat to me felt like the kid in the group project in school who you know he gets the A, but he he did the least, and then Zaka's the one who you know did all the heavy lifting and and Arvindson was there too. But yeah, it it feels like to me Middlestadt just isn't a long-term player in Boston. So now it's like, okay, then how can you optimize that asset? Right? Are you gonna are you gonna let him play out his contract and then let him walk for nothing, or are you gonna try to get something for him when you can? Now, whether that's in the offseason now or at the trade deadline, it's like this is this has been my problem with the Bruins at times over the years is they they they let assets, they let them cook too long and they either lose them for nothing, or you know, so because and I understand not wanting to get rid of players when you're when you're a playoff team and you have a locker room morale to account for, I get it, but sometimes it's really difficult to not be short-sighted. I agree, I I acknowledge that, but you know, sometimes the hard thing is to overlook that short-sightedness when it comes to these types of players. Pavel Zaka, and I want to get your answer on him, I can see him on an extension being part of this team for the next you know six, seven years. Now he'd be an older player on on towards the end of it, but I can see a world where he's him and Pashnak and Geeky, you know, they're up front with with the Mintons and the Hagens and you know, Laterno or Zelda. Like I can see that world. But he has an amazing cap hit at under $5 million for another year. Teams trading for that would love that control, and he's a top six forward, can play either wing or center, depending on what the team needs out of him. Can play in all situations, five and five, extra attacker situations, both best special team situations, uh, four on four, all of it. Um, he can be a shootout guy for you, he can be a three-on-three overtime guy, he can do everything. So I can also see a world where he he garners a lot of value in a trade, and maybe the Bruins, again, the Bruins brought him in because of a great trade, him for Hala.

SPEAKER_03 39:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:29

Is there another hockey trade out there where you know it can make sense for both Zaka and and the Bruins? And uh again, I can see both worlds. I can see a world where he's part of the core for the next six, seven years for for better or worse, or I can see them moving on from him. But I think moving on from him is less likely because I I just don't know if I see the Bruins doing it because for many reasons, all the reasons I just said that he he does a lot of things for them. Um, but also David Pashnak loves them, like they're they're really good friends, and that there's something to be said about that too.

SPEAKER_01 40:00

Yeah, and he's so calm and like he's just a calming presence, and he just can do he's never gonna complain about anything, he's gonna do everything you want him to do. Uh, and he was a good addition in that hockey trade for Hawla a few years ago. They got um the his contract was has just been so one of the most reasonable contracts that that are there. I mean, he's uh allowed you a little bit of flexibility, which you then went out and spent on the last land home, probably, but uh he he does allow for that. Um, and his contract will be bigger. His next contract is going to be an increase from that. Um, but he deserves it. I mean, he's gonna get that somewhere. Uh, I personally think he's such a good fit in Boston. They should be willing to give him, you know, that that extra pay to keep him. And I don't know. Uh I maybe I'm biased as well because I just think he's a good guy, he's easy to deal with, he's he's nice, he's uh he he's very consistent. So I I personally would like them to try to find a way to to keep him and and keep him with uh you know the the idea of him maybe being there to help that next phase of guys that are that are coming up um with Hagens and Laterno and always an option to put him next to Posternock too.

SPEAKER_00 41:29

That's true. Okay, let's uh we'll do a couple of more here. Um some of these are easier than others. Let's do let's do Mikey A. Cimont making one four, no trade protection, one year left. Can you get a late round pick for him? Or you know, some some way can you just can you get can you move on from him this summer?

SPEAKER_01 41:49

I think you you've kind of put yourself in a position where you have one or two too many roster players for Boston.

SPEAKER_00 42:00

Right.

SPEAKER_01 42:01

And maybe he ends up in Providence, but if you did want to try to move him out, yeah, can you get a can you get a sixth round pick for him? Um but it does feel like he might be the odd man out just because you've just signed Steves, uh, who obviously could end up in Providence as well, but you'd risk losing him to to waivers. Um you now have Haggins who's come up. You added Reichel. Does he end up in Boston? Like there, there are just these other players that it seems like might be there in the way of him getting much playing time this this next season. So his his time seems like it could be up this offseason, uh, which is what you're getting to, Brian. And I feel like we might be on the same page about this, but if you can get a little something for him right now, which is is what happened with Arvinson. That's how the Bruns got Arvinson last off season. They they traded a fifth round pick for him, right?

SPEAKER_00 43:09

Okay, so I'm with you. I think I think he's just you know he's he's uh a roster space that it doesn't need to be taken up right now, especially for up a million and a half, a million and a half is a million and a half. I don't want I don't want one four five on the ninth floor for for 55 games next year. Um yeah, but I know it's not huge money, but all right, so this next player I'm gonna say is Sean Corraly. And I ask you because Mikey A. Cimont is not in the way of Matt Patra, in my opinion, especially playing center ice. Sean Corrale is. I think that a lot of fans saw Patra play between Castlick and Janelle for a couple of games, similar to how Fraser Minton did for much of the first third of the season, and and it looked really good. And And let's be honest, great pro, great player for the Bruins throughout both of his tenure so far, in terms of being a leader and somebody who works hard. But Sean Coralli lost a step last year. He lost the step. He's a reliable PK, but those guys you can come by. So I would like to see Matt Patra playing center ice with the Bruins next year. And I wouldn't even care if it was a fourth line role because I think the way the NHL is going, that's okay to have a speedy, you know, fourth liner who has good IQ. And I look at the Bruins roster and I just, uh, okay, Mikey Ace Mont isn't preventing Matt Pachra from being a fourth line center. It's it's Sean Corale. And could the Bruins move on from Corale who has a year left on his deal at 1.7 million, no trade protection?

SPEAKER_01 44:47

I actually have positive feelings about both Corale and Pachra. So like I don't look at this, and I'll explain what I would do, but I don't look at it as uh oh, Corale lost a step and he's he's not as good. Or I think he's really good at what they brought him in for, which is PKing, being defensively sound, being a little bit of a pest when he has to be, like fitting into that fourth line identity uh of grinders and just being smart because he's been around the game a long time and has learned a lot. He's more of a veteran. So I actually think he really did what they wanted him to do in large part last year.

SPEAKER_00 45:26

And that fourth line I agree with, by the way. Like last year I agree with. I and I that's kind of why I'm saying like going forward, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:34

Yeah, and then so and then I like I like Patra. And so Sean Corelli is not going to be here long term. Uh Matt Patra, I think a lot of fans are really hopeful that he could be here long term. And if not, you know, you have to make a decision on letting him, you know, trading him somewhere else that he might have uh an opportunity. But to me, it makes more sense for Patra to get that opportunity because you are that's a move that's forward-looking, um, and allows him to take another step in development because obviously he started in Boston, but he spent almost the entirety of last season in Providence away from playing NHL games. So um I think it would change the identity of that line for sure, but can you still have you know that that grit when you have two big tough guys in Janot Castellake right there? Like I feel like it's you still get most of that going on, and then you add a little bit of speed and you add a a little bit of playmaking ability with Patra. And I'm all for trying to find a way to give him a chance, give him a spot on the roster, not just for a few games, you know. Try to try to get him in there uh for the season if you can.

SPEAKER_00 47:02

I agree, and and I think Matt has some some battle to his game too, right? Like he he likes to get his nose in there. It's it's just that he's always been kind of you know small and and and weak at times, and he's gotten hurt, but he's getting older now, so hopefully he's he's put on some some poundage here. Um Mason Lorai. He's got a $3.2 million cap hit, no trade protection, one year left in his bridge deal.

SPEAKER_01 47:28

I think if there is a trade that gets pulled off this offseason, it probably involves Mason Lorai heading the other way.

SPEAKER_00 47:36

I agree.

SPEAKER_01 47:37

Um but it it depends what they're going for, right? If they're looking to trade for a forward or an upgrade, I could see Laura heading out. Um I I don't for his in terms of his development, he's kind of been like a confusing one to to keep track of because he's had these moments or there was was it two years ago, there was a preseason episode that we did our like bold predictions, and it wasn't this past year, I think it was the year before. And I was like, Mason Laurae is gonna take a huge jump, and he is gonna be like a shutdown defenseman, and he is like he's because he has this reach and he had like he he has the physique for it, and he like he can do it at times. You can see him do it, and then I so my prediction was oh, he's gonna be he's gonna be this, he's gonna take a big jump, and we just haven't seen that. So clearly my projection of his uh you know development was a little bit uh overflown, but I could get there.

SPEAKER_00 48:55

Let me get this straight. You your your pre-season bold prediction was he's gonna be a shutdown defender, and then he had the league worst three. Is that what you're trying to tell me right now?

SPEAKER_01 49:04

Something like that. Something like that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 49:08

But he was gonna make a big step, you know, closing out guys, but he's a good trader too.

SPEAKER_00 49:13

His his his reach, his skating ability, you know, you would think it's you know, he could do that, but uh I'm with you. I I think I think it, you know, I think he's a trade candidate this summer. And I've I've said it before, like you know, the Bruins were trading him this this past year if Rasmus Anderson was willing to sign an extension. So he wouldn't even be a Bruin right now if that were the case. So uh one more before we go to our our last uh subject here is Jonas Corposalo. I think I think Ottawa's beating one of his four million dollar cap hit. So the Bruins are, I think, paying him three million dollars, but you got DPHO in the miners. I know there's questions about his size, but he's a back-to-back AHL goalie of the year. And you know, can you afford can you afford uh a bit of a cheaper goaltender uh at the backup position, Bridget?

SPEAKER_01 50:00

Yeah, I like the idea of like the next wave guys, and that's Patra, you know, giving him a chance as somebody you drafted and have been developing. DPHO has been uh AHL uh MVP. Like he's he's um he's done as much as he possibly can in that role. Um, and it does give you a chance to alleviate a little bit of the cap space, um, a little bit more money because he's not gonna get that uh 3 million that that Corpus Alo has. But I also really do think that they were fairly happy with the performance that they got out of Corpusalo this year, and he's more of the sure thing uh in terms of NHL uh games, and because DPHO does does he have one?

SPEAKER_00 50:54

You know what, Bridget? I think three seasons, but I don't know about any I don't know about regular seasons.

SPEAKER_01 50:58

Obviously, there's a risk there to be to be had when you have a guy that you've seen do uh a pretty solid backup role uh for you in Corpus Solo, and then to to risk bringing someone who's doesn't have an HL experience, but um projection would say that he he should be able to handle it, right? Uh if you can be that that goalie in the AHL, uh he he could you could easily see him being able to be a serviceable backup, but they're they're gonna ask for him to play quite a few games, right? Like the way that if the tandem were to shake out the same way this year as it did last year, that's a decent amount of games, right? We're not just talking about a guy who's there just in case. We're talking about a guy that's gonna have to win you games as well if you're if you want to be in this playoff race again next year. So it is uh a really important position that I don't I don't know, people might overlook because it's called backup, but you're playing a lot of games still.

SPEAKER_00 52:05

Yeah, no, for sure. But at the same time, it's you you have a you have a Vesna, you know, um nominee returning right as your starter. It's you know, I just think that if if they can, I don't think you'd be spending three million dollars in the uh for a backup goal. And and again, the Corpusalo element of it, he was collateral damage. Like they had to take him on when they traded all mark, which by the way, that trade, yeah, Mark Castle. We all I think we all like him for what he brings to the Bruins. And and also it was a first-round pick that turned into Dean Laterno, and you know, that's still an unknown, but we'll see what that turns into. But Corporal was the other part of it, right? Otto was like, all right, well, you gotta take on Corpusalo. So it's not like the Bruins like identified him as a guy they wanted desperately, and that like they they had to take him on in the first place. So if they could find a way to to to move on from him, I think they'd be willing to do so. But yeah, that's just my opinion. And yeah, it's a risk.

SPEAKER_01 53:04

It's just gonna be slightly harder to yes, like what what does that deal look like? Are you mostly just dumping cap at that point, like dumping salary? Are you getting any are you able to get anything back?

SPEAKER_00 53:18

Yeah, I'm not looking for anything crazy. I was looking for books and a and a and a and a chicken farm. Um, but yeah, I mean, listen, also the the Bruins do goalting well. Like they've never had when's the last time the Bruins had a starter or a backup where it's like, oh man, this guy's a liability, like at least in the regular season. Um let's go to our last our last uh topic here, Bridget. And this is a this is a situation around the league that I think is highly unlikely because these things never really happen, especially at this caliber. But we know the Bruins need some high-end talent. And Jason Robertson is a restricted free agent on July 1. Okay, and AFP Analytics has him projected to make just south of uh $12 million on an annual cap hit for eight years. The Dallas Stars, just to paint the picture, they they're expected to have around $11 million in in cap space this summer. Maverick Bork is an RFA that they're gonna want to bring back as well. And Dallas general manager Jim Neil apparently has a number with Robertson he does not want to go above, and that's I think that's 12 million, which is what Miko Ranton is getting. And Dallas is more trying to get Roberts around the $10 million range, $10.5 million range on a cap hit. So there are there are financial hurdles between the player and the team. And they also had an issue a couple of years back where he held out from training camp for a little bit from his past deal. So can the Bruins pull off the very, very, very, very rare and with a player of this caliber, I think unprecedented, um, offer sheet and take advantage of this. And Jason Robertson, he has 490 points in 456 NHL games. He's 26 years old. Okay, so he's a legit, legit superstar, you know, for for any team he's on. The cost to get Jason Robertson in terms of compensation, draft pick compensation based on the tier of contract he would get is if the Bruins were to send him a contract offer for $11 million, and then I think it's uh $939,000 and change, that's the threshold and beyond that gets you into having to give up four of your own. That's an important distinction, four of your own first-round draft picks in the next five years, starting in 2027. So, Bridge, before you answer, I just want to let people know what this looks like because the Bruins right now, they have two first-round picks in 27 and 28, which means in 27 it's Toronto's, and in 28 it's Florida's, in addition to their own. Which means hypothetically, if the Bruins were able to execute an offer sheet for Jason Robertson, they would do so, giving Dallas their own first-round picks in 27, 28, 29, and either 30 or 31, whichever they chose. But they would still have first-round picks in 27 and 28 because they would have Florida's and Toronto's. And the other thing you're not giving up in this situation is your 2026 first-round pick, and you're not giving up with James Higgins or Fraser Minton or Dean Laterno. And a lot of the first round picks that they would be parting with down the line, they really wouldn't be a part of the past knack McAloe window because they'd be draft picks that are three, four, five years from now, and then how many years from now from possibly playing? So um, I raise you this scenario, and Dallas might try to trade him, right? They might not let him get to, you know, the they might not be so vulnerable to let a team offersheet him. Maybe they'll try to trade him, but theoretically, I think the Bruins could offersheet him, and and that would be the cost. What are your thoughts on something like this?

SPEAKER_01 57:21

My thoughts are four first round picks that have to be your own. So it's like yeah, it is a high price, it is a steep ask, and like you said, unprecedented. Because normally you're talking about, oh, we're somebody's getting offer sheeted, and it's like a second round pick is the is the comp, or you know, it's not it's not nearly that. I think it even sounds crazy to people. If you just think about it in in like the context of trades, because uh that's much more common than than you know, offer sheets. How many player like what player in the league would you look at, Brian, and say, oh yeah, the Bruins should trade four first round picks for that person?

SPEAKER_00 58:11

Uh potentially a 26-year-old who's a 90-point guy in his prime. Um, again, like here, listen, I'll I'll be honest. I mean, because the first of all, the Bruins could also recuperate some first round picks in the future by making some other trades down the line if they want to sell off a piece or two. But if you if you're telling me, and again, I know this situation is very, very unlikely, I get it. But if you're telling me that the Boston Bruins could bring in Jason Robertson at 26 years old, who's going to be a perennial 90-point player for you, and you still have your own first round pick in 2026, you still have Florida's first round pick in 27, Toronto's or Toronto's first round pick in 27, Florida's first round pick in 28, and you still have Minton, and you still have Higgins and Laterno and Zellers and all these prospects. And I'm giving up first round picks that you're not selecting for five from five years from now and Pash Nakamakaway are in their mid 30s, let alone when that player maybe comes to the NHL. Those are the types, those are the types of futures that I if you're the Bruins and you really want to optimize this this era, those are the ones you have to be okay partying with because you've already started to bring in your top prospects that you currently have that we that we know the names of, and you have your first round pick this year still, and you have first round, you'd be giving up four first-round picks in the next five years, but you'd still have first round picks in two of them in the next two, just because you brought in Florida's and Toronto's, and then maybe you can recuperate another first-round pick along the way. This is the type of move that, yeah, it's a hefty price, and it's extremely unlikely. But this is the rare type of move where yeah, you're giving up futures, but they're distant futures, and you still have your current futures and top prospects, and you're adding to and you still have first-round picks in the next two years, just they're not yours, but you still have them.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:08

Yeah, I mean, it sounds crazy when you when you first hear it because it's like four first-round picks. Oh my gosh. Um, but when you think about the timeline of trying to get somebody that is a legit top-line guy while you still have the primes of McAvoy and Posternock and Swayman, um, then you you go, yeah, well, how much is that pick five years, that first round pick five years away from us? How much help is that for us right now? Obviously, uh I'm saying that kind of facetiously because it's five years in the future, but um, and it obviously can't help you now unless you use it to to you know as a trade piece. But uh, what else could you do with those picks is kind of the other thing I would say. Like so that four picks, that's that's that's a lot of picks. Could you uh use two to get a top defenseman that you could really benefit from? Like could you use them in packages in a in a more efficient way? It's obviously uh there's when you talk about that sheer number of picks, that's like an opportunity each time to do something with it, either draft uh someone to develop, or it's a valuable piece, right? First, first round picks are extremely valuable. So uh that's why it feels like it's a lot.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:37

It is, it is a lot, but I'm telling you, it's you know, Jason Robertson is 26 and he's a he's a 90-point player in his prime. Like, you pray that a draft pick could ever become half of that. And I just feel like the like that might be the most painless way to get a superstar, is because you're not because you're not first of all, they could get Jason Robertson this summer, and the Bruins are still drafting the first round in the next three years, because they have five first-round picks in the next two, um, or whatever it is, next three. And so if you can bring in a Robertson and you're giving away you know distant first-round picks, but you still have first round picks this year in the next two, and you're not giving up your top prospects, like that's the most painless way to really add a superstar player. Like, would you rather give up four first-round picks starting in 2025 while still having a first-round pick in the next three years for Jason Robertson and money, where the cap is just going through the roof the next you know, couple of years? Or would you rather trade uh you know uh a 26 first rounder and a and a and a Haggins and a and a Patra and Azaka for Thomas?

SPEAKER_01 1:02:49

And that well, and that's that's really where the issue is on the Dallas side of things, is because you only have futures, whereas if you were to to trade him, you know, you could get stuff that would help your team now. And Dallas is a win now team, they're not trying to take a giant step backwards and just have futures. So um that would really suck for them if they ended up with that being the compensation for for Robertson when they really need active guys, like they would need a Minton or a or a Hagen's or you know, they're not trying to wait another six or seven years to get that last one developed, and yeah, yeah, that would not that would be really a bad situation for them because they are a playoff team, so they are, but they also it would help them recuperate first round picks in the future because they've been going for it for so long.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:42

But you're right, uh Dallas would want to trade Robertson and not do a first-round pick. But Bridget, I appreciate all of your time and uh thank you very much for joining me. I know where I can find you, but for listeners that aren't skate pod listeners, where it's a WEI podcast, Bridget, where can people find your writing and all of your work?

SPEAKER_01 1:04:04

Well, we are in the off season, so fewer places, but uh yeah, obviously on the skate pod with Brian, Bridget Peru on Twitter, Instagram. Uh I write for WEI.com, but like once I once again, a little slower this time of year. But uh during actual hockey season, I am also a hockey east broadcaster uh for the conference on Nesson and have a show called This Week in Hockey East that air is Fridays on Nesson. I think we're doing that again next year. We'll see. Um I mostly just look at my Twitter. I normally post, you know, whatever whatever it is I've got going on.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:43

Perfect. Well, thank you very much for joining me, and thank you all for listening. I'll talk to you next week.