The PuckUps Podcast with Brian DeFelice, Ep. 55: One mistake the Bruins need to AVOID making

Brian details one mistake the Boston Bruins have to AVOID making, and don't forget to leave your ' what if ' scenario in Bruins or NHL history!

Join Brian DeFelice every Monday and Friday (Tuesday, and Friday in the offseason) as he discusses all things Boston Bruins, NHL, and the world of hockey. Subscribe on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and be a part the show by submitting comments, and questions via X (@briandefelice_ / @thepuckups), email: info@thepuckups.com, or voicemail (617)-539-6958.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

You're listening to the Puckups Podcast. It's time to hit the ice with Brian D. Felice. Welcome into episode 55 of the Puckups Podcast. I am Brian D Felice and thank you all for joining me. On today's show, I want to talk about a mistake the Boston Bruins have to avoid making over the next calendar year. 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 at infothepuckups.com. You can tweet at me on X at Brian D Flees 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 we're getting into the mistake the Boston Bruins have to avoid making, I first want to clue you all in on a series I would like to start periodically throughout the course of this offseason, and I need your help to do so. I want to start a what-if series, Boston Bruins History Edition. And how it will work is you will all send me suggestions here on YouTube, on Twitter, via email. And I will take those suggestions and I will shout you out right here on the show, and I'll try to play out your scenario, your what-if scenario, and the butterfly effect it would have caused right here on this show. So similar to the mailbags, you know, I don't know if it's going to be a whole episode, but at least part of an episode. And here in the dog days of summer, the dog days of the offseason, we can always use some fun creativity. An example, and I've seen this over the years as well, but a pretty popular example is what if Brad Marshand scored on his last second breakaway on Sergei Babrowski in game five of the 2023 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, not to rub salt in all of our wounds. But the obvious answer is the Bruins would have won that series. But playing out the ensuing seasons and the personnel moves that would or would not have happened is the fun of it. So again, send me your what-if scenarios in Boston Bruins history. Hell, if you want to expand it to the NHL, do it. And I will collect them and try to do as many as possible over the next month and a half, plus, as we try to kill some time before the NHL season picks back up. Okay, now to the mistake the Boston Bruins have to avoid making. Before I get to it, I want to play this clip from Don Sweeney last month prior to the NHL draft.

SPEAKER_03 2:53

Uh hand in hand with that last one from me. Uh Zach is entering his final year of this deal. Something you'd like to get done as he heads into this final year?

SPEAKER_02 3:03

Yeah, I'd I'd prefer to be proactive in that. No, I mean, you know, I got asked earlier in terms of whether or not, you know, what's the trade noise, and and I can't control those things. Teams are going to ask me, you know, other people have asked other players you know to get out, and sometimes that's a domino effect. Um, my goal is to extend Beth. He had a really good year, he's an important player for us. Uh if you asked Marco, he'd say the same thing, how important he is. Maybe it does remain by committee, but he's a big part of our team.

SPEAKER_01 3:29

All right, so you just heard Don Sweeney right then and there on June 29th, 2026, stating on the record his intentions to be proactive and extend Pavel Zaka. Now, I know there are many Bruins fans out there who agree and want Don Sweeney to extend Pavel Zaka. I also know there are many Bruins fans out there who want to trade Pavel Zaka because they don't want to pay him into his mid-late 30s and lock up money in an asset that they don't believe in long term. And listen, I'm not here to convince the people who want him traded otherwise or the people who want to extend him otherwise. Because the reality is either scenario is better than the mistake that the Boston Bruins cannot afford to make, and that is they cannot allow Pavel Zaka to walk away for nothing next summer in free agency. To me, that will be an unforgivable move by the Bruins. And I know the term asset management gets thrown around out there, I throw it around out there, and I understand it's a business and it's not black and white, and sometimes you have to bite the bullet and let somebody walk for nothing because you're trying to win a Stanley Cup. But that's the key distinction. If the Boston Bruins were contenders heading into next year, I could understand potentially losing Zaka for nothing in free agency the following summer because he's an integral part of a contending team. And your thought process is we don't want to trade him because he's a big part of our team, and maybe we can't get an extension done in the season, and we will hopefully win a Stanley Cup as a contender, and he's a part of it. And if he leaves to go somewhere else the following summer, at least we have a cup to our name. And if we don't win the Stanley Cup, we gave it our best shot. We made the best, we put the best team on the ice possible to win a Stanley Cup, right? Sometimes contenders have players leave for nothing the following year that are that are on expiring contracts because you're you're right there. You're on the cusp of winning a cup. But that's not where the Boston Bruins are right now, and it's not where they are heading into next season. And this is why the Zaka discussion is on the table right now. So I will grant Don Sweeney this. It's not a very easy situation to execute, and I'll explain why right now. But before I do, I just want to say, and I come on here all the time and I I criticize players, managers, everything in between. I'm gonna check myself here too. Earlier this offseason, I had an episode, I think it was titled Five Moves the Boston Bruins Should Not Make This Off Season. And one of those moves that I said the Bruins should not do is the Boston Bruins should not extend Pavel Zaka upon eligibility on July 1st. And the reason I said that was because Pavel Zaka's under contract through next season, and there's no reason to extend him before it's up, especially when the Bruins may be good or they may not be good. And in the situation of the Bruins having a bad year, which is not out of the realm of possibility, let's be honest, I didn't want the Bruins to be in a situation where they're becoming sellers at next year's deadline, and one of their premium NHL roster assets in Pavel Zaka can't be moved because prior to the season, he signed a new contract and there's a bunch of no movement clauses. So I wanted the Bruins to have flexibility just in case the season goes south. And if they wanted to extend them, then they could extend them the following off season or whatever, right? That was my thought process. But I've since been thinking about that, and I think if the Bruins really want to extend Zaka and for the trade Zaka crowd out there, block your ears. Um if the Bruins are going to extend Zaka, they are far better off doing so this summer than next. And here's why. I think you'll get him at a cheaper AAV right now than this time next year. Then the reason I say that is because last season he was centering a line of Victor Arvidson and Casey Middlestad. Now, credit to all three of those players. They played well together and they were a big part of that team last year. And they were one of the more consistent lines in the NHL, and they logged among the most minutes together as a line throughout the entire league last year. So credit to them. And Zaka put up 30 goals, 60 plus points, and it was a career year for him offensively. Let me ask you all a question. With Victor Arvidson now in Detroit, in the acquisition of JJ Peterka, do you anticipate Pavel Zaka to play alongside Casey Middlestad again next year? Or do you anticipate him potentially playing up the middle alongside JJ Petrka and David Pasternach? Because I think it's gonna be the latter. And I'd be willing to bet that playing five on five minutes all season in addition to power play time with David Pasternak and JJ Peterka, I think Zaka's probably due for another career year in production. I do, barring any injuries, but how could he not? How could he not be up for a point increase playing alongside those two guys compared to Arvidson and Middle Stad the year before? If you actually think about it, Zaka has been averaging around 60 points a season since being a Boston Bruin. And I don't think he's been David Pasternak's line mate for two out of those three seasons to this point. Or is it four? How many years has he put in Boston? So 22-23 season is one, centennial season two, the following year three, and this past year four. Okay, so Zaka's been in Boston for four full seasons, and only one of those was he David Pasternak's line mate all year long, pretty much. And that was the record-breaking year where he was playing wing, and it was Zaka, Kreachy, and Pasternak. The centennial season. Okay, maybe the centennial season he played with Pasternak too. Yeah, I think he did for much of it. But then the following year, it was Elias Lindholm a lot of the time. And then this past season, he was playing with Middle Stad and Arbitzon. So my point is he hasn't played with Pasternach more, at least more than half the time he's been a brew in five-on-five. He's kind of been off and on. So I just think that next year, in a contract season, no less, I'm sure Zaka will be a higher ticket next year than he is right now. And for those reasons, I wouldn't be surprised if Don Sweeney wants to extend him right now, hence his comments I just played a few minutes ago. And Zaka's camp is probably thinking along the lines of what I just said, which is Donnie, we're not in any rush to sign an extension right now. Let's uh let's talk after next year, after after Pavel plays with David for a full season at five on five and and next to Peterka.

SPEAKER_00 12:04

Oh, you guys sure? Uh why don't we just do it right now? Uh get it over with. I think it'd be a good tea, a good deal for everybody here. Uh what do you think? No.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

No. I I think my client wants to wait until this time next year to sign and maybe test the open waters. So that is why it could be difficult for Zaka to sign an extension right now at the Bruins. I'm sure the Bruins would love to lock in Zaka right now at about seven or eight million. But Zaka's representation is probably sitting there saying, Hey, Pav, look around the league at what guys are getting with the cap going up. You put up 70 points next year alongside Pashunak, we'll get you 10-11 somewhere. And so and so someone might someone might do that. And if that's the case, you know, if you don't trade Zaka this offseason and you go into next year without an extension in place, and the Bruins are competitive at the trade deadline, which is pretty likely, you guys think if the Bruins are close to a playoff spot that they're gonna trade Pavel Zaka at the deadline? No way in hell it will freeze over. There's no way. No way. So then you now you've held on to him through the deadline, and now you have to hope that you can sign him in the offseason. But now you're probably, and by probably, I think definitely, paying him a higher AAV than if you were to do it this offseason. So that scenario, I still think would be better than letting him walk for nothing because I do think that I know I know he hasn't been the best playoff performer. I know he's not the most assertive individual, and he's not a he's not a play driver, he's more of a complimentary guy. I get all of that. I think that the Bruins look at Zaka at the right price as a really good, versatile center iceman who's in his prime right now, and as he starts to age out of his prime, can be a reliable veteran in that lineup to help complement the younger core coming up behind him of Hagens and Minton and Laterno and other guys, right? So for the right deal, for the right price, I do see the value of the Bruins extending Zaka. But if they can't get an extension done this summer, then his AAV is gonna be a lot more uncomfortable next summer because I'm telling you guys right now, he's gonna have a good offensive year playing alongside Pashtenak for all of his five on five minutes. And and maybe Minton plays with Pashtunak. I don't want to make assumptions here because it's not fact, but right now do I see Pasternak's center being Minton over Zaka? Maybe. Maybe I see it being Minton over Lindholm. I feel like the order of likelihood for Pasternoch's centers next season goes Zaka, Minton, I guess Lindholm. I mean, we'll see where Haggins plays, but I don't I don't see them putting Hagens as as Posthonax center. Um unless he just really excels next year and it's a no-brainer. But in any event, those are my thoughts on the Zaka situation. And maybe this and listen, this is why you may have a lot of the people from the trade Zaka camp step up right now, right? And say, Yeah, Brian, that's exactly why they should trade him. Because if he doesn't want to extend this summer because he wants to take a gamble on himself playing alongside Poshnak for a full year, and then really cash in next summer. And at that point, I don't want the Bruins to cash in on that AAV, then just get ahead of it now and trade him now. And the problem there is I just don't think the Bruins will do it. I don't think the Bruins will trade him right now. I just don't. And this is why I'm fearful of the mistake that this episode is titled after. Because if the Bruins don't sign Zaka to an extension this summer, then they're gonna get to a point next year, next summer, after Zocca has put up, you know, 30 and 40 next to David all year, or whatever it ends up being, 35 and 35, whatever. And Zaka's AAV projection is gonna skyrocket because of he'll now have back-to-back 60 plus, 30 plus goal seasons. He'll be a center iceman still in his prime at 30. He's got the versatility of the position of playing wing and center, but center is just a very, very sought-after position. And so ultimately, the Bruins aren't gonna want to pay Zaka more than they want to pay him right now. But Zocca's representation, they're not dumb, right? They they know that it's probably best for Zocca to sign next year. So if the Bruins aren't comfortable with that and they and they don't want to pay what his camp might want it to go for, then shouldn't you trade him now?

unknown 17:38

Right?

SPEAKER_01 17:39

Because you're not winning the cup next year. So if the player in his camp are playing hardball, and rightfully so, go get your paper, right? I'm not gonna criticize them for that. Like, go do what's best for the player. But if Sweeney wants the player to take a friendly deal right now, call it 7 million or 8 million with you know, healthy term, and the player and his agent are saying, eh, we'll take our chances. Let's see how the year goes, because we think we think he's gonna have a really strong year with next to Pasternak. Well, now I don't know if Sweeney's gonna love paying Zaka 10 million this time next year, right? And he's not gonna trade him at the deadline unless the Bruins suck and they're sellers. So it's kind of it's kind of a it's a tricky situation. It really is. I think for the Bruins, the best case scenario for them in their mind would be to extend Zaka this offseason at a comfortable AAV that them and the player can agree on. But I don't think the players' representatives are just looking to do something that's team friendly for them for the Bruins. They want to do what's best for their client and them because they get a percentage of his you know of his contract. So it's a it's a tricky spot, and I definitely don't think the Bruins have the goal to trade him this offseason. I just don't see them having the Cahoons. So it'll be an interesting story to follow. I think, you know, I I'm okay with the Bruins trading Zaka, and I'm also okay with them extending him for the right AAV. What I wouldn't be okay with is none of the above. That to me will be unforgivable. And again, if they were contenders, I'll reiterate, if they were contenders, right, they obviously wouldn't trade Zaka this offseason if they were contenders. And they would be okay going into the year and possibly finishing the year without him on an extension because they're contenders and he's a key part of that. And if they lose him in the offseason for nothing, at least they can say, Well, we were going for a cup. It is what it is. But when you're not going for a cup because you're not good enough right now, the Bruins need to have the self-awareness of knowing that they're not contenders. And so, because of that, it would be unacceptable to go into this season without trading Zaka, without extending him, and then going through the deadline and not trading him and not extending him, and then going into next offseason after a potential missed playoff appearance or maybe a first round exit, and then he signs a ticket with you know, insert team here, Carolina or whatever, right? It's like you can't lose him for nothing. He's too good of an asset for that to happen. He's too good of an asset, and the Bruins aren't good enough of a team to see things through, and then if things don't work out, they don't work out. Oh, well, we we we tried to win a round. No, that's that's unacceptable. Um, and I know some people out there don't love Zach as a player, they think he's overrated, whatever. But I'm telling you, he's a player that is is valued. Uh he plays a valued position, he's a 60-point guy. Is he is he a high-end one center in this league? No. He's he's he's a he's a two C. But there's a market for those guys too. Teams need those players, right? So, in any event, that's what I wanted to touch on today. The Bruins need to avoid making the mistake of letting Pavel Zaka walk for nothing in free agency next year. They need to either extend him for their own or trade him. And the longer that he goes without being extended or traded, the muddier the waters get. Because his AAV, I promise, will only get higher from here after a full season with Poshanach on his wing. And even in that situation, if you have to pony up a little bit more cash than you're comfortable with, I still think that's probably. Better than letting him walk for nothing. Because the other thing, too, is to keep in mind not only is the salary cap going to be rising into the 130s over the next couple of years, the Bruins will also have some key young players on ELCs still. So Minton is on an ELC this season. So is Hoosnadinoff. Higgins is on an ELC this year and next. So presumably he would be on an ELC still in the first year of a new Zaka deal. Minton and Husnadinoff would be on their second contracts, technically. So they'd be off their ELCs by the time a new Zaka deal kicks in. But Dean Laterno, he theoretically, if if he doesn't burn the first year of his of his ELC spring of 27, then you'll have three years of Pavel Zaka's next contract with Dean Laterno on an ELC. At the minimum, you'd have Laterno on two years of an ELC into a new Zaka deal if he were to burn his first year next spring. Will Zellers, he'll, you know, he'd be on three years of an ELC, you know, in contract in Zocca's next contract. So that's good news. You would have some significant young players coming up over the next couple of years that would be on ELCs while Zaka is getting paid. And with the cap going up, trust me, Zocca will be far from uh the only player making bank. A lot of these players are gonna be making high contract AAVs with the cap rising over the over. It's just you're gonna you already see with Leo Carlson. Leo Carlson's a hell of a player. I think he's gonna be one of the best young centers in the game. You know, not to Macklin Celebrini's level, but like you know, that next tier of young guys, and he's the highest paid player in the game. $18 million contract he just signed. So it's where the league's going. Um, if they can get Zaka on a on a on an extension with an AAV of like $8 million or 7.5 or whatever, even nine, I don't think that'll age that poorly, all things considered. Um trade him if you have to. If you think that you and his camp are very far apart, then don't be afraid to trade him in a year where you're not a contender. Like, just don't keep him for a one and done playoff round or a non-qualify season and then lose him to nothing. Unacceptable. Okay, so um trade him, extend them, don't lose him for nothing. That'll do it for this episode. As I said earlier, please go ahead and leave your suggestions, your what if suggestions in Boston Bruins history here on YouTube, on Twitter at Brian D. Flees underscore at the puck ups, or you can email me infothepuckups.com. Thank you all very much for listening. Enjoy your week, and I'll talk to you on Friday.