On this episode of Bruins Beat, Evan Marinofsky answers your questions including Fabian Lysell's development, expectations for next season, and what to be excited about in the Bruins future. That, and much more!
Topics:
- Mike Loftus was a legend
- Questions on Fabian Lysell
- Young players making an impact
- Expectations
- Trent Frederic
- Things to be excited about
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Topics:
- Mike Loftus was a legend
- Questions on Fabian Lysell
- Young players making an impact
- Expectations
- Trent Frederic
- Things to be excited about
*******************************************************
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SportsTranscript
00:00BruinsBeat is brought to you by PricePix and the GameTime app.
00:06And welcome into the BruinsBeat on CLNS media.
00:09We're presented by PricePix.
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00:25I am Evan Maranofsky, joined today by nobody.
00:28Nobody.
00:29It's a mailbag episode.
00:30I asked for your questions on Twitter and boy, did you deliver.
00:35Tons of responses.
00:36I got to give props though.
00:38There was one question that was better than everybody else.
00:41It was Localization LLC saying, what's your podcast?
00:46And to me, that was my favorite question.
00:48It's BruinsBeat.
00:49That's my podcast.
00:50It's BruinsBeat.
00:51That's what that is, localization.
00:52So lots of great questions.
00:53I want to get into that.
00:54But first, I want to address the death of Mike Loftus.
01:00So Mike Loftus was a longtime Bruins writer for the Patriot Ledger.
01:05And it's interesting because in this business, and I haven't been in it very long, I'm 25.
01:11I've been fortunate to be in it for the last six, seven years, since midway through college.
01:16And Loftus and I's paths crossed a little bit there towards the end of his career before
01:23he retired in 2020.
01:26And it's interesting, even at sort of a young age in this business, you realize that your
01:32favorite people, the people who make the job fun, are the people who are funny.
01:39And in this job, there are a lot of late nights, weekends, long hours.
01:45I don't want to make it sound like working in sports isn't fun.
01:47It's a really fun time.
01:49But it is a job.
01:50It's a job.
01:53And it's those kinds of people who make those long hours fun, enjoyable, humorous, can crack
02:02a joke at any point and make the whole room laugh.
02:06It's those people that make the job so fun.
02:08It's those people that make it not a big deal, working late on a Saturday night or working
02:14a long day on a Sunday in July.
02:18It's those kinds of people like Mike Loftus.
02:22And Loftus was the best at it.
02:24Now, I don't have as many stories with Loftus as other people do.
02:29I was only around for two or three of his years.
02:33And I encourage everyone to go read Mick Colaggio's beautiful tribute to Mike at Boston Hockey
02:40Now.
02:41I urge you to read it.
02:42It's really good.
02:43Mick has a very unique perspective because he sat next to Loftus for a very long time.
02:50And he can speak better to him than I can.
02:51But I do have one Mike Loftus story that I think is endearing.
02:58Back when I first started this podcast or started doing this podcast, Bruins Beat, it
03:04was the summer of 2019.
03:07And I was a rising junior in college.
03:10I was a nobody.
03:12And I just started out.
03:15And I remember I got Jack Edwards on the show.
03:17I don't know if people might remember this or not.
03:19But I got Jack Edwards on.
03:20And it was a big deal to me to get Jack on and do like a two-parter and props to Jack
03:26for being awesome with that.
03:27I think I've talked about that on the show before.
03:30And he was awesome.
03:31And I remember I was just really pumped up about it, promoted it everywhere.
03:34You know, oh my God, Jack Edwards.
03:37And I was at the old Foxboro Pro League.
03:40So now they have the Foxboro Prep League as they always have had.
03:43They used to have a pro league where local pros could come and play against each other.
03:48I think it was on like Wednesday nights.
03:50And I was there one weekend or one week during that summer.
03:54And I came across Mike Loftus and he stopped me.
03:58And he was telling me about what he thought about the podcast and things that Jack had
04:02said.
04:03And it occurred to me, he really listened.
04:05He really and I couldn't believe that someone like Mike Loftus, who was a legend covering
04:10the Bruins for so many years, would listen to my podcast.
04:16And it was such a nice thing for him to do.
04:18And it was just how much he'd listened to it and he enjoyed it.
04:22And it just meant a lot.
04:23And it was a big confidence boost.
04:25And I don't know if he meant it like that, but it always stuck with me.
04:29And it really just was big for me.
04:33And it meant a lot.
04:34And I was very saddened the other day to find out that Mike Loftus had passed away.
04:39I send my absolute best to his family.
04:42And he is, you know, I wish he would have been an incredible podcast guest if he continued
04:47covering the Bruins, because he was hilarious.
04:49So I send my best to Loftus' family.
04:53And that's all I have to say about that.
04:55Let's dive into the questions.
04:57Let's dive into these questions.
04:59The first one is from Court LaLonde.
05:01And it was a gif of someone saying, what next?
05:03An actual slap in the face and Bruins diehard.
05:06Said, why do you continue to refuse to allow Court LaLonde to be the stand in for Conor
05:09Ryan?
05:10Well, that's a great question.
05:12Definitely not Court LaLonde from the Bruins diehards account.
05:16I record at weird times.
05:17And I, you know, I can't sometimes I can't nail down times for people who don't realize
05:22like when Conor Ryan and I go to record an episode, you know, he'll text me and be like,
05:26you know, how does 4 p.m. tomorrow sound?
05:28And I'll be like, great.
05:28And then we don't record until like 445, five o'clock.
05:32So, you know, Court, we'll have to get you on a future show.
05:35That's what that's what it'll have to be.
05:37We'll have to do that at some point.
05:40Adam at all dread 224 asks, I know Lysell is the hope for the second right wing spot,
05:47but I'm kind of curious to see if Merkuloff can grab that spot as well.
05:51What do you think his chances are to land a roster spot?
05:54And if neither of them can stick, are there any external options available to fill either
05:59second line right wing or third line right wing?
06:03And Mark Allred replies, says Mark has never played right wing.
06:06And Adam kind of says, yes, I know.
06:07But, you know, would it be easier for him to land a spot on the wing than down the middle?
06:15If Lysell can't, you know, I think Merkuloff's an interesting case because he is a center
06:20and I like him down the middle.
06:21I think he's better suited down the middle.
06:23I would rather they wait until a spot opens up down the middle for him to kind of get
06:27consistent reps.
06:28And again, I've talked about this on the show before.
06:30I don't think it's good that when he was brought up, he was a fourth liner.
06:34Like Merk is not a fourth liner.
06:37That's not a place where you develop a guy like that, who has that high offensive ceiling.
06:41So I think it's more so waiting for that third line center spot at some point to open
06:46up again.
06:46I don't know how that does.
06:47You know, there was a question here, I think about Padra and I'll get to that in a bit.
06:51Yeah.
06:52Nate Bishop asked if Padra doesn't make the team out of training camp.
06:54How do you see the top three lines shaking out to start the season?
06:57Maybe Merkuloff goes in there.
06:58I mean, Merkuloff played a lot more last year and for a young guy reps matter at the pro
07:03level.
07:03And, you know, Padra is coming off shoulder surgery and, you know, he played a fair amount
07:08last year, but was out for most of the year.
07:10So it wouldn't shock me if Merk comes in and fills that third line center spot.
07:15I don't think second line right wing would be the spot for Merkuloff.
07:19I wouldn't be shocked though, if he had a great training camp and then he's forced to
07:23be in the lineup somewhere.
07:25Um, because again, his numbers, the last two years in Providence offensively were good.
07:30So again, like that's when you start to move up to the NHL level.
07:34Um, and I, you know, again, I just don't know if there's the spot for him in this lineup.
07:38If Padra was that third line center, um, what else did Adam ask?
07:42And if neither of them can stick, are there any external options?
07:45Oh, um, I don't know.
07:47External options.
07:49It's tough.
07:49Cause I think you also have internal options.
07:51If neither sticks at second line right wing and we can get into lifestyle in a bit, there's
07:55geeky and you could also stick Frederick on that side.
07:58So like, I think there's too many internal ones.
08:01I still hold that at the trade deadline, they're going to be in the market for a winger for
08:05a top six winger.
08:06I still think that's going to be the case.
08:08Um, and I think that's, what's going to end up being their biggest need, uh, at the trade
08:12deadline, uh, Joey McDermott asks, why didn't the Bruins take a flyer on Phil Kessel last
08:18year when they needed depth scoring?
08:19Well, Joey, that would have been a very fun thing.
08:22That would have been a great storyline.
08:24Um, he would have been great back, uh, back in Boston towards the end of his career.
08:29It didn't even play last year.
08:31Um, you know, it's funny cause the Bruins, I remember talking about this a bit around
08:36the time of like, Hey, like Phil Kessel's out there.
08:37Why not get him at veteran minimum?
08:39Um, you know, I think when you look at kind of the money ball signings that they got,
08:44Phil Kessel kind of would have fallen in line with that.
08:46Um, Ben Ream's Dyke was, is a little bit younger.
08:49Um, a little bit more of a net front presence.
08:53I don't know if there's any like bad blood still left over with this administration with
08:58Phil Kessel.
08:59I don't know about that.
09:01Um, I just think they probably felt Ben Ream's Dyke was a better fit offensively.
09:06Um, maybe a little bit more, more responsible defensively than Phil Kessel.
09:11Um, had a little bit more left in the tank.
09:13Ben Ream's Dyke was actually going pretty good throughout most of last year until he
09:17was out for quite a while.
09:19Um, but Kessel would have been fun.
09:21I mean, I agree with you.
09:21I think it would have been a really fun thing.
09:23Um, I don't know.
09:25I just think, you know, and in Vegas, he sort of started to run out of gas.
09:29Um, so I, I just don't, I don't know if that would have worked.
09:32And then you also look like Danton Heinen, how he took off, right?
09:35Like maybe if Heinen doesn't work out, they would go out and think about a Phil Kessel.
09:39But, uh, I don't think you're way off Joey.
09:42And that like, that would have been the off season to do it.
09:44Um, I just think there were, you know, obviously there were some better options out there and
09:48the team clearly felt that way too, but would have been a fun storyline.
09:51Joey would have been fun.
09:53Uh, Marcus Antonelli asks, what's your realistic points prediction or projection for Elias
09:59Lindholm this year over under is a 56 and a half points based on his career stats.
10:04But I feel like he'd easily surpass that on a top line with poster knock, right?
10:09Is that an over under, like, is that an odd, those real odds or did you go through and
10:14like average out his points?
10:16If you went and did that yourself props, like that's, that's dedication.
10:20I appreciate that.
10:21If that is the actual over under stat for Elias Lindholm, I, you take that, take the
10:30over.
10:30I mean, I, to me, I think it's 72 points.
10:33Um, I think it's gotta be 72 points.
10:36Um, and you know, for me, like, I just think playing with popster knock is going to give
10:41him a ton of production, power play one, and that bumper position is going to give him
10:44a ton of production.
10:45Um, I know he had a down year last year.
10:48I think playing with popster knock power play one and Zaka.
10:53Like, I think Pablo Zaka also is going to be a really strong option on that left side.
10:57So to me, I think 72, I think Connor had 73 or I may have had 73 and Connor at 72.
11:04Either way, it's low 70s is what I would project, um, for, for Elias Lindholm.
11:09I just think it's going to be a good year for him.
11:11And I want to get to Lindholm a little bit more later on because there was a question
11:14about things I'd be excited about.
11:16So I don't want to, I don't want to do that all now.
11:18Uh, Kevin McCarthy and full disclosure, Kevin was one of my best friends growing up.
11:22He's still a very good friend of mine.
11:24So, um, he asked this like with the comma Evan at the end, which I, which young players
11:29do you see making the biggest impact next year?
11:31Which I appreciate the formality of the question, um, as for young players, uh, Mason Lowry
11:39is, you know, I think chief among them, um, clearly has a runway to be a every day NHL
11:46player, um, on that third pair with most likely Andrew peak.
11:50Um, and so I think, you know, there's less pressure on him if they had not went out and
11:54got the door off and they went into next year with the top four of Lowry McAvoy, uh, uh,
12:00Carlo and Lindholm.
12:02I think that that's a lot of pressure on, uh, a young, a rookie.
12:06And I've said it before on this show, I'll say it again.
12:09Um, for some guys, they can come out in the playoffs and just burst onto the scene and
12:13be outstanding.
12:14And it's just so much adrenaline that they don't, they're not even really thinking about
12:17what they're doing.
12:18You know, like some of the, the rushes you saw Lowry do against Toronto is that series
12:22went along.
12:23It was like this kid's acting like he's out in the backyard, which is what you want.
12:27Um, but that can go away during the regular season.
12:30So I think, you know, I think he's going to be fantastic.
12:32I think it's gonna be great.
12:33Um, but I think it's good that they have sort of that runway as, Oh, you can be a third
12:37pairing guy.
12:37You know, you're not going to get the hardest matchups, probably the power play to quarterback.
12:42Like, I think that's the right move.
12:43And I think he's going to be a guy that makes an impact.
12:46Uh, Matt Patra should, we'll have to see what he's like at training camp, but my guess is
12:50that he's going to be the favorite for that third line center spot.
12:53Um, and then Fabian Lysel and this actually starts, I think I got a bunch of Lysel questions
12:59coming up and I'll, I'll just, you know, go through them now.
13:02Um, you know, someone at Len Berkowitz asks, what are reasonable expectations for Lysel?
13:06I'm not buying in a what's Bruin asks.
13:09Is this a do or die year for Fabian Lysel?
13:11There's a spot on the top six wing there for the taking bingo.
13:16It's his for the taking.
13:17I think they have set this up for, for that to be his.
13:20Um, he's got to earn it though.
13:21That's the thing.
13:22Can he earn it?
13:24I know he had a pretty good year in Providence last year.
13:26Um, uh, up until, you know, being out for a bit, um, as for reasonable expectations.
13:33So I wrote down 10 to 15 goals, 27 to 35 points.
13:38I, you know, and I've, I've said this before.
13:40I don't think he's going to stink.
13:42I don't think he's going to be a complete bust.
13:44I don't think he's going to be like, oh my God, we can't even use this guy.
13:47Um, but I also don't think he's going to, you know, jump on that second line and immediately
13:52be like, you know, 25, 30 goals, um, 50 to 55 points.
13:57Like, I don't think it's going to be that I think he's going to be a solid piece.
14:02Um, depth wise.
14:03Um, I think, you know, my prediction is he makes that second line out of camp.
14:08It just comes down to what is that production going to be?
14:10I think it's gonna be along those lines and that's why I think, you know, those numbers
14:14I just mentioned are not far off from what a Morgan geeky might give you or a Trent Frederick
14:21or a Georgie Murkuloff if he's on the right side, which he isn't used to playing.
14:25That's why you're going to be in the market.
14:27I think for a top six winger come the deadline.
14:30Um, so that's sort of my expectations for him.
14:32Is this do or die?
14:34Yeah, I think, you know, the clock is ticking in terms of making an NHL impact.
14:38I am, I am very pro take your time before you get to the NHL level.
14:42You don't develop really.
14:44It's hard to develop at the NHL level.
14:46Um, so I think, you know, you've got to be in a pretty good spot to ascend when you get
14:51to the NHL.
14:52Um, and go back to Kevin's question about, you know, which young players I mentioned
14:56my cell.
14:57I think on that next tier, Riley Duran might be a guy that, that, uh, cracks that bottom
15:02six at some point, maybe fills in for a bit.
15:04Mark McLaughlin, same type of thing.
15:07Um, and I think Duran's younger, a little bit more unproven.
15:09So maybe you see him before you'd see a Mark McLaughlin.
15:12Uh, and then Georgie Murkieloff comes down to where he fits.
15:15You know, if he has a crazy good training camp, then they're going to have to put him
15:20somewhere.
15:21They can't just stick him in Providence again.
15:23I mean, they could, but I think it's more worth his time if he's killing it in the preseason,
15:28he's killing it in training camp.
15:30You got to find a spot for him at the NHL level.
15:32And again, that's a good problem to have.
15:34That's a good problem to have.
15:36Um, I want to get to more of these questions, but first quick word from our friends over
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17:03Let's dive back into questions.
17:05Benjamin asks, assuming Swayman gets signed, looking at the roster with the new additions
17:11and subtractions, where do you see this team next year?
17:16First place in the Atlantic.
17:18That's what I see.
17:20There were clearly subtractions.
17:22It was a lot of depth pieces though.
17:24I'll see you lost Jake DeBrusque.
17:26You didn't really replace him on the wing.
17:30However, I think the gains you made in terms of Elias Lindholm and what he can bring as
17:36a number one center, Nikita Zdorov on the back end, what he can bring as a top four
17:43shutdown defenseman, maybe a little bit of offense that is untapped.
17:49I think you're much better.
17:51Florida, I talked about this with Scott McLaughlin last week.
17:55He believes Florida is still above the Bruins.
17:57I agree in the sense that the Bruins got to prove themselves against the Panthers in the
18:00playoffs, no doubt, but on paper, I would take the Bruins at the moment.
18:06I would put the Bruins in first in the Atlantic.
18:10I think that's where I see them.
18:12In terms of the playoffs, you got to get past two rounds.
18:16You're a cup contender.
18:17They are a Stanley Cup contender and it's up to them to get past that second round.
18:23I think that's sort of where they stand.
18:25That's where expectations are going to be.
18:27If injuries happen, then things change, but given the roster, that's where I have them.
18:31First place in the Atlantic, Stanley Cup contender and a Stanley Cup contender,
18:34as I said, should be going more than two rounds.
18:36That's where they're at.
18:39Let's see.
18:39I answered Nate Bishop's question about if Patrick doesn't make the team out of camp.
18:43Oh, Hellhammer actually asked, why wouldn't he make the team though?
18:47Well, I think why he wouldn't, and this isn't to say that he's not going to,
18:52but why he wouldn't make the team is that he's coming off shoulder surgery.
18:57Didn't play a ton last year and he's still very young.
19:00They may look at him after training camp in the preseason and say, you know,
19:04wouldn't be the worst idea to get him a bunch of reps at the pro level in Providence.
19:11My hunch is that that won't happen.
19:12My hunch is that he's going to make the team.
19:15The offensive upside is so good.
19:16And there was a question about the lineup.
19:20Where was that?
19:21I just had it in front of me.
19:24Maybe it's further down.
19:26It might be further down about the lineup without Patra.
19:32Oh, it's right after this.
19:33It's Nate Bishop's question.
19:34Did I just read that and, like, not even realize what he said?
19:37My God.
19:39If Patra doesn't make the team out of training camp, how do you see the top three lines shaking?
19:42Oh, yeah, he did.
19:44My God, I just had a complete brain fart.
19:47My apologies.
19:48Holy crap.
19:50It's been a long day.
19:51Yeah, I'll repeat Nate Bishop's question.
19:53People are gonna get so angry at me for this.
19:55If Patra doesn't make the team out of training camp,
19:56how do you see the top three lines shaking out to start the season?
20:00This is the exact question I was just referring to.
20:02This is why I need a teleprompter.
20:05If there's no Patra in that top nine, here is how I would see it.
20:11Zaka Lindholm, Pasternak, line one.
20:13Marcian Coyle, Lysel, line two.
20:16Frederick, Geeky, and then Brazou on that third line.
20:19And that third line would kind of give you a little bit of stability.
20:21You get that with Frederick and Geeky.
20:23And then obviously, you're gonna continue to see what you have.
20:26And Justin Brazou.
20:27Now, maybe Patra doesn't make it, and Montgomery goes with an all veteran line,
20:33or all veteran top nine, and Lysel isn't in there either.
20:36But to me, I think this is, as someone mentioned earlier,
20:39I think it's do or die for Lysel in proving himself.
20:42And that top six spot, that's the perfect place to do it.
20:44That's what he is supposed to be, a top six player.
20:48I know some other people have him on that third line instead.
20:52I think he has a real shot, though, on that second line.
20:55And there's no one else on this roster that I would,
20:58that's established that I would feel would be above Lysel
21:02for that second line right wing spot.
21:05Is the offensive upside of Geeky or Frederick that much better?
21:08No, I don't think it is.
21:09So I think you give Lysel that shot, at least to start the year.
21:12But again, Nate, to answer your question, I don't think,
21:16I think Lysel, I think Patra's gonna make it.
21:18But as I said, I just gave you my lines if he doesn't.
21:21How many more questions do we have?
21:22We have a good amount.
21:24Achari was tripped, which is a great Twitter name.
21:27And actually, if you go and look at their Twitter,
21:29their header is Achari getting tripped.
21:31And their Twitter bio is, we'll never get over it,
21:33which I think is just hilarious.
21:35Maybe that's Don Sweeney's burner account.
21:37That might be it.
21:38Achari was tripped.
21:39That might be just Don Sweeney's burner account.
21:42He asks, do you consider it selfish of Swayman
21:44to ask for more than $8 million?
21:46Exactly, this is Don Sweeney's burner account.
21:48We found it.
21:49Obviously not actually, but fun to think about.
21:53No, I don't think it's selfish of Swayman
21:54to ask for more than $8 million.
21:57As everyone who listens to this show knows,
21:59we are a pro-getting-the-bag podcast.
22:03Players deserve as much as they can get
22:07because they are helping driving revenue for the team.
22:10They're getting asses in seats.
22:12People are going to watch them.
22:13And Swayman is a big part of this core.
22:16The cap is going up.
22:18Goalies are making more money.
22:21I don't think it's selfish of him
22:22to ask for more than $8 million.
22:23Should he get more?
22:24I have him at 8x8,
22:26so somewhere in the vicinity of.
22:29Now, if Swayman goes in and says,
22:30I want $23 million a year,
22:32that might not be the smartest move in the book.
22:34But more than $8 million?
22:36No, I don't think it's selfish.
22:38You know, I don't.
22:39So sort of stand on that.
22:42Before we get to the rest of the questions,
22:45let's do game time.
22:46Our good friends over at.
22:48The Stanley Cup final is over
22:50and what a thriller it was.
22:52The Celtics are NBA champions
22:54with hockey and basketball playoffs over.
22:57Attention turns to the MLB.
22:58And is there a better activity to do during the summer
23:02than hitting the ballparks?
23:03Nothing beats a summer night at Fenway Park,
23:06a Fenway Frag,
23:08an ice cold beverage
23:09and the crack of the bat.
23:11It's a nice change of pace
23:12from the heart pounding intensity
23:14of the NHL and NBA playoffs.
23:17Just pure relaxation,
23:19good weather and great vibes.
23:21I feel like every year I make a slew of fond memories at Fenway.
23:24For me last year,
23:25it was in Chicago watching the Red Sox
23:27take down the Cubs at historic Wrigley Field.
23:30Gotta say,
23:31Cubs fans,
23:32very nice people.
23:34Want to go to a game this summer?
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24:29Now,
24:29back to the show.
24:30So Hellhammer asks quite a question.
24:33If you were forced to marry one hockey player for life,
24:37no divorce,
24:38dot dot dot,
24:39who would it be and why?
24:41Well, I'm going to assume
24:42you mean a male hockey player.
24:45Because this is a Bruins podcast,
24:47so I'm assuming you mean an NHL player.
24:50And if I were forced to marry one,
24:53I mean,
24:54I know he's retired,
24:54but you got to go with the free Spurs run,
24:56right?
24:57In terms of like,
24:58you know,
24:59good person,
25:00easy to get along with,
25:01team player.
25:03That's right.
25:04Like that's a guy who you'd want to,
25:06that's a type of person you'd want to be with forever
25:09and not have to divorce.
25:11So that kind of person,
25:13I think,
25:13would be the,
25:15the sweet spot.
25:16Patrice Bergeron.
25:17I mean,
25:17I think that's like everyone's answer,
25:18right?
25:18Like capping your team roommate,
25:22like doesn't matter that that's the guy.
25:25So yeah,
25:25that'd be my,
25:26if I was forced to marry one,
25:27I think I'd have to pick Patrice.
25:31Just in terms of livability,
25:32you know,
25:32right?
25:33That's all I'm talking about.
25:34I'm not talking about anything else.
25:35That's all I'm saying.
25:36Just seems like a really nice guy.
25:38That's that's that's where I'm leaving it at.
25:40OK,
25:41that's it.
25:42Um,
25:43at Ashley Smashley,
25:46what a name.
25:474824 asks,
25:50do you think Chicago keeps taking Bruins players to help their image?
25:53A couple is one thing,
25:54sure,
25:55but eight former Bruins kind of seems intentional to me.
25:58Not going to change my opinion on that organization,
26:00but does it change yours?
26:02So is it eight?
26:03I looked at the roster quickly.
26:04I thought it was like five or six,
26:05which is still a lot.
26:06I mean,
26:06what?
26:07Bertuzzi,
26:09Taylor Hall,
26:09Nick Foligno,
26:11Pat Maroon.
26:13There's more to and I blanking on who it is.
26:16Do I think it's intentional?
26:18No,
26:18I don't.
26:19I don't think it's intentional.
26:20I don't think the Blackhawks are saying we need Bruins.
26:24I think what the Blackhawks are saying,
26:25and it's strictly on ice is,
26:27you know,
26:27we have some of these younger guys here like a Conor Bedard.
26:30Let's surround him with some strong veterans like a Foligno,
26:34a Taylor Hall,
26:35a Pat Maroon who can help show this kid the way.
26:38Protect him a bit.
26:40I think that's where it comes from,
26:41and I don't think it's to change the view of that organization.
26:45I mean,
26:45I think they kind of did that when they cleaned house,
26:48so or they tried to do that when they cleaned out.
26:50It's up to you whether or not you,
26:51you know,
26:51you like them still or not.
26:54But yeah,
26:55I don't think it's intentional,
26:57but it is interesting.
26:58Them and the Canucks is Bruins Midwest and Bruins West.
27:02That's what that's what they are now,
27:04but you make the case the Bruins are just Anaheim East,
27:06so I guess everyone's taking from everybody.
27:08Um,
27:09Ace dangers asks,
27:11do you think they will start the season with Corpo Salo in the AHL to give Bussy a chance
27:15to show some trade value and move him rather than losing him on waivers?
27:21It's an interesting point,
27:22given that they would save a little bit of money with Corpo Salo down in Providence.
27:27I think they stick with Corpo Salo up at Boston because he's a stable.
27:32He's more stable.
27:34Given that he's played NHL games,
27:35talked about this with hags the other day.
27:37You know,
27:38Corpo Salo has played the NHL now for a good amount of years.
27:42Will have way less on his plate.
27:44I'm not saying he's going to be like a Vesna candidate or anything great,
27:47but I think he'll be serviceable,
27:48a somewhat reliable backup behind Swayman,
27:52who again,
27:53this is going to be his first year playing a lot more games and being the number one guy.
27:58Whereas Bussy,
27:59yeah,
27:59I mean,
28:00Bussy's been,
28:00you know,
28:01was great in the preseason.
28:02I think last year has been great in Providence ever since coming there and has a lot of promise.
28:07But you don't know 100% what he's going to be yet.
28:09And that's a big gamble to take.
28:12It saves you against the cap,
28:13and I would have rather they saved that money against the cap and added another score.
28:17But for what they have,
28:20it wouldn't shock me.
28:21Again,
28:22Bussy has not played an NHL game yet.
28:26And he hasn't shown much at the NHL level yet.
28:28And that's not to say he's not going to be good.
28:29I think he is going to be a very solid NHL goalie someday.
28:33But they might just say,
28:34you know,
28:34we'll risk losing him on waivers.
28:36And if we lose him,
28:36oh, well,
28:37and the organization might view him as nothing more than a backup.
28:40I'm not saying that they do.
28:41I'm saying that just might be how they view him.
28:45So again,
28:46like,
28:46I don't want to lose Bussy.
28:47I don't.
28:48But I do wonder if,
28:51I do think they start the year with Corpozalo up in Boston.
28:56At Brian Swartz asks,
28:58Hags was talking about Frederick's future.
29:00What do you think as he heads into restricted free agency of putting him with Coyle and Martian
29:04to see his true offensive upside,
29:06and then decide to extend trade or let him walk?
29:08So I looked at Puckpedia,
29:10which rip cap friendly,
29:11recipes cap friendly.
29:12It was the easiest website to use.
29:14And it's like gone now.
29:16Frederick is supposed to be a UFA next year,
29:18an unrestricted free agency,
29:19but it's nonetheless a free agent.
29:23And going to be in need of a new contract.
29:25I think it's an interesting idea.
29:27I could see them trying it if Lysel doesn't work out
29:29or if Lysel out of camp doesn't earn it.
29:31Do I think he has a lot more offensive upside?
29:35I think in a perfect world,
29:36he's a middle six depth scoring physical guy,
29:42which is what he's given you.
29:44I also have questions about that Coyle Martian duo on that second line.
29:48I've mentioned this before.
29:51Is it automatic that if Frederick's with them,
29:53he's going to produce a lot more?
29:56I don't know.
29:57Like, I don't know if that's automatic.
29:59If that's automatic,
30:01it could be and he could have a whole new offensive upside
30:03that we haven't seen yet.
30:04But again, I'm on the side of
30:06I want to see Lysel first in that spot.
30:09But again, I'm not against Frederick being up there.
30:11Not like, oh, please don't do that.
30:12Oh no, don't put Frederick on that second line.
30:15No, please.
30:17It's like that wrestling meme where the guy's like,
30:18no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
30:20I think it was like Andre the Giant or something.
30:22I'm not a wrestling guy,
30:23but that meme is that GIF is hilarious.
30:26But yeah, I could see it down the road.
30:31At Mr. D242424 asks,
30:35Evan, what are the chances Bruins are trying to move
30:37Corpus Allo in parentheses hard to do
30:39in order to sign Swayman?
30:40I don't think they are.
30:41I think they're going to stick with Swayman and Corpus Allo.
30:44Corpus Allo's not getting you anything right now.
30:46And I don't think cap space is the issue
30:49with the Bruins and signing Swayman.
30:51I don't think that's the issue right now.
30:52And then finally, we'll end on a very high note
30:55at Daniel O McKay 94 asks,
30:57what are the top three things
30:59that you're most excited for this upcoming season?
31:01Thanks again, Evan.
31:01Well, thank you, Daniel, for the question.
31:04What are the top three things I'm most excited for?
31:06Well, I teased it at the top,
31:09but I think that Lindholm-Postranak connection,
31:10I'm excited to see.
31:12Now, for those who don't know,
31:14I'm not a fan of the Bruins.
31:15I can't be.
31:16When you cover them, when you talk about them,
31:18so subjective.
31:20So you're not, I'm not a fan of the Bruins.
31:22I'm not like, man, I hope,
31:23I hope the last Lindholm scores 100 points this year.
31:26I hope the Bruins win every game.
31:27Like that's not what I'm looking for.
31:29What I'm looking for is interesting.
31:30I'm looking for interesting, fun to watch,
31:34fun to write about and talk about storylines.
31:37And the Lindholm-Postranak connection,
31:40I think is going to be a really exciting storyline.
31:42So that is something I'm very excited about.
31:44What is that connection going to look like?
31:46And how is Lindholm going to fit on paper?
31:49And, you know, talking about it,
31:51he looks like a perfect fit
31:53for what that team's identity is,
31:54for his identity is.
31:56I think that is going to work.
31:57But seeing it in action,
31:58I think it's going to be an exciting thing.
32:00Now, obviously for Bruins fans,
32:01for you guys listening,
32:03if that connection sucks,
32:04it won't be exciting to watch.
32:07And it'll be something we talk about quite a bit.
32:09But it is something I'm excited about.
32:11Number two, Mason Lowry.
32:13What does that look like?
32:15You know, on that third pair,
32:16what is his offense going to be like at five on five?
32:19Um, what power play responsibilities do they give him?
32:23I think he should be the top power play quarterback.
32:25I think it's gonna be hard to move McAvoy off that,
32:27especially at the start of the year when,
32:29you know, Lowry is adjusting to playing every day and all that.
32:34But I think Lowry is a future number one power play quarterback.
32:38So I think his ascendance,
32:39what he can bring on that third pair.
32:41And then also, like, how is he defensively?
32:43What, what is he continued?
32:44What strides does he continue to make defensively?
32:46I mean, he has a good stick.
32:48He is big.
32:49I mean, he's not, you know, laying guys out or anything.
32:51But like, I do think there is untapped potential there as well.
32:56And at some point this year,
32:57I do believe there's going to be some highlight real goal from him.
33:00He'll, you know, put the puck through the legs of a winger,
33:02a helpless winger trying to block his shot.
33:04And he'll go like top corner from the slot or something.
33:08So I go Lowry as well.
33:10I think Lowry is another one.
33:12And third, I'd go with Nikita Zdorov.
33:14I think, you know,
33:15what is the hitting compilation going to be like at the end of the year?
33:18How long is that Dafumi YouTube video going to be of Nikita Zdorov just laying guys out?
33:22Is it three minutes?
33:24Is it 10 minutes?
33:24I mean, how long is that going to be?
33:27And he's going to be a fan favorite.
33:28I think fans are going to enjoy him.
33:29They're going to like what he brings physically.
33:32They're, you know, they like the whole, you know, he looks like a scary guy,
33:37especially on the ice.
33:38So I think what he can bring.
33:40And then there's the element of what does he have offensively?
33:44Like, is he a guy that's going to put up, you know, can you get 30 points out of him?
33:47That would be a lot.
33:49That'd be a lot.
33:50But, you know, can you do it?
33:51So I think those are going to be three interesting things.
33:53I'm excited to watch.
33:55I'm excited to follow.
33:57And then I'm not excited for anything else.
33:58Those are just the three things.
34:00That's it.
34:00There's nothing else that exciting.
34:02Nothing else I care about.
34:03Just those three things.
34:04If those three things fall through, I'm not watching the Bruins next year.
34:07So that's that.
34:10Anyways, I want to thank everyone for sending in their questions.
34:13These were great.
34:15We'll do more of these as time goes along.
34:17Shout out to Connor Ryan.
34:18Hopefully he's having a great honeymoon.
34:20If you guys follow him on Instagram, his Instagram story of all the animals he's seeing,
34:26the elephants, the zebras.
34:28He saw some lions the other day that were near his truck,
34:31which, again, like, why not jump out and befriend it?
34:34Like, I would do it.
34:36And I would succeed, by the way.
34:37I would.
34:38I will hold that forever.
34:39I would.
34:40I could totally befriend a lion or a tiger.
34:42I could absolutely do it.
34:43But he didn't try to do that.
34:48Not getting the money's worth.
34:49Not getting his money's worth.
34:50But hopefully he's having a great honeymoon in all seriousness.
34:53And that's this week's Bruins Beat.
34:56There'll be more throughout the week.
34:58And yeah, we're presented by PrizePix and GameTime.
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35:14I'm Evan Maranofsky.
35:15You Bruins Beat listeners have a great rest of your week.