Bruins Beat w/ Evan Marinofsky Ep. 392
Who has been the Bruins Team MVP so far & What is the biggest concern?
Marina Maher of Barstool Sports joins Evan Marinofsky today to take a look at the position the Bruins have put themselves in. Are fans overreacting to a 5-game skid? Evan and Marina also name their team MVPs thus far and pick their biggest concerns for the team.
Topics:
- Should the outlook on this Bruins team change?
- Have expectations changed?
- Who is the team MVP?
- What is the biggest concern with this team
This episode of Bruins Beat is brought to you by Fanduel Sportsbook, the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network. Visit FanDuel.com/BOSTON and start earning BONUS BETS with America’s #1 Sportsbook!
21+ and present in MA. First online real money wager only. $10 Deposit req. Refund issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Play it smart from the start! GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234
This episode is also brought to you by HelloFresh. Go to HelloFresh.com/50bruins and use code 50bruins for 50% off plus free shipping!
Who has been the Bruins Team MVP so far & What is the biggest concern?
Marina Maher of Barstool Sports joins Evan Marinofsky today to take a look at the position the Bruins have put themselves in. Are fans overreacting to a 5-game skid? Evan and Marina also name their team MVPs thus far and pick their biggest concerns for the team.
Topics:
- Should the outlook on this Bruins team change?
- Have expectations changed?
- Who is the team MVP?
- What is the biggest concern with this team
This episode of Bruins Beat is brought to you by Fanduel Sportsbook, the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network. Visit FanDuel.com/BOSTON and start earning BONUS BETS with America’s #1 Sportsbook!
21+ and present in MA. First online real money wager only. $10 Deposit req. Refund issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Play it smart from the start! GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234
This episode is also brought to you by HelloFresh. Go to HelloFresh.com/50bruins and use code 50bruins for 50% off plus free shipping!
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SportsTranscript
00:00 was such a dire situation.
00:01 You know, no Bergeron, no Crecce,
00:03 Poitras comes in, makes camp, and all of a sudden,
00:06 you know, the Bruins are top of the NHL
00:08 and they don't have a legit number one center.
00:10 So it's kind of by committee that they're doing this.
00:14 I do still think it's a need.
00:15 Like, if I were to go shopping right now for the Bruins,
00:18 it would be a number one center.
00:20 (upbeat music)
00:23 (upbeat music)
00:25 - And welcome into Bruins Beat on CLNS Media.
00:32 My name is Evan Marinovsky.
00:34 And today I am joined by the great Marina Marr.
00:37 Marina, what is up?
00:39 - Evan, how are we?
00:42 - We are great.
00:43 It's been a minute.
00:44 I've said this to a few people this year.
00:47 It's fun 'cause now that I do two episodes a week
00:49 and one is with a different person every week,
00:51 it's like, you know, you get to kind of rekindle
00:54 those, the friendships and the podcasts we used to do.
00:57 'Cause you and I used to do Bruins Beat
01:00 a fair amount back in the day.
01:02 - Yeah, and then you just told me
01:03 you had Grinnelli on before me.
01:04 And I was like, well, what am I, chop deliver?
01:06 This is sad.
01:07 New season and I'm second in line.
01:10 It's tough.
01:11 - You are not second in line at all.
01:15 You used to be on quite a bit.
01:16 And then, you know, it just got to be me and Connor.
01:19 And then now you're back and you'll be on more,
01:21 which is awesome.
01:22 And how have you been?
01:24 How's New York?
01:25 How's, how old is your daughter?
01:30 - I truly hate when people do this,
01:33 but it's the only way I can tell you how old she is,
01:36 but she's 16 months.
01:37 So like a year and a half.
01:39 But like, I hate when people on like TikTok,
01:42 like write, oh, my daughter's 16 months.
01:43 It's like, just say like a year and a half.
01:45 But like, yeah, I have to do it
01:46 because I could not tell you otherwise.
01:49 But she's great.
01:49 She's actually going to the Bruins game
01:52 coming up next Saturday when they go to the Coyotes,
01:55 to Matinee.
01:55 So I'm bringing her for that.
01:57 So the first time around, she was three months old.
01:59 You know, I could just put her in my lap
02:01 and now she's running around
02:02 and we'll see what happens when we go to that.
02:05 But she's great.
02:06 I'm great.
02:07 Thanks for having me out.
02:08 - Of course, that's awesome.
02:10 'Cause I remember seeing you post a picture of her
02:13 in her first game.
02:14 That's like three months.
02:15 So that's late for you.
02:16 I would have thought like, you know,
02:17 right home from the hospital,
02:18 going straight to a Bruins game.
02:20 But three months, I can, you know, that's okay.
02:22 That's okay.
02:23 - She was born in August.
02:24 She was born in August.
02:25 So we had to wait till October, so.
02:27 - Well, there's training camp.
02:28 I mean, come on.
02:30 - Yeah, so it'll be interesting.
02:33 Like, I'm sure she'll love going to like the pro shop
02:37 and like picking something out.
02:38 Like I'll get her like a stuffed blades or something.
02:40 So that'll be fun.
02:41 - Oh yeah.
02:42 The little kids love the mascots.
02:44 But yeah, so good to hear that.
02:48 I'm excited to see how that goes.
02:50 Do you have to put the headphones on or everything
02:52 or do you go no headphones?
02:53 - I'm gonna bring them,
02:54 but she's usually pretty good about it now,
02:56 but I'll probably bring them otherwise.
02:58 I feel like she'll get scared.
02:59 Like if they score or something.
03:00 So I'm gonna bring them for sure.
03:02 - She's lucky it's not Columbus and you have the--
03:06 - No, no, I was thinking that.
03:06 - The cannon going off.
03:07 - It's not the cannon.
03:08 - That's--
03:09 - Oh, Jesus.
03:10 Don't even get me started about the Columbus game.
03:12 - Little kids probably cannot.
03:13 Have you been to Columbus to hear that in person?
03:15 - I actually haven't.
03:16 I'd love to go though.
03:18 - I am with you.
03:20 I've never, but everyone who covers the game there
03:22 says it's like the scariest thing.
03:23 So at some point I'll hear it
03:27 and it'll probably scare the shit out of me.
03:28 So I'm excited for when that happens.
03:31 So the Bruins, you're coming on at a weird time
03:34 because they had this hot start.
03:36 They've been in a three game losing streak.
03:38 We're recording this early on Thursday.
03:40 So it's pre Bruin Sharks,
03:42 which could be interesting 'cause if they lose this,
03:45 I think that's like Defcon 4.
03:47 But what--
03:50 - Is it though? - Overall, I mean,
03:52 for some people it will be.
03:54 For some people it will be.
03:55 - I mean, people are already mildly upset.
03:57 I think it's just the way that they're losing
03:59 is so demoralizing.
04:00 Like you could handle a one loss game,
04:02 but they're getting blown out
04:04 and the goalies are letting in eight goals a game.
04:06 So I think it's easier to be like,
04:09 oh, the sky's falling when that happens.
04:11 But like, I'm just like, they're fine.
04:14 - No, I also think that they will ultimately be fine.
04:17 And I've said all along this week,
04:18 I think it's a good thing that they're hitting this
04:20 at this time and fixing these things now
04:22 rather than have it hit in April.
04:25 But what are your thoughts on the Bruins so far?
04:27 I mean, have your expectations changed at all for this team
04:30 and where they're at or where are you at with this team?
04:34 - What's beautiful is that I came into the season
04:36 with quite literally no expectations.
04:39 So three games in, I was ready to say
04:42 that they are Stanley Cup contenders once again.
04:45 I've been surprised by this season a little bit,
04:47 but I'm also not surprised
04:49 that they're facing this adversity now.
04:50 If you look at the roster and you told me,
04:53 oh, come December, they're gonna be
04:56 in a little bit of a slump, I'd be like, oh, okay.
04:58 Like with what this roster actually has
05:01 and the players on it, like no one ever thought
05:05 that they would be top of the NHL at this point so far,
05:09 especially without Krejci and Bergeron.
05:11 So I came in with very low expectations,
05:14 but naturally as a Bruins fan,
05:16 I now have very high expectations
05:18 because I want them to go all the way.
05:21 But right now, very uninspired play.
05:25 So I wouldn't say expectations have changed too much.
05:28 I think the beautiful thing about having low expectations
05:30 is that like nothing can hurt you at this moment.
05:33 And so like, I'm not worried about play in December
05:38 when I'm more focused on April and banking points.
05:41 So uninspired play,
05:43 I can see why people think the sky is falling,
05:45 but I've come in with low expectations
05:48 that are now high expectations, but that's me every year.
05:51 Like that's, I convinced myself this team's gonna win it all
05:55 and Don Sweeney should go for it at the deadline
05:59 every single year.
06:00 So nothing has changed.
06:01 - It's like when in high school,
06:04 if I had a really hard exam or a test or something
06:07 that I wasn't great at, I'd be like,
06:09 ah, set the expectations low.
06:11 If I can get above a 70, right?
06:13 And then I get like an 81 or something,
06:14 I'd be like, this is the best day ever.
06:16 - Let's go.
06:17 - So maybe that's you with this team.
06:20 It's interesting 'cause for you as a fan,
06:23 I mean, they break your heart like every year.
06:26 Pretty much, definitely last year.
06:29 I think they're just building it up
06:31 to break everybody's hearts again.
06:33 - 100%.
06:35 - But what's intriguing to me about this roster
06:38 and where I'm at with this team,
06:40 'cause I've asked a few people this year
06:42 and it was always when they were really good.
06:45 Just like, oh, they could be legit cup contenders.
06:48 I don't know if I see them as true,
06:50 true Stanley Cup contenders yet.
06:53 They have the goal tending for it.
06:54 I know it's been a slump the past couple of games,
06:57 but again, overall you have the best tandem in the league.
06:59 That's an advantage you have over everybody.
07:02 Defensively, they've looked really bad the last three games,
07:05 but I think overall, defensively they should be good.
07:07 That's a strength.
07:09 Up front though is I think where you're a little thin
07:11 and you're seeing Montgomery jumble the lines right now,
07:14 trying to find a top nine that makes sense.
07:18 You're seeing Denton Heinen up on the first line.
07:20 You're seeing guys moving up and down and kind of everywhere
07:24 and to me that's sort of their flaw, I think long-term.
07:28 I know defensively right now they're bad
07:30 and they're not good, but I think their biggest flaw
07:33 and what could hurt them down the stretch
07:35 and in the playoffs is just kind of that lack
07:37 of consistent scoring and you have got it from,
07:41 like right, like Van Riemsdijk has produced.
07:43 Coyle is producing more than we thought.
07:45 Zaka's producing at a good rate.
07:47 Pasternak's been outstanding.
07:48 We'll get to team MVPs later in this episode,
07:50 but I think the scoring is an interesting thing
07:53 because that's one area where I do,
07:58 I guess I'd mark against them in putting them
08:00 as true like Stanley Cup contenders.
08:03 Obviously they're a playoff team.
08:05 I think we all are in agreement
08:06 that they will be in the playoffs come the spring,
08:09 but what's holding me back from saying
08:11 they are true cup contenders,
08:12 even though they're the first place team in the Atlantic
08:15 and they're one of the best teams in the NHL
08:17 is just that scoring isn't quite there.
08:19 Do you see that as well or do you see it differently?
08:22 - 100%, yes, for sure.
08:23 I think you have a lot of complimentary players
08:25 like the JVRs of the world, Heinen,
08:28 you have a rookie in Patras
08:31 who has to carry a lot of weight in the center position.
08:34 So I think what worked for the Bruins this entire season
08:39 has just been outworking the other team.
08:41 It's as simple as that.
08:43 They may not be as skilled as the other team,
08:44 but they're gonna work their asses off
08:46 and they're gonna hound Pucks and win those kinds of ways.
08:50 So when that's not happening--
08:52 - Pucks in deep, you're gonna say it, Pucks in deep.
08:54 - Pucks in deep, I was gonna say it.
08:56 And so when that's not happening
08:58 and then you see them losing by eight and no one's scoring,
09:02 you're like, oh, like what's happening here?
09:04 So I do agree with that.
09:06 I think maybe they can upgrade, like Patrick Kane,
09:11 you can talk about his character all you want,
09:13 but I think he would have been a great scoring addition
09:16 to this team.
09:17 I think you've seen the lines
09:19 be in such blenders this season.
09:21 The one real line is JVR, Coyle, and Frederick,
09:25 I think has played the most together,
09:27 but then everyone else has played
09:29 essentially with everyone else.
09:30 And so I think it's a lot of that too,
09:32 where you have a lot of new guys
09:33 and you're still kind of figuring out
09:35 what combinations work.
09:36 You have new guys, guys who haven't been here for a while.
09:40 So it is hard.
09:42 I get the sense that they're still trying to figure out
09:44 who works where, right?
09:47 Like you know you're gonna get your starting composter knock.
09:50 I'd like to see Marshawn stick with a line.
09:53 Like I'd like them to just kind of figure their lines out.
09:56 - So you had nailed it there.
09:59 I think that's one area where I get,
10:01 and I understand trying to find the right grouping
10:04 of trios, right?
10:06 That makes sense.
10:06 But we're recording November 30th.
10:10 So we are pretty much two full months into the season.
10:14 We are well past it being the beginning of the season.
10:17 We are into the grind, so to speak.
10:20 And there's a part of me that is concerned a little bit
10:24 that you're not finding the right fits.
10:27 Now the fourth line has been pretty stable.
10:30 Beecher's been a good solid fourth line center.
10:32 He's given you what you needed and more.
10:35 Guys like Lauco have stepped in and provided an impact.
10:37 Obviously the Lucha situation is what that is.
10:40 But he was even better prior to that.
10:41 - But I'm never looking at those guys to score.
10:43 You know what I mean?
10:44 - No, no, exactly, exactly.
10:45 - Like Beecher's been great.
10:46 I'm like, you know what?
10:48 Like him chipping in offensively has been awesome.
10:51 Like, but I'm never looking at those guys
10:53 to be the reason why, you know,
10:55 the Bruins are scoring whatever their rate is right now.
11:00 - 100%.
11:02 And you want that line to be just stable.
11:04 Can you just give us some energy?
11:06 Can you just do your job?
11:08 It doesn't have to be scoring.
11:09 But again, that, you know, Martian, as you said,
11:11 has not found a line yet.
11:13 Patra really has not found the perfect blend
11:16 of wingers next to him.
11:17 They've tried Dubrask and Heinen.
11:19 That was a bit mixed.
11:20 I want to get to Dubrask a little bit later on something,
11:23 but that's an area, like, and, and, but you nailed it.
11:25 Like Frederick, Coyle, JVR has been great, right?
11:28 Like that's been an awesome line.
11:29 I think we all agree that that's a line
11:31 that could have a lot of success in the playoffs as well,
11:33 just cause they're big and they can, you know,
11:35 four check the hell out of guys
11:37 and they can provide an impact that way.
11:39 But it is a little concerning that, you know,
11:41 like Martian, Zaka, Pasternak was okay,
11:44 but they had, did have some struggles,
11:46 but you also have to spread that out.
11:48 I mean, remember in the Cassidy years,
11:49 the Martian, Bergeron, Pasternak line was awesome,
11:52 but then that depth through the rest of the lineup
11:54 wasn't as expected.
11:56 So I'm curious to see, because as we've seen,
11:59 like Montgomery, as of yesterday, Wednesday,
12:02 kept that Coyle line together
12:04 and has been kind of jumbling Patra and Zaka,
12:08 their line mates and their wingers.
12:10 So I'm curious to see what they do.
12:12 Do you have any preferences in lines?
12:14 Do you have any duos or combos that you like
12:17 that they've rolled out so far?
12:19 - I would like to keep Martian and Patra together
12:21 just because I think Martian's so, you know,
12:24 responsible dispensably that I think he helps him
12:26 in a lot of ways.
12:27 And especially like kids 19, right?
12:29 Like it's a long grind of a season
12:33 and I'm not surprised that he's hit a bit of a wall.
12:36 So I think that the more you could help him
12:38 with Martian there would be great.
12:41 And then it's kind of figuring out the rest.
12:43 Like you brought up the brusque,
12:44 like what's Jake bringing right now?
12:46 It's a contract year for him.
12:47 Is he a little bit banged up?
12:49 Like what's going on with him?
12:50 I think they just need to jumpstart some guys
12:52 and then the rest will fall, kind of fall as they may.
12:55 - And I think Montgomery's mentioned this before
12:58 in sort of keeping duos together.
12:59 And I agree with you.
13:00 Like I know Martian and Patra haven't had a lot of
13:03 success analytically so far this year.
13:05 I get that.
13:06 But I agree with you.
13:07 Like that in theory should work.
13:10 And Zaka Pasternak works.
13:13 And I think it's just kind of finding wingers
13:15 whether it's Heinen, Geeky,
13:17 used to be Van Riemsdyk,
13:19 but he's sort of found his home with Coyle and Frederick.
13:22 Dubrask, I want to get to Dubrask in a second.
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14:06 - So since we're on the topic of Dubrask,
14:10 we've kind of discussed this team
14:14 and I want to discuss some bigger picture things.
14:16 I want to do team MVP
14:18 and I want to do biggest concerns so far.
14:20 So we're going to do like a positive and a negative.
14:23 We're going to keep it, we're going to keep it balanced.
14:24 That's what we're going to do.
14:26 We'll start with team MVP
14:27 because we'll start on a good note, right?
14:29 We'll end on a bad note, but we'll start on a good note.
14:32 Who is your team MVP so far?
14:34 - I'm going goalies.
14:36 It's not one of them, it's both of them.
14:38 Without them, this team is nowhere near
14:41 where they are right now.
14:42 I mean, it's insane.
14:43 I thought Omar would have a little bit of a drop off
14:45 and I guess he technically has,
14:47 but I mean, they are the reason
14:51 that the Bruins have a chance to win every single night.
14:55 And like I said, without them, they're in trouble.
14:57 So they are my number one.
14:59 - I agree with you.
15:01 I mean, again, they started 14, one and three.
15:03 That's all goalie.
15:05 I mean, if you go and you watch every game, you saw it.
15:07 Like there were so many games in there
15:09 where they would have lost
15:10 had Swayman not made some outstanding saves
15:13 or Omar the same thing.
15:15 And I agree with you.
15:16 My other pick, I'll go with two others.
15:18 I'll start with Pasternak.
15:20 I think just the fact that, you know, again,
15:23 there's been so much turnover offensively.
15:23 - That's just a layup.
15:25 Like I tweeted the other day, like he's just automatic.
15:28 Like I know what you're getting from him
15:31 and that's, it's amazing.
15:33 - It's true and it is.
15:34 And he's a legitimate Hart Trophy candidate.
15:37 I think that's the other part of it
15:38 that's good for the Bruins.
15:41 And again, like with the turnover you had
15:43 going from last year to this year's team up front,
15:47 losing Bergeron, losing Crecce,
15:50 losing, you know, Bertuzzi and Taylor Hall,
15:53 who unfortunately for Taylor Hall is out for the year now
15:56 with Chicago, which you just hate to see.
15:59 But losing those guys,
16:00 the fact that you can rely on a guy like Pasternak
16:03 to put up the production that he has,
16:05 to produce it, you know, well over a point per game clip.
16:08 Now again, you're paying him for that,
16:10 but you do, it is a second part of that.
16:13 You actually have to produce and he does.
16:15 - No, but I think it was a legit concern
16:18 to see what he could do without Bergeron, right?
16:21 Like, I think, you know,
16:23 you know what I mean?
16:24 Like he's never had to play without these guys
16:27 since being in the league.
16:28 So I think it was a legit concern,
16:30 but yeah, like you are right.
16:31 Like he's getting paid a shit ton to produce
16:35 and he is producing.
16:36 - And I remember there was always that narrative last year
16:39 when it took a little while for them to get him signed.
16:42 There was that whole idea of, does he, you know,
16:44 who's he gonna play with?
16:45 Like, are they gonna intrigue him with a good center
16:49 when Bergeron and Crecce are gone?
16:51 And I think they've gotten really lucky,
16:54 really lucky with Pavel Zaka,
16:56 that that trade worked out to the extent that it did.
16:59 And that Pasternak likes,
17:00 seems to like playing with Zaka and that duo works.
17:04 So again, I think they're fortunate there.
17:07 Yeah, well, you know, so it's interesting.
17:09 Well, I wanna touch on a point I have with that later.
17:12 My other one would be Charlie Coyle.
17:15 Coyle is, I think, right under a point per game.
17:19 He's been a solid presence down the middle.
17:22 He's got two legitimate line mates
17:24 that you know that those are who his guys are gonna be.
17:28 He's so, throughout the years,
17:32 he's always been so defensively responsible.
17:34 He's great puck protector.
17:36 He's good in the offensive zone cycling it
17:38 and kind of having sustained Ozone time.
17:39 It was always just like the production,
17:41 just getting that bit of production.
17:43 And you're getting that.
17:45 And he looks and is playing like a top six center.
17:48 For the first time, I think, in his Bruins career,
17:50 he's worked there.
17:51 And, you know, again, the emergence of Patra has been big.
17:55 You know, the big thing we talked about all off season,
17:57 they need a number one center.
17:58 They need a legitimate number one center with Bergeron gone.
18:01 And I still think there's a legitimate point to be made.
18:04 And I think it'd be a smart move at some point
18:06 to address that, whether it's, you know,
18:08 drafting the next guy,
18:10 you getting back into the first round for that matter,
18:12 or pulling off a trade somehow.
18:14 I don't know how you're doing that with assets,
18:15 but if you can make it work, make it work.
18:18 But it's reduced the tenor around
18:20 how much that's talked about.
18:21 The coil's been so good.
18:24 Zaka's held his own.
18:25 I know he's struggling a little bit here,
18:27 but he's held his own for the most part.
18:29 And Patra has emerged.
18:30 I know, as you said, he's hit a wall a bit,
18:32 but I think still he's on like a 40 point pace
18:36 for a 19 year old kid at 19 years old, Marina.
18:39 19, I wasn't on a 40 point pace.
18:41 I wouldn't be on a 40 point pace in the NHL.
18:43 You might've been, you might've been at 19.
18:45 You might've been on a 40 point pace,
18:47 but I mean, again, I think it's, you know,
18:52 where are you at with wanting to get a number one center?
18:54 'Cause I feel like you still need to get one.
18:56 You still should,
18:58 but it's not as dire as it was three months ago.
19:01 - Totally.
19:03 Like I've always said, like Charlie Coyle
19:05 is a great third line center,
19:08 elite third line center, you could say.
19:11 And he's always just been a good second line center,
19:13 but I feel like this year he's really like stepped up.
19:17 And I think he's had to step up
19:19 in the absence of, you know, Dabrowski's production.
19:22 I think you jumpstart Jake and this line,
19:24 and this team will really start going,
19:27 but he's, I'm not surprised that he's doing so well,
19:32 but like you said, it was such a dire situation.
19:35 You know, no Bergeron, no Crecci,
19:37 Potras comes in, makes camp, and all of a sudden,
19:39 you know, the Bruins are top of the NHL
19:41 and they don't have a legit number one center.
19:43 So it's kind of by committee that they're doing this.
19:47 I do still think it's a need.
19:49 Like if I were to go shopping right now for the Bruins,
19:52 it would be a number one center.
19:54 Just because I think depth wise,
19:56 you bring everyone down just a notch in the lineup.
20:00 And then I think it's a perfect lineup.
20:01 I think that one depth piece or one scoring piece
20:05 would be perfect for this team.
20:07 But like you said, assets wise, money wise,
20:09 it'd be really tight to do without giving someone up.
20:12 I'm not sure what's going on with the Luchich situation,
20:16 but I'm sure they could free up some money there.
20:20 But yeah, it's kind of crazy how you go into the season
20:23 being like, oh my God, this team is gonna be so horrible.
20:25 They have no centers.
20:26 So wow, Zaka, Coyle are really stepping up.
20:29 Then you have the surprise and the rookie,
20:32 and it's kind of been, it's so funny.
20:34 Like I love when like Rangers fans
20:36 or like Leafs fans always tweet like,
20:39 oh, this is the year the Bruins are gonna fall off.
20:42 And then some way, somehow,
20:45 they figure out something to keep it going.
20:48 So that cracks me up.
20:49 But yeah, I'm very happy for Zaka
20:52 because there's just been so much turmoil
20:55 from Devils fans telling us how much he sucks,
20:57 and he's kind of shut those people up.
20:59 But yeah, I would go shopping
21:01 for a number one center if I could.
21:03 I'm really impressed by Coyle
21:04 stepping up this year productively.
21:06 I really like that line.
21:08 Him and Frederick together have been nice.
21:10 And then GVR, just a big bodied line.
21:13 Big bodied line. - Big boys.
21:15 - And then all three of those guys,
21:16 big boys, big boys producing.
21:19 It's just, that's what you like to see.
21:20 - That's exactly it.
21:21 - But yeah, I think if you can help shelter Patras
21:25 and get him going, then maybe I can see them
21:29 just kind of glimping into the playoffs with this lineup.
21:32 But I think if they really wanna make some noise
21:35 in the playoffs, they need another center,
21:38 but it's not as dire as you would think.
21:41 - Yeah, it's funny 'cause I didn't think
21:42 they'd be horrible coming into the year.
21:44 I had them at like third in the Atlantic
21:47 when they finished the season.
21:47 - Yeah, I think I was in the same boat.
21:49 - Yeah, like what's interesting is,
21:51 I remember last year and after that Panther series,
21:55 was Bergeron out for game one and two,
21:57 or was it just game three and four?
21:59 I think it was, it was Coyle.
22:01 - I think it was the first couple.
22:04 - Was it, yeah.
22:05 So, 'cause Coyle and Zaka were outstanding
22:08 in their time as having to step up in there
22:12 in Bergeron and Crecce's spots.
22:14 Yeah, 'cause Bergeron got hurt in that last game.
22:15 - Yeah, he almost didn't wanna put 'em in.
22:17 - Yeah, he got hurt in the last game
22:18 and he almost didn't wanna put 'em in
22:19 because they were doing so well.
22:21 - That's crazy. - That's crazy to say.
22:23 - I know, I know.
22:25 And what's funny, a lot of people,
22:26 I remember after that series were like,
22:28 "Zaka and Coyle can handle it, they proved it."
22:30 I kept thinking, you know,
22:32 it's the beginning of the playoffs, adrenaline's high.
22:36 It was like a three or four game sample size
22:39 that was the case.
22:39 I'm like, over an 82 game season,
22:41 I don't know how that's gonna hold up.
22:44 'Cause you can do that for a couple games.
22:46 You can generate that energy and do what they do
22:48 for that amount of time.
22:50 But over a longer stretch of time,
22:52 it's a different ball game.
22:54 And they've proven themselves, I think, so far.
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24:24 Now, back to the show.
24:26 You know what's interesting?
24:27 I think this is probably a discussion
24:28 we're gonna have closer to January and February,
24:30 but my outlook on the deadline now is very much,
24:34 I'd rather them not give up future assets
24:36 at the current moment.
24:38 Unless, unless it's for like an Elias Lindholm
24:41 and you can lock him up long-term, right?
24:43 Or it's like, if it's like a Hamish Lindholm deal.
24:45 - Correct.
24:46 - Yes.
24:47 If it's a Lindholm type deal for a center, great.
24:50 If it's a guy you could put in your future core,
24:51 who's 26, 27, 28, you know, again,
24:55 that's gonna be hard to find,
24:56 but can really, you know, be a legit number one center,
24:58 awesome, right?
24:59 I'm all for that.
25:00 But if it's, you know, a center that's on an expiring deal,
25:05 who you had to give up a first round pick for,
25:08 I'm not for that, right?
25:09 Like I'm not for the short-term stuff
25:11 'cause you need your future assets.
25:13 - I mean, next summer, next summer,
25:15 they're gonna have money to play with too.
25:17 - This is true.
25:18 This is true.
25:19 And I'm very curious to see what that free agent class,
25:21 who's actually going to make it to that.
25:24 'Cause it feels like nowadays,
25:25 it's hard to kind of get a pillar of your franchise
25:29 in free agency.
25:31 On another note, biggest concern.
25:34 What is your biggest concern right now?
25:36 - I mean, right now,
25:37 you're just seeing kind of the cracks in the foundation,
25:40 right?
25:41 I guess my biggest concern would be
25:43 to see how they get out of this slump, right?
25:46 Like, is this slump gonna continue tonight
25:48 against the worst team in NHL?
25:49 Or are they gonna be like, you know what?
25:51 I think Charlie McAvoy said something like,
25:54 you know, it's great that we're facing adversity
25:56 because last year we faced no adversity
25:58 and look what happened.
25:59 So I think, you know, a little bit of that is great.
26:02 I'm more worried about just the wear and tear
26:05 over the long 82 game season.
26:08 Like I said, with Patras, with everybody, Hampus,
26:12 you know, guys who usually get a little beat up,
26:14 I don't want them limping into the playoffs
26:17 like they've kind of had in years past.
26:19 I mean, Hampus broke his foot,
26:21 I think like with 10 games to go
26:23 and he wasn't right in the playoffs.
26:25 So my major concern is health.
26:28 And then you kind of,
26:30 I guess the goalie slumping is a little concerning to me.
26:34 The fact that both of them aren't playing
26:35 that great right now.
26:36 But like I said, adversity is good.
26:38 Hopefully they get past this slump.
26:40 And then, you know, the concerns are really just
26:44 minimal going through the rest of the season
26:45 because I have the lowest of lowest of expectations.
26:48 And like, you never wanna waste the year, right?
26:51 Like you never wanna go into the playoffs
26:53 being like, "Ah, you know what?
26:54 "They don't do it this year.
26:56 "You know, there's always next year, the year after."
26:59 Like, I don't think it's a situation like that,
27:01 but I just think all things considered this year,
27:03 they've proven so much and have been so resilient so far
27:08 that I'm like, you know what?
27:09 Fucking go for it at this point.
27:11 Like, like tool on the fly
27:14 and see what you can do when the playoffs come around.
27:16 Because I think if you learn anything from last year,
27:18 literally anything can happen.
27:19 So concerns would be there,
27:22 I guess, reaction to adversities,
27:24 seeing how they get out of this slump.
27:26 They haven't really faced anything like this this year.
27:29 But overall, I have low expectations.
27:32 So it's been just a nice, fun ride.
27:35 - That's, I think a lot of fans are in that same boat
27:38 of like, "You know what?
27:39 "I'm not gonna, you know, expect a lot
27:42 "and whatever I get, I'll take."
27:44 And so far they've given a lot.
27:45 So I think that's a good thing.
27:47 It's interesting 'cause like I mentioned, you know,
27:49 wanting to keep those future assets and being smart.
27:52 'Cause it is kind of a transition year.
27:54 Patra, Lowright getting some time, Beecher,
27:57 you know, Zaka and Coyle testing them out
28:00 as top six centers.
28:02 But on the other end of it,
28:03 Brad Martian's 35 years old.
28:05 You'd like to ideally win another with him.
28:08 Especially, I mean, imagine the image of him
28:10 lifting the Stanley Cup as captain.
28:12 Imagine that.
28:14 So that's one, I know I'm getting your expectations up.
28:17 But number two is this tandem in net,
28:20 you don't have forever.
28:22 You won't have forever.
28:23 So I mean, it's gonna require a lot of money.
28:25 Omar will need a probably bigger contract
28:28 when his is up in the next couple of years.
28:30 So I don't know how long you're gonna have those two
28:32 at the prices they're at now.
28:34 So that's another kind of reason to be a little bit
28:37 more urgent than a true transitional team.
28:41 But my biggest concern,
28:42 and we touched on this a little bit throughout,
28:44 is the Russ situation.
28:46 The Jake DeBruy situation.
28:47 'Cause I, like everybody else,
28:49 thought coming into this year,
28:51 he was gonna tear it up.
28:52 Contract year, healthy,
28:55 looked great last year when he was healthy,
28:57 new coach, all those things, right?
29:00 And I think eight points in 21 games, three goals.
29:03 Again, he is good in his own zone,
29:07 and he's responsible, and he's greedy,
29:09 he can help the game in all different ways.
29:11 But in a top six where you do need him to produce,
29:14 he hasn't been producing.
29:16 And like we mentioned earlier with the lines,
29:18 like Marsha and Patra and Zaka Pasternak,
29:21 DeBrush should have a home next to one of those guys,
29:24 like for sure.
29:26 And he's really struggled to kind of find the right guy.
29:29 And a lot of people said,
29:30 "Oh, it's 'cause there's no Bergeron."
29:31 And maybe that's the case.
29:33 But the other end of it is,
29:34 if he continues to struggle,
29:36 and all right, they can't find common ground on a contract,
29:39 and you gotta trade him,
29:40 he had a lot of value in the summer.
29:42 I think back in the summer,
29:44 if you were to deal someone like DeBrush,
29:46 you'd definitely get a first,
29:47 you might get a little bit more.
29:49 Now I think if he continues to struggle,
29:51 he's almost kind of like,
29:54 people have been saying,
29:55 "Oh, we want it for DeBrush,
29:58 if you're gonna trade him,
29:59 do it like a Zaka trade."
30:00 Trade him for another NHL player
30:04 that can help you on the roster.
30:06 And my fear in that would be,
30:07 he would be the Zaka in that trade.
30:09 Like you would trade Jake DeBrush,
30:11 who's a former first rounder with a high ceiling,
30:13 like Pavel Zaka,
30:15 where things just aren't working out
30:16 the way you want them to,
30:18 but that high ceiling's there,
30:19 and you're gonna trade him
30:20 for a legitimate roster piece,
30:22 who you know what you're gonna get,
30:23 but the ceiling's not that high.
30:25 And it's just, that would be my fear in a trade like that.
30:30 - Oh, the second you deal him,
30:31 he's gonna turn into like,
30:33 the sickest player in the world.
30:36 Like the second-- - Kyle Conner.
30:38 - Yeah, the second you move on from him,
30:41 he's gonna tear it up.
30:42 So that is actually my biggest worry with him.
30:46 I think it could be a little bit,
30:47 I guess not injury, but just,
30:51 I don't know how to like put it.
30:53 Like, there's definitely something going on,
30:56 and I'm with you.
30:57 I thought he would tear it up,
30:58 contract fear and all this stuff,
31:00 but yeah, I don't deal him
31:02 just because you would be dealing him
31:04 at his lowest trade value,
31:06 and you're gonna need a guy like him
31:08 going into the playoffs.
31:10 I think he rises to the occasion,
31:13 and so he's gotta figure it out for sure.
31:16 But I'm on team no trade
31:19 just because the second you do,
31:22 he's gonna be like a 50 goal score
31:24 somewhere for someone else.
31:26 So I do not want that to happen.
31:28 I'm with you.
31:28 It would be exactly like this off a trade.
31:31 - So that's where I agree.
31:32 However, if a team came to you at the deadline
31:35 and said, "We'll give you a first for Jake Dubrask,"
31:39 I have a tough time giving that up.
31:40 Like, that's where I know people are like,
31:42 "Why would you wanna do, you know,
31:44 "he would hurt the roster," and I get that.
31:47 But there's this other side to the Dubrask thing.
31:49 Like, Connor and I talked about this a lot
31:51 in the off season, where like,
31:53 Dubrask is a potential 30 goal score.
31:56 You pretty much know what you're gonna get out of him,
31:58 or you should at least production-wise in the top six.
32:01 He plays a Bruins style of game.
32:03 I know a lot of people think he's soft,
32:05 but like, he doesn't play soft.
32:07 He plays a hard game.
32:08 He has a nose for the net, all those little things.
32:12 That's why it's kind of surprising
32:13 that he does struggle production-wise,
32:15 because he has no problem just taking it to the net.
32:18 You saw it against the Panthers
32:20 the night before Thanksgiving.
32:21 Just took it right to the net, followed up on a rebound.
32:23 Like, he should be doing that every,
32:25 that should be all the time.
32:26 But again, I go back to like,
32:29 do you wanna lock up now seeing him
32:33 being inconsistent under Montgomery?
32:36 What it might take to get a guy like him, contract-wise,
32:41 is that money you wanna have tied up in him?
32:43 That's the other part of it, where it's like--
32:45 - I think that's a fair question for sure.
32:47 Right, like, he's gonna want more money,
32:49 but in like, what has he done to deserve that?
32:52 And I think it's a little bit like,
32:53 oh, well, I took less money, and look what I did before.
32:56 But I mean, you throw that all out the window.
33:00 I've been a little bit surprised
33:01 that going into the season that he wasn't locked up.
33:05 - Agreed.
33:06 - I got a trade request like, two years ago.
33:08 But I think you throw that out the window
33:09 with Montgomery now.
33:10 So it is an interesting case for sure,
33:14 but I just think you're kinda screwing yourself
33:16 if you do deal him, unless you have someone in Providence
33:21 that you know could step in and do as good of a job as him.
33:26 Right, like, so maybe Lysel is lighting it up,
33:29 or maybe, you know, there's a bunch of guys down there
33:33 that can contribute.
33:35 So I think you're right, like, I mean, a first round pick.
33:38 The Bruins don't have many of those.
33:40 So I would definitely do that.
33:42 But I would also look at kind of,
33:44 I guess, going into the rest of the year, you know,
33:48 it is tricky because the Bruins
33:51 aren't strapped for cash next year.
33:53 So I'd be okay giving him, you know,
33:56 whatever extra he wanted for maybe a year or two.
33:59 But it is a slippery slope at the moment right now.
34:04 - Yeah, I think that's my biggest concern going forward.
34:08 'Cause again, the on-ice stuff, like I agree with you,
34:10 if the goalies continue to struggle, like this team is,
34:13 I mean, I-- - It doesn't matter.
34:15 - Doesn't, nothing matters.
34:17 But to me, like the DeBruys situation,
34:19 because he's your biggest,
34:21 he was your biggest asset going into this year.
34:23 And I think you expected more out of him
34:25 and the deal is not done yet contractually.
34:29 So I would put that at the top of my concerns.
34:32 But Marina, it has been awesome having you on.
34:36 You will be on again for sure.
34:38 What can the people look forward to from you?
34:40 What are you working on?
34:41 What can the, what should people be on the lookout for?
34:44 - Oh, you can always find me talking about the Bs
34:47 on Twitter or X or whatever you wanna call it.
34:50 I am MarinaKMar on Twitter and Instagram.
34:53 You can go find me.
34:54 Hopefully there are not a lot of hot takes tonight
34:57 and hopefully it's an easy,
34:58 I'm gonna go four, one win against the Sharks tonight.
35:02 I think it's a sway day.
35:04 So hopefully, you know, the goalies get right.
35:06 But yeah, go follow me on Twitter
35:08 and social media and whatnot.
35:09 And thanks so much for having me on, Evan.
35:12 Even though I was-- - Of course, always a fun time.
35:14 Ah, you were not, that's not true.
35:16 I don't look at it like that.
35:17 I don't look at it like that.
35:19 But anyways, Marina, it's been a pleasure as always.
35:21 And that has been Bruins Beat.
35:23 I'm Evan Marinovsky, Bruins Beat listeners.
35:25 Have a great rest of your week.
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