On this episode of Poke the Bear, Conor Ryan and Evan Marinofsky discuss who the biggest villains in bruins history are, what the Bruins' chances of landing the Devils' no. 10 pick are, Matthew Poitras' development, and much more!
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Runes and pandas are going to meet once again, probably next year in the playoffs.
00:03 Get ready for another trip down to Sawgrass Mills.
00:05 And oh, yeah.
00:07 And then also Matt Kachuk.
00:09 Matt Kachuk is another one.
00:10 Like, I think he's not on the same level as Bennett, but like fighting Pasternak.
00:14 Yeah, they're just trying to fight him while he's down.
00:17 Yeah, like I, Kachuk is on that same track.
00:22 Hope the Bear is powered by Pricepix,
00:25 the exclusive daily fantasy partner of the CLNS Media Network.
00:29 And welcome in to Poke the Bear, episode 235, presented by Pricepix.
00:36 Go use that promo code CLNS to get up to $100 cash back on that first deposit.
00:45 Going into game one, Connor, of Celtics Mavs on Thursday,
00:49 there is a square for Jason Tatum over 0.5 points.
00:54 So all he needs, or more, excuse me, more than 0.5 points.
00:58 So all he needs is one point.
01:00 All he needs is one point.
01:02 You can add it to your squares.
01:05 Again, that's going into game one.
01:07 So again, go to Pricepix, use the promo code CLNS and represented by GameTime.
01:11 Go use that promo code CLNS to get $20 off your first purchase.
01:16 Terms apply.
01:16 You want to go to the Celtics Mavs?
01:20 You want to maybe travel to Florida or Edmonton for Florida Edmonton?
01:24 Staying like a vinyl.
01:25 Lots of fun concerts this summer.
01:27 Red Sox, all that stuff.
01:28 Go visit our friends over at GameTime.
01:31 That's Connor Ryan.
01:31 I'm Evan Marinovsky.
01:32 Connor, what is up?
01:34 Evan, I'm doing well.
01:37 How are you doing?
01:38 Doing great.
01:39 Doing great.
01:40 You were at Patriots.
01:42 What is it?
01:43 I almost said Dev Camp, but OTAs, right?
01:45 That's what they're called, OTAs?
01:46 Yes, organized team activities.
01:49 Oh, organized team activities.
01:52 Well, that's fun.
01:52 You get to see Drake May and the new look Patriots.
01:56 People forget you're a football guru.
01:59 You're a football expert.
02:00 I think people forget that very often.
02:03 You know, breaking down film.
02:04 Yes, absolutely.
02:05 I have the little like tell I have like the John Madden like
02:08 tell a straighter going through plays, all that stuff.
02:12 If I did that, I would just do how I usually play Madden.
02:14 I just do full of articles every time.
02:16 Just borderline straight down the field.
02:18 Like that's what that's the game plan.
02:19 That is to run quick slants.
02:22 You know, the halfback screen.
02:24 So many just tried true great ones.
02:28 I always liked my receivers cutting like I didn't like the
02:31 four verticals because I would always get intercepted because I'd pick the word.
02:35 Like I'd wait till they got open to throw it.
02:37 It's always like just wait till they like do a little quick like juke, you know,
02:40 like and they get away from the defender.
02:42 That's that's I think I'd be a great quarterback.
02:44 Just look for when those guys do.
02:45 I think it's just throw to the open guy.
02:47 That's all it is, right?
02:48 It's so easy.
02:49 I can't believe these guys still throw interceptions.
02:52 Um, little bit of news, little bit of news to start off today's show.
02:57 Uh, we're recording this on Tuesday.
03:00 So NHL.com's Mike Moriel reported Devil's open to trading number 10 pick in 2024 NHL draft.
03:07 And they happen to be looking for a goalie.
03:11 Hmm.
03:11 Full comments.
03:13 Quote, if we feel it helps us now and in the foreseeable future, then yes, I'm listening.
03:18 Tom Fitzgerald, New Jersey's general manager, told NHL.com on Monday.
03:22 I haven't gotten anything yet, but the more I talk to teams, I say, listen,
03:26 I'm open to moving to moving number 10, but it's going to have to be something significant.
03:31 End quote.
03:32 And then another quote was the end of the day.
03:34 We're in a position now versus two years ago when we drafted Simon Nemec,
03:37 where if we can find the right piece to help us get to where we want to go today,
03:41 tomorrow and wherever the control of controllable future is for the player.
03:45 Great.
03:46 That's the mindset versus great.
03:47 We have a top 10 pick, and this kid is going to be fantastic when he's 25 years old.
03:50 To me, it's not.
03:51 I mean, he's explicitly saying it.
03:53 They want to move the pick, and I think they do.
03:56 I mean, given that comment of like, Hey, we want a guy who's going to help us now,
04:00 not someone who's going to help us a few years down the road.
04:02 It's going to be important.
04:04 And then the goalie part came up.
04:06 Um, since being hired as the full-time GM in July, 2020, Fitzgerald has seen 12
04:12 different goalies play at least one game.
04:15 Um, two have played 80 plus games and two others have totaled at least 40.
04:20 I could say, Hey, quiz, who are the two ones that got to 80?
04:22 And I think it would be a really hard one.
04:25 Do you know who the two are that got to 80?
04:27 Blackwood?
04:29 Yes, that's one.
04:31 Bruins killer Mackenzie Blackwood.
04:34 And then Jesus.
04:36 Dude, who is it?
04:39 Btech Vanachick is the other one.
04:43 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:44 So they need a goalie badly.
04:47 So he goes on to say, I'm in the goalie market talking to teams, but there's a, but, and the
04:53 butt is how do we want to build our team?
04:55 We'd like to add up front.
04:56 We'd like to add on the backend.
04:58 So what are those pieces going to cost us with the goal tending?
05:00 What's that going to cost us?
05:03 Does the number 10 pick get you that type of player that you can add to the group?
05:06 It's easy to say, go get so-and-so.
05:09 And then you build from there, like go get Lena Solmark and build from there.
05:12 But there are some players that he didn't say the Lena Solmark part.
05:15 He did say this next part, but there are some guys who have different contracts.
05:22 So how are those players going to reprice that?
05:25 There's a lot to it, but yes, the focus is on finding that goal tender.
05:29 So, I mean, he's open for business.
05:30 Like that is as clear as day open for business as you can be as an NHL general manager.
05:36 What's your initial reaction to that?
05:39 Yeah, I mean, it's not particularly surprising, right?
05:42 I think it was Fitzgerald who I think after the deadline was mentioning how he was
05:46 upset they didn't get a goal tender.
05:48 I was like, I'm being, I think his core is I'm being extorted, which like, bro,
05:52 like maybe get a quarter, not a quarterback, maybe get a goal tender to help you out there.
05:56 Cause that was like the main flaw with that team that again, had a lot of bad breaks,
06:00 a lot of injuries, but they are one of many teams.
06:03 It feels like they're on the cusp of being a regular contending team that is missing a guy
06:09 in net a proven number one player.
06:11 You know, somewhere it makes a lot of sense there.
06:13 And we kind of talked about this on Bruins beat, right, Evan, that you look at this,
06:17 this Bruins team and especially down the middle, like we've talked about Elias Lindholm.
06:22 We talked about the pipe dream of dry sidle, but I think you mentioned it that if you're
06:27 looking at the best way to get that next franchise player, it's usually going to be, you know,
06:33 through the draft of hitting on one of these prospects.
06:36 And if you're a team like the Bruins, you have a luxury at a position like goaltender
06:41 and you're able to move all mark and you're able to get the number 10 pick out of that.
06:45 Like we've gone through a whole bunch of scenarios already, right?
06:48 We've gone through like the Marty natures.
06:50 We've gone through like the Ottawa centers with chick run and whatever the hell that is.
06:55 And we looked at like, you know, let's say this is another third option of the number
06:58 10 pick, like from where I think we were maybe last off season where you're like,
07:04 all right, maybe like all Mark, you get like a, you know, two second round picks and you're
07:07 happy to like these being potentially things that you could grab, whether it's an impact
07:11 forward like nature's or a top 10 pick.
07:14 That's a good spot to be in.
07:17 If you're the Bruins, right?
07:18 Cause again, like there's other guys that could be dangled out on the market, right?
07:20 You've got like you know, sorrows have been mentioned in rumors.
07:24 You got Markstrom and he could be another guy.
07:26 So all marks, not the, the only guy out there, but you look at, you know, how many, I think
07:32 it's all situational and how many teams are, are that should be contenders that are just
07:36 missing that one piece in net.
07:38 It's quite a few of those teams out there.
07:39 So it seems like this off season in particular is a good market to be in.
07:42 If you're the Bruins where you can move a reigning Vesna trophy winner, like all Mark.
07:46 And yeah, at number 10, is that someone that's going to help you out next year?
07:51 No, but like, you've got a good piece to add to this team.
07:55 And I think when you start seeing, you look at the draft, yeah, you're not getting celebrity,
07:58 but it does seem like it's like celebrity than a lot of defensemen.
08:02 And then like the set, like the, the couple of centers after that are all in that, like
08:07 eight to 12 range where you can get a pretty good player that maybe he doesn't help you
08:11 out in 2024, 25, but make strides and can be kind of like a, we mentioned like Wyatt
08:18 Johnston, right.
08:18 As a guy who is now accelerated, his timeline is helping out an older core and Dallas, you're
08:25 able to land a player like that at supplements, what you have and can be a top six center
08:29 for the long haul.
08:30 It's making pretty good use of your asset.
08:32 If you're moving a guy like all Mark, that's the thing.
08:35 And I think, you know, you look at, I've said this a couple of times.
08:39 I know you've said it like a lot of people are saying, Oh, trade all Mark for a pick
08:44 and an impact player or just an impact player.
08:47 Cause the Bruins need help now.
08:48 And I agree the Bruins do need help now, but I think what you're getting in the now is
08:53 you're getting the cap space to go out and have more flexibility to sign higher end players
08:58 or more players or like, and I think if you go out and you know, one thing this organization
09:04 needs is an influx of young, younger, good talent in the prospect pool.
09:10 I mean, you know, we'll get to this at some point in the future, but the prospect pool
09:15 is barren.
09:16 After this past year, guys like Beecher low-ride, Patra, uh, Lauco, like Watherspoon, you want
09:25 to throw in there?
09:26 Like those guys are up, you know what you're going to get out of most of those obviously
09:30 Patra low-ride Beecher still have, you know, a little bit more to give a lot more to give
09:34 in Patra's case and same with low-ride, but like you need some higher end talent.
09:39 I mean, Bruins dev camp this year, Connor, it's not going to have a lot of high-end
09:44 exciting guys.
09:46 So get ready to learn Chris Pelosi, buddy.
09:48 That's exactly it.
09:51 Get ready to learn like Beckett Hendrickson and that's fine.
09:54 You know, and again, those guys could develop into phenomenal players.
09:57 I'm not writing them off.
09:58 We're not writing them off.
09:59 But the ceiling on those guys is lower end NHLers.
10:04 Again, I've not watched a lot of Chris Pelosi.
10:05 I've not watched a lot of Beckett Hendrickson.
10:07 So I can't sit here and be like, I know the ins and outs of his game.
10:10 Now, let me tell you something.
10:11 If the Bruins go out and draft a kid who was like in prep this past year, whoa, I'll do
10:16 a whole podcast on that.
10:17 That's like my one little area of expertise.
10:19 So I will not shut the hell up about that.
10:21 But again, at number 10, you're getting a potential NHL high-end player.
10:30 Like that's what you're getting.
10:31 And again, I know obviously you can go through every top 10 in history and, you know, large
10:36 majority of them don't pan out because it's a draft and you know, you don't really know
10:41 until long after.
10:42 But I think it's worth taking a shot.
10:46 It's worth the little bit of excitement.
10:48 It's worth getting a young high-end guy in your system who could make an impact down
10:54 the road.
10:54 And good news for the Bruins.
10:55 There's quite a bit around number 10.
10:58 And I want to get into that.
10:59 But first, a quick word from our friends over at Price.
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12:24 Now, let's get back to the show.
12:26 So I think the interesting thing about that number 10 pick is there are guys around there,
12:31 centers who are candidates to be around there.
12:35 Now, again, I'm reading off Corey Pronman's Corey Pronman of the athletic, his draft rankings,
12:41 what he thinks he's around it all year.
12:44 He knows it better than most, if not everybody.
12:46 So again, these are not my own.
12:51 I don't know these guys.
12:52 I don't know these players.
12:53 I didn't watch any of these players this winter.
12:54 But like, for instance, he has in tier four as bubble NHL all-star top of the lineup player.
13:00 Number six, he has Berkeley Katon with Spokane in the WHO.
13:06 His player comp is Logan Cooley.
13:08 The drawback is he's 5'10", but high-end skater, above average in puck skills hockey sense,
13:13 compete and shot.
13:14 I mean, again, that's a high-end offensive guy.
13:18 Tier five top of the lineup player, Caden Lindstrom, about 6'4", 2'10".
13:24 Big boy.
13:25 His comp is Chris...
13:26 Yeah, big boy.
13:26 His comp is Chris Kreider.
13:29 Potentially could end up being on the wing.
13:31 He's a little more hit or miss.
13:32 Like skating is good, shots good, competes high-end, but like the puck skills and the
13:36 hockey sense are eh.
13:37 I don't know if the Bruins would go for that.
13:38 His father name is Teeja Ginla.
13:41 Teeja Ginla is actually someone that is going to be a high-end first-round pick.
13:46 His comp is Victor Arvidson.
13:47 And then Konsta Helenius.
13:50 His player comp is Max Domi.
13:53 So he's someone else.
13:54 He's ranked like 14th.
13:56 So again, there are guys there and you're right, the defensemen.
14:00 It feels like there's going to be Celebranian and a bunch of defensemen, most likely.
14:03 But again, I think like I'm...
14:08 If they did Olmark for the number 10 pick straight up, I'm cool with that.
14:12 What about you?
14:13 Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely.
14:15 I think when you look at just where the expectations were going into last offseason with what you
14:20 could get for a guy like Olmark to now.
14:22 Yeah, again, the primary thing is you're clearing cap space.
14:26 You're carving out a number one spot for Swainman.
14:29 And then anything you add on top of that is great, whether it's an impact player or a
14:34 draft capital like that.
14:35 And yeah, if you're able to add any one of those players for the long haul and kind of
14:40 replenish your prospect pipeline.
14:42 Because as we said, over the next year, you've got Lysel.
14:47 You've got like Mercula.
14:49 But then you've got like a lot of guys that probably just need more seasoning.
14:52 Like there are some guys that can develop into maybe impact players or guys that continue
14:56 to thrive.
14:57 But there is, it seems like a gap between those guys and, you know, Jelvic, Pelosi,
15:02 Hendrickson who needs some more time.
15:04 Like Puntar.
15:04 All of a sudden you add...
15:05 Exactly.
15:06 Like all of a sudden you add a player like a Gendler or a Kattner or one of those Sundermans
15:12 that I think it just, you know, changes some of the complexion of your farm system.
15:17 You have a guy that all of a sudden you look at their stats next year and they're in the
15:21 OHL, what have you, and they've got 90 points or 100 points.
15:25 It feels like you have someone that you can look to the future.
15:27 And again, like the Bruins are in a good spot with the foundation they have, but like how
15:32 much better do you feel as a Bruins fan if you look at this team in March and they're
15:37 in the mix, they've got a good team.
15:39 Maybe they have a guy like Elias Lindholm holding on the fort.
15:42 Then you look down, you know, at elite prospects and you've got a guy putting up triple digits
15:46 in junior that's going to be here in a year or two.
15:48 Like just having one of those players just makes your overall outlook of your team that
15:52 much better, especially if they're able to contribute in another year or two.
15:55 Again, I mean, think about it like this and you hit on it there.
15:58 If you have Lindholm there, you got Patra and you got a guy like, let's say Berkeley
16:03 Catten, right?
16:05 By the way, not to make you feel old because I've already felt old looking at these.
16:08 I don't like this.
16:09 I don't like where this is going.
16:10 The first year eligibles are late 05s and 06 birthdays.
16:15 Can you believe that?
16:16 I like that at all.
16:18 These people weren't allowed to see the 05 Red Sox with Tony Graffagnino and JP.
16:22 I don't remember that team, so I don't know.
16:27 I don't I don't recall that team.
16:29 I think they were.
16:29 I think they were just they hung over the entire year.
16:31 Evan, that's why they were probably swept by Bobby Jenks in the White Sox.
16:36 That's right.
16:37 In the eventual world champions.
16:39 Yes, but many did have that one likes many.
16:42 Didn't many have that two home run game where he hit a ball like right down the right field
16:45 line that curved around the pole?
16:47 Yes, it was in that series.
16:49 I think I don't know if you won that game or not, but again, I think it opens up opportunities
16:54 for you.
16:55 You can still be really good in the short term if you make that trade because you're
16:59 going to have more cap space.
17:00 Now, again, if Sweeney can somehow pull off a deal where you get a high end first round
17:05 pick, whether it's, you know, let's just say with the Devils pick 10 and a prospect or
17:11 a young player with control like.
17:14 Then do it, but God, like please.
17:17 But, you know, I think a lot of people are like, oh, would the Devils do number 10 for
17:24 all marks straight up?
17:25 I mean, look at all marks contract situation.
17:28 You know, it's 5.25.
17:30 It's cheap.
17:30 If an extension could potentially get done, I think that makes it a lot more palatable.
17:35 I mean, that's your starting goalie, hopefully for the next three years in a prime contention
17:39 window.
17:40 And I think coming off last year, the Devils are a little desperate.
17:43 Like last year was a kick in the freaking gut for them, I think of like, oh my God,
17:49 we're, you know, we're headed, you know, we're conference final favorite and now we're not
17:52 even making the playoffs.
17:53 So again, I think it's an opportunity.
17:57 And by the way, you know, it'll be fun if the Bruins do get the number 10 pick or any
18:00 first round pick.
18:01 What I just did there reading off of Corey Prodman's athletic rankings.
18:05 We're going to do that like every episode of like, all right, let's take a look at
18:08 a.
18:09 Tell you what, that gives us a couple of weeks of coverage that you're right.
18:13 It does, which is awesome.
18:15 It does.
18:17 I want to get into Matt Potts.
18:18 I mentioned him a little bit and then we're going to have a fun segment at the end about
18:21 Bruins villains.
18:22 I guess Kyrie Irving is coming to town.
18:25 Everybody's talking about Boston sports villains.
18:27 You're working on a piece for Boston dot com, the biggest Boston sports villains.
18:31 So we'll take a look at that in a sec.
18:33 But first, quick word from our friends over game time.
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20:27 Now let's get back to the show.
20:29 Matt Potra coming in the next year should be fully healthy.
20:34 Was a borderline top six center this year in his limited time scored some really nice goals.
20:42 What are you expecting out of him next year?
20:45 Yeah, he's going to be an interesting case, right?
20:48 In terms of is he a guy like Beecher or Lori where it feels like it's all but a given that
20:53 he's going to stop the year in a carved out role, right?
20:56 Like I feel like Beecher's he's the foresee next year.
20:59 You can build off the strides he made.
21:01 Lori where he fits in.
21:03 It seems like a given he's going to be in the starting lineup every single every single game
21:07 and continue to build off of what he showed, especially in the playoffs.
21:10 Potra it's a little bit interesting, right?
21:12 Like you look at where he was last year and there were some ups and downs.
21:16 He dealt with, you know, the adjustment to the competition, the physicality
21:21 coming off of a shoulder injury.
21:23 I feel like the Bruins might, you know, take me to the slow and steady approach with him of.
21:26 Unlike last year where it's like the NHL or bust, maybe start the year in Providence,
21:31 get his feedback under him, showcases talents there, get healthy,
21:36 see that shoulder kind of adjust and get back into the swing of things.
21:39 And then again, reevaluate in November and moving forward as to where he is.
21:43 If he's got 13 points in his first 10 games and is looking like a natural down there,
21:47 then you've got a good problem on your hands in terms of carving out a spot for him back
21:50 in the lineup. But I agree, though, there's a lot to be, I think, to take away from last
21:56 year to be really encouraged by in terms of just how far ahead of schedule he is.
22:01 And I think we've mentioned this before with looking at portraits,
22:04 not just like the production or maybe exceeding expectations.
22:07 It's just, I think, what it can do for a player, especially at his age of just going through those
22:12 first kind of growing pains and getting through them of like the tougher competition, the
22:17 physicality, the schedule, the routine, all those things that he's going to be so much better for
22:23 this upcoming training camp. And regardless of where he starts the year to have all that
22:27 experience under your belt now, it's just going to make him that much of a better player.
22:30 So I'm not setting like super high expectations of like if we do our way to season predictions
22:37 of like he's going to have 60 points like no, but I think yes, of course, all their everything.
22:44 But I mean, you look at, you know, when he was on his game, how good he is in terms of his poise
22:48 with the puck playmaking, all those things that he can't really teach. There's a lot to like about
22:52 how we can build off of that. So where does he fit in October? I think remains to be seen. I think
22:58 he'd give him some time to get his feedback under him. But he's a guy that, you know, we're looking
23:02 at maybe in, you know, March and April before he gets a play. So he could be a guy that's every
23:06 day in the lineup just based on that skill alone. The way that you and I talked about him last fall,
23:13 we said we kept saying, you know, hey, if he forces himself to be here and he plays well
23:18 enough, great. But if you have to take the cautious approach and send it back to junior,
23:22 that's fine, too. I look at it the same way in this upcoming training camp of if he is outstanding
23:29 and you can't keep him out of the NHL lineup, then don't. But if he's fine but clearly needs
23:36 a little bit more seasoning and Providence, then that's fine, too. You have a third line next year,
23:41 at least right now, Frederick Geeky Brazzo. That's fine. We've talked about this. Like,
23:45 that's OK. If he forces himself to be up here and it's Frederick, Patra and Geeky,
23:52 then terrific. That's exactly what you want. But again, I think there's no harm
23:58 in sending him to Providence for a handful of games, a slew of games, a couple of months.
24:03 You get right to, you know, because again, he's coming off of a pretty big injury,
24:08 come out of surgery. So again, like I just I look at that and you need time to adjust.
24:15 So again, if he kicks ass in training camp, great. But you know, and again,
24:20 what did we say last year? I think did we predicted go back to junior? I don't remember.
24:25 I mean, after a while, it got to the point where it was like, I don't think we ever predicted that.
24:28 I think I predicted he'd have like 50 points, which. Yeah, I think when you look at how good
24:32 he was during the preseason and all that stuff, it felt like this was a guy who was going to have
24:36 an absurd breakout year. And again, like even though he had injuries and he had the ups and
24:40 downs, like to go through all those things at 19 to enter a new season where he's still at this age
24:47 with that level of progression. So it's going to be a great problem to have the Bruins if he's
24:52 lights out in the preseason again, because you now have the luxury of taking it,
24:55 taking it easier with him and easing him back into the lineup. Or he's a guy that makes it
25:00 tough to put him down in Providence. And that's the case. You carve out a spot for the 20 year
25:04 old playmaking center. I think you I think you make room for where he fits in.
25:08 A hundred percent. And I also think, you know, we said last year, oh, my God, the Bruins got
25:14 so lucky with this kid. Like, clearly, this has been a pick that hit. That's still the case.
25:19 That's still very much the case. He just was injured last year. Like, there's not much you
25:25 can do there. Villains, Bruins, villains, they want to go back and forth. Do we want to rank them?
25:35 What are you thinking? You're doing the story. Maybe just do like a back and forth. Guys that
25:38 come to mind. And I'll say that, you know, it's like Jamie Tuck feeling the line where, like you
25:44 before you even even get the word on, like Scott, why is like everybody at once? Yeah, exactly.
25:49 I mean, for me, right. Like, I won't dive too deep into like there's I think a level between like
25:54 villains and adversaries. Right. Like there's some guys who are just like had your number or
26:01 like, you know, like I look at like, you know, Gila Fleur and those like Canadians teams are just
26:05 they kind of kick your ass quite a bit like it's like Derek Jeter. Like, was there she did anything
26:09 that made Red Sox fans outwardly hate him or just on the Yankees? They were always good. He was one
26:14 of their better players. Like, you know, it's one of those. But the Bruins sure do have a lot of
26:19 guys who did quite a bit to piss off their fans, their players. I mean, I think at the top of this
26:25 got to be all Samuelson, right? For. Yeah. Noted cheap shot artist, Kim Neely, to this day,
26:32 does not like all Samuelson robbing dominant player of so many prime years off of a cheap
26:39 shot that he was never the same as a result of it. I feel like that's that's got to be the most
26:44 obvious one, right? That even if I feel like even even though I don't think we were around during
26:48 that time, you learn about, you know, Kim Neely and you see those highlights as a kid and usually
26:54 not far from that, whether you're talking to your parents, your relatives, whoever does it,
26:59 watch the Bruins during that era, mentioning all the same, Wilson, usually with an F bomb or
27:04 something thrown in there is usually what follows with any early discourse about Kim Neely and his
27:09 career and what what could have been. So I think that's the obvious one, right? I was going to say,
27:14 I think he's the that's the big one. I just think in terms of what could have been, you know,
27:21 Kim Neely is a legend of the franchise team president. Like, I just think that is on a
27:26 totally different level. One that comes to mind for me is Matt Cook. I think Matt Cook said on
27:31 Mark Savard, you think about what Mark Savard could have been. And I know Matt Hunwick's hit
27:36 ended up doing it for him, but I don't think that happens without the hit from Cook. Complete cheap
27:44 shot. Cook is hated by every franchise, even the ones he was on. I mean, YouTube comments,
27:49 there'll be like Penguins fans being like, yeah, we hate this guy to complete dick when it came to
27:54 the NHL and what his role was wasn't an enforcer either. Like, he was just a small rat who was not
28:02 talented offensively at all. I don't like I'd have to go back and look at his stats. I don't know
28:08 what why he kept drawing into lineups like there wasn't wasn't a fighter because he would take out
28:14 the other teams better player. Exactly. And that is what it ended up becoming. But I just think
28:20 what he was what he did with that hit, how much of a blindside hit that was. I think he did the
28:25 same thing to David Booth like earlier that year or. He had he had. I really had like he definitely
28:34 had like a rap sheet before the Savard hit. Right. Like it wasn't like it was that was the thing
28:40 that started off that kind of reputation that was far from like an outlier in terms of his overall
28:45 career and what he's done on the ice. Yeah, I know. Wasn't David Booth. That was Mike Richards
28:50 who blindsided him. That was that was different. But but people forget about Matt Cook. And I
28:57 always find this kind of funny. Evander Kane started out as a hero in this league because
29:02 he KO'd Matt Cook, like just completely one punch to the face over the unconscious on the ice like
29:09 and that was how things started. Evander Kane was like, oh, this guy is going to be a fan
29:13 favorite forever. Not a legend. But exactly. Atlanta Thrasher's legend. So yeah, Matt Cook
29:19 to me is definitely a villain. Yeah, I would say another one that's maybe underrated,
29:24 maybe not underrated, but one that always people sometimes forget about. Then you mention his name.
29:29 They're like shit. Scott Walker. Yes. Ruined a unbelievable run for that 0809 Bruins team
29:38 or felt like everything had come together. You had the veterans leading the way. You had a great
29:43 young core that put it all together with Bergeron and Creechy and all these players felt like the
29:49 stars had finally aligned. It felt like the Bruins were they win the president's trophy that year.
29:53 I they had 116 points. I'm trying to think of any team beat them. I think they did have the
29:58 president's trophy that year. I'll look at I'm trying to think of what other juggernaut team
30:02 didn't that beat him for it. But an unbelievable season. But like, yeah, again, like everything
30:08 had fallen into place. And then that grimy Carolina team had just a bunch of like solid
30:14 veteran guys. But like Scott Walker, you know, sucker punches Ward in the face doesn't get
30:20 anything really out. I think he got fined twenty five hundred dollars, which the goal
30:24 to get twenty five hundred dollars is a fine. Oh, you have that right. The Bruins come back,
30:31 force a game seven at home. And then Scott Walker, not toxic, you know, toxic, dangerous sniper.
30:38 Scott Walker has this greasy goal that Tim Thomas wants back, immediately leaves the ice in a hurry.
30:43 And so I walk out of it. Yeah, right. Yeah. Right to the bench. But to have him be the guy that
30:49 that ends that season after, you know, the kids, maybe shouldn't even been playing in,
30:53 you know, game six or game seven off of, again, sucker punching our ward right in the face.
30:57 That one is one that I think drives some Bruins fans crazy when you look at just
31:03 how unbelievable that whole year was for that team finally breaking through,
31:07 finally felt like they had arrived. They had a deep run in front of them. And then Scott Walker's
31:11 the guy that derails it. That was wild. Fourth grade, Evan was heartbroken over that whole
31:17 situation that Bruins team, one hundred sixteen points. The only team with more was the San Jose
31:23 with one hundred seventeen. So how times have changed. So that's a good one. I'll go with a
31:30 recent example. Go, Sam Bennett, Sam Bennett. I know it's it just happened. So like, obviously,
31:36 we won't you know, the effects of it won't be for a while, but knocks Brad Martian out of a series
31:43 like that is a huge like sucker punches. The captain does it immediately upon entering,
31:50 reentering the series. Sam Bennett was a pest last year to finishes every hit,
31:56 complete wrecking ball on the ice. I got to go, Sam Bennett. I don't think he's like up there yet.
32:02 I don't think he's in the pantheon of villains, but early candidacy. And you know what? He's
32:07 gonna be around for a little bit longer. So get used to him. Get used to him. I mean,
32:12 I feel like he's kind of in that same mix as like Scott Walker, right? Like had an impact on last
32:17 year, crushed an unbelievable run like what happened with Walker in Carolina. But then
32:22 like this year as well, like punches Marcian takes him out of the game, then scores the game
32:26 for controversial goal that flips the momentum in that game. And you look at, you know, how the
32:31 Bruins made the rest of that series pretty competitive after some lopsided losses in
32:35 games two and three, like what could have changed if you come away with that, that win in game four
32:41 at TD Garden, right? Um, so I think that is, yeah, a guy that you could look at that panda
32:48 seeming, you know, are they more adversaries? No, like you look at, like, I think they fully
32:51 embrace that villain role. And as you said, I would not be surprised if I think he deserves
32:56 a spot on this list, Bennett, and he could bump a little bit more. It feels all but inevitable
33:01 regardless of what happens this off season, Bruins and pandas are probably going to meet
33:05 once again, probably next year in the playoffs. Get ready for another trip down to Sawgrass Mills,
33:08 Evan. Oh yeah. And then also Matt could Chuck Mack and Chuck is the other one. Like, I think
33:14 he's not on the same level as Bennett, but like fighting posture knock. I mean,
33:18 trying to fight all Mark last year. Yeah. Like I could, Chuck is on that same track. So, yeah.
33:28 So yeah, I mean, and you got the, I probably round out again. A lot of ours are more modern
33:33 ones. I'll throw an honorable mention to Alex Burrows. I feel like you get to throw one player
33:37 from that 2011 team. We take your pick next time. La Pierre, Roberto Luongo, Kessler, uh,
33:46 you know, Aaron Rome, obviously you gotta, you gotta throw someone in there. It feels like
33:50 I forgot about Aaron Rome, but that ended up kind of helping the brew. Yeah. Kind of galvanized
33:54 the Bruins, honestly. Um, but I feel like, yeah, Burrows for, um, for what he did, you know,
34:06 biting burger on kind of, again, kind of galvanized the team. Everyone wanted to put their
34:10 hand in Burrows face. The rest of that series just feels like a guy. Yes. It feels like a guy
34:15 that was just the poster boy for that team that I feel like when the Bruins advanced to the cup,
34:20 you know, you're like, all right, like you feel, you feel excited as a fan watching that
34:24 beat the lightning in an unbelievable game. You're like, all right, Vancouver's up next.
34:27 Uh, they're pretty good. We'll see what happens. Like, you know, it's like when they lost to the
34:31 black ox at 13, you're like, wow, that was a wagon of a team. It sucks. But what are you going to do
34:36 after game one of that series against Vancouver Bruins fans are like, we need to beat the Vancouver
34:41 connects. We cannot have the crew of jabronis beat the Bruins on this stage. Um, so yeah,
34:48 I think you get to throw someone in from that 2011 team, uh, for Vancouver, maybe it's Kevin
34:52 BX, who continues to talk about how much he's still not over that series loss. There's a lot
34:57 of guys on that team, but I'll go with Burrows tool, a lot of tools on that team. I'd go with
35:02 Burrows too. Another honorable mention, PK Suban. I don't think anything directly happened. Uh,
35:08 I know there were some flops, Bob Marsh and, um, maybe falls more under the Derek Jeter
35:15 type of like, Oh, he just, you know, kind of had your number just on the Canadians, but like
35:20 that 13, 14 playoff series, there was a lot of drama felt like a lot of drama. Um,
35:26 prime PK Suban was so good to like prime PK Suban. He scored the overtime winner in game seven of
35:35 that ending your 13, 14 year. Right. Or am I imagining that? I believe he definitely scored
35:41 in that game. Cause I was going where I think going into game seven, he like declared that
35:45 they were going to win, right. Or he was going to like quiet the garden. He said something before it.
35:49 I'm thinking of the score. He scored the goal that forced overtime in 20. That's what I'm
35:56 thinking. I'm thinking of that goal. Okay. My, my apologies. But I do believe he's, I believe.
36:01 Yeah. Yeah. They, they just, they just won, but I do think he scored a goal in that 20 in that
36:10 2014 game seven, I believe, but he was nails that whole, that whole series. He's been nails
36:14 in multiple series against the Bruins. So yeah, that's also a great pick of, you know,
36:18 is he more of an antagonist than a, uh, than a villain maybe, but like still a guy that
36:23 gave Bruins fans fits for years. Great player. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. And I still, I cannot believe
36:28 they traded him horrible decision. I mean like, what are you doing? Um, but yeah, I don't let us
36:35 know if we're missing anybody. Cause I don't think we are at least, at least out of like the last,
36:40 you know, 10 years from those Dallas stars, maybe Steve Ott, uh, Jack Edwards. That's right. Jack
36:46 Edwards. So no Jack Edwards pick is Steve. Cause Ari, but that's right. Steve gets a coward,
36:52 complete coward. Um, so yeah, those are villains. Um, but yeah, let us know if we're missing
36:59 anybody. Uh, yeah. What can the people look forward to from you over at the globe and, uh,
37:04 Boston.com? Yeah. Well, I've recovered every step of the way this off season, whether it's trade
37:08 rumors, whether it's maybe some draft projections or the Bruins all of a sudden have a first round
37:13 pick once again, uh, for agency, all that stuff will be covered over@boston.com and the globe.
37:18 If you want to follow me on Twitter, you can at Connor Ryan underscore 93. Go do all that.
37:24 That has been this week's episode of poke the bear presented by game time and prize picks.
37:29 You poke the bear listeners have a great rest of your week.
37:44 [inaudible].
37:50 [inaudible].