Could the Bruins bring in a former star? | Poke the Bear
In this episode of Poke the Bear, Conor Ryan and Evan Marinofsky run through some potential PTO pickups for the Bruins ahead of training camp, including Blake Wheeler and Max Pacioretty. That, and much more!
*************************************
Prize Picks! Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100! Pick more. Pick less. It’s that Easy! Go to https://PrizePicks.com/CLNS
Gametime! Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply. Go to https://gametime.co !
*************************************
Prize Picks! Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100! Pick more. Pick less. It’s that Easy! Go to https://PrizePicks.com/CLNS
Gametime! Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply. Go to https://gametime.co !
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Poke the bear is brought to you by price picks and the game time app
00:09And welcome in to poke the bear episode 252 presented by prize picks go use that promo code
00:16CLNS to get
00:18Up to $100 cash back on that first deposit and are presented by game time
00:24Go, he's a promo code CLNS to get $20 off that first purchase terms apply
00:29You got a concert mind got a sporting event in mind
00:32theater maybe a
00:34Stand-up act. I don't know any good stand-ups coming to Boston in the next month or so
00:39But if there was or if they're in your area go to game time. So this is all the comedy you need
00:45It's just me. I was gonna say people are all set with us. I don't need none of that
00:49They don't need they don't need stand-up acts. They have this
00:52How are you Connor, how's it going Evan I'm doing well, how you doing doing great? I just realized I didn't do the
01:00F Maranofsky with Connor Ryan Connor what is up? So that's gonna throw the whole the rest of the week off
01:05You know, I think people are
01:08Everything everything you said we're gonna say in this podcast is now gonna go
01:12Sideways, it's not either not gonna happen. It's all gonna happen
01:16Very, you know, we're again
01:17I think we've said this before but we hit the point in the offseason where a lot of speculative a lot of
01:23Napping out possible scenarios. So who knows maybe this one's curse and all these things will or won't happen. We'll see
01:30You know what? I'm gonna cause some chaos right now
01:32Because I didn't introduce you correctly. We'll do everything that we say the opposite's gonna happen in this episode
01:39So I will predict that Jeremy Swain and re-signs with the Bruins. No issues
01:44some point in the next month, so
01:46There you go Evan, I hope I hope you have a shitty day see I mean, well, it's the opposite. There you go
01:56Screw you
01:59He's gonna trip me up now so
02:01That's right. We're gonna have to talk in like opposite. It's like talking as like Yoda from Star Wars
02:06Yes, I can't even do it correctly. So I'm not not gonna try
02:11You won't
02:14And that's the reference I do get that's reference I do get that was
02:19early on but
02:22That wasn't that wasn't the Godfather I think I think it was that was a classic everyone remembers that scene
02:29Every year
02:31Feels like the Bruins
02:32Bringing a PTO or two last year. There was Alex chase on Dan Heinen Heinen obviously worked out
02:39a lot
02:40Got himself a nice payday this year with Vancouver
02:45There are some interesting veteran names out there
02:47Kyler Yamamoto Blake Wheeler sort of the big two at least around here. Do you anticipate the Bruins?
02:54Bringing in a PTO or two come camp. I mean, it wouldn't be very surprising as you said, they've done it last year
03:01And that was a season where you had a lot of cap limitations
03:05So you were kind of forced to do that in terms of you know, bringing in some of these guys on you know
03:10again, either very cheap deals or with the anticipation that they're gonna have a cheap deal if they
03:16Have a strong preseason so we're not be surprised. I think you look at this team
03:20I think Bruins cap space still is the Bruins down for 9.3 million. I know it kind of
03:25Almost a cap friendly on what they have calculated, but we don't know anymore
03:28shout out the Washington Capitals for fucking up our offseason, but
03:33Ruining everything but you know around eight to nine million seems to be the consensus of what the Bruins have
03:39So you have to imagine a lot of that does go to Jeremy Swayman
03:43But do you have any left over and you have the ability to sign a guy?
03:47It makes sense to bring in a couple of different players on PTO deals. See what you have left because again, I
03:53Think you look at a lot of the the depth chart on defense. I think you're all set
04:00Especially, you know, it's a few guys in the top six, you know
04:03We're at a lies Lindholm and Pasternak and Martian and Coyle and some of these guys are going
04:09But you can make the case that you know, if you're looking for more of a scoring punch
04:13especially with the brusque on and yes, you have, you know contingency plans between
04:19You know calling, you know
04:21Bring it up a guy like Morgan geeky or Trent Frederick into a more elevated role or even you know calling up or giving out
04:27Fabian Lysel or Georgie Murkulov a legitimate look you have options
04:31But if you're the Bruins and I think you're leaving no stone unturned and you're trying to max out the value
04:36Yeah, it makes sense of
04:39Seeing who's out there on the market whether it's a Blake Wheeler or Kali Yamamoto
04:44Max Petro ready still out there. How are Johnson's still out there?
04:48There's a lot of guys that you know, listen, they all have
04:52Concerns right whether it's their age injuries what you're gonna get out of these players
04:56But if you have the Bruins and you're just trying to take a flyer on a guy and sign to a PTO and see what you
05:01have
05:03Can't hurt right? And so I think you know, I'm sure we'll kind of go through a couple different options here
05:07But I think it does not hurt at all
05:09if you're the Bruins to bring in a couple these different players see how they fit and if all sudden you have a guy
05:15like a Blake Wheeler or a
05:17Patch already or Tyler Johnson who's signing for a cheap prove-it deal and gets you
05:2315 to 20 goals, right?
05:25Like I don't think you're signing any of these guys the expectations that they're going to you know
05:29maybe be what they were a couple years ago, but
05:31If you're able to find one of those guys that just gives you options, right like maybe like sell is great
05:36But what if he isn't maybe more geeky continue to take steps forward, but maybe you know
05:42What if he's best on the third line?
05:44I just think it doesn't hurt you if you're the Bruins and you're bringing in a few guys and just see what they have
05:48Left in the tank and if it works great
05:50If not, don't you really committed money or term or anything like that to bring them in and see what they have left?
05:55Yeah, that's why I don't mind PTOs
05:57I like them just because they're you know, you're not risking a lot
06:02And one thing, you know, John Sweeney's always preached his internal competition now
06:05They already have a lot of internal competition there, especially in those middle six lines
06:12We talked about the fourth line earlier this week with Johnny Beecher
06:14We're like this four or five guys that have legitimate shots at that fourth line, but that middle six too, right?
06:20I mean you can go down the list of just guys Frederick and geeky and Lysell and Merkuloff and
06:28Patra there's so many different guys and there's guys I you know, didn't even mention who are in the mix for those spots
06:36But I don't hate bringing it like we'll start with Yamamoto, right?
06:39Cuz Yamamoto are coming off sort of a down year in Seattle eight goals 16 points in 59 games
06:46Yamamoto small five eight one fifty three. This is not a big guy
06:50Sounds like a average guy from Southie. So I was gonna say this is you he would love Boston cuz it'd be tall here
06:56But
06:58He's young so a lot of these guys we're gonna talk about our older
07:02Veteran guys wheeler Petra ready even the best days are long behind them. I don't know what Yamamoto is gonna be
07:08I haven't watched enough of him to be like I can project him as this
07:13But I do know he's 26
07:16so he is young and
07:18There is that element to where like Heinen was relatively young last year as well where it's like you have a guy who you know
07:26Yeah, you know his best season in Edmonton 41 points two years ago
07:29Then he put up 25 the next year in 58 games
07:33So, you know even a smaller sample size things just really didn't work out in Seattle
07:37I don't know if there's been issues or anything like that, but like age and a potential, you know
07:4425-point guy like I said this to hags earlier in the summer because he was asking me about him
07:49I
07:51Like that's one. I'd say yeah, like why not try that just given the age
07:55Yeah
07:56I mean the Bruins have had a pretty good track record right of you know putting guys in spots where you know in new
08:01Surroundings they can really benefit even look at like more geeky who I think you know barely what do you play like?
08:0710 minutes and 30 seconds of average ice time and I think I think I was like taking see I'll sing it forwards like no
08:12No, we're not. You're not you're not there. No, not really not really at a offensively gifted team
08:17Especially that crackin team the last couple years as well
08:20so you can make the case and I would say that the one thing with Yamamoto is like is he
08:26Just an addition of more of what you already have which is like third line guys
08:31maybe all right, like you've got a lot of geeks and Fredericks and there's not to say that like
08:36You bring in Blake Wheeler or a patch already with the expectation that they're gonna be in a top six role
08:42But they at least have higher upside that I think it's easier if they are healthy
08:46To project to project like 20 goals in a bounce back year for like a patch already then like
08:52Yamamoto who like could have a good year could give you you know, 14 goals 30 ish points and help out
08:58but is that just kind of more of what you already have there, but
09:02In terms of what he brings right? There's you know skill there's not size but a lot of speed
09:09Which can kind of be a useful kind of?
09:12Addition to that bottom six grouping. So yeah
09:15Like I would probably say compared to guys like Wheeler or patch already or even like Johnson
09:21Maybe the upside or where you can kind of map out that makes him different from what you already have a surplus of
09:27a little bit tougher to discern
09:28but as you said
09:29It's a PTO deal if he's looking for a spot to land where he thinks he can get
09:33More out of his game and the Bruins can make use of them
09:37There's a lot of appeal for what he could bring
09:39Yeah, and I will get to patch already in a bit
09:43But I agree with you and I think you know
09:45You look at like what you'd hope out of Yamamoto
09:48You would hope to get out of Lysel or Murkuloff or geeky and I get that but it is one more guy with
09:56Maybe a little bit of a higher ceiling or more of an unknown factor
10:01Could be nothing the size worries me
10:04150 pounds in the NHL scares the crap out of me
10:08I'll be honest like I know he's you know made it work so far
10:12But that is a thing that would deter any team from
10:16Signing a guy like that long term at least and let you know, unless there were there's a high number of points
10:23So I'm curious to see what team steps forward for him
10:25I mean Yamamoto probably would make the most sense as much I like I like the age
10:32But it might make the most sense for a team
10:34That is that's rebuilding, you know
10:3916 minutes a night or something like that. Yeah, like give him time give him, you know us a surefire spot in the middle six
10:46You know that probably would make more sense
10:49Whereas with the Bruins like he would be fighting for roster spots or from his perspective
10:52I don't know if the Bruins would make the most sense at 26 years old like Heinen it made sense because he you know
10:58Played here. He played for Montgomery at Denver like that. There was a lot baked in there
11:02But Yamamoto, I don't know if that makes a whole lot of sense for him
11:06I want to get to old friend Blake Wheeler former Bruins legend Blake Wheeler who went
11:13The other way in the Atlanta Thrashers trade for Bruins legend Rich Beverly
11:19We'll get to that in a second first though quick word from our friends over at
11:24prize pens team USA's run in Paris has come to an end but rejoice sports fans because football season is about to begin and
11:31There's so many ways for you to get in the action and went up to a hundred times your cash on prize picks as you
11:36And the world's best players take the game to a new level on the court baseball diamond red iron and much more
11:43Prize picks is America's number one fantasy sports app with over 5 million active members
11:47The prize picks you can turn $10 into $1,000 in a single game watching your favorite sports this fall
11:53You can make a prize picks lineup in less than a minute
11:56you just need to pick more or less on two to six players stat projections and you're locked in and
12:01Unlike other apps on prize picks. It's just you against the numbers sign up today and get $50 instantly when you play $5
12:08You don't even need to win to receive the $50 bonus
12:11It's guaranteed preseason football is underway, but you can pick more or less on 2024 season stats already on prize picks
12:18Will Patrick Mahomes throw for more or less than four thousand three hundred yards?
12:22Will CJ Stroud sophomore season result in more or less four thousand one hundred and fifty yards?
12:28Enter your season picks before week one kicks off
12:31There's really no shortage of ways to participate in prize picks this football season. I'm picking Tyreek Hill for more than
12:381,376 yards and Saquon Barkley for more than 1,050 rushing yards
12:44So download the prize picks app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match of up to $100
12:49That's code CLNS for a first deposit match of up to $100
12:55Prize picks run your game now. Let's get back to the show. So Blake Wheeler Blake Wheeler
13:0438 years old I believe right now. He was 37 last year. So I'm assuming he'll be 38 at some point this year
13:10I'm on hockey reference comm and apparently they don't have the date of birth on here. I thought they did I have no yes
13:16Oh, I I had to click an arrow
13:18So he's 37 still but he'll be he'll be 38 by September because he's turns 38 on August 31st
13:25Um, there you go
13:29Two years ago had 55 points year before that had 60
13:33You know had 91 points two straight years
13:36In 20 is from 2017 through 2019. He was 31 and 32 much different times
13:43Last year dealt with injury had 21 points in 54 games with the New York Rangers. Where are you with Blake Wheeler? I
13:50Mean again if it comes down to like a PTO and and what he could bring there I
13:56Don't see the really the harm in it, right? Like this is a guy that if you're expecting
14:02The harm the harp I
14:05Mean, I think you look at just where he is, right?
14:08And you look at the production last year as you said dealt with injuries last year with the Rangers even if he's fully healthy
14:15I think he's maybe more of like a 40 point guy
14:18not really like a goal scorer, which may be like that also changes where you you'd want him, but
14:23The vision the passing has always been there with a guy like him at his size again
14:27I think Bruins fans who have seen Blake Wheeler know like the size doesn't necessarily correlate to how he plays, you know
14:33He's not like, you know, maybe if you were a Bruins fan who jumped in from like, you know
14:402017 or you started watching a little bit later on you're probably like this guy
14:43They got his a door off they got Blake Wheeler doesn't really play that that way if you watch how just a reso
14:49Yes, exactly
14:52but if he is healthy and he you know, you're putting him in a spot where again, it's kind of like a
14:58James Van Reams dyke where if he just plays his game you put him around maybe elevated
15:04Linemates you can get something out of him. You know, maybe that's 35 points. Maybe that's 40 points
15:10Maybe he's cashed right? But if he's willing to take a PTO and you're looking for a guy that you know
15:16Maybe he's more of a third liner. But if you're just looking for that missing piece in a
15:20Top six spot with a guy like, you know, Marshay and and coil you need another playmaker there and quit these guys in good spots
15:28Maybe you see what you have there. Maybe it's you know again
15:30well
15:31I think touch on it later on but like maybe it's still like sell it gives you the best chance but
15:35Having a guy with that resume if he's willing to take a PTO or a very cheap deal and kind of reclaim his value
15:41There's something to be said about what that upside and what that resume
15:46Could do for a team that doesn't really have a lot of you know
15:49cap space or leeway to you know sign these guys if it's if he's out there looking for like a
15:54One-year deal at two and a half million a bro. It's not gonna do that
15:58But if he's looking to reclaim his value
16:00I think it's intriguing and the very least is intriguing something that if you're the Bruins you shouldn't
16:05You should leave no stone unturned
16:06We're looking at just guys that can help you in more of that defined middle six spot
16:11Nothing guy like Wheeler at least has that potential even at this stage of his career. Yeah, I mean again if he's looking for a cup
16:19This would be a pretty solid spot to also, you know, potentially end your career with the team
16:26He started with now again, I know he was on that 2010-11 team
16:32I forget if they put him on the cup. I don't think they did
16:38I mean, he played like 58 games. He did he played like a
16:43Over half the year with the bans, so I don't know the exact. I don't know the rules with that. I forget
16:50But at any rate, you know like wants to hoist the cup at least on the ice or whatever
16:55This wouldn't be a bad spot
16:57You also look at like, you know that second line right wing spot
17:01Two years ago. He fills that on any. Oh, yeah
17:04So that's the thing where it's like, you know
17:07maybe you catch a little lightning in a bottle with Wheeler in this season get him on a PTO and
17:14He fits on that second line now again
17:17he also easily could not and easily I could just not make a lot of sense and
17:22You know, he's too slow or the injuries have hampered him down and age has hit him but
17:27You know as late as two years ago
17:30vision the points like that would make a lot of sense, so
17:35That's another one where it's like if they like if they did we if they did it I'd be like, yeah, let's see it
17:40Like I'm not like opposed to it. You know, I think that's the thing where it's like
17:44Let's see it. I think the same can be said for like max patch ready
17:48And I don't patch already never had the point ceiling that uh that Wheeler had
17:53but again
17:55Factory does score goals scores goals better than Wheeler does
17:58And at the same time also has dealt with injuries over the last, you know
18:02A couple years been bit by the you know, the injury bug didn't really work out in Vegas, Carolina
18:07I was with Washington this past year. I
18:12Think that falls under the same category Wheeler. Obviously patch ready is a left wing
18:15So I don't know like exactly where the fit would be because that left side
18:20Again, like if you're putting zaka on the left wing, you got zaka you got marsh and you've got frederick
18:25um
18:26Potentially murkuloff like you have a lot of left wings there. I don't know if patcher ready fits in
18:32Um, but the idea of a veteran van reams dyke like player
18:36Again, i'm not i'm not opposed to that if you want to yeah
18:39Yeah, it's definitely a lot tougher to kind of project it if he was a right wing then it would probably make
18:44even more sense right of like if you're looking for a guy that can just
18:47if he's healthy and has a
18:50Reasonable bounce back year could give you 15 goals 20 goals, you know falling ass backwards, right?
18:57if he's healthy out there like
18:58There's that appeal it's a little bit tougher to project where he'd be especially in a top
19:02Sixth row at left wing, right? Um, but a guy that again if he's looking just to reclaim his value and he's had
19:08Just shit luck in terms of injury, right like I mean
19:12He tore his achilles before the start of the year right with carolina and then came back played like four games and tore his achilles again
19:19Had three goals in those five games, by the way. Yeah. Yeah
19:22I mean, that's a thing like even you know, and then last year it's like all right
19:25You have two achilles tears that short amount of time
19:28Played 47 games watching last year only had four goals in 47 games had 23 points. So there's still something there
19:35um
19:37again
19:37If you're trying to take a flyer, I don't think there's any harm in it. But in terms of the fit off of
19:42um where he'd be in this lineup a little bit tougher to project like
19:47That's why you look at a guy like wheeler and you could say all right as a guy. That's a right wing
19:51And setting reasonable expectations. Could you see blake wheeler flaming out?
19:55Yeah, of course like I think that's you have to be guarded against those things
20:00When a guy is that age on a pto deal, but could you see him being a guy that could give you 40 points?
20:05Yeah, and I think like in the right situation a guy like patch ready could do that. It's just
20:09Would it be here when you look at who's at left wing in front of him, right?
20:13I think that's what you'd have to contend beyond the obvious question max as uh, how much he has left in the tank
20:18You know, can you get really?
20:20Can you get 20 goals? Can you get 15 goals out of him too?
20:23Like I think that's kind of the main question mark with him
20:25That's where he'd fit if he was willing to come here on a pto or a really really cheap deal
20:30Yeah, I mean if you were to come here
20:33You'd have to think maybe the bruin and he worked out and he was healthy and like I was like, all right
20:37Well, this is a potential top six winger. I guess in that sense. You probably would keep zaka down the middle
20:43And you'd be just an older team. You'd have you know, like patra probably goes to providence
20:48um
20:49You know you have uh lindholm zaka coil down the middle
20:53Diki might go to the wing like then it's you start to you look you're a completely different team
20:59um
21:00So I think that does change some things I think it kind of hurts
21:04Some development of younger players like murkuloff patra lycelle
21:08Kind of coming in and trying to make an impact sort of like the transfer portal we're talking about where it's like
21:12Oh, I don't want to bring in this vet who really hasn't worked in his last couple spots and uh, you know hurt some recruits
21:19I'm dealing with this college football 25 umass, by the way
21:22Uh, we've won a national championship. We've won a national championship
21:27You're two of the maranofsky tenure, uh in the last two years we've at least been in the college football playoff
21:31I've had a tough time. Um getting through the gauntlet, but uh, yeah, we're getting from four star recruits
21:36Yeah, I mean it's I wish we could rebuild the football stadium
21:40That's the one thing. It's just stuck in mcgurk. It's
21:44McGurk, it's the oh, it's the oakland coliseum of football stadiums. I liked um, who was it?
21:49Who was that guy who went in there recently? Uh and said like this is the worst football stadium in college football
21:56I I think it was the guy who goes in places and stay and tries to stay as long as humanly possible
22:00You know what i'm talking about? Oh, yeah, i've heard of that guy. He tried doing like fenway too or something. Yeah
22:06It's like joe missoula trying to rob
22:09Yeah, so, uh, but he wasn't
22:11He went in there and ripped mcgurk rightfully. So mcgurk stinks. Yeah, I'm listening. I don't want to be the guy
22:17I feel like i'm throwing, you know stones at glass houses if i'm crapping on you your football team considering
22:22Boston university
22:24I mean, it's boston university undefeated since 96, but
22:28Much going on since then it'd be hilarious if they were in college football 25, which is they're playing
22:33They're just playing like like an a lot
22:35or they're playing over at
22:36Nickerson field and you can barely even like it's a tiny like it just me in the stands
22:41My favorite thing is uh, they they don't have the fcs team
22:44So they name them like fcs east fcs southwest and you when you play an fcs team
22:49There's an injury like every play from fcs like the fbs fcs guys are just getting hurt like every single play
22:56Um, but they should be in it at like holy cross. Shout out. Sarah, uh should be in it. I agree
23:00I I think it's ridiculous that fcs teams are not true. Anyways, people are fucking pissed
23:08They're like man, they were real they were going for like 15 straight minutes. Um
23:13You want to go to the game?
23:15You want to go to any of these games, especially football right football's right around the corner
23:18You want to go to a college game? You want to go to an nfl game?
23:21Go visit our friends over at game time fall is beginning which means football is
23:27Back nothing beats a college football atmosphere
23:31And with both college and nfl games who doesn't love a good tailgate get to the game with game time game time
23:37Has a new feature called game time picks that makes getting tickets to see your favorite teams play live
23:43Even easier game time picks filters out the fluff to show you only incredible deals on great seats
23:50So you don't have to waste time searching through thousands of tickets this fall
23:55My friends and I are going to the patriots titans game in tennessee
23:59And how we get tickets for the game game time
24:01Of course the super deal has been amazing to us in the past and there's no doubt. It will be great to us again
24:08I just love the curated deals which make it easier to find the best price
24:13on great seats some other features
24:15I love are the lowest price guarantee or game time will credit you 110 of the difference
24:21Game time picks curation makes it easier to save more on sports
24:26concerts comedy and theater
24:28All in pricing toggling this feature shows the total up front with no surprise fees at checkout
24:34So download the game time app create an account and use code
24:38CLNS for twenty dollars off your first purchase terms apply again create an account and redeem code
24:45CLNS for twenty dollars off
24:48Download game time today last minute tickets lowest price guaranteed now back to the show
24:56so
24:57One of the upside the big upside to wheeler and patch ready is sort of that top six
25:01Hope where it's like oh shoot like still got a little bit left in the tank
25:06You know can either score or set a lot of plays up in wheeler's case
25:10Uh, two other names though for sort of the bottom six, uh, tyler johnson and kevin lebank
25:16um
25:17Would you be interested in either of those guys?
25:20I mean, I think tyler johnson could be an interesting guy in terms especially I think if the bruins have concerns over
25:26Patra and whether I think he's ready to be like set in stone 3c. I got like johnson could be like your veteran stop
25:33He'd be your jacoby brissette
25:35If you're looking for that, right?
25:37I have a guy that could be 3c can play on the wing as well and can you know jump up when needed?
25:41I don't think you should be
25:43You pencil him in
25:44On you know opening night in october to have him be a top six player. We got I could do that when needed
25:50Obviously kind of had his heyday with tampa forever
25:54Um, he's been in chicago the last two years
25:56um
25:57Last last three seasons last two years have had 63 points in 123 games
26:02So gives you 30 40 points, um again on some pretty crappy chicago team
26:07Yeah, he was a minus 35 last year and that again
26:10We don't we're not big plus minus but that just goes to show you how terrible that team was
26:13Yeah, so, uh, you know, maybe that's the guy that again compared to maybe a guy like yamamoto who again johnson
26:19I think he's gonna be 34. So um, but in terms of like you could project him
26:24I think being a 30 point guy on a better team
26:27In a role like that more than maybe a guy like yamamoto. So that's really appealing kevin lebank
26:33I have no idea what to make of this man. Um, this is a guy that
26:37Uh, and then evan, I think we've mentioned this
26:41In the bank, he's gonna end up signing here and that yes, I know like come back and get us like yeah
26:48I don't mean that as like in terms of how he's playing. I just I just don't know what to expect
26:52He's had such a interesting
26:54career and as a podcast that I think we've said this multiple times evan
26:59Fully endorsed guys getting the bag. So everyone who did not get the bag and fumbled the bag was kevin lebank
27:05Who had what 56 points in his third year at 23 was do a new contract and signed
27:12a one-year deal worth a million dollars
27:15Yeah bad idea
27:17Yeah, that's a fireable fireable offense for the agent
27:20So and again, uh, he did sign I think he was making like 4.5 million per year after that and just the numbers have tailed off
27:27but
27:28You'd like to imagine you would have locked into a stronger deal right out of the gate anyway
27:32But you look at the last couple years again
27:35Really really bad san jose team, but 21 to 22 only played 21 games six points
27:4122 23 72 games 15 goals 33 points and then last year on that
27:47dreadful team
27:4846 games two goals seven assists nine points like
27:53is he the guy that in 1819 when he was 23 had 17 goals and 56 points or
27:59Is he you know, is he even a 30 point guy?
28:02that's a guy that i'm sure team I think will probably bring him in on a pto and see if maybe on a better team not
28:07a team that is as
28:08Uh cruddy as san jose has been the last couple years. Maybe there's something to give
28:12um
28:14but if you told me this like
28:16Two or three years ago when he was still like only a few years removing that 56 point season i'd be like
28:20Yeah, bring him in like yeah
28:22I feel like he'd be a guy that he could easily map out of being like, oh he can get you 35 40 points
28:27Now I I I just don't know what to make of the player, but I think it would not be surprising if some team
28:33Puts in the pto form right wing
28:35Has had you know
28:36A couple of good years in the past. Maybe there's room to more room to grow
28:40They're a new surrounding all those kind of things. I just don't know if bruins are the team that are gonna do it
28:45but
28:46He's at least would be in the mix if you're looking at pto deals on a guy that
28:49Has shown the ability to score in the past at the nhl level
28:53he is and it's tough because
28:55both him and johnson are probably
28:58More in like a van reams dyke bottom six
29:01Role, obviously, you know for johnson. It'd be more down the middle
29:05but like again, I just like and this kind of segues into our next uh topic of like
29:11Would you rather just stick with what the bruins have?
29:14Um, do you need do you feel the need to uh to have to go out and do this?
29:19um when it comes to wheeler patch already like
29:21I'm i'd be intrigued like I would be intrigued to see what they got if there's anything left in the tank if there isn't
29:27All right. Well, you know, it's not going to take you a lot off the cap
29:30um
29:31johnson and lebank are interesting just because like
29:33You know, you look at that what that third line probably will be which is some form of frederick
29:38patra geeky brazzo
29:40you know like a potential merculof like
29:43I want to see what you have there. Um,
29:46And I want to see sort of what some of the kids can do if you feel patra needs to go to providence
29:52Great, that's fine. Um, but again like then in that case, you know, you'd have frederick
29:57Geeky and brazzo as a potential third line that's given like brazzo has a great training camp
30:02So, you know that's we that still remains to be seen but going off of last year and what brazzo showed you like
30:08I'd probably rather have that be my third line given
30:11That's what you have and that's the guy you you know, you went out and got um now again
30:16If brazzo didn't progress the way he did last year and the scouting staff never went out and got him
30:21Well, then all right. Yeah, then johnson or you know a lebank i'd be like, all right
30:24Take a flyer on that give that a shot. Um
30:28And then the fourth line I think you're I think you're set with with fourth line guys. So johnson and lebank i'm not
30:33Super huge on patch ready and wheeler i'd be intrigued in yamamoto
30:37Uh kind of falls in that bank category of you know guy in their 20s who seems to have lost their way
30:43Maybe there's something there
30:45Um, I don't know if that's like the perfect thing for the bruins i'd be you know
30:48If they take a flyer on any of these guys i'd be like, all right, i'm intrigued. Um
30:53But again, I I you know wheeler and patch already to me for this roster for what it probably needs
31:00Which is a little bit of offensive firepower
31:02um
31:03The potential for those guys to give it I think is a little bit more than guys like yamamoto johnson
31:08And lebank. Yeah. Yeah. No, I agree
31:10I I think if you're bringing in one or two of those guys that have
31:14The resume in the previous pedigree. I don't think there's any harm in doing and harm
31:19harm and
31:22I don't think there's any issue with uh, bringing in one of those guys to see what what they can bring
31:27Uh in one of those roles, but I agree if it's like yamamoto or like bank or johnson
31:33I would rather you figure out finally what you maybe have in some of these younger players like a brezzo or a lycelle or
31:39Markulov
31:40and if they don't work out
31:41Like you still have geeky and frederick and some of these other players that can step into an elevated role
31:48and if worse comes to worse and you'd rather have
31:51Geeky and frederick on the third line and lycelle's not working out and you finally have clarity as to what he could be or what?
31:56He isn't at the nhl level
31:59Check into the tread deadline when guys who've scored 15 to 20 goals are all available on the market, right?
32:04Like I just think you do have a lot more options there. So I don't think you should go in
32:08um
32:10Get the roster intact if there is a guy like a wheeler or patch already willing to sign a pto
32:15I don't think there's any harm in doing that and bringing in one of these players
32:18um to see just what they have left in the tank, but I also wouldn't flood your training camp roster with
32:24three or four guys that that could be
32:27Really redundant as to what they can bring and more importantly
32:30blocking out some guys that I think at the very least we just got to figure out what these guys are like is
32:36Lycelle a guy that can play at the nhl level and can thrive in a featured role
32:41Is murky love can he bring anything? Can a guy like again? Can a guy like geeky?
32:46be more of a
32:48You know potential 50 point guy if you think he has more room to grow there, right?
32:51like I'd rather you find out those things as opposed to like
32:54We get to november and it's like well yamamoto like we'll see how he does up there like if
32:59We'll I'd rather you bring in a guy like wheeler
33:01See what he's gotten pre-season you find out if the wheels have fallen off or yet or not
33:05and if he if it isn't
33:07See what he could do and maybe you have one more guy added to the mix, but I wouldn't go
33:12Buck wild with three or four pto deals and blocking
33:16A couple different guys. I think you want to just see what they can do at the next level
33:20I agree. I think you know like for tyler johnson
33:23I think if you're a contending team who needs sort of a third line center. I think that's a
33:27Great spot to try them out in
33:30um
33:31And the other thing that I think fans have to realize about pto is is there are reasons these guys are unsigned
33:36Like it doesn't mean that they're unsignable doesn't mean these guys are awful
33:39But all of these guys have red flags, right patch already with his injury history
33:43He's older wheeler is you know, it's going to be 38 years old when the season starts. Yamamoto
33:47Has had his issues tyler johnson
33:50um, you know with chicago the past couple years and he's on the downturn kevin lebank as we said just hard to you know,
33:55Make what his career is going to be and like wouldn't shock me if kevin lebank goes to a pretty good team
34:00Plays with a good center and puts up, you know, 40 or 50 points next year and it's like oh my god
34:05Like look at that. Like could lebank be danton hein in this year?
34:08I think absolutely he could be uh, but there's also a possibility that he isn't I think you have guys
34:13in your uh system
34:15On your roster that as we've said we want to see what they can do
34:19Um, it's time to see what georgie murkuloff can bring what fabian lycelle can bring?
34:24Um can matt potter be an everyday nhl or like how much more has he progressed from last year after shoulder surgery?
34:30so like
34:30That's the other thing where you have these that youth that mini youth movement of moving that next generation in I mean
34:37Those are your guys you drafted or went out and signed like in murkuloff's case signed him
34:43Like do you really want to be kind of muddying the waters with
34:46Guys who have pto's like as you said if you want to bring in a wheeler a patch already great
34:50I'm all for trying that out because I don't think that hinders the younger guys too much
34:55um, but lebank yamamoto
34:58you know, maybe they work out but also like we're wondering those same things about lycelle murkuloff patra and
35:05a lot of those guys so
35:07But again, sweeney loves internal competition
35:10So it wouldn't shock me if he brought in any of these guys
35:12It would not it would not shock me if he did that
35:16Um to try and stir the pot a little bit if he feels that it needs to be but again
35:20They didn't do anything at the deadline
35:22To address, uh losing dubrusque like there was none of that. We didn't hear much of it at all
35:27You know going for wingers. We thought like oh do claire be a really
35:30you know easy option there not even that so
35:34I think that's another example of just like I think they're set with what they've got. Um
35:39Or they want to find out what the clarity is there with some of these players, which is totally reasonable
35:43I've you know, there's something to say about that of figuring out if we're in
35:47early december and lycelle's
35:49Got one goal and four assists over 26 games
35:53And he's not showing progression
35:56It's unfortunate you wish that it would work out or it's same thing with murkuloff
36:00But the very least you now know, all right
36:02I don't know what we have in this player or we do know and he's not someone we can build around
36:07Let's start checking the trade market when we get to february
36:10and march and seeing what is out there because again, it's not like you're usually these guys are going for a premium for the
36:17Feels like 10 plus players every year the deadline who can give you 15 20 goals that are going to get dangled by
36:23Some crappy teams so you do have options even if things kind of go haywire
36:27Uh earlier on this season you do you do uh connor
36:31What can people look forward to from you over at the globe and boston.com?
36:36Yes, as we get ready for uh the start of training camp. I know captain's practice right around the corner
36:41Thank god. We'll have some actual stuff to talk about. We'll have you covered every step of the way
36:46Uh over at boston.com and the boston globe
36:48So read all my stuff over there and if you want to follow me on twitter, you can at connor ryan underscore 93
36:54Go do all of that. That's poke the bear
36:57Connor ryan, evan marinovsky poke the bear listeners. Have a great rest
37:01of your week
37:06You
37:25You