- 12/13/2023
Conor Ryan is joined by Evan Marinofsky today to take a closer look at the highs and lows of this Bruins team, from their goaltending, lack of physicality, and some questions around coaching decisions. How does this team regain some consistency, and are they capable of maintaining the level of play they showed early in the season?
- Pavel Zacha and Charlie McAvoy are out for Wednesday
- Just how good has the goaltending been?
- The defense is a different story
- Jim Montgomery’s line-juggling
- What’s going on with the Matt Grzelcyk-Charlie McAvoy pairing?
- Pavel Zacha and Charlie McAvoy are out for Wednesday
- Just how good has the goaltending been?
- The defense is a different story
- Jim Montgomery’s line-juggling
- What’s going on with the Matt Grzelcyk-Charlie McAvoy pairing?
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SportsTranscript
00:00 That's a lot of mixing and matching and what I've kind of noticed about all those is that the one line
00:05 That's always stood out as being consistently good is
00:07 Jvr
00:09 Frederick coil I was gonna say I was yes, that's the one. Yeah, that's the one that's really so now
00:14 we're like, all right keep that together the rest is still like
00:27 And welcome in to poke the bear episode
00:30 185 presented by our good friends over at fan duel and factor meals. That's Connor Ryan. I have Evan Maranofsky Connor. What is up?
00:38 Evan I'm doing well. How you doing? I'm doing great. I'm doing great. I'm Connor. I gotta be honest. I'm feeling pretty intimidating
00:46 Because for those who listen via audio
00:49 You're not really gonna get what I'm saying here
00:53 But for those who watch on YouTube or Twitter or watch just the videos. There's a new background
00:59 Look at that subscribe in big letters you freaking bet like it's I'm like Tommy DeVito's age like you better fucking subscribe
01:08 like
01:10 Salem mass - by the way, shout out Salem, which is incredible
01:15 I saw Phil Stacy editor of the Salem news tweeted that out. I was like, oh my god
01:18 I didn't know who's from Salem mass. So but yeah, we have a new background
01:22 Let us know what you think of it. I like it. If there's a lot going on, but it's it's you know, it's good
01:28 It's good to switch things up Evan, right? It is it is we've switched up things a lot in the last couple months
01:34 So why the hell not keep switching things up?
01:37 But yeah, the Tommy DeVito thing is is hilarious. I'm getting a kick out of that. That's
01:42 You know, I gotta admit. Well, it's I I rare I don't watch a ton of football and the Patriots aren't playing
01:49 but on Monday night, I was watching the
01:52 The Titans - I was watching both games go back and forth and then once the Dolphins kind of, you know opened it up
01:58 Yeah, I think like 27 13 in the in the fourth. I was like a screw it
02:02 I'm not watching the rest of this game and then I get the push notification like a you know, hour later
02:07 I'm like they came back so
02:08 Jokes on me. I didn't stick around long enough. But anyways, it's a hockey podcast who gives a shit about football
02:16 Speaking of things that are gonna be changing up we talked about this a little bit on Bruins beat
02:21 But it is true Pavel Saka will be out for Wednesday's game against New Jersey. Jesper Bokwist has been recalled
02:28 Charlie McEvoy will also be out. That's the second straight game that he will be
02:33 Watching from the ninth floor upper body. But again the Bruins say it's not a head injury. So
02:39 Guess take him at their word for it. I hope it's not a head injury
02:44 This is a big those two big losses though, especially in kind of a big game like this against New Jersey on Wednesday night
02:50 Yeah, absolutely. And even though New Jersey I think right now is on the outside looking in at a playoff spot
02:56 They've kind of had injuries. They've the defense has been pretty
02:59 So so so far this year, but I think you look at their rush
03:04 Offense is still very very deadly. They can do a lot of damage there and I think it's something where
03:10 You look at the Bruins in their defense and where their shortcomings have been it's been on
03:14 Defending the rush and stopping odd man rushes and stuff like that
03:17 And so yeah without McEvoy out there. That's a huge loss
03:21 You're gonna test guys like Ian Mitchell Mason Laura and see how they hold up but then up front
03:27 Paul was Akka's been a guy that not only has he been really solid offensively on Patriots 60 points
03:33 He's one of your most trusted PK guys out there as well
03:36 So this is gonna be a game where I think you're gonna see a lot of Morgan Dickey step up played over 17 minutes
03:41 The last game against Arizona and he probably in line for more reps moving forward
03:46 Yeah, it's interesting. This is one of those games the way it's shaping out, right? You're missing your best defenseman. You're missing your
03:52 highest offensive ceiling center kills penalties as well in Pavel's Akka, you know
03:58 We talked a lot this year and talking about the younger players about how?
04:03 The biggest thing with this team is winning you want to win. That's their goal. It's crazy Conor
04:07 You do want to win hockey games and it can be important as my neighbors like fall all over themselves in the stairwell
04:15 I don't know if you can hear that. They just making tons of noise
04:17 I would have rather that
04:25 At least he I mean, I think the Kool-Aid man could give us some fiery Bruins take so I would be all for the Kool-Aid
04:32 Man jumping in, you know, he wouldn't he wouldn't pay for the damage. He'd be like call your insurance
04:37 The very Feinstein would pop out of the ground like yeah, I think you need to call me, you know
04:43 So it would be just a perfect medley of the Avengers. Yes
04:48 Yeah, Kool-Aid man, Barry Feinstein like Lee Stempniak, you know, just everyone
04:54 Yes
04:56 Everybody at once it would be just a perfect grouping of people
05:01 Where was I? Oh with which with the way the Bruins are I you know with your top guys out?
05:08 I wouldn't mind seeing them play the kids in this game. Not like, you know again, I'm not saying, you know
05:13 Don't put geeky in the top six. I'm not saying, you know
05:16 You know if it's a close game at the end
05:19 Shortening the bench what I'm saying though is like this is as you mentioned a chance to see what you got
05:24 Like the Devils are a good team. I know the record says otherwise. I know they've struggled this year
05:29 That's a good team like primetime game. See what low-rise got right like I would I want you know
05:36 Geeky is an interesting one because he's still trying to find his footing in this lineup
05:40 But I wouldn't mind Patra seeing or seeing Patra in higher elevated minutes
05:45 So for me like I would love for them to approach just this game like that. I know they won't
05:50 and again, we'll see how the game goes because again if it you know, if low Ryan Patra and
05:56 Those guys are playing well, then then that's the other thing an interesting thing is Ian Mitchell
06:00 Because he and Mitchell's kind of physical and he does like to throw the body around and he is aggressive
06:06 Sometimes I watch his game and I see a little Connor Clifton in him and he I'm curious because we talked with us on Bruins
06:12 Beat about the defense being more physical
06:14 Needing to make life more difficult on opponents. He has that DNA a little bit
06:19 I'm curious if he finds some sort of role on this team. That's higher than the seventh defenseman
06:26 Yeah, yeah, he's a really interesting case. He had a really good game actually against Arizona
06:30 I think he was on the ice for four five on five goals for the Bruins
06:34 Really steady there. We kind of know what his strengths are. But again, what's his role is he a 70?
06:40 Can he you know possibly jump up in the lineup?
06:42 And it's he fighting for maybe the minutes that a guy like Shetland Kirk has or for bird or what have you?
06:47 So yes as much as it's not ideal that you don't have both Charlie Macklin Derek forward out there
06:53 Especially against a pretty high octane offensive team like New Jersey
06:57 It's a great opportunity to see not just like the younger guys or geeky in a new role
07:01 But I got like Mitchell and what exactly you have because all you can consider I think after a pretty slow start
07:06 He's been pretty solid whenever you kind of draw him into the lineup. Yeah, I've been fine with Ian Mitchell
07:12 I think it's a that was an interesting
07:14 Addition in that Taylor Hall trade where it's like who is this guy and he ended up, you know, he's ended up
07:19 Working out pretty well. Um
07:22 Yeah, I agree. I would like to see them use some new players in there not new players
07:26 But guys and elevated roles and things like that
07:29 I know I know it's a big game, but I just I I wouldn't mind seeing that
07:33 On Wednesday night, we're gonna get into some statistics. That's the big episode. This is like this is like math heavy
07:41 Stats heavy. This is I'm transporting everybody back to AP stats in high school. This is what this is what this show is gonna be
07:48 I was gonna say
07:51 Like
07:53 True okay Oppenheimer. We're gonna go full Oppenheimer mode right here. We're gonna build a nuke
08:00 We're gonna build a a full-blown nuke
08:03 And we are gonna drop and we're gonna drop the nuclear knowledge on you. That's what this is gonna be. Yes
08:09 It is that's exactly how what they were giving off I think I remember
08:14 Oppenheimer was giving off like expected goals for
08:19 He did he was big on
08:21 Goals saved above expected. That was a big that was a big one. He was really for
08:26 that's the thing is when they had the security clearance hearings that he was advocating for course he is a way to measure hug possession and
08:33 Robert Downey jr. Was like you fucking idiot. It's all about grit, baby. That's how they cut that part
08:40 I don't know why Nolan I know it's a long movie so I can see why they do want to add that
08:44 this the hockey semantics into it, but
08:47 Just so you know, and I think I
08:49 It was a big hockey
08:52 I think it might be better than miracle and like Josh Peck
08:55 Was was saying like Fenwick is underrated and people should be talking about Fenwick more. That's where I disagreed
09:00 I was like Josh. Why don't you go be Josh Nichols with Drake and Josh?
09:03 This is maybe this is for you, you know, so I don't know. We'll see
09:06 But anyways before we get to all the statistics a quick word from our friends over at fan duel
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10:02 So these statistics these were mined by you this was all you I had nothing I didn't do anything for this
10:10 This is completely you you're doing a story for the globe on some stats that define the Bruins and some
10:17 Digging under the surface, you know, like when it snows and you got a shovel the snow off and get underneath
10:22 So I will let you take point on this. I will let you and I will react but these are your stats
10:28 I don't want to read them like that. I came up with these
10:30 I mean, I'm gonna tweet all these out like right when we finish recording, of course, but but face to face
10:35 I'm gonna just let you take it
10:37 Yeah, so I guess starting off with one that I think it's really obvious in terms of looking at
10:43 The success of this team and why exactly they're 18 5 & 3. It's the goalies as expected
10:50 I think when you look at just how impactful they are
10:53 I think people look at you know, the baseline stats goal, you know, GA a save percentage high danger save percentage
10:59 But when you look at goals saved above average, I think that's a good way to quantify
11:02 Just how much a goalie in particular is bailing out your team and swim and Omar combined this year
11:08 14.3 goals saved above average which when you look at this team and their lack of firepower
11:15 there, you know lapses defensively at least early on this year don't have a really large margin forever and
11:22 14.3 goals can go a long way towards impacting an 18 18 5 & 3 record into
11:29 You know something close to even 500 if that's the case
11:32 So, I mean really not surprising in terms of how good they are, but really just underscoring how impressive they've been this season
11:38 This is why I don't follow the logic of Oh trade all mark like this is again
11:44 You you need these goals saved you you need like you're not getting as high octane of an offense as you had last season
11:53 So you need to rely on your goaltending?
11:55 so I mean it's it's a pretty high number fourteen point three like I just I go back to like that just sort of
12:02 Solidifies the argument of do not trade the goalies. We've had this conversation before so I don't want to just go back into it
12:08 but like I
12:09 Want to see these two
12:11 Play in the playoffs like I want to see them try it if it goes down and it sucks and they're out the first round
12:17 With it you at least you tried it
12:19 But again with numbers like that and with how good they've both been I thought at the beginning of the year
12:23 We talked about this. I think on the last poke the bear one last week. I thought all marks
12:28 fall-off would be more
12:31 stark and a little bit more
12:33 What's the word just you know bigger
12:37 More severe. That's exactly regression
12:40 But it hasn't been and I you know again, I think Swain's been better
12:45 But it hasn't been by much and they're still both elite. So I think you're you're cooking with gasoline on that one
12:51 Yeah, absolutely. And it's also I think out of that fourteen point three like swimming's clearly been better
12:55 I think he's ten point Oh goal saving above average all marks four point three
12:59 but I think you even look at this recent stretch where swimming was out where he was sick and all marks kind of got stood
13:05 up and
13:06 Yeah, and help them kind of steady the
13:09 The team when you could have had it screaming out for an extended stretch like even that Arizona game that game could have gone
13:16 Haywire in a hurry based on just how I think frantic and effective average owners offense has been this year
13:21 So just another situation there where all marks stood out when needed so their goalies have been good
13:27 But a one step that has not really been as great
13:30 Defense in front of the Bruins and I think when you look at the the state of this team
13:35 We knew that the strengths were gonna be in net
13:37 We knew there's gonna be a lot of question marks up front on offense of how they can can get
13:42 Sustainable consistent scoring but even with the defense in front of them and the personnel they have out there. That's pretty damn good
13:48 Hasn't really been the case so far this year again
13:52 They're third in the league and goes against per game pretty good
13:55 A lot of that I think is a result of all mark and swimming but it is right now
13:59 Yeah, Bruins right now 15th in the league in five on five high danger scoring chances against for 60 minutes
14:05 So again, you've got two goalies that are bailing you out, but it's not like they're also having really kind of quiet nights either
14:11 There's a lot of whether it's odd man rushes a lot of not protecting the net front
14:14 The defense in front of them really hasn't made things easier for them along the way which is amplifying how good they've been
14:20 But also showing there's a lot more room for improvement there the guys in front of them in the D zone
14:25 Yeah, the Bruins aren't Quinnipiac, you know the Quinnipiac the goalies get like 14 shots a game and it's all this guy's got like a point
14:32 Seven two goals against average. It's like well, it's cuz he's got like no shots on him and it's good defense
14:36 I agree
14:37 and that's and that's one of those things a lot of people are like all the I test is more important than
14:41 Then statistics and this and that it's like well the perfect move is you have both
14:45 This is one where I think it passes both
14:48 I think the stats support what people see and I think what we've seen through the first
14:52 Two and a half months of the season is there been many games where?
14:56 Swimming and all mark have won them the game and stolen them the game and it's not necessarily, you know
15:02 Diving across post to post to make a glove save
15:04 It's a guy in front of the net with a clear
15:07 Clear grade a chance like and we've seen a lot more of those than in past years and I'm curious if it's more so
15:14 Again, the personnel hasn't changed much. Is it you know something with the coaching because again you have it, you know you have
15:21 It's Chris Chris Kelly's in charge of the D. Correct. There's a sacco. I'm blanking
15:27 I believe it's Kelly. Yes
15:30 So instead of having grew in there you have Kelly or is it something to do with no Bergeron?
15:35 No, crazy. Is that what it is? I mean again like coils been a good solid defensive center
15:41 Zaka is responsible in his own zone. So I'm curious what it is if it's a lack of just you know
15:46 Just toughness in front of the net. We've talked about this quite a bit. But I mean again, that's not an encouraging number
15:53 That's pretty discouraging to see because again you're middle of the pack in terms of that
15:58 I mean again, it goes back to like if the goaltending ever regresses even a little bit
16:02 I think this team falls from one to you know, three in the Atlantic potentially. So yeah, yeah, not great. Not great
16:09 No, not great
16:11 We will look at one positive and it's a guy that I think we all expected was gonna be really good
16:15 David Pasternak on pace for 50 goals
16:17 But I think kind of what we've talked about what makes him such an elite player
16:21 Offensively is that it's not just a one-trick pony
16:24 It's not he's not generating all the chances off of just relying on the one-timer on the power play
16:29 He's passing the puck a lot more this year's on pace for 72 assists
16:33 123 points both which would be career highs, but I even think you look at his
16:38 Offensive generation. It's he's really diversifying how he's kind of generating his chances now and out of his 16 goals
16:45 14 have actually been wrist shots. They're not like a lot of relying on the one-timer the slap shot
16:49 It's only really been one one goalies had who's against Buffalo on the road back in
16:55 November where it was like a one-timer from the left circle the rest have been like wrist shots of him kind of getting closer to
17:01 the net and beating goalies that way so again not a surprise that
17:06 Poster makes still stuffing the stat cheap when I think when you look at how he's doing it
17:10 It shows you a guy that's so gifted offensive that he can kind of
17:14 Based on a situation based on the season can kind of augment how he's generating those chances
17:19 Just further validate that he's a really special player out there
17:21 I mean his shot is just ridiculous like I that's where I go back to like, you know, he doesn't need a lot of space
17:27 You know, it's not just a vet, you know
17:30 No, again of edge can scores a lot of different kinds of goals
17:32 But he always gets kind of you know made fun of for just kind of standing there in the power play posh knocks
17:36 Not that even saw against Arizona. I mean, you know, they get him moving around so much on that power play
17:41 And so yeah, I mean again, it doesn't surprise me. But what does is sort of the the setting up this year?
17:46 That's one thing that I think is risen and he's been a lot better at this year than maybe in past years
17:52 So yeah, that's a good one because I I see the rest of these some of these other stats
17:55 That's so great. That's so great. Yeah, we know the stats before we get to the stats something that is great something
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19:18 So, uh continue on I didn't mean interrupt you but factor meals, I mean, you know gotta have them it's it you have to
19:27 Absolutely. No, I understand Evan
19:30 But yeah going back to the negativity, I guess
19:33 We talked about this on Bruins beat about the Bruins lack of physicality
19:39 You know not delivering a lot of hits and we kind of mentioned that you can do that as maybe you know
19:44 It shouldn't be the ultimate barometer in terms of being a how effective a team is playing
19:48 but I think when you look at offensive zone time and the one thing the Bruins have been lacking is
19:52 Not adhering to this really straight line effective for checking game
19:56 When you look at their even strength reps just forty point seven percent of their even strength ice time has been in the offensive zone
20:03 That's not great
20:04 It's below the 50th percentile of all NHL teams
20:07 I think it kind of signals that one
20:09 Bruins are way too one and done in the offensive zone too many, you know chances off the rush or not
20:14 You know just dumping the puck in and forcing turnovers and making things
20:17 Difficult for the opponent so it kind of reinforces what we talked about
20:21 earlier this week Evan and again, does this team need to be a
20:25 Physical juggernaut where they're just dropping the gloves and beating the shit out of everyone
20:29 No
20:30 I'm sure if some brains guys would love that but I think what you need to have more is that a physicality that equates to
20:36 A stronger for check, you know on defense boxing guys out of great AI's those little things that I didn't go a really long way
20:43 Especially once you get to the playoffs, it's they're too soft to play against right now, especially in the ozone
20:50 I think it hits it when Montgomery said and kind of where they're trying to head like I just
20:54 they're just
20:56 All these numbers that we're gonna get to kind of hit it
20:59 I wonder if it hits at the point of are they as good as their record is because there are a lot of underlying
21:06 Issues with this team that I do wonder like and this is a bigger picture conversation
21:12 We can have we'll probably have a hundred times this year of like are they really?
21:17 Number one in the NHL number two in the NHL. It doesn't feel like it
21:21 I don't know like last again
21:22 We're coming off last year where it was, you know, just a stacked lineup and they were just so ahead of everybody
21:27 so maybe it's the fatigue of that but like I look at some of these stats and some of the ones that are coming up
21:33 where it's like and
21:34 But maybe on the other side of it. It's like oh, well, they're this good and they're having these issues
21:39 Maybe once they patch these things up there come at the issues are coming now
21:43 It help it's gonna help down the stretch. Maybe it could be that too. So both sides of the coin. That's what we do here
21:50 Yes, that's the coin. Absolutely. Very fair take there Evan
21:53 Another one that it's kind of we've talked about before that I think a lot of Bruins fans are very cognizant of
21:58 struggles with dealing with empty net situations the Bruins season
22:03 Ended last year because of a six on five goal by Brendan Montour and it's carried over this year
22:09 34 41 of ice time against an empty net this season Bruins have given up seven goals. Oh
22:16 Great
22:17 Totally and again, I think I think you can look at quite a few things that if you don't fit
22:22 You know, you can roll the punches now you have like the tough game against Anaheim tough game against Tampa. We lose those games
22:28 Bruins bounce back and beat Toronto after letting up a last-minute goal
22:33 but those are the situations that if you want to go deep in the playoffs and win a cup there's gonna be
22:38 five six seven eight nine games like that where teams got an empty net and you get a
22:43 Clear the puck and put out a lot of fires in the last minute
22:46 And you want to fix those now in November and December before they really bite you in the ass in April and May
22:52 So definitely something worth keeping tabs on
22:54 Yeah
22:54 I think it all goes back to just being a little too easy to play against like you got a little harder in the defensive
22:59 Zone, I think it kind of comes back to that. We've seen it. I mean God
23:03 Tampa Toronto like those are teams that you could face in the playoffs
23:07 And again, it's not maybe it's not the worst thing. These problems are coming up now
23:11 We've talked about this like, you know learn how to deal with the adversity as it comes to you
23:16 Whereas they didn't we have that last year, but I mean just just watching it
23:20 I mean that's that doesn't surprise me does not surprise me
23:23 They're number one in the league and empty neck and and goals against when the other team has an empty net
23:28 Yes without a doubt and then looking at the forwards one thing that has stuck out to me is whether it be injuries
23:37 The amount of turnover up front the fact you got so many younger guys line up
23:41 Jim Montgomery put his forward group in a blender for most this year so far
23:46 You got 14 different line combinations that have logged at least 20 minutes at five and five ice time
23:51 so it's not like it's like a one game or
23:53 It's you know
23:54 Just a bunch of mixed lines that you know end up having five six minutes of ice time together
23:59 Just the way that the charts kind of map out there
24:01 That's a lot of mixing and matching and what I've kind of noticed about all those is that the one line that's always stood out
24:07 as being consistently good is
24:10 Jvr Frederick coil I was gonna say I guess that's the one yeah, that's the one that's really so now we're like alright
24:16 Keep that together. The rest is still like
24:18 Yeah, I they haven't found anything yet I outside of that line that really has stuck
24:28 I mean again like you know, they they looked like they might have had something with Lauco Beecher and Luch each obviously that ship has sailed
24:37 But up, you know in the top six does who does Potter fit with you know, who is Zaka best fit with Jake DeBrusque?
24:44 We've yet to see him get activated, you know, like they're trying different things
24:48 You could also make it, you know the case that gonna keep lines together longer to develop chemistry, you know chemistry
24:54 Doesn't just happen overnight. I think a lot of times, you know line gets put together. They have a great, you know first game
24:58 Everybody's like oh, they're terrific. Then you watch for the next couple games and it's like oh they clearly don't fit
25:02 But they had such a hot start that that narrative gets out there
25:06 Whereas you know vice-versa
25:07 I think there are combos that could maybe work that haven't been together
25:10 so I mean that is sort of a product of the beginning of a season especially for a team that lost its top two centers and
25:17 Key wings from last year in Holland Bertuzzi
25:19 But I mean at some point it does have to die down at some point you do kind of have to find the trios that
25:24 I think are gonna work best
25:26 Yes, and of course again, it's more interrelated than anything
25:29 But coil JVR and Frederick are all gonna be split up on on Wednesday against New Jersey
25:35 But I'll ask you the punches there. Hey, at least hey, at least the Bruins are moving to Virginia
25:39 So at least there's that yeah, that is true. I I did see that
25:43 Yeah, my my folks actually live in in DC right right by Capitol Hill
25:47 so it's always clutch then you can just like take a quick five-minute uber to get over to the
25:52 Verizon Center or whatever the hell it's called
25:55 Not gonna be as fun going up Northern Virginia for that. So no see how long it takes them to build that up
26:01 Build that stadium. Maybe they'll drive your feet a little bit there the Virginia Capitals. I was shy
26:06 I was like, oh my god, I don't know what's going on down there
26:08 I don't I'm not tuned in this isn't Capitals beat but I was surprised like Wow, Virginia
26:13 Oh my god, but I know who knows we'll see. I mean, hey the Giants and the Jets play in New Jersey
26:19 So, you know, we'll see I've never been down there. You could attest to it better than I can so it's great city
26:25 Great visiting. I always love that. It's a very easy. I like any stadium, especially that's
26:31 Right in downtown easy to get around. You don't have to like
26:34 when the game was over you have to plan out how you're getting like back to wherever your home base is like when you go to
26:40 Like an Islanders game you're like I I'm stuck here. No, you got a lot of the last bus out or Ottawa
26:46 Yeah, which is a little nowhere like did you see like right?
26:49 Did you see the Ottawa thing?
26:51 I think it was on Twitter someone said like if if every team was the distance it
26:57 Ottawa is from its state capital the senators were from their Ottawa state capital it had the Bruins
27:02 I think in like like this down by the South Shore like they had him so far from Boston
27:07 Be a fucking star bridge village. You go to a bees game and turn butter and star bridge village afterwards
27:12 Or go to the King Richard's Fair, you know in the fall. That'd be great. That'd be a hell of a way to open season
27:18 Yeah, King Richard's Fair on a Saturday and then go to the Bruins after I mean with like a turkey leg, you know
27:23 Okay, that's the dream
27:25 Chow, so the boys smash and beers later. It's great. Oh incredible incredible
27:30 But no going back to our parade of misery Evan as we continue to I feel like we've had a few comments saying we've been
27:37 Overly positive we're just like slamming down like this team this team's got some issues. So yeah
27:42 touching all of them
27:46 One that has stood out to me is you know, I think you look at five on five play
27:49 defensively
27:51 Guys like Brennan Carlo and Derek forward have been really really strong out of the gate
27:55 One peer that has not been that I think Bruins fans for years have has seen them been very productive, especially in the regular season
28:02 Charlie McAvoy Macra is like usually you know what you're getting out of those two guys together play off each other really well this year
28:09 144 minutes of five and five ice time together
28:11 Bruins have been out scored five three with them out there on the ice and when you look at the last
28:16 Three seasons the Bruins have outscored teams 86 to 32
28:22 When they've been out on the ice together for one thousand three hundred and sixty two minutes together
28:26 So a pretty hefty sample size, I would say Evan
28:29 So, I don't know what exactly it's been the case this year
28:32 but a lot to be to be desired in terms of those two playing together for a group that
28:38 For years the Bruins are relied on as being a really steady effective two-way kind of pairing out there. It's interesting
28:44 I do wonder because the Bruins want their
28:47 Defense to activate more and be more aggressive. We've seen that with Montgomery and you know more offensive generation
28:53 I do wonder if there's a little like something that changed
28:57 With those two and how they play together because in past years those two would you know?
29:02 Go out there when the Bruins were down a goal and you know, they would typically, you know
29:06 Spend a lot of time in the ozone and I get ya go sicko mode. Exactly go be you terrier mode, I guess
29:13 Although your number two to BC this week, but you're right there. You're right there. Of course there on the doorstep
29:19 But I am curious with this. There's a lot of things. I mean again McAvoy's physical play
29:26 I think has deteriorated after the the headache to Eckman Larsen. We've talked about that
29:31 Grizzly, I don't think has looked as good as he has in past years this year
29:35 I know there's a lot of pressure on him a lot of the trade rumors
29:38 Speculation all that stuff swirling around him, but I think it's sort of again it I mentioned it, you know coaching if that's changed
29:44 You know the pressure around grizzly and just McAvoy's lack of physicality
29:48 I wonder if that's kind of the reason that that pairing really hasn't taken off
29:51 because again, I mean I
29:55 They wanted low right up there. I mean I they tried it and it just didn't really pan out
29:59 Also grizzly returned from injury too. So I think that's another thing right in mind
30:03 So I don't think it's quite yet - I don't think you should be screaming for grizzly to be traded
30:07 But it is something to monitor because that's been a pretty I mean 86 to 32
30:11 in the last
30:13 absurd years
30:15 That's incredible. So
30:17 Maybe they're falling back to earth, but I like that deep pairing
30:19 I would like it to to them to find it to find their game in these next couple months
30:24 Absolutely, and Evan will end on a positive note. I think when you look at
30:29 The Bruins in their offseason and how much limited catch face they've had
30:33 I don't think they've hit on quite a few guys, especially I think you look at James
30:38 Henry's like and Dan Heinen and cap friendly actually has a really helpful thing that
30:42 Calculates point cost per point and which guys have the best value out there
30:46 Jvr six best value in the league in terms of cost per point at sixty two thousand five hundred per point
30:53 It seems like a lot of money. He deserves a raise
30:55 Yes
30:57 but I think when you look at what he's brought for his contract in one year 1 million and look at Heinen who as
31:03 Of our recording. We'll see what Toronto does tonight, but Heiner right now has the same amount of points as Tyler Bertuzzi and
31:09 No, he has more five on five points in Tyler Bertuzzi nine to seven and he's making four point seven two five million less
31:18 On his deal so pretty good value for the Bruins when you look at just how up against the cap
31:24 They were they're making the most with what they had and what they were able to sign this offseason
31:28 Yeah, I mean we talked about this a lot in the offseason
31:31 They kind of have to be the money ball Bruins
31:33 They were that once the Bertuzzi stuff once that stuff sort of fell away if only Bertuzzi had a devitos agent
31:39 I think it would have been a much different offseason for Tyler Bertuzzi
31:43 but I mean again once that was done you had to make these value signings and for all the
31:47 Like Oh Vin Reams dyke and geeky. What is what is this? It's like well, they don't have any cap space
31:54 What do you want? What do you want to do?
31:56 What do you what would you like them to do?
31:58 And again, they went out they made smart
32:00 Signings, I mean Shatten Kirk has had his moments of you know of good and bad, but overall he's been fairly solid like they
32:08 You they've done what you want them to do
32:11 Do you remember who was number one in the value signings by any chance or like who was out there that was notable?
32:16 I'd have to look at it again. I feel like it's a few guys on Arizona
32:21 This is just seen in contracts to if you included like entry-level
32:24 Of course guys like Bedard or you know, maybe I think Mason McTavish is first
32:28 So I think there's a few like just like cast off guys on Arizona that are pretty high up there
32:33 I actually think Brendan Hagel who's I think over a point for game
32:37 He's up there, you know, he just signed an extension, but I actually don't think that kicks in until next year
32:41 So yeah, it's his contract look even better
32:43 But but a bit a bit of a mix there in terms of some guys that are getting paid more than like a million million
32:49 And a half but their production is really spiked
32:51 But it's pretty good company to be in anyway, if you're JBR. Yeah, I mean again, he's it's he's worked
32:57 He's fit and I think that was one of our biggest questions in the offseason was like
33:01 What does he still have left and it's clear that he's a fit and he works and he's found a home
33:06 On with Coyle and Frederick's I think that that's a good thing. So we'll end on a good note
33:11 So this is a story with the glow with the Boston Globe, correct?
33:14 This will this be in tomorrow's paper or I assume I yes barring the the Red Sox signing
33:21 like Placido Polanco
33:23 49 years old to
33:25 Rolly bond has the next DH red socks. Yeah. Yeah, it could be something like that maybe but
33:32 Yes, at the very least it will definitely be on the globe website
33:35 So you can read that there along with all my other hockey musings whether it's game recaps features
33:41 Columns breakdown all that good stuff can be over there
33:45 At the Boston Globe website and Boston comm and if you want to follow me on Twitter, you can at car Ryan underscore 93
33:51 Nothing gets the lads going quite like naming random
33:55 2000s baseball players like I could sit and I could sit in a room with a bunch of guys just do that and girls obviously
34:02 Do that forever? I mean I like could never stop there's so many names and it's free
34:07 It just gets the guys going, you know, that's that you get it
34:10 Yeah
34:12 Yeah, shut up. It's got piss Ednick
34:15 Exactly
34:17 Coco crisp my man
34:19 Anyways, that's Connor Ryan. I'm Evan Marinovsky
34:22 You poked the bear listeners and we're sponsored by fan duel in factor meals
34:25 He's poked the bear listeners have a great rest of your week
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