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#NHL Draft is tonight! #Bruins legend Mike Milbury joins! Marco Sturm succeed as HC? Who's Bruins captain?
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00:00Love, love it. We may not be here if not for our next guest and with us right now, a guy who has been a player and a coach and a general manager and an analyst in the NHL, the great Mike Milbury. Round of applause for Mike Milbury, please.
00:16Hello. Hello. Your idea. Several years ago, you said, why don't you do a road show and we'll go to my sister's restaurant in Rockport. And we were there last night. My place by the sea. Unbelievable restaurant. Great hospitality. Great food. Last night.
00:33Kathy's right over there. Sister Kathy. Queen food. The food was incredible. But I went into the kitchen while they were making it. She was an animal in there. Just an animal like screaming at people, yelling at people. And it all worked out. It's all about the expo. That's what it's all about in the kitchen. It's all about the expo. You know, what's all about this morning is I'm overwhelmed by Curtis's pink and white striped shorts. Stunning. It looks great. It was a really nice Curtis. There you go. It looks great.
01:03It looks great. I just, where did you get those? I'd like to pick up a pair. I can tell you there's one down the road. Target. Oh. Also, I don't want to get you in trouble with your sister or anything, but nice job by you last night. There was a bit of a line and you snuck everybody in the back like the old days. Wait a second. Don't absolve yourself from responsibility here. I helped. Yeah, you pulled the gate open. Well, I didn't want people to wait in line. Like I wanted, so we brought everybody through the back. Sorry about that, Kathy. Sorry about that.
01:32I thought Craig wanted a strong border.
01:36And I never knew you had such a wonderful singing voice.
01:39Well, you know, she's been begging me to sing and I think it was after the fourth or fifth glass of wine that I finally loosened up a little bit. The vocal cords came to life.
01:49Yeah. Yeah.
01:50No, it was great.
01:51And it's beautiful here today and NHL draft getting underway today.
01:57And I know we've talked a lot with you about Don Sweeney and about the Bruins during your segments during hockey season.
02:06Bruins extended Don Sweeney for another couple of years.
02:09How do you feel about that decision?
02:11I thought that was going to happen.
02:13And I think he had some great runs and unfortunately, and I know how this feels, he fell short.
02:19But he did what he had to do in order to put his team in a position to try to win a cup and it didn't happen.
02:26And it's a hard thing to do.
02:28So he's got a chance to reset and now he's got a bucket full of draft picks to work with.
02:34And the thing about that, though, is that these draft picks aren't going to just be instant presto chango.
02:40It takes a couple of years or more to see what you have when you've got in the draft.
02:44So they're going to have to be patient.
02:46I think fans are going to have to be patient.
02:47And let's see what happens in the free agency market because that's the way to get better quickly.
02:53And if you look at Florida, by the way, most of their team has been accumulated by, other than the draft,
03:00they have a few guys there, Ekblad and Barkov, that were high draft picks.
03:05But a lot of those guys, like Bennett, who was a superstar in the playoffs, they were trades.
03:11And it was a tribute to Bill Zito, their general manager, that he made it work.
03:16If Marco Sturm doesn't do what we hope he can do in the next year or two,
03:21does Don Sweeney have the ability to fire him or will he be gone?
03:26You know, Curtis, what a Debbie Downer over here.
03:30The guy just got on the job.
03:32He hasn't coached the game and he's looking to fire the guy for trying to hell out.
03:35Well, I mean, the last two people he's fired have won cups.
03:38Holy mackerel.
03:39Was he the right decision in your mind?
03:41I don't know, Marco, except very briefly met him.
03:45Seems like a really nice guy.
03:46Seems to have a lot of respect from players that played with him.
03:50He's got some coaching in his background.
03:53But it's a...
03:55Did you turn it down before they offered it to him?
03:58No, no, the 50th guy.
03:59No, the fact of the matter is that you've got to have players.
04:04And no matter who's the coach, you've got to have some good players in your roster.
04:08And, you know, I think he makes it...
04:10The coach makes a difference, but they still have a gap at the center position,
04:15which is the most important position besides goaltending for me.
04:18And until they fill that void, I don't care if it's Vince Lombardi, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick,
04:26you name it, Red Arup, they're not going to instantly jump to the top of the pack.
04:31Does that, when you choose Marco Sturm as your head coach,
04:35does that say anything to you about the interest that there was in this job or a lack thereof?
04:41Or...
04:43I think there'd be plenty of interest in a...
04:46It's an original six team.
04:48Yes, there's some holes in it, but they...
04:50Listen, Swayman's got to get his head on straight, and he's got to shut the hell up.
04:54Looked good for Team USA.
04:56Yeah, he looked great for Team USA, but that doesn't count around here, does it?
05:00Well, maybe a little.
05:01Yeah.
05:01But, I mean, this guy needs to just shut up, focus on hockey.
05:05When he's focused, he's a terrific goaltender, top-notch player.
05:10And then they've got McAvoy, and Lindholm's got to come back to the way he played when he first got here.
05:16And they've got enough on the blue line.
05:20They've got to figure out what to do with the front line, and that's the key.
05:24Full training camp for Swayman and no hold out, hold in, whatever.
05:29Does that, from your perspective, does that change the way he plays this upcoming season?
05:35Yeah, I think there were a lot of people to blame for how that whole contract thing went down.
05:40And it certainly hurt him, hurt him with his teammates, hurt him with fans, and hurt his game.
05:46I mean, you just can't make up for a lost training camp.
05:49It's time that you serve yourself well with finding out what your teammates are doing in front of you,
05:55getting your rhythm, and I think he'll be a better goaltender this year
05:59because of that.
06:00What do you think's going on with captain?
06:01Because the photo that they just released with McAvoy and Pasta, both with the A on their jerseys,
06:07moving forward, Sturms made some comments about maybe seeing how the season plays out.
06:12They have to name a captain, right?
06:14To me, it's not a big deal.
06:16It's not.
06:16It's not a big deal.
06:17They've got people that lead in the locker room without having a letter on.
06:22I mean, I'm sure Marchand had plenty of things to say before he became the captain of the team.
06:26And it's a symbolic gesture to people, and I don't think it changes.
06:31In fact, I know there have been times, without naming names, that people were named captain,
06:36and that didn't change their personality.
06:38It didn't change their locker room demeanor, and it really didn't make much of a difference.
06:43So that, to me, is low on the totem pole of things that they have to worry about.
06:47Mike, you're really direct.
06:49I love the way you communicate.
06:50You don't leave anybody guessing.
06:51I'm curious, in your role when you were with the Islanders and you're working for an owner
06:55and you're in charge of the roster, how big of a job responsibility was it to communicate
07:00directly with your players what you were doing so that you didn't have guys?
07:05Like, I just, in other sports, in the Red Sox, it feels like there's this huge chasm
07:09between the front office and the players.
07:12How did you bridge that as a GM, and how important of a job was that for you?
07:15I think it's an important job.
07:17It was actually important, in my case with the Islanders, to manage up as well as to manage down.
07:22I mean, we had owners that came and went in such a rapid fashion.
07:27I used to joke that the only thing we led the league in was convicted felons amongst our owners.
07:32It was just a lot of guys that were there for a cup of coffee and moved on.
07:37Did they have a stat at NHL.com?
07:39Yeah, and Charles Wong was, like, he vetoed trades that I tried to make.
07:45It was really difficult to be a GM there, but you have to communicate with the players.
07:51Occasionally, the coach's job is more directly related to interaction with the players,
07:57but the GM has to be accessible, especially when it comes time to contract decisions.
08:01And that's something you can't underestimate, being open, forthright with your players,
08:07letting them know where they stand, and don't play games with them,
08:10because they'll know you're playing a game.
08:12Now, you mentioned Brad Marchand as the captain here,
08:15and it seems like maybe down there he's found the perfect role for himself.
08:21He was so good during the playoffs, and where they had him, because that team is stacked,
08:28it seems like he can play another.
08:30Yeah, you're right.
08:31You know, they had him kind of basically on the third line,
08:35but he had some special teams in him.
08:36He more limited role, which when you're 37, 38, whatever he is now,
08:42is where you should be thinking.
08:44And the fact of the matter is that this trade, which everybody was upset about,
08:48not everybody, but it was good for him.
08:50It was good for the Bruins, who now get a number one pick in a couple of years,
08:54but it was a good trade for Marchand.
08:56He sort of rejuvenated himself and became a factor, wears another ring on his finger,
09:02and is another step closer to the Hall of Fame.
09:05We actually had an argument about Marchand re-signing, possibly with a team like Florida.
09:10Would he be open to taking a discount?
09:13Because I know around the trade deadline there were rumors out that he was looking for like $7 million,
09:17but the Bruins wanted to knock him down to like close to three and a half or something like that.
09:20Would he be, knowing he'd be able to compete for a Stanley Cup with a team like Florida,
09:24be willing to re-sign at a cheaper price?
09:26I would hope so because, listen, I don't know what his bank account looks like,
09:31but I think it's pretty good shape, don't you, by this time?
09:33I don't think he's – he's not going to be afraid of the Beauport hotel prices here.
09:38I think he's going to be okay.
09:40Yeah.
09:41That wasn't an insult.
09:42It's just that actually, you know, it's a great place.
09:45You stayed here last night.
09:47I did.
09:47It was just fabulous.
09:48And we look out at the greasy pole.
09:51What better view is that?
09:53In a crazy event, Greg bought drinks before he went out to dinner.
09:56I did.
09:57Yeah, I did.
09:57Yes, I did.
09:58Very generous.
09:59And then Mike woke up this morning.
10:01He was going to put his shoes on, but he threw them at somebody.
10:05And it was really – what about two years from now?
10:09Is Connor McDavid playing for Edmonton?
10:13Is he playing in Canada?
10:15I – that's a great question that I can't answer.
10:19It sounded to me in his recent press conferences like he was kicking the door open a little bit.
10:26And I wouldn't blame him.
10:27I mean, you've been to Edmonton?
10:28You've been to Edmonton?
10:29I've never been to Edmonton.
10:30No, I mean, it's all right.
10:32It's just – except from December until May, it sucks.
10:38You know, it's cold.
10:39It's windy.
10:39It's in the middle of nowhere.
10:41And travel is tough.
10:44For him, it would be, I think, a good thing.
10:47And for the league, a good thing if he went to Chicago, to Boston, to New York.
10:53I mean, that's – those are places that a player like him would – you know, he gets
10:58a lot of attention now, but in those markets, it would be a win-win for the league and for
11:03him.
11:04And I hope he moves.
11:05I really hope he moves.
11:07And he's so much fun to watch.
11:10And there's nobody more talented in maybe the history of the league than Connor McDavid.
11:17And he's playing in a closet in Edmonton.
11:20Is this Panthers team a dynasty in your mind?
11:24I guess one more would make it the dynasty.
11:26Two is great, but three in a row is magnificent.
11:30But they are deep.
11:32They're covered at every position.
11:34There aren't any holes whatsoever.
11:36They're not afraid to play it tough.
11:37They're not afraid to play a finesse game.
11:40It's a well-constructed team.
11:43Deeply rooted in history with a big fan base.
11:46Yeah, yeah.
11:47Their ratings really did real good.
11:48I don't know what the ratings were for the final Edmonton in Florida.
11:51More people watched the Kentucky Derby than watched the Stanley Cup.
11:55They did have more people at their parade than the Thunder did, though.
11:58That is true.
11:59Well, it's probably hot.
12:01Florida over Oklahoma City.
12:02At least we're not OKC.
12:04We're talking about a great team here.
12:06And Curtis has to bring up the fact that it's in Florida and nobody watches the team.
12:10Well, I mean, he's so consistent with his personality, isn't he?
12:13Yes, he is.
12:13If Mike Mulberry says you're negative, I guess you're in trouble.
12:17I talked to your father about you.
12:19He had nothing but bad things to say, by the way.
12:21Really?
12:21Well, tell us more.
12:25Private conversation.
12:27Well, his dad is actually out front getting Curtis another room here tonight.
12:31Let's go.
12:32James is going to be here in an hour.
12:34Well, it's great to see you.
12:35Yeah.
12:36I'm glad you guys had a good time last night.
12:38I thought Kathy did a great job and hope you'll do it again.
12:41Yes, I think we will.
12:43Should we come back again next year?
12:44Definitely.
12:45Sir.
12:46All right.
12:46I think we will.
12:48Have a great summer.
12:49Yeah, you too.
12:50We'll see you.
12:50Thank you, Mike.
12:51Down the road.
12:52We'll see you down the road.
12:53Mike Mulberry, everybody.
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