Boston Bruins Offseason Begins: Leadership, Roster Flaws, & Playoff Lessons | Ep. 142

0:00 Speaker 1: Can you start a podcast with me?

0:02 Speaker 2: Please?

0:03 Speaker 1: I need something to do. I Jack sending out a trough Abocknna says, today here's a chance pop from right down with goalie scars.

0:22 Speaker 2: Oh my one a move by the rookie.

0:24 Speaker 1: To on one plaster not moving in setting jet on oil dances. Ain't podcast at home right away, corner paster Kista, what.

0:41 Speaker 3: Is that for?

0:41 Speaker 1: Most?

0:50 Speaker 3: Welcome in everyone to another episode of Ruins Tape to tape. We are recording on Monday, Ny eleventh, and I'd like to wish a belated happy Mother's Day to all of our moms who are listeners. We hope that you all had a great day. I know that I did, and I'm hoping my co host Caroline with Aka had a wonderful day as well. Welcome in, Happy belated Mother's Day, Thanks.

1:18 Speaker 2: Maria, same to you. We had a wonderful day. The weather cooperated and we got to spend a lot of time outside and it was delightful. It was a beautiful day for me as well.

1:29 Speaker 3: Got to play a little golf with my daughter, daughter in law and her mom, spend a lot of quality time outside with family and my little granddaughter.

1:38 Speaker 2: So yes, it was an awesome day.

1:41 Speaker 3: They're still hockey to talk about, even though it's not directly related to the Boston Bruins. Because we are in the thick of the Stanley Cup Playoffs right now, we're slowly getting down to the bottom line of those teams that are separating themselves. And typically, folks, we do our setting of the table and then we do our spin around the rank. But it's summer, we're being a little bit more cash So we're just going to dive right in to talk about the teams left in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and then we're going to get down to the nitty gritty of the Bruins end of season.

2:22 Speaker 3: The end of season press conference by Neely and Company, we have some very detailed conversation. We're going to have some very detailed conversation about a video clip from behind the Bee that directly involves David Pasternap and we both have some thoughts about that, and there's been quite a lot of feedback received on the socials and on our local sports talk radio shows and other podcasts about that pasta clip. But let's start with the Stanley Cup playoffs. So I want to start with the Carolina Hurricanes, and the fact that they have now swept in fine fashion both teams that they have played against.

3:06 Speaker 3: So I ask you, my friend, are they the real deal?

3:10 Speaker 2: Two sweets? They are scary, scary good. And this is a team that has been quietly dominant for at least the last five years. They certainly were the pain in the behind for the Bruins for a number of years. A couple of sears.

3:30 Speaker 3: Thorn in their side is what I would call them, an absolute freaking thorn in their side.

3:35 Speaker 2: And it's interesting because, especially considering this entire season, you and I were both in agreement that it never really seemed like there was a team that took hold of the East because there was just so much competition for nearly every level within the bracket structure that it just never seemed like any team in particular took off. And who knows, maybe that's just because in comparison to the West, things were so much more different, because Colorado really started the season like they were shot out of a cannon, So anything that was happening in the East never could compete.

4:16 Speaker 2: But this is a team that was certainly well in control of their division all season, and we've watched a lot of Carolina hockey over the last few years, because again, they have been in the playoffs, and they've gone deep into the playoffs for many years at this point, and it's been pretty boring hockey leading up to this. But I have to say, first of all, this Carolina team, they've always been good. They've always been extremely dominant when it comes to shots, shot attempts, and shots on goal. That's obviously been their m all season.

4:53 Speaker 2: This is one of the teams few teams I would almost argue to the next level in the playoff. Noticeably, they are scary good. They are efficient, they are relentless, and their goaltender is lights out. He is playing amazingly well. And I think of all the years that I have seen Carolina play in the postseason, this is the strongest I have ever seen them be. To the point where I actually said to some folks both in the discord, my family members, my friends, I think this is a team that, honest to God, could go all the way and I wouldn't be surprised if we see a Colorado Carolina final, because while the way to stop Carolina may sound simple on paper, to be able to execute it, I think would be incredibly difficult.

5:48 Speaker 2: The team that can beat Carolina is the team that has the ability to defensively outplay Carolina because you may have a very good goaltender, but can your very good goaltender survive forty shots a night? No, not every night, not every night, not every night.

6:08 Speaker 3: And I am in full and complete agreement with you on all of your points. And I am going to go as far as to say that Carolina will destroy either the Sabers or the Habs because neither one of those teams seems defensively structured or sound in my view. And I have been watching some of these games, not intently, but especially where the Sabers are concerned. They have a lot of defensemen that forwards even too, standing around watching puck watching. Yeah, and Carolina is just going to chew you up and spit you out if that's the way that you're going to play.

6:53 Speaker 3: And Taylor Hall, Taylor Hall has the fifth highest point total for playoff players still playing.

7:01 Speaker 2: Right now, you want to talk about the second line that has overproduced and overperformed, I could have used a guy like that. Oh wait, wait a minute, we had him and we traded him away for what my frustration. We're going to get to that. As much as I can't stand Rob Brindemore, I don't know what it is. He bugs me, he bugs me, He's obnoxious. That team is very freaking scary. I think at this point the only thing in Carolina's way to getting to the Cup Final is Carolina because notoriously, for the last few years, they've dominated early rounds and then completely choke.

7:45 Speaker 2: Now don't see it. I haven't seen any hiccups even when they get behind, even if it has only happened once. It just it seems to fuel their fire. Honestly, when they get behind. And the other thing that we have also talked about is the fact that rest may be a good or bad thing, and quite frankly, the fact that they swept Philadelphia so quickly. Depending on how long this Sabers Habs series goes, Carolina could be sitting for the better part of two weeks really because by the time they were done, the Habs hadn't even played their third game.

8:25 Speaker 2: So what is that. What's that going to mean for either side? Because one side's going to have just come off of playing, which again could be good, could be bad, would be bad? Right, you never know.

8:38 Speaker 3: They don't get themselves they meaning the Carolina Hurricanes don't get themselves to the Stanley Cup Finals. What is shock? And what a disappointment that will be because they are looking that good that I don't think anyone in the East still left in the game stands a snowballs chance in hell.

8:58 Speaker 2: No, Like I said, we were having this conversation in our discord about is there a team that could defensively out maneuver Carolina, And it was a good discussion. There was talk points made in favor of Montreal over the same course, they have to bote. One of them has to get out. The thing is, prior to their most recent game, I would have said I haven't seen anything particularly impressive on both sides, only because each game leading up to that point had been because the other team didn't show up.

9:37 Speaker 2: The first game, Buffalo was in full control because Montreal really just they weren't on time. They didn't show up on time, They just were late to the series basically, and then the same thing happened, but in inversely for Game two, Buffalo didn't start on time and the Habs did. Things have started to get more interesting as the series has progressed. And I will say prior to especially last night's game in Montreal, I really enjoy their goaltender do Bush. I think he's a great rookie. He's a good goaltender Habs Jersey aside.

10:15 Speaker 2: He had been underperforming in my opinion, in the series up until literally last night, and he was fantastic. Still cannot tell what's actually happening out there, because I will say this in rewatching the highlights of that game. There is an expression in hockey where you play the man, not the puck. And that's an important concept because if all you do is focus on the puck, you've got all these other players around you who are then getting into position to receive the puck, and the puck gets passed a lot faster than you can skate.

10:52 Speaker 2: And if all you're doing is watching the puck, your man that you're responsible for covering is now open. And I got to tell you, every single one of those goals and then some scored by the Habs, were the result of Buffalo playing the puck and not the man. The number of opportunities that Montreal had where the player was wide open, had nobody on him. That was surprising because I'm not recalling having seen that a lot in the Bruins series, and if I let's not forget the Bruins were nowhere near as quick.

11:31 Speaker 3: First of all, nowhere near as quick as the Habs are their offense in that series, the Bruins was not at all flee garage in any way, shape or form.

11:41 Speaker 2: And look, Lyon is also a very good goaltender. His areas of weakness are the cross ice pass, which we saw in I want to say Game two, where both goalies actually really struggled with the cross ice pass and got scored on in those instances. And I think that Lion did a good job considering the number of times he basically had to fend off a Canadian all on his own, and a couple of those goals were just greasy goals they got. One of them got knocked in basically off his own defender, which again to the point saying that the Sabers players were just not where they were supposed to be.

12:20 Speaker 2: One thing that the Sabers had been really good at, especially playing against Boston, was the ability to take advantage of opportunities. But the thing is, the Habs are not presenting the Sabers with opportunities. Basically, their one goal they scored was there were two goals. One was just like a freak like doebush didn't have eyes on it at all. I don't know what he was looking at. But the second one was a power play goal, so they had to be on the man advantage just to even score. So I don't know how that changed.

12:51 Speaker 3: Credit to Marty Saint Louis, but those first couple of games it seemed like Buffalo, excuse me, Montreal couldn't score unless they were awarded a power play opportunity. Where now it's all of a sudden they're getting offense five on five and some of the big guys are finally starting to show up, which could be very detrimental for Buffalo.

13:15 Speaker 2: Yeah. So unless Buffalo figures out how to play the man and not the puck doing the opposite, things are not looking very good for them. But if what Montreal is doing is genuinely that dominating, are they that dominant or are the Sabers underperforming? Yeah? I don't know, kind of feeling like the Sabers are underperforming. Not to take away anything from what Montreal has accomplished. Begrudgingly, I will say but thinking about it in terms of who they're going to have to play next, I don't know if it's enough.

13:52 Speaker 2: I really don't know if it's enough. I don't think either team has enough known because by the time, especially if it is Montreal at all, and if this goes five games or six games, they'll have played almost two full rounds of They'll have played maybe thirteen games, and Caroline has only played eight.

14:12 Speaker 3: I don't know, but it will be interesting to see how Buffalo responds in their next game after getting beat down in similar fashion to how they beat down the Bruins. They lost six to two. They lost six to two. It's embarrassing and it's embarrassing, and they look like the Bruins out there. No, No, they did they did.

14:31 Speaker 2: No. What did I say in the discord the Abs did to the Sabers, What the Sabers did to the Ruins on that Black Sunday game where they just didn't show up to play in the first period and they found themselves down for to nothing. I wonder if Lindy Ruff will shake things up and throw upl in instead of Lyon. I don't know. I'm not saying that Lyon has lost the net. I don't think that actually at all. No, I don't think not at all either. I think he was left high and dry. He was, But I wouldn't be surprised if the coaching staff makes a goaltender changed decision just to shake things up.

15:10 Speaker 2: I don't know, because what else can you do. I don't know. But that's the East. I'm not really sure what's happening in the West. I know the West is series is tied.

15:20 Speaker 3: I mean Minnesota is Minnesota is trying to make a series out of it.

15:25 Speaker 2: Sure are Holy cow? Did they come back? Yep?

15:28 Speaker 1: Yeah.

15:28 Speaker 2: I don't know if that's sustainable for them. They did chase their starting goalie, but that would have only been for the one game. He'll be back for Game four. I don't know if their approach is a sustainable approach to continue on to actually stop Colorado. I think again, if Colorado and Carolina are the ones that are in the final, I think Colorado has an equally hot goaltender, they're going to be they'd be potentially even in that regard, and I think, of course Colorado has the elite goal scoring group that probably could get through any kind of defense.

16:05 Speaker 2: It's just whether or not they can stop the shots by Carolina, but that we're getting ahead of ourselves.

16:11 Speaker 3: We're getting the series that I'm surprised by, and I will admit, given more time the game start, I haven't seen a whole bunch of minutes in this series. Is Anaheim in Vegas. Anaheim is good on them.

16:23 Speaker 2: So I'm not watching that series because I just can't bring myself to care. No, that's part of it.

16:29 Speaker 3: Part of it is it's like I'm not that invested that I'm going to be trying to keep my eyes open. But I will say this, the Vegas Golden Knights got rid of Bruce Cassidy and now they're in a dog fight in this series. So I wonder if they're taking a look in the mirror saying I'm still they still could have made the playoffs and they could still be in this position right now without having fired Bruce Cassidy. But be that as it may, even with the herculean performance of Mitch Marner in the previous game, they find themselves behind the eight ball because the series is now tied two to two.

17:05 Speaker 2: Yeah, it certainly feels that way even though it's tied, But perhaps that's just from the idea that Anaheim it's Anaheim. I think the expectations there were also probably pretty low, and that's another team that's certainly exceeded expectations.

17:19 Speaker 3: It just goes to prove the theory that we hear over and over again with regard to the Stanley Cup playoffs is just get in.

17:27 Speaker 2: Who cares for your seated in some instances, just get in, yeah, because you never know what's going to happen.

17:31 Speaker 3: Right, So, speaking of just getting in and never knowing what's going to happen, we now turn our attention to our Boston Bruins.

17:40 Speaker 2: Yes, and so we've.

17:42 Speaker 3: Had a couple of pieces of news items that came out just recently, one of which was the end of season presser, which is normally takes place after every season is officially over, and that happened here in Boston last week. I don't even remember what day it was that Charlie Jacobs, Pam Neely, and John Sweeney addressed the media. Now, normally you hear about this in advance, garyl links that are sent out where you can follow the press conference live. Now, unless I was under a rock or totally not paying attention, I had no idea that it was occurring until I started seeing tweets from media people covering the press conference.

18:29 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, I had no idea either, And I feel like most of the folks in our fabulous discord also were not aware. This one was weird. Marco Sturm was not there. In the past, we've seen the coaches also in attendance. I don't know how common or uncommon that fact is, but it certainly felt very low key. And maybe it's because, certainly last year we were looking for it because we were all very mad about last season. But this was very quiet. I'm not sure that there was a ton of news that even really came out of it, which is also a little surprising because you would think to some degree they would want to come out and be tooting their own horn.

19:14 Speaker 2: Because, as we will talk about in a little bit, the season was a success. Well, it was certainly better than any of us expected. I think given the roster, you had a new rookie, kad coach, you had questions up and down your roster for the most part, So yes, I would say they for me, they performed better than I expected to because I didn't even have them making the playoffs, and what I find annoying about both Nealye and Sweney.

19:44 Speaker 3: Charlie Jacobs, to me is just a person who sits there, right. He's the Jacob, He's the anointed Jacob's family representative. He adds nothing of any value or significance.

19:58 Speaker 2: I don't know why he's honestly even there, because he wants to be give me and he says things. It's like, Charlie, just don't even talk because you sound like a clueless fool most of the time. To think that Neelie and Sweeney just go to their wheel of fortune and spin the wheel and say, Okay, what did we say two years ago? Oh yeah, this might apply again to this season. So let's just regurgitate that same information that we already fed the media and our fan base two three seasons ago. Yes, now, and Neelie continues, in my view, to talk out of both sides of his ass and his mouth.

20:38 Speaker 2: So we built it now. You can correct me if I'm wrong, if I have my facts incorrect, I will apologize, and you can say, no, you, Maria, You're dead wrong. Didn't we hear?

20:49 Speaker 3: After the Bruins had their asses handed to them by the Florida Panthers that we needed to get stronger, tougher. Okay, so then we try to build it team based on trying to defeat the Florida Panthers, hence the Zadoraf signing. Okay, fast forward to this pressor that took place just last week, and I hear Kim Neely say, we need to get faster. Wait a minute, wait, just a freaking minute. Now you're saying because it seems to me, we tried the we need to get faster thing, and then we went to the knee to get stronger on the back end.

21:29 Speaker 3: So now we're going back to we need to get faster. So what team are we chasing now? Camp that we want to build our team against? And you, idiot, we all know that we don't have a number one center. You befooled, and whose fault is that?

21:45 Speaker 2: You morons? Okay, you absolute unequivocal morons because you didn't do your due diligence back when you had Cragie and Burgon. How many freaking years? How many freaking years. Then we hear Pasta say, I'm going to be turning thirty. How many more kicks at the can? Am I going to get nearly in response to that to volley backs and.

22:10 Speaker 3: Not be full committal on getting his star player the help that he needs.

22:15 Speaker 2: They need to shit or get off the pot. Shit or get off the frigging pot. But if you don't address this gaping hole that you know that you have had for countless years. Now, how far do you think you're freaking gonna get with this rebuilt? Now? How long is it going to take?

22:34 Speaker 3: And how much patience is Pasta going to have or maybe any other veteran on that roster that you're looking at and saying, man, guys, you got to roll up your sleeves and help.

22:45 Speaker 2: This is going to take a while. Really, how long is this going to take?

22:49 Speaker 1: You?

22:49 Speaker 2: Guys keep going out? Oh and by the way, the one guy that you thought was going to fit the bill now we know is damaged goods because this guy, and I'm speaking about Elias Home has a chronic back issue. How many times are we going to hear about this back? Yeah? Agreed? One point that you said, oh, now we're back on the speed, I will say yes. Or was it a couple of seasons ago they said we need to get bigger, faster, stronger. They got stronger and they got bigger, but I would argue that they never went after anyone for speed.

23:22 Speaker 2: They never achieved that even close. So that is almost like unfinished business that has been lingering since the departure of Jake Debrusk, and the fact I was just thinking about this last night, getting rid of someone like Jacob Lauco. He was fast, but they didn't offer to him. Boston needs to get faster, that's a given. I don't know what they're gonna do. I genuinely don't know.

23:50 Speaker 3: Nearly did acknowledge the need for a number one set, But okay, that's we all know it. What are you going to do to address it? How are you going to address it? Are you relying on one of these young guys, because if that's the case, then is I'm not saying there's not potential there or Minton or Higgins, but we're talking another what two or three seasons down the road at.

24:13 Speaker 2: A minimum, at a minimum, Yeah, yeah, it's we're looking at Don Sweeney's last year of this current contract. I'd like to say I would be shocked if it was renewed further, but then again, this is Boston and he seems to be Cam Neely's favorite scapegoat, you know, guy to do his dirty work. I don't have a ton of faith in whatever the front office can do. I'm thinking that this year's free agency class isn't that much better than last year's. They're gonna either have to figure it out with what they have, because this is something they've been talking about for literally five years.

24:55 Speaker 2: And I know these guys don't grow on trees.

24:58 Speaker 3: I get it, I get it, But you've made any number of other hockey trades and this was a priority need that.

25:06 Speaker 2: Continues to remain unaddressed. And I don't know how far you think you're gonna go without that Pastornach, And listen, we all know David Pasternach is not as responsible with the puck as people would like him to be, But he's also touching the puck. You want him to touch the puck because you want him to score so people can't shit all over him. Right, He's still put up. He's still put up a boatload of points. Oh yeah, even without even without the help that he, in my view, should get to maximize his potential.

25:42 Speaker 3: He's been maximizing it even without that. But can you imagine if you get him a legit first line center.

25:51 Speaker 2: Just remember, before Patrice merger On retired, David Pasternach hitting sixty goals, and we've seen it, we've seen what he can accomplish with a confident center. But okay, the people who were shitting all over bostonok for his playoff performances. Okay, let me explain what happens. Okay, other team's number one line and your team's number one line typically go against each other, and they basically negate each other. All right, it's even harder in the playoffs when you want to try to take advantage of that and get your number one guy away from the other team's number one guy.

26:32 Speaker 2: Is when you're at home and you get the last change that didn't work to our advantage for whatever reason, because we sucked at home, and we sucked at home in the playoffs. And that's also why second to your A scoring is important. You're not trading for Connor McDavid or Austin Matthews or Brady or Brady Kutchuk. That was the first best one and if any of those guys are coming to Boston, Okay, No, it's not happening. It is not happening. Not just David Pasternach for Brady Kuchuk, but the claim it should be David Pasternach and Jeremy Swayman.

27:10 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, no one could possibly be that. What's an imbecile? But speaking of David Pasternach.

27:16 Speaker 3: So the other big thing, the other big piece of news is, in case you haven't seen it, there was a behind the episode that was the Black Sunday Game as I call it, where the Boston Bruins were a no show in the first period, and there was a clip of Pasta going into the locker room and just ripping into the team in such a manner that I never thought he had it in him to do. He said everything to his teammates that we were all saying to each other in the discord or screaming at the TV, going what a bunch of fucking no shows?

27:56 Speaker 3: Embarrassing, disappointed. He said it all, and I didn't think that he was capable of it. He showed me a sign. Now here's the takeaway that I took from that clip. As Pasta is throwing his stick down, ripping his gloves off, here's Morgan Geeky standing there finally taking off his chest protector and elbow pads, like he could give two shits.

28:24 Speaker 2: That was my takeaway. I was looking at him in this video clip, going, do you even care that he's ripping into all of you at this point in time. To me, Yiki's body language was like I could give two shits right now. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but that was take my two takeaways from that. Yeah, he had already given up. I think it's really interesting that, Look, this is not a new concept or take certainly. I've heard Elliott Friedman talk about this that teams only share what they want known ever, and even teams without TV shows, because some of them have them, some of them don't.

29:06 Speaker 2: Players will almost never publicly display any kind of frustration, anger, resentment, negativity towards their teammates in any kind of public manner. I find it fascinating that not only did we see this clip come out with David Pasternak, but we also saw it with Jeremy Swayman when he got pulled in that one game, and he wasn't targeting anyone. Let's make that clear. He was speaking to the entire team, because everybody that was dressed for that game was a no show in that first period except for Jeremy Swayman.

29:50 Speaker 2: And also, to be clear, just because we never see it, just because they don't make it public, doesn't mean it doesn't haven't happened, right, please, they hold each other account. But the fact that two leaders on the team publicly displayed were allowed to be displayed this degree of I don't know what you want to call it, conflict, disagreement. I don't know what to make of it, but I find it very fascinating. And there's been a lot of discussion since that clip came out, in particular around David Pasternach that for a number of people that is enough to just give the man the seat.

30:30 Speaker 2: And look, this is not to say that Charlie McAvoy doesn't care.

30:34 Speaker 3: I'm not sure that one episode justifies giving someone the seat, and I'm not saying you should or shouldn't have it. The rumors here around this area have always been, for some reason, Charlie McAvoy is the golden child where the Boston Ruins are concerned. It's been like that for quite some time, and I found it very interesting when cam Neely was asked about the status of a point a captain and making a decision about a captain for the upcoming season. That was something that they did want. They do want to address that.

31:09 Speaker 3: Marco Sturn would be heavily involved in those conversations, but he almost made it a point to say that, and I'm paraphrasing, and maybe I'm reading words into it, that this season wasn't really a fair assessment of that because Charlie had so many things going on with the injury and the illness to his son.

31:31 Speaker 2: I am telling you, you're going to hear it here first. You're going to hear it here first. I am telling you that they want And when I say they management want to put that sea on Charlie mcaboy's jersey, I mean I believe it. And that rationale about not everyone really had the opportunity to show their leadership skills, blah blah blah blah blah. How many games you need? How many games? I'm just again, that's just me. That's my take.

32:04 Speaker 3: Now, there are other discussions about the criteria for being a captain. Let's look at past Ruin's captains and what they brought to the table. Za Dan o'chara, intimidating, worked as assaf, always responsible, always making nine times out of ten, making the right place tris bergeron same type of criteria rape War before him. Does Pasta have that in him yet? Because I will tell you the argument is being made and will be made about the fact that Tasta is not as defensively responsible as people want him to be.

32:42 Speaker 3: That is still a component of his game that needs to develop and be brought to another level. I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but I'm just saying now I can make the same argument for Charlie McAvoy because I'm still on the fence when it comes to this player. He is not a franchise altering fenceman in any way, shape or form right now. I don't know if he ever will be. His offensive skills still need to be proven.

33:12 Speaker 2: To me.

33:12 Speaker 3: I do think that sometimes defensively he's not as consistent now This year better, absolutely better, absolutely was in the best years, right, his best year, statistically Show me that. Show me that early and often. Okay, and I'll be in your corner.

33:30 Speaker 2: Kid. I like your thought experiment when thinking about past captains, and as you're describing them, one word crops into my mind and this one word is one that I would use to describe David Pasternach and not Charlie McAvoy. And again, I'm not like I love David Pasternach. He's but he's not my guy, right, I'm the same boat as you. I'm like, h not satisfied with either option. But whatever one word elite elite franchise altering elite player was, were any of those other captains perfect? No? No, you know I'm not saying that they were.

34:08 Speaker 2: You know, your argument about him not being as defensively minded as we would like. Of course, absolutely, but that's also what happens when you are touching the puck is often as absolutely and and he's got three two or three guys on you like super glok and when you are the and the other thing is what he's working against is the fact that because he is the only one like him, and we've seen the lack of secondary scoring, the lack of depth scoring, well, it's easier for a team to neutralize the one reliable goal scorer and just be on him with that high pressure, as opposed to if there were multiple players.

34:52 Speaker 2: Again, look at the perfection line. We go back to that a lot, right, A team has to cover effectively three guys versus now now, yes, so it's easy Tensis And again, listen, I know they.

35:08 Speaker 3: I know they're all professional athletes, and I know in their heart of hearts they know when they don't perform well. They don't need to hear it from us. They don't need to hear it from us and or David to react in that manner after you heard the boost, of course, I'm sure they all heard the boose. And for him to say in the post game to be as reflective sometimes you know, a backfires because they say something that you say to yourself, oh shit, maybe he should have taken thirty seconds before he answered that question.

35:37 Speaker 3: But when a season comes to an abrupt end and you're being reflective and you're looking at from your perspective, you're going to be thirty years old, how many more kicks at the can do I have at this right? And that's your star player, you're elite player, right. Don't you think that you've got to take that into consideration. He's not telling you what deal to make, but he's asking for some help, and you shouldn't poo poo that, you shouldn't ignore it. That has spurred a lot of conversation, which is great conversation for us to have.

36:12 Speaker 3: I'm not sure what direction they're going to go in. I wouldn't be surprised if they went into next season still without still without and waiting to make that determination. You don't know what they're going to do in the off season. Look, we've talked about this before. When the Bruins signed to the Daniel Chara because he was the biggest free agent available.

36:33 Speaker 2: At the time.

36:34 Speaker 3: Part of the deal was that he would become the captain, and you know what, to his credit, he had a couple of really really rough years during the early part of his captaincy here, to the point that his wife had said to him, we make a mistake coming here. But we know how that story ended, and there was a happy ending to that story. Who knows what they'll do in the off season, because stranger things have happened. Yeah, I'm not sure at this point that the next captain of the Boston Bruins is on the current roster.

37:08 Speaker 2: I'm really not. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what to think of it. But one of the things that we've done for the last few seasons and for those who have been listeners for a while know that this is something that I've done with my dad for many years, which is we reflect on the season and decide what goes on this season's tombstone. And I had a hard time with this year. In the past, it's been pretty cut and dry. They couldn't finish, they couldn't clear the puck, that couldn't enter the zone, things like that, right, I And last season, my god, we had a wheel to choose which of these things was gonna happen where they would lose the game.

37:51 Speaker 2: That was so gross. That was so gross, and yet it was actual, but it was right. Yeah, my initial thought was certainly colored by how their playoff series went, and I had to sit with it for a minute and remind myself that's not necessarily how we come up with that epitaph. It's on the season, not necessarily playoffs, because again, playoffs are totally than different. Because my initial reaction after they lost to Buffalo it was lack of urgency, I'm not one hundred percent sure that's how I would still label their tombstone.

38:30 Speaker 2: I think because I had to be reminded of some interesting stats. So I'm going to share some interesting stats, and then I'm going to ask you how you would want to label this season. Hit me, this past season, the Bruins finished with forty five wins, twenty seven losses, and ten overtime losses. They finished with one hundred points, and they had a six to ten points percentage, and Charlie Jacobs calls that a success. By the way, here's the insane thing. I'm going to agree with him, because here's a little bit of context.

39:02 Speaker 2: Specifically, last season we finished thirty three, thirty nine, and ten with seventy six points and an abysmal for sixty three points percentage on average for the last ten years, and I've adjusted the COVID years accordingly. Average season finished with fifty two wins, twenty six losses, eleven overtime losses for one hundred and sixteen points. Now, that may seem like significantly better, but the points percentage six forty nine, so six' ten six forty nine not terribly. Different forty five wins fifty two.

39:41 Speaker 2: Wins, okay maybe it's a little bit lower than. Average, however the other THING i wanted to point out THAT i looked at that first season where The bruins made the playoffs after a year where they. Missed the last time was twenty sixteen twenty, seventeen and that season they went forty four thirty one and seven with ninety five points and a five to seventy nine points, percentage and they lost in the first. Round the other time before that's worth looking at two thousand and, seven two thousand and, eight they went forty one twenty nine twelve with ninety four points and a five to seventy three points percentage and they lost in the first.

40:23 Speaker 2: Round so remember this season they were forty, five twenty seven and ten and one hundred points with six ten points percentage and they lost in the first. Round thinking about it in that, perspective was it a below average season for The Boston. Bruins, yes for what we have known for the last decade of how this team has, played how they have, performed what we have expected of this. Team, yeah in terms of that first year after missing, playoffs they actually overperformed a little bit and they got as far as they ever have in that first year post missing the.

41:06 Speaker 2: PLAYOFFS i find that to be, promising and no one had them even sniffing the playoffs when THE nhl does all of their preseason previews or season previews team by team by, team writer by writer by, writer no.

41:20 Speaker 3: ONE i don't recall anyone he thought The bruins would even make the.

41:25 Speaker 2: Playoffs, yeah and the fact that it was basically a decade since The bruins had missed the. PLAYOFFS i think what we saw happen last, year what we saw happen this year shows that it was a blip like it has been in the. Past AND i do think that they did a good. Job as much as it feels like because of how the season, ended they didn't do a good. Job they did do a good. Job so that changed WHAT i would say in terms of WHAT i was going to put on the, epitaph because AGAIN i was also considering things like they were unreliable or again there was no.

42:03 Speaker 2: Urgency and, ultimately in the, END i think What i'm gonna put on the epitaph is self inflicted BECAUSE i think they could have done, more and every time they did, well they shot themselves in the foot self inflicted. Wolds we used that term all season, long self inflicted. Wounds they had four notable winning. Streaks for every single, one there was an equally disastrous losing, streak and they were always right next to each. Other they started with a pretty awful losing streak From october thirteenth to the twenty, seventh followed by a phenomenal winning streak from the twenty eighth To november, eleventh and then immediately afterwards From november thirteenth To december, second it was a losing, streak and then we had a winning, streak and then we had another winning, streak and then we had inconsistent to the.

42:53 Speaker 2: Inconsistent, yeah the season ended thirteen wins and twelve loss is the Post olympic. Break they were middle of the pack for goals four and goals. Against they were tenth out of thirty two in terms of goals for fourteenth out of thirty two goals. Against like you had, said Thank god for good. Goaltending if, anything you could even have an asterisk that says the bad side of. Average, meh maybe we just say. Me their eulogy would be they got great. Goaltending they, displayed for the most, part a no quit.

43:33 Speaker 2: Attitude they also had the ability to quote unquote bounce, back but they never had, solid consistent let's finish the job. Approach this year is a hard one because you can't quite put your finger on, it because, no and we can't dump on them right we. Did we spent our time doing, that which is our wont to. Do it's our.

43:55 Speaker 3: Podcast, however knowing what we were looking at to start this, season knowing that this organization is in the midst of a, rebuild you can call it a, retool it's a, rebuild we had to expect the ebbs and flows and the ups and downs that they clearly gave. Us just by your statistics that you provided to, us was the season better than we? Expected you'd be lying if you said, no it was better than because none of us saw them being able to put together a significant win. Streets and there were instances where they beat some very good.

44:39 Speaker 3: Teams they took advantage of opportunities that were presented to them and beat some teams that were clearly more talented than they. Were that gave us. Hope maybe sometimes it was false, hope but the hope was still. There, now having said all of, that do we think they are going and heading organizationally in the right? Direction BECAUSE i still don't think they are until they address and find a way and this is no what don this is your.

45:12 Speaker 2: Job this is your.

45:13 Speaker 3: Job it's a spright you signed on for this. Job but you need to address monumental issues that we have had for a period of going ON i don't even know how many years. Now and you need secondary consistent secondary. Scoring can we solve the problem of no secondary?

45:34 Speaker 2: Scoring that's key taking shots and getting goals back and getting.

45:38 Speaker 3: Goals you can't keep putting a band aid on an open.

45:42 Speaker 2: Wound they've been trying to treat the symptoms and not the underlying. Problems all in, all was it an entertaining hockey? Season, yes we were.

45:53 Speaker 3: Entertained we saw some good hockey being, played AND i think.

45:58 Speaker 2: The future is. Bright we saw a lot lot of good things from a lot of the young kids had the opportunity because they were actually given a training, camp a rookie, camp to legitimately fight for a, spot AND i think that Allowed boston to inject some youth into the main roster and things.

46:20 Speaker 3: That we have been asking for as fans for a couple of. YEARS a couple of years. Now, okay, great you've heard, it not that they listen to. Us but when you stand up and say that your goal is to make a deep run in the playoffs to bring A Stanley cup back To. Boston what is your, blueprint because this is not the blueprint for, it because now you've got other teams in The east that have accelerated their pace in getting, there and you're falling a little bit further, behind and so you've got to stop signing these players who would on any other teams be, good very good third and fourth line.

47:02 Speaker 2: Guys we shall see what the trading situation is between now And july, One but If boston is, SERIOUS i think we would see some business happening Before july. ONE i think.

47:17 Speaker 3: We'll see our next in our next, EPISODE i think we're going to try and Help John sweeney solve some of his.

47:23 Speaker 2: Problems, yes, yes, absolutely we'll be talking about guys who didn't really meet expectations and people we would love to see moved office.

47:35 Speaker 3: Roster, yeah moved off this roster until that. Episode thank you for. Listening please make sure you like and subscribe from more, content and be sure to leave a rating and a review to help Other ruins fans find. Us you can support our podcast by joining Our patreon or following us on our socials At tape To, Tape kay Had On substack at t to tape m k dot substack dot. Com any closing thoughts my friend Go, bees Go be's