The Return of the (Grape) King: Jakub Lauko | Ep. 95

0:51 Speaker 1: Welcome in everyone to another episode of Bruin's Tape to Tape. You are listening to tonight's episode on June eighth, eighteenth. I will be your host tonight. I'm Maria from Watertown, and I'm going to welcome in my co host Caroline with a K. Welcome back, my friend. Always good to see you.

1:12 Speaker 2: Hi.

1:12 Speaker 3: Hi, Let's talk about these these young'uns. Yeah, yep yet.

1:17 Speaker 1: Well, tonight we're going to continue with our player profiles. We've been focusing on our trade deadline acquisitions, and tonight's featured player will be old friend Jacob Loco. And I know many of us were very excited to have Jacob back in the fold, as he started originally as a Boston Bruin. He was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the third round, seventy seventh overall in twenty eighteen, and he came back to us as part of the Bruins' house cleaning that they did during the trade deadline. And I'm not really quite sure what happened with Yakob for his first go round with the Bruins, but I will say that I myself was very impressed with his hockey acumen.

2:27 Speaker 1: Yeah, for lack of a better word, I mean, he just he's got good speed, He worked hard. I think he was extremely excited to come back to Boston. Yep, and you know he turned out to be, you know, relatively productive, relatively productive.

2:52 Speaker 3: But again, we're going to couch.

2:54 Speaker 1: All of this talk when we are talking about statistics for each of these players with the simple phrase that overall, the Bruins sucked last season.

3:09 Speaker 3: They were terrible.

3:11 Speaker 1: They were terrible, and it is extremely I think might be a little bit unfair to be judging what, especially what these players who came in at the trade deadline were able to accomplish, because at that point, let's call a spade spade, the season was over. Nice, the Bruins had thrown.

3:37 Speaker 3: Into the right right, right right.

3:41 Speaker 1: So hard to gauge fully, yes and completely what these newer players were bringing to the organization.

3:52 Speaker 2: Especially considering they brought in so many young players too. I mean, how much can you know a twenty five year old bring to the table unless his name was Sidney Crosby or Connor David Like at that age, they were doing phenomenal things, right, these guys aren't, And.

4:14 Speaker 1: It's hard for us to determine or assess do these players fit in on this roster? Will they fit in on this roster? Because we don't know what this roster is going to fully look like. We might not know what this roster fully looks like until you know, sometime in July, and we don't even know who the coach will be and what type of system of structure said new coach and his her staff will be bringing yes to this roster. But be that as it may be, that as it may.

4:56 Speaker 3: I like, I like this player. I like this player, and I like I like his work ethic.

5:02 Speaker 1: That's what I look at on the ice right You're you're trying to make plays, You're keeping your feet moving, you're trying to do the right things with the puck.

5:14 Speaker 3: Mm hmm yep, I agree. I I'm so glad that he's back.

5:20 Speaker 1: Yeah. And you know, again, on one of one of the one of the many criticisms that we heard this season was, you know, the Bruins lacked speed. They never went out and did anything about, you know, replacing the speed that Jake Debrusk brought to the team. But I think I think Lacko can fit the speed aspect of it. The offensive aspect of it might be a different story, but that depends on his usage. Where where are you gonna are you going to be putting him in? You know, top blind minutes for I don't think so, I don't think so.

6:04 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, so Laoco, and I like you because you are our stats person.

6:13 Speaker 3: Why don't you do before we dive into the stats?

6:16 Speaker 2: All right?

6:16 Speaker 3: So he's a restricted triogy, right.

6:19 Speaker 1: He is a restricted free agent, which comes with the difference between restricted and unrestricted. Is an unrestricted free agent can do and go wherever the hell they want. They can sell themselves to basically the highest bidder, and they've earned the right to do that, which is why they are unrestricted free agents. A restricted free agent comes with arbitration rights, so you kind of sort of still belong to the Boston Bruins.

6:58 Speaker 3: They can take you to arbitrary.

7:02 Speaker 1: Or they can you know, sign it to an offer. So so there is a semblance more of control for the team than for the player.

7:13 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, and he is he being an RFA with arbitration rights, I mean, he does have a little bit more say in the matter. There are players who are restricted free agents who do not have arbitration rights. And in that case, they are completely you know, at the.

7:34 Speaker 3: Mercy of their team.

7:37 Speaker 2: So he's also another left handed center we come across this so far.

7:47 Speaker 1: They have well the first three that we have spoken about. Yes, aren't they leers? Left handed centers? Again, love this guy. He definitely been for.

8:03 Speaker 3: The last couple of years.

8:05 Speaker 2: I believe he was used in the same way in Minnesota last season. He's you know, the last three years or so, he's been fourth liner, fourth line minutes. I do wonder, uh if if again he were developed properly,

8:26 Speaker 2: making the assumption that a million do that, ye.

8:30 Speaker 3: Could he ever play higher up? I don't know, I I you.

8:36 Speaker 2: Know, I I have a harder time kind of evaluating that. Certainly,

8:43 Speaker 2: you know, professor mo would would would know the answer to that question. But uh, you know, his individual points percentage again, uh, seventy one point four. So when he's get out on the ice, for every ten goals that the Bruins scored, he touched seven of them when he was you know, on the ice for them. So that's not bad, and I think it's actually really good. I think his speed has a lot to do with it.

9:15 Speaker 3: You know, he's just has.

9:17 Speaker 2: The ability to get where he needs to go as fast as possible. He certainly is one of our lower Coursey four percentage players in that he really doesn't shoot that puck at thirty nine and a half.

9:36 Speaker 3: Percent, but he'll get right in on this roster, Yeah, exactly, he might be. With his speed combined with.

9:48 Speaker 2: That particular statistic, I kind of wonder if maybe he has the ability to fill in as more of a playmaker, which is certainly again a role that was left vacant with the part of Jake Debrusk. Obviously the biggest difference between these those two players being Jake Debrusk certainly, for all of his ups and downs, probably objectively a better player, but he's also older, he's been around longer, so you know, maybe we can't compare them apples to apples, but.

10:25 Speaker 3: He certainly also doesn't.

10:27 Speaker 2: Really get used very much. Again, talking about the player usage statistic and comparing how he's you know, being used and how frequently he's he's getting sent out.

10:39 Speaker 3: There, of all of our.

10:43 Speaker 2: You know, trade acquisitions and trade departures, he has the lowest player usage statistics, you know, when comparing him to competition, he's in the ninth percentile for minutes for uh forward on the Bruins, He's essentially in the bottom twentieth percentile. I think that's like as low as you could possibly get for forwards.

11:08 Speaker 3: So I don't know.

11:11 Speaker 2: And again, these statistics aren't just from when he was he returned to Boston. This is for the whole year, so.

11:21 Speaker 3: Who knows. Again, I don't know.

11:25 Speaker 2: Much about the coach for Minnesota, what their system was, how he was being used out there.

11:32 Speaker 3: In Boston. Was he being as used as frequently as he could have or should have?

11:37 Speaker 1: Been?

11:39 Speaker 3: Hard to say.

11:40 Speaker 2: Again, there was so much noise with this particular season.

11:43 Speaker 1: Yeah, so many harder so much, and yeah, I mean it's so much inconsistency. Again, you know, I can't even imagine how anybody was assessing anything that was going on with the team this season.

12:00 Speaker 2: There was just a lot of garbage that everyone had to deal with, both players us as fans being able to pay attention to gain the final twenty games while we were all in deep mourning. But I know what I have seen from this player in his previous two seasons in Boston, and I was always very pleased, So I would hope as he you know, he is now twenty five years old, he's about to turn twenty six. Hopefully he's starting to really hit his stride and again with some stability on the team. You know, we know he looks up to David Pastunak for leadership and guidance, and Pasta taking on this more leadership role hopefully can kind of build on that.

12:54 Speaker 2: He had a great World Championship tournament as well, even though chech Yak you know, knocked out earlier, he was very successful there, had some goals. So again another Bruin out there having a great end of the season going into the to the summer, and hopefully he just brings that.

13:15 Speaker 3: Back not just to the locker room, but also on the ice, because we know that he's.

13:21 Speaker 2: I wouldn't I wouldn't go so far as to call him a personality higher because he does have a lot to contribute, but he's definitely got a job off the ice as well as on the ice. And I think that's why I also personally like this player because of what he brings to the team in that.

13:47 Speaker 1: And you know, with the number of players and the amount of leadership that was dispelled at the trade deadline, seemed to make sense to be able to bring someone back who had some familiarity with you know, the organization and you know the the playing philosophy or the playing structure. I'm curious to ask you, though, what would you offer him for a deal?

14:25 Speaker 3: Well, he what do you think he might be looking for it? Still? Actually, even though he was coming from.

14:37 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, so he's coming to the end of a two year you know, RFA deal that was signed by John between him and Don. So like he left and came back and he's still under the same contract terms. All right, Bruins fans, if you're thinking about picking up some new gear, now's the time. I'm already planning to grab a fresh Pasternck jersey this fall. Who knows, maybe he's rocking a new letter on the front. The NHL Shop is running tons of season ending and summer sales right now, including twenty percent off Fanatics gear.

15:12 Speaker 2: And here's the best part. When you shop through our link in the show notes, a portion of your purchases helps support this podcast.

15:21 Speaker 3: Same gear you'd.

15:22 Speaker 2: Find at the pro Shop, but with way better perks. So stock up, save big, and help keep Bruins Tape the tape rolling all year long.

15:32 Speaker 1: The fastest game on the ice, just hit another gear. Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where legends are made and every shift could turn the tide. And now, with Draft King Sportsbook and official sports betting partner of the NHL, you can take every slap shot, break away, an overtime thriller to the next level. New to betting on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, You're in for an exciting time. Getting started is a breeze. Fire up the King Sportsbook app, pick your team to win, lock in your wager, and you're off to the races.

16:06 Speaker 1: It's fast, simple and puts you right in the middle of the action. Don't have a dog in the fight. It's easy to pick an anytime goal scorer who's gonna score the game winning goal in overtime.

16:20 Speaker 3: It's just that simple. Here's the kicker.

16:23 Speaker 1: New customers who bet just five dollars will score three hundred dollars in bonus bets if their wager hits. That's right, turn five bucks into a playoff payout. Just download the Draft Kings Sportsbook app now and use promo code THPN. That's promo code THPN to unlock three hundred dollars in bonus bets when your five dollars bet wins only at Draft Kings Sports Book.

16:53 Speaker 3: The Crown is yours.

16:56 Speaker 4: Gambling problem call one eight hundred gambler. In New York call eight seven seven eight OP and Y, or text hope and Y four six seven three six nine. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling Call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org. Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino in Resorting, Kansas twenty one and over. Agent eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in New Hampshire, Oregon. In Ontario, bonus BET's expire one hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance.

17:20 Speaker 4: For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG dot co slash ft ball. NFL Plus Premium offer available only to new and former NFL Plus subscribers. Additional NFL Plus Premium terms at NFL dot com slash terms.

17:33 Speaker 2: So he was at league minimum minimum wage seven eighty seven five. Yeah, basically, you know, I think, look, this is where I'm going to struggle a little bit, and I'm going to take full ownership of the fact that again because I personally.

17:53 Speaker 3: Enjoy him as a player.

17:55 Speaker 2: I'm like, well, obviously he should make more money because I like the guy.

17:59 Speaker 1: No, no, I know, I agree on bumping up the pay, right, it's just what degree I think.

18:10 Speaker 3: Honestly, what I think is ultimately going to happen is that.

18:17 Speaker 2: Because he played the second year of his contract, not with Boston. Big picture, Boston has a lot of business that they have to take care of in this off season. Yes, I think that they are going to just offer him whatever they are contracted, like a CBA. Whatever the CBA says they have to offer, which is that, uh, you know, we're going to call it for Layman's terms, you know, cost of living increase. So I think that's what he's gonna get. It's probably fair. Again, me being a fan,

19:16 Speaker 2: I would obviously want to see him make a little bit more. But if I you know, make sure I put my my my analyst hat on. There isn't anything in the stats like he's not bad, right, there's nothing that's red flags to me, No no walk you know from this guy.

19:39 Speaker 3: But on the flip side, again, he's not.

19:46 Speaker 2: He doesn't you know, knock your socks off, like he didn't do anything in particular, But is this because it's the fact that he was underutilized.

19:55 Speaker 1: I don't, I know, but you can't. I again, you can't pre pay for that, right, so right, not for a player like him. So you know he he will be. So he's twenty five years old. I think he's turning twenty six. So his next contract, he's gonna be a UFA. This is going to be a big.

20:19 Speaker 2: Contract for him in the sense that it's this is gonna be his shot to make something of himself. And again, like I feel like a broken record, but when so much is unknown, the dynamics of the team, the dynamics of the team with the coach, and how everything is handled and how everything's managed, you know, this year is just going to be such an interesting season to see how people respond and react to everything that's happened in Boston. You know, he he wasn't there for the disaster season. He was there the year before when they you know, went and made it to the second round.

21:06 Speaker 2: Like he's coming into this with a very different perspective and hopefully he can keep that positive perspective going and do something with his season. But again, it's because of the position that he has typically played in the last couple of years being that fourth line center. Is the coach going to use him enough for him to show that he's worth anything? I mean, I think he probably has more skill and can contribute more than Trent Frederick could. And yet Freddy had been given more time out on the ice for some unknown reasons.

21:50 Speaker 3: Why scenario in this case?

21:54 Speaker 2: My argument, you know, if it again Trent Frederick being whatever, know, why put him out when you've got someone with speed and playmaking ability in in Laco. So you know, I think they're gonna, they're gonna, they're gonna keep them around.

22:13 Speaker 3: I want, I want to bring up something interesting.

22:18 Speaker 1: I wonder if Loco had been a part of this roster from the beginning, might we have seen mister Frederick.

22:32 Speaker 3: On the ninth floor now?

22:37 Speaker 2: Yeah, because those idiot managers were just like, we have to play a trend Frederick for someone.

22:43 Speaker 1: Yeah whatever, I mean, we diagnossly digress. So you know this, this this particular player is interesting. And in terms of you know, if you want to keep them, do you do like a little bridge contract with him to say, hey, look right, we'll give you, you know, a couple of years at a million bucks a year, a million bucks per That only brings you to age twenty seven, twenty eight. You're still young, right. The cap is by all accounts, the cap is still gonna keep going up with each passing year. So I would be amenable to something like that if the Bruins have interest.

23:36 Speaker 1: You clearly need the speed unless you're gonna go find it someplace else in this free agency crop where it's not it's really not awesome. It's not an awesome crop of free agents. You've got sam Be.

23:51 Speaker 2: You're gonna see a lot more offer sheets this this year.

23:56 Speaker 1: Yeah, that goes at and I hope we do because that's that it's a nice dynamic that makes it spicy, that makes the off seas at icy.

24:06 Speaker 3: Drama, you know.

24:08 Speaker 2: And I and the other thing is just thinking a little bit ahead of his potentially his you know, his career players.

24:16 Speaker 3: So there's you.

24:18 Speaker 2: You like to call them jags, you know, just another guy.

24:22 Speaker 3: You know. Folks may also and I know I'm making.

24:25 Speaker 1: The case for for you know, jags, but they do serve a purpose. You just do have them, you but you just can't have them taking top line minutes. And I'm not talking about the first line. We all know what I'm talking about that, right, you just it is not a recipe for success in today's NHL.

24:53 Speaker 2: Right, And so like you know, or or you might call them, they're also the journeyman so to speak, which sometimes they can be just another guy. Sometimes they can be a specialist and they have like just a very specific skill and they you know, are brought onto a team for a small stretch of time for right, right, right, So if you think about like James van Rainsdyke or Kevin schenn Kirk, you know, some of those guys who have bounced around, they bounce around. That's what a journeyman is in this league is they're going to play for three, four or five teams over the course of their career, and you typically are going to see a lot of those guys be in those bottom you know, to the bottom six players.

25:41 Speaker 2: And so again you've got this twenty five year old where I just want to strangle this Bruins management and say what are you doing with him?

25:55 Speaker 3: Because then are you stringing him along?

25:59 Speaker 2: When if if if, what he is is a journey room which again I still can't really quite hell because I don't think he's been used appropriately.

26:09 Speaker 1: If I don't know that i'd call him a journeyman quite yet I think it's right.

26:15 Speaker 2: Because I don't he's not been used I think in the right way, So I can't tell if he is one. But if he is, just because of the nature of where he's been playing, then why are you keeping him here? Why let him go and and go on his journey and and be on those different teams and have those different experiences and fill in you know, I don't know. And it just goes to show once again that you've got a management team that is.

26:48 Speaker 3: Struggling, incapable of.

26:53 Speaker 2: Having a longer term plan, not you know, for their players.

26:58 Speaker 3: You know.

27:00 Speaker 2: And again, my my enjoyment of this player could very well be coloring my opinion on the situation. But like they need to figure out what they want to do with him, because he doesn't he has a lot to offer, and he doesn't deserve to just kind of be, you know, hanging around.

27:23 Speaker 3: You know, I don't know. That's those are my thoughts on jacob Loco.

27:32 Speaker 1: Well, and I don't know if one should read anything into the fact that you had him, you let him go, and you brought him.

27:41 Speaker 3: Back, so right, yeah, is your intent? I mean, there could be.

27:48 Speaker 1: And I know, you know, when you assume the old phrase of when you assume, you make an ass out of me and you. But can can we presume that the intent is to keep this player around even again if it's for you know, a short term bridge deal. But yeah, time will tell, right, time will tell. But I think we're both in agreement that he possesses a skill that the Bruins very much needed, which is speed. It's just a question of, okay, where where are you going to utilize that speed? It shouldn't be number one line, it shouldn't be number two line.

28:34 Speaker 3: I don't know.

28:35 Speaker 1: I don't know because right now, you know, these players that we have talked about up until this player to me, have all been potentially you know, I would put them in, you know, a fourth line situation. Now, Casey Middlestat, who we spoke about in our first episode, he might have a little bit high your threshold where he works his way up to higher minutes on a different you know, his his ceiling. I have his ceiling up, yeah, a little bit higher expectations. I have his ceiling up a little higher.

29:23 Speaker 2: But yeah, I would put I would put Loco, like if we're going to look at the first three that we've had.

29:29 Speaker 3: Loaco would kind of be in.

29:30 Speaker 2: The middle in terms of my expectations, not just because of his age, but because he's been a part of this team.

29:36 Speaker 1: Yea over Husnadinov over Whostadinov. Yeah yeah, Well, and again, Hustadenov is still young. I mean he's younger than Laco, which was you know, we talked about him. So I mean again, each of these players that we've spoked about thus far, Casey, Middlestat, Marat, Ustadinov, and Laco all have.

30:01 Speaker 3: Upside to them.

30:03 Speaker 1: Yep, we'll go back to the recurring theme of is that upside going to be nurtured and developed appropriately by the Boston Bruins organization?

30:19 Speaker 3: Right? Time will tell. Time will tell.

30:24 Speaker 1: So that will conclude our segment on Jacob Loco. We will likely get a lot of answers to some of the questions we've asked or some of the thoughts that we've had come July one, where there should be a frenzy I would think of activity, Yep, one would hope, at least from the side of the Boston Bruins anyway. Yet, until until then, we'll continue on with our our assessments yep.

31:01 Speaker 2: Absolutely As always, make sure you like and rate and review and subscribe on YouTube, on your podcast platform of