Evan Marinofsky of New England Hockey Journal and Conor Ryan of Boston.com discuss the Bruins first preseason game, highlighting Brandon Bussi, Matthew Poitras and Fabian Lysell.
This episode is sponsored by:
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0:00 - Bussi was at his best on Sunday night
7:00 - Don’t think we’re at the time for a trade…
11:00 - Poitras makes an immediate impact
15:00 - Should the Bruins keep Poitras or send him back to the OHL?
19:00 - The good and the bad with Fabian Lysell
22:00 - Could Poitras pass Lysell on the prospects depth chart?
27:00 - Other standouts from Game 1
Fanduel Sportsbook is the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network. NEW customers can bet $5 and get $200 in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED. Now is the best time to join FanDuel! The app is easy to use and you can be on everything from spreads to player props and more! So, visit FanDuel.com/BOSTON and kick off the NFL season with an offer you won’t wanna miss.
21+ and present in MA. Hope is here. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. GamblingHelpLineMa.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Play it smart from the start! GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234.
This episode is sponsored by:
This episode of Bruins Beat is brought to you by Fanduel Sportsbook, the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network. Visit FanDuel.com/BOSTON and start earning BONUS BETS with America’s #1 Sportsbook! 21+ and present in MA. First online real money wager only. $10 Deposit req. Refund issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Play it smart from the start! GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234
0:00 - Bussi was at his best on Sunday night
7:00 - Don’t think we’re at the time for a trade…
11:00 - Poitras makes an immediate impact
15:00 - Should the Bruins keep Poitras or send him back to the OHL?
19:00 - The good and the bad with Fabian Lysell
22:00 - Could Poitras pass Lysell on the prospects depth chart?
27:00 - Other standouts from Game 1
Fanduel Sportsbook is the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network. NEW customers can bet $5 and get $200 in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED. Now is the best time to join FanDuel! The app is easy to use and you can be on everything from spreads to player props and more! So, visit FanDuel.com/BOSTON and kick off the NFL season with an offer you won’t wanna miss.
21+ and present in MA. Hope is here. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. GamblingHelpLineMa.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Play it smart from the start! GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234.
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Bruins Beat is brought to you by FanDuel, the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS
00:04 Media Network.
00:05 And welcome into the Bruins Beat.
00:09 It is September 26th.
00:11 I'm Evan Marinovsky.
00:12 That's Connor Ryan.
00:13 Connor, what is up?
00:14 Evan, I'm doing well.
00:15 How are you doing?
00:16 Doing great.
00:17 Doing great.
00:18 We have a game to talk about.
00:22 How fun is that?
00:23 That is just what we wanted.
00:25 That's just what the people wanted, I think, for us to dive into.
00:29 Granted, it is one preseason game.
00:31 It is preseason game number one.
00:33 But it's so funny, you know, I think I say this every year.
00:37 Like at the end of the playoffs, I always say, man, how do we make it to regular season
00:41 hockey?
00:42 Playoffs are just on such a different level.
00:43 And then the summer goes by, there's no hockey, and then it comes back and it's like, how
00:47 do we live without this?
00:48 Like I'll take a preseason game any day of the week.
00:50 Just let me watch some hockey.
00:52 That's all that matters.
00:53 So I'm happy that it's back.
00:55 And the Bruins obviously get a big three nothing win.
00:59 Looked like it was going to head in a different direction.
01:00 It looked like it was going to be a lot more.
01:02 Well, there's Broncos, Dolphins out there.
01:05 But anyway, you know, a lot.
01:07 I see a lot of stuff about this game on Twitter, obviously.
01:12 And there's a couple of things I think we should set from the jump, right?
01:16 That was basically an AHL game, right?
01:18 We can say that.
01:19 AHL lineups.
01:20 There's nothing wrong with that, by the way.
01:22 The Rangers showed up at 345 with this game, which has it come out like why they were delayed
01:28 so much.
01:29 Was it weather traffic?
01:30 Like what was the weather?
01:31 I mean, if you saw the Patriots Jets game, the weather was kind of shit in New York City
01:35 for most of the day.
01:37 So I think it was either taking off late or what have you.
01:42 Something threw them back just a little bit, which is the reason why.
01:44 But I think a lot had to do with the weather in New York rather than what was going on
01:48 up here.
01:49 Yeah.
01:50 So bad weather.
01:51 They get here late.
01:52 They got here later than like a youth hockey team.
01:54 They got there later than the youth hockey teams that I watch and write about get to
01:58 their games, which is why they had to push back 45 minutes.
02:02 So I think, you know, got to lay that groundwork there.
02:07 Brandon Bussey looked pretty damn good.
02:09 29 saves, shutout, arguably a save of the year candidate with that freaking glove, which
02:15 is unbelievable.
02:16 The Bruins Twitter account nailed it with that.
02:20 I mean, outstanding in game one.
02:22 And I think the big takeaway I have, and we can get into what it means more long term,
02:28 but you have something in him.
02:29 That's a legit goaltending prospect.
02:31 Yeah.
02:32 This is the team that you look at their development history, have still kind of struggled to find
02:38 impact forwards, guys down the middle.
02:40 But man, they keep on churning out a legitimate goalie prospect.
02:44 Sure.
02:45 Right.
02:46 I mean, and again, this is the look at some of the ways the Bruins have hit over the years.
02:48 A lot of it has to do with goaltending, but a lot also comes off of college free agents.
02:53 And Bussey was a guy that kind of came out of nowhere, had really strong starts there
02:58 at Western Michigan, more or less willed them to a couple of runs.
03:01 Really impressive there.
03:02 Again, I think Montgomery even is when he said after Sunday's game, kind of came out
03:07 of nowhere and really established himself.
03:09 And I think the one friend you hear from everyone that talked about him, whether it's guys in
03:14 Providence, Montgomery, it's just the compete level, right?
03:16 That's a that's a sequence there where 95% of the time, that's an easy goal, right?
03:22 I mean, I think Bratislavski was literally about to sell when that shot was going off.
03:27 And again, it's a credit to Bussey for not just, you know, there's the athleticism involved
03:34 is the anticipation on stuff, but the compete to, you know, stretch it and make that play
03:38 and deny that goal.
03:39 It's impressive.
03:40 And it's something that, you know, even Mark Diver, who again, is the expert on all things,
03:45 you know, Providence, you know, he's seen all that stuff mentioned that I think it was
03:48 last year in the playoffs against the Hartford Wolfpack.
03:52 He had almost an identical save to that.
03:53 So this isn't like an outlier.
03:54 This isn't a I'm saying this guy's going to have a 970 high danger save percentage or
04:00 anything like that.
04:01 But he's shown this before.
04:03 I mean, he's the guy that had over a 920 save percentage last year in Providence got called
04:08 up from the ECHL.
04:10 So he again, it wasn't like this is a guy that signed was a, you know, a Mike Richter
04:15 award winner in college and was, you know, on a destined path to being a number one in
04:20 the NHL, let alone be an NHL prospect.
04:22 He's kind of worked his way up for it over a short sample size.
04:25 And again, it just gives the Bruins extra security.
04:28 Again, they have the best one to punch in the NHL in terms of the goal timing was swimming
04:34 and Omar.
04:35 But also again, it's hockey chicken hit the fan.
04:38 You might need to call on a guy up in Providence and to have a guy like Bussie who's only continuing
04:43 to get better.
04:44 Not only does it give you an extra security blanket this year, but as you look ahead,
04:47 obviously you're getting down the road a little bit, but it gives you extra insurance in terms
04:53 of whether if you have to move a goalie down the road or you have to make some, you know,
04:58 pretty sizable changes to your roster, having a guy like Bussie who's barring a major setbacks
05:03 and continue to improve and establish himself.
05:05 Just a great kind of a backup option to have out there.
05:08 Yeah, I think Bussie, they should set Vesna odds for him over at our good friends over
05:12 at FanDuel.
05:13 If you want to go bet on those, by the way, FanDuel.com/Boston, our good friends over
05:18 there get $200 in bonus bets for new customers.
05:21 Yeah, Bussie, I was fascinated by this because again, I mean, good season last year, interesting
05:27 prospect, you know, during the off season when there were the Omar trade rumors, a lot
05:30 of people said, oh, you can go to Swain and Bussie.
05:32 And, you know, I don't know if Bussie is fully ready yet to take on an NHL season.
05:38 Obviously, we still don't know that.
05:40 But you obviously see people on Twitter being like, oh, it's time to trade.
05:44 Oh, Mark, Mark is fully expendable, which isn't the case.
05:49 I think Bussie can be really freaking good and you might have something for the future,
05:54 but you don't have to trade all mark.
05:55 Now, I think the identity of this team is going to be goaltending and defense.
06:00 Bussie is certainly a strong goalie prospect.
06:02 I'm very excited to see what he does in Providence.
06:04 I bet he'll be really, really good.
06:06 But I don't think you can base solely off of Sunday night's game.
06:12 Oh, he's ready to come on up to the NHL level, which I think he's terrific.
06:16 Like I think, you know, the rebound control, you know, can use some some work.
06:21 But there was a lot of good.
06:22 It was ninety nine point nine percent positive from him.
06:26 And as you said, like little Tim Thomas at him at times, little Tim Thomas at him, which
06:31 which Bruce fans, by the way, you know, what he's doing, when he's jumping around with
06:35 the leg saves, oh, that's our starter of the future.
06:38 There he is.
06:40 So yeah, I mean, it's it's great stuff.
06:42 But I don't think I don't think we're at the point where up time to trade all mark.
06:47 I don't think we're quite there yet.
06:48 No, but yeah, again, it's just something to have if you have that in your your backup
06:54 option to down probably just again.
06:56 It's all comes down to depth and how much that flexibility can help you both in the
07:01 short term with injuries.
07:02 But again, in the long term, it just gives you options.
07:04 That's the most important thing as as you're this Bruins team trying to retool your roster
07:08 on the fly.
07:09 It's all about having options.
07:10 We talk about that with cap flexibility and having the money to make a trade and take
07:14 on a contract down the road or what have you.
07:16 Just having guys down in Providence just gives you that the ability to kind of chart your
07:21 own path, whether it's trade, internal call up, all that stuff.
07:25 So just to have a guy like Bussie, who, again, it's not like you're using a critical first
07:30 or second round pick.
07:31 Not that the Bruins have that, but it's not like you use that on one of these guys.
07:33 It's a credit to their, you know, their scouting staff down in the college rank.
07:38 We just hit on quite a few guys over the years to find this guy signed to a contract and
07:43 he's already elevated himself as a top prospect in the system.
07:48 So it's been impressive.
07:49 They're just bringing goalies in like, all right, get in with goalie Bob, get in with
07:52 goalie Bob.
07:53 Yes.
07:54 He's a changed man.
07:55 You know, it's funny, like you look at Vegas has run last year, you know, going in their
07:58 fourth, fifth string goalie in the playoffs.
08:00 Like you do need more than just two good goalies in your system.
08:04 And the other thing you think for Bussie this year is it's, it's his net in Providence.
08:08 Kincaid's not here anymore.
08:10 So it's going to be just him, you know, and he has all the development time he needs down
08:15 there and I don't know, he has that.
08:17 Maybe we can pull this in the post season if things work out this way, but he has kind
08:20 of the makeup of a guy that would, you know, again, based on this off one game, that's
08:23 the makeup of a guy that would just go on like a crazy playoff run.
08:26 I don't know.
08:27 I could maybe see evidence.
08:28 Evan Marinovsky declares Brennan Bussie, Conn Smythe winner in 2024.
08:34 I will my crystal ball.
08:35 I'm looking into it right now.
08:36 I'm seeing it.
08:37 But yeah, I don't think we're at the level yet to, to trade one of your, your starting
08:41 net minders in Boston.
08:42 And by the way, I think even if Bussie has, you know, let's say he plays all every preseason
08:46 game and he wins them all.
08:47 I still, you're still not unseating Swaminer or Omar, but again, it is strengthening,
08:53 his case to be the team's leading goalie prospect, which I think is a very, very good thing.
08:59 And it's encouraging that they have that in the pipeline so that maybe next year he is
09:04 ready or in years to come, whether that's again next year or the year after speaking
09:11 to make it hard decisions or decisions hard on the decision makers, Matthew Poitras really
09:17 strong on on Sunday night.
09:20 Now again, again, got to throw water on all this stuff.
09:23 Got to, got to, you know, and by the way, we're gonna get to someone later that everyone's
09:26 down on that.
09:27 I'm gonna, you know, maybe poor little, no, I'll just say carries.
09:32 I was gonna say like gasoline, but that would just make the fire hotter.
09:35 Yeah.
09:36 Back up a little bit.
09:37 You're like the guy that the meme of the guy who has like the air fryer and he's throwing
09:41 the fries in and it just explodes.
09:42 Yes, that's me.
09:44 All right.
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10:33 But Poitras, a goal, an assist.
10:37 I think his IQ is so strong.
10:39 You just watch him the way he sports the puck, his play away from the puck.
10:43 What did you think of his game Sunday night?
10:45 Yeah, I thought it was impressive.
10:46 He's a guy that, again, the same things we've kind of heard about him, the things we've
10:51 seen on the ice.
10:53 Is he an elite skater?
10:55 No.
10:56 Is he like this guy that's going to have all these highlights in terms of dekes and dangles
11:00 or anything like that?
11:01 No.
11:02 But you see just how he plays, how methodical he is in terms of thinking the play ahead,
11:07 making the right call.
11:09 Really good in terms of like his positioning.
11:11 Obviously, the one thing you worry about with any of these young guys who are facing
11:15 higher competition is how they deal with the physicality, board battles, those things.
11:19 I'm going to say that he was trucking over players or anything like that, but was putting
11:23 himself in the right position to elude contact.
11:27 Didn't shy away from it, but also wasn't putting himself in bad spots where he could
11:31 easily get separated from the puck.
11:32 So he thinks the game well.
11:34 Obviously, a really gifted passer.
11:36 It was good to see him also get one of the few shots he had going to the net.
11:41 Something he has talked about to be a focus on his overall game.
11:46 Again, this is not going to be a guy that if he hits the NHL level, he's going to be
11:50 like a 30 goal guy.
11:52 He is primarily a playmaker, but good to see him get rewarded for kind of having that extra
11:57 emphasis on the power play.
12:00 It's all positive in terms of, again, Jim Montgomery more or less mapped it out that
12:04 he has a big challenge in front of him.
12:08 You do not have, even if a guy has a really productive camp at 19 years old, where it's
12:13 either the NHL or back to junior hockey, usually does not work out in their favor.
12:18 It's like when you play in NHL, like be a pro and there's like those rare times you're
12:22 in camp and you put up like 30 points in the six preseason games and they're like, you
12:27 didn't back check that one time.
12:29 So you're going to see minus on defense.
12:31 He's going back to the NHL kid.
12:34 You called for the puck too many times.
12:37 You rifled it into the net.
12:39 But again, like he has a tough road ahead of him in terms of, it's one thing to make
12:45 a good impression and get assigned to Providence and build your game that way and go through
12:49 the bumps and bruises there.
12:51 Another thing, if it's you're up in the NHL, they've committed to you in that spot beyond
12:55 I think that nine game kind of sample size you have.
13:00 And then you have to either go back to junior or stick around.
13:02 Like that is a tall task for any player, especially one who's 19 because only had two
13:07 full OHL seasons because of COVID to kind of stick around in that spot.
13:11 So I mean, I think it's good on the Bruins for, you know, he opens camp with Pasternak.
13:17 He opens preseason with James Jenriemsek and Jake DeBrusque.
13:20 Like they're getting his confidence going and it's easy to spot like his playmaking
13:26 abilities, his evident talent out there.
13:28 So it's good to see that they're, you know, they're not setting him in a fourth line role.
13:31 They're not putting him in spots where he can ask to really kind of grind out or change
13:34 how he plays.
13:35 And he's building that confidence that way.
13:38 Again, I think it's quite the ask to have him break camp, even if it is that kind of
13:43 nine games, nine game sample size that some of these players have.
13:47 But it's a step in the right direction, right?
13:49 It's again, you could have zero points from like, you could have watched that game be
13:53 like, yeah, I see the talent, but he's a ways away.
13:56 You see that with a lot of other really promising guys when they make that next step forward.
14:00 It didn't see that didn't see that really that much in that game.
14:03 So credit to him and again, credit to the Bruins for taking this really talented young
14:07 player and putting him in the right spots to succeed early on during camp.
14:11 Yeah, I you know, I, I really love his game.
14:14 I do.
14:15 I think he makes sense.
14:16 I think he is a potential, you know, a future top six center for them.
14:19 Like I just I loved his game on Sunday night.
14:22 I thought he did the little things right.
14:24 Mr. 10 crat tweeted like a zoom in of him in the corners with a nice hit and to kind
14:28 of, you know, separate as a sort of a support guy.
14:31 I love that stuff.
14:32 I think like he thinks the game at an NHL level.
14:34 But you know, I had someone tweet at me being like, do you still think it's you know, he's
14:38 being rushed?
14:39 Or do you think it's still a rush if you bring him up?
14:42 I would rather him go to the OHL again.
14:43 And I think I think you agree with me on this.
14:45 Like, there's nothing wrong with that.
14:48 If he's like, let's say he made the Bruins, right?
14:50 Let's say he's up in Boston this year.
14:53 Like if is he going to what's he going to get more development from being, you know,
14:57 on the third line centering it and playing 14 minutes a night, 15 minutes a night, or
15:04 being in the OHL and dominating and being one of the top guys in that league and then
15:08 coming into next training camp, a year older, stronger, all of those things like, I just
15:15 think, you know, again, if they were rebuilding this year, if they were truly like rebuilding,
15:19 tearing the whole thing down, maybe it would make sense because you just trial by fire,
15:24 like getting the top six, right?
15:25 Like, go do your thing.
15:27 But I don't think you need to do that.
15:28 I don't think there's a rush.
15:30 Now, again, this is one preseason game, if he continues to light it up over the course
15:35 of you know, the the eight that are the eight that are still coming, it's eight left, right?
15:40 Or is there seven left?
15:41 Preseason games?
15:42 I think there's five, right?
15:43 I think there's six, five.
15:44 I don't know why I'm thinking there's a God like, again, I'm happy the preseason games
15:49 back but also let's keep it like that.
15:51 Yes.
15:52 I thought there were nine for some reason.
15:54 Wow.
15:55 I mean, anyways, for the five left, like, even if he's great in those, and I have no
15:58 doubt that he'll probably be an impact player and most of those like, it's still not a full
16:04 season and I still think time in the OHL developing down there is valuable.
16:09 It's funny because he'd be perfect for Providence.
16:11 Like, yeah, you would be that would be that would be like the best case scenario.
16:15 I think like, again, another full year in the OHL, he's going to continue to grow, he's
16:20 going to put up crazy numbers.
16:22 The in between there is like the age show, which again, is a whole nother animal.
16:26 You're going up against guys who are either on the cusp of making the NHL or you're playing
16:32 battle hardened 28 to 31 year old guys who have been around the block and know how to,
16:37 you know, play at that level play physically.
16:40 There's a big learning curve there.
16:41 So when you look at how good he was last year, I think the Bruins ideally we want to accelerate
16:46 his path.
16:47 Like, would you rather him put up 111 points against teenagers in the OHL or maybe put
16:51 up 50 points and take some lumps but also learn along the way in Providence that probably
16:56 makes the most sense for a guy that seems to be really accelerating his game but it
17:00 is what it is.
17:01 It is what it is as us kids say, yeah, I I'm you know, I get it.
17:07 I get the hype.
17:08 He's good.
17:09 Like I'm I'm fully there.
17:10 Like you and I are both like, he's really good.
17:12 Like that's a you have a legit prospect in him.
17:15 But I don't think this is the year to rush it again.
17:20 It's development.
17:21 You know, it's like, do you again, is he going to be up in Boston playing all the time
17:26 as a top six center feels like coil and Zocker are going to be at the start.
17:30 So again, I like the idea of doing the year in the O and go to training camp next year
17:35 as like the most hyped up guy.
17:38 I think that's a it's a good way to be.
17:39 But again, it's one, you know, things can change.
17:42 But I, I don't know.
17:43 I don't know what would change my opinion on that.
17:46 I, you know, he'd have to go off.
17:47 I don't think that like I still don't think training camp is going to change that for
17:51 me.
17:52 I still think he's going to be like, you know, a tough send home.
17:55 But I don't I don't know.
17:57 I don't think much will change on that route on that.
18:00 On that discussion.
18:02 So I said earlier, you know, we were going to, you know, Bussey and Poitras were sort
18:06 of the big storylines from from Sunday's game.
18:09 The one that people were sort of down on and I didn't really notice them much.
18:14 Third period, I thought he was OK.
18:15 The rest of the game, I wasn't super impressed.
18:17 Fabian Lysell, you know, and I will say, like in his defense, he put, you know, like Poitras
18:23 played with Van Riemsdijk in Dubrovnik.
18:25 He played with Harrison and Jason Magna.
18:27 Like, you know, that is it is a bit of a difference.
18:32 It is one game.
18:33 It's only one game.
18:36 But I was yeah, I think the inconsistency with him is, you know, we noticed stroke camp.
18:40 Montgomery's mentioned it.
18:42 What did you think of his game Sunday?
18:44 Yeah, good and bad.
18:46 The speed is there.
18:47 And I think like the encouraging thing is like he clearly wants to make plays.
18:51 I don't think he's really passive.
18:52 I don't think that's the issue with Lysell's game.
18:55 It's just I think the split second judgment, I think, is the things are trying to force
18:59 plays is what's kind of getting him in trouble.
19:02 And again, maybe that is different if he's playing with JVR and the and the Brusk or,
19:08 you know, maybe another capable center man or or what have you.
19:11 Maybe you can unlock more of that because, again, this is the guy that I think is necessarily
19:15 going to be driving play when he cracks the NHL roster.
19:19 You can have to kind of carry him along and play into that skill set.
19:22 Yeah.
19:23 So I don't think it's a thing about being passive.
19:25 I mean, it was I think one play where he kind of took on he breaks into the Rangers zone
19:31 and goes like four guys back there and kind of went full steam ahead, turns the puck over
19:34 again.
19:35 It's like that Simpsons meme of Ralph going through the window.
19:38 Yes, exactly.
19:39 It's like there's no question he's trying to make things happen.
19:44 You're trying to play into his speed and his playmaking ability.
19:46 It's just again, you have to kind of roll with the punches, take kind of what the game
19:52 gives you.
19:53 I think that's something that every young player has to learn in terms of playing to
19:56 your strengths, knowing how to impact the game, but also sometimes letting the play
19:58 come to you.
19:59 Right.
20:00 Like, again, very different player, but it kind of out front Frederick was for the first
20:03 few years where it's like, all right, I need to make something happen.
20:06 And I think you kind of realize that rather than going around chasing guys or, you know,
20:11 putting maybe your team in a bad spot, letting the play come to you, like getting involved
20:15 after the whistle, playing physically, playing at the net front, those things, how you make
20:19 a more consistent impact.
20:21 I would probably say.
20:22 And again, that's probably just a learning curve.
20:24 So again, didn't really showcase too much in terms of more than what we already know
20:29 about him in terms of his speed and playmaking.
20:32 But I think it's just one of those hurdles he still has to deal with.
20:34 And again, it's not to say that it's an indictment on where he is as a player right now in his
20:38 development, but it's part of the learning curve for a guy like him.
20:42 So I'm sure he'll get more preseason reps.
20:44 We'll see if he gets maybe put with more established NHL talent and that helps him out.
20:49 But I think that's kind of the big thing with him.
20:51 The intent is there, not passive, but it's still you have to learn how to pick your battles,
20:56 I guess a bit more when you get into this level of competition.
20:59 Yeah.
21:00 And just the consistency element of it, I think is the big thing, bringing it like that
21:04 every night.
21:05 It's interesting because like with him, the one thing I obviously worry about, can he
21:10 develop into what they hope he is, which is a top six producing winger.
21:15 But I also think he's probably, I mean, I remember at last trade deadline, probably
21:19 their number one trade chip if you really needed to make a deal.
21:24 He has value down there.
21:25 I think my biggest worry is you don't want him to lose value in this training camp.
21:29 And again, stuff happens all the time with prospects.
21:34 You start with Stednicka, you've seen it with others in the past.
21:38 Guys have a lot of hype coming in, first round picks and it sort of goes away.
21:42 And by the way, that hasn't happened with him.
21:44 That has not happened with him.
21:46 But I just think it is worrisome.
21:47 They don't have many prospects or even picks that carry a lot of trade value.
21:54 He does.
21:55 So, again, I think, and we kind of mentioned it, like Providence is going to be good for
21:59 him again this year.
22:00 Like I think that's a really good spot for him to be in, continue to develop, round out
22:04 the game, make smarter decisions, things like that.
22:08 But there is part of me that is worried about that trade value.
22:11 You know, if he like, my guess is over the next five games, he has a few really good
22:17 ones, because, you know, that's how he is.
22:19 In the event that he didn't, I think that is a little scary of like, oh, that's not
22:24 what we're looking for.
22:25 And I think, you know, last or Sunday night's game is an interesting thing of like, I texted
22:29 this to you and Ty, like, you know, has Poitras passed Lysel on the depth chart?
22:35 No, it's one game.
22:36 So I'm not, I'm not ready to do that.
22:38 But I think it's an interesting storyline to watch of, you know, could we come out of
22:41 this training camp saying, all right, the Bruins, two top prospects, and you can say
22:46 three, by the way, you don't have to just do two, but the two top, you know, for the
22:49 last two years have been Lysel Lowry.
22:52 Is there a chance we come out of this training camp and say, oh, it's actually Lowry Poitras?
22:56 Yeah, no.
22:57 I mean, I think you look at that's kind of magnified by also the Bruins, lack of proven
23:03 center depth, the urgency of trying to find a capable top six center that accelerates
23:08 a bit, obviously the, I think anyone will probably take a top six center over top six
23:13 wing in terms of its importance.
23:14 But yeah, I think you've seen it right again, you always have to put these different qualifiers
23:19 in or expectations when it comes to a guy making the jump from junior hockey to the
23:24 AHL, I mean, look at like, I think, if you look at just the OHL numbers, people thought
23:28 Jackson Nico is going to be a lock middle six center and just hasn't worked out for
23:33 him.
23:34 So it's one thing where you have the time and space and the playmaking ability to do
23:38 that stuff and rack up points against guys that are 17, 18.
23:42 Another thing, again, when you go up to the AHL or the NHL eventually, and you face that
23:47 level of competition, I mean, the one thing all these guys talk about, everyone always
23:52 mentions the physicality, you know, the puck battles, all that stuff, but both Portra and
23:57 Johnny Beecher mentioned just the speed.
24:00 Like, again, as much as these guys want to play fast, kids coming up to the pro hockey
24:06 now are more skilled than ever.
24:08 Still, when you're playing against pro hockey, just the pace you have to operate with to
24:11 make those split second decisions, try not to give away that costly turnover stuff that
24:18 cuts into your ice time.
24:20 It's tough.
24:21 That's the reason why this game is so frigging hard.
24:23 So again, you view Portra, he's right up there right now, I think with Lysell in terms of
24:30 his, you know, high end talent.
24:35 Let's see what happens when he makes that next step, right?
24:37 Like he goes to the OHL, he puts up again, 120 points.
24:40 I think it further validates.
24:41 They've got a very promising prospect, but I don't think you'll be able to make that
24:45 next step in terms of this guy really knock it on the door unless he either breaks camp
24:50 with the Bruins, which we'll see, or he makes that next jump to the, to the AHL.
24:55 And all of a sudden he's a point per game guy there.
24:57 That's when I think you realize you really have something.
24:59 Yeah, I agree.
25:01 It's too early to make that jump or to make that, you know, oh, Poitras has jumped Lysell.
25:06 But I just think overall, you know, I guess it's a good problem to have.
25:10 But you know, again, I think that Poitras has sort of worked his way definitely into
25:14 the upper echelon of Bruins prospects if he wasn't there already.
25:19 Beecher, by the way, a nice goal on, on Sunday, continued to sort of, what did you think of
25:23 Beecher's game on Sunday and what he brought?
25:25 Because I know we've kind of highlighted him for the fourth line.
25:27 What did you think of his game?
25:28 Yeah, I thought he was really solid.
25:30 Actually, I think obviously the, the goal is the important thing.
25:34 You want to see that offensive production.
25:36 That's kind of the one thing that's kind of a knock against him, not to say that he's
25:39 going to be a guy that gives you 30 points or what have you, but just to show that he
25:43 can contribute offensively is encouraging.
25:46 But I think you look at the rest of how he played, you know, that speed is speed is evident.
25:51 We mentioned that every single time with him, but I think he was seven of 11 on face offs,
25:55 which again, if you want to carve out a spot, you got to do that.
25:58 So she could have four points on our spot.
26:00 The battle was really active on the four check was it was in on pucks, separated guys from
26:04 the puck, just does all those little things.
26:06 I think those are what's going to carve out the path for him to stick in the NHL, right?
26:11 It's the face offs being responsible defensively, being effective on the fourth check.
26:15 And again, we talked last week about how intriguing a Luchich Beecher Lauco line could be.
26:22 And he's doing those little things there.
26:23 Again, if you bring them to the NHL and all of a sudden he unlocks a little more and gives
26:28 you 25, 30 points.
26:29 Fantastic.
26:30 But he's a guy that if you, if you give him 75 games and he gives you 16 points, but he's
26:36 good on face offs, kills penalties, is effective on the four check and plays into what that
26:41 line is trying to do.
26:42 You absolutely take that.
26:43 I think you look right now, that fourth line spot, especially down the middle is up for
26:48 grabs right now, right?
26:49 Like Patrick Brown's in that mix.
26:51 Well, banged up in this game against the Rangers, which is tough, tough hit for him, but I don't
26:56 believe he's out long-term or anything, but still you look at what the other competition
27:00 is like, it's right there for Beecher.
27:02 If he just plays his game, doesn't have to do anything too flashy.
27:05 Don't make turnovers.
27:06 Don't try to do too much with the puck, but when he's playing his game, his feet are moving.
27:10 He can be really effective into what the role of the Bruins are hoping he can seize out
27:13 of camp.
27:14 Yeah, I liked his game Sunday.
27:16 You nailed it with the do the right, do little things right.
27:20 And you'll have the fourth line center spot.
27:21 Were there any other thoughts you had any other players that jumped out at you?
27:25 I'll offer one up Michael Callahan on D I thought he was, I thought he was strong again.
27:31 You know, didn't really have to notice him much as long as you just did his job.
27:35 I think, you know, again, like Bruins have six set NHL D, but for the seventh defenseman,
27:41 they don't really have a defined one.
27:42 I mean, Zaboral makes the most sense.
27:44 He's been there the longest, but like if you can, you know, there's going to be injuries
27:48 at the NHL level.
27:49 If you can stick Callahan in there for a game or two or for, you know, longer term amount
27:54 of time I think, you know, there's a potential there for him to hold his own.
27:58 I'm curious if anyone else that you thought was interesting on Sunday.
28:01 Yeah, I thought Callahan was really good.
28:03 I thought Riley Walsh was also pretty solid with him as well.
28:05 I think he's a guy that'll be in the mix.
28:07 The broadcast mentioned the broadcast mentioned framing him mass native.
28:11 And I was like, ah, if only, if only not quite, if only, but I thought he was good.
28:18 I think Anthony Richards, the guy that keeps tabs on, I don't know if he's going to elevate
28:22 to be a surprise, you know, NHL guy out of camp at least, but I think he's a guy that's
28:26 probably going to be called on quite a bit of his injuries.
28:30 Really productive player in the HL over the years when he's 26 last year, play with Laval.
28:34 And I think he had 30 goals, 67 points in 60 games, something around that almost point,
28:39 almost a point per game guy.
28:40 So at the very least, he's going to be an impact player for Providence, which you need
28:44 at that level of a guy that can be a steady contributor as you have these younger guys
28:49 kind of work on their own games and kind of you'd pull them along.
28:52 So I think he's going to be key in terms of just the overall makeup of this team.
28:56 But I thought he really popped in the ozone, had that almost had that goal against Jonathan
29:00 quick where the backhand just, I think, went off the post, I believe.
29:03 But he's a guy that I think should be in the mix.
29:06 I'm sure you'll see him a few more preseason games here, but guy that I would not be surprised
29:11 gets a few games up the NHL throughout kind of the twists and turns that come with an
29:15 82 game season.
29:16 I agree with you.
29:17 And I liked I liked Riley Walsh.
29:19 He was he was solid.
29:20 You know, I don't know if he's going to be an NHL regular, but I think, you know, there's
29:26 potential to slot in here and there when they need him.
29:30 So it's an interesting game.
29:31 Game one.
29:32 Game one.
29:33 There's another one tonight in Buffalo.
29:35 So there is that.
29:38 So we will be watching and seeing who who pops and who doesn't and stocks going up and
29:44 down.
29:45 I actually know it's funny.
29:46 And I guess, you know, I wasn't really watching him that closely because it's preseason.
29:50 So for a guy for a guy like Fred Frederick, I don't really watch it that closely for a
29:54 guy like him.
29:55 But I get some good little puck plays.
29:56 He took Richard that breakaway he had.
29:59 Yeah, it's a nice little play by Frederick in the in the neutral zone.
30:02 And then Frederick had some other nice little puck plays in the ozone and stuff.
30:06 So I was like, oh, all right.
30:07 That's that's something, you know, I'm not going to read too into it because, again,
30:10 I want to see that the NHL level more often with him.
30:12 But encouraging stuff.
30:14 And Reem Zeik was out there pretty solid.
30:18 So and I love seeing a UMass is Zach Jones on the back end for New York.
30:22 That was what I care about most.
30:23 That's yes.
30:24 My eyes were on him.
30:25 I couldn't help it.
30:26 But anyways, Connor, what we look forward to from you over at Boston, calm in the Boston
30:31 Globe.
30:32 Yeah, Rob, you covered throughout this preseason training camp with daily updates, breakdowns,
30:38 takeaways after these preseason games, all that good stuff.
30:41 So read all of it over at Boston dot com.
30:43 If you want to follow me on Twitter, you can at Connor Ryan underscore 93.
30:47 Go do all that.
30:48 And we're sponsored by good friends over at Fan Tool.
30:51 That's Connor Ryan.
30:52 I'm at Marinoff's.
30:53 You bros be listeners of a great rest of the week.
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