Mailbag: The journey, or the destination?

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The NHL combine definitely matters, but is certainly a bit overrated in my opinion.

There's a couple reasons for this.

NHL prospects participate in the combine at 17, and 18 years old.

They are still physically maturing, and growing into their adult frame.

NFL prospects, conversely, perform at their combine usually between 21, and 23 years old - meaning their bodies have filled out, and can exercise adult strength.

This is mainly why the NFL draft combine, and justifiably so, has more stock.

NFL prospects are also more developed. They expect to be in the NFL as soon as the year they are drafted. Whereas NHL prospects are expected to remain playing in the CHL, USHL, NCAA, AHL, or perhaps international before ever stepping foot onto an NHL sheet of ice.

It matters less how many push ups, pull ups, bench presses, weighted squats etc. an NHL prospect can do at 17, or 18 years old when they still have years of developing to do, as it does when they're 21, 22, or 23 potentially knocking on the door of finally making the NHL.

Now with all that said, if a particular NHL prospect is expected to play in the league in the same calendar year as their draft, then yes, their combine testing should carry much more weight.

Casey Mittelstadt was mentioned in the question as an NHL prospect who couldn't perform a single pull up at their NHL combine and was still drafted highly.

Want another example?

How about Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers?

He is the poster child of what every team wants in a hard nosed player, and he also failed to record a single pull up at his NHL combine.

His physical testing didn't go very well when he was just a teenager, but he was still drafted 4th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2014, and in 2025 intimidates opponents as he attempts to drive them through the boards.

So, no, the NHL combine shouldn't affect prospect stock too much, unless a legitimate health or injury concern is found because of it.

If a prospect tests well, great!

If one doesn't, it's not the end of the world.

Simply put?

As a result of trading Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins are short a legit second-pair, right shot defensemen behind Charlie McAvoy.

That doesn't take away from the importance of their offensive needs, rather just adding too their needs.

Rounding out a top-four defense with appropriate talent is key for any team aiming to be successful.

Boston is preparing to be successful. Whether that translates or not is to be determined.

Right now Boston has McAvoy, and Hampus Lindholm penciled into their top four.

Boston is likely to add a 2RD this offseason.

That’s three of four spots in their top four.

After that it's a toss up between Nikita Zadorov, and Mason Lohrei - depending on how recently hired head coach, Marco Sturm decides to utilize them.

If Sturm elects to play McAvoy and Lindholm together (for the most part) then there's your top pair RD1, and LD1.

Zadorov, in that case would be Boston's LD2 to play alongside a TBD RD2 acquisition this summer.

If Sturm decides to balance out his defense pairs and split up McAvoy and Lindholm, then McAvoy would play as RD1 possibly with Mason Lohrei as LD1.

Lindholm would then slide down to LD2, and partner with TBD RD2.

Leaving Zadorov to bump down to LD3 and most likely skate with Andrew Peeke as RD3 on Boston's 3rd defense pair.

So, this offseason won't be prioritizing defense over offense, it'll just be prioritizing defense in addition to offense.

The team needs help in most areas.

Assuming the Bruins don't trade Jeremy Swayman before his trade protection kicks in (albeit highly unlikely), the Bruins netminder has much to prove next year.

And yes, it starts between the ears for him.

Many forget that it was Swayman who took the Bruins to arbitration in the summer of 2023, not the other way around, and that it was Swayman who took his negotiations with Boston public a month before management had a press conference meltdown for the hockey world to see.

No one is suggesting Swayman isn't a good guy and a hard working individual, but he would do well to learn a lesson in humility after last season.

He became a distraction to his team before the season even started whether he meant to be, or not.

An athlete in Boston simply can't go on a podcast and discuss on-going contract negations, and not expect it to become a story among fans, and local media.

He didn't think that one through.

How did he think his employer would feel about his private negotiation strategies being discussed publicly?

How did he think his teammates would feel about having to answer questions at training camp about their goalie’s contract status because of it while Swayman holds out?

He probably wasn't thinking, and that's the first problem.

Hopefully he learned a few lessons there, and yes, hopefully he brings as much tenacity this season as he did to his contract negotiations.

As far his play, he struggled the majority of the season and ended up with a troublesome 3.11 GAA, and .892 SV%.

Fortunately, he had strong IIHF World Championship, helping team USA win the Gold Medal for the first time in 92 years. He posted a record of 7-0, with a 1.69 GAA, and .921 SV% while earning a shutout in the gold medal game versus Switzerland.

The hope is that his international success can send him into the offseason with some confidence about his game as he prepares for a bounce back campaign in Boston.

And to the second question about the TD Garden cleaning their draft beer taps?

I sure as hell hope not.

There's something about them that just hits different, and I don't want that to ever be tinkered with.

Cleaning the draft beer taps could risk everything.

Aside from team, and retired player banners hanging in the rafters, the Jacob’s have recently stripped TD Garden of much character redesigning the arena to have all black seats, and all black walls instead of gold.

Draft beer taps need to stay. For character’s sake.

Charlie McAvoy sounds about right as the last time Bruins fans were genuinely excited about a prospect coming through the system.

Fabian Lysell had some buzz around him for a brief time as well.

The immediate season after he was drafted he had a promising campaign with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL where he led the team offensively with 22G, 40A, 62PTS, in 53GP.

Since then, however, it's been a different story.

Matt Poitras, and Mason Lohrei have certainly given fans cause for some excitement in recents years too, but that more so speaks to how poor the Bruins prospect pool has been over the last decade more so than anything.

As for addressing their forward positional needs.

It should, and very well may be a combination of UFA, offer sheets, and trades.

Boston will have to utilize just about every avenue in my opinion.

They can definitely sign at least one legit top-six UFA forward, but they also need a 2nd pair right shot defensemen as mentioned in a previous question and answer - free agency can be a method for that too.

That said, UFA cap allowance can dissolve quickly and be soaked up by just two players, maybe three max.

Which is why the Bruins would be wise to get creative with a strategic offer sheet or two, and or, a hockey trade, or two.

For more on some bold, outside the box moves that may be out there, see this article from earlier in the week.

The Bruins 3rd line could use a veteran presence since a potential youthful line such as Poitras, Fraser Minten, and Marat Khusnutdinov could be too young still.

Could see Mittelstadt pivoting Boston's 3rd line as a young veteran depending on if acquired personnel push him down the depth chart.

But overall, yes, for the most part, Boston should be able to fill out their bottom six internally now and going forward.

Yes, absolutely agree.

This is an adage that applies to life in general, not just hockey or sports fandom.

Ask yourself this question.

If in an instant you got everything you ever wanted in life.

Then what?

We always need something to chase.

Something worth working for, and accomplishing.

It's what gives us fulfillment, drive and purpose.

What happens when a team wins the Stanley Cup?

Do they pack it in the following year because they accomplished their previous goal?

Or do they set a new goal to try to repeat the very next season?

No matter what, there is no, or should be no ultimate destination.

But rather a never ending journey with various amounts of triumph and failure.

Fail at something? Go right back to work.

Accomplish something? Go right back to work.

If we only enjoy monumental achievements in life, then we're missing everything else worth celebrating, and learning from along they way.

Not to mention, failure is what makes eventual success all the sweeter.

So yes, there is something worth looking forward to with the Boston Bruins rebuild, retool, whatever it ends up being, because there's opportunity to witness progress, setbacks and everything in between en route to hopefully winning another Stanley Cup Championship some day.

And guess what?

If, and when they do win again - they'll be pressure and a goal to do it again.

Professional sports is cyclical.

Some teams spend more time winning, and losing then others, but it's a revolving door.

Right now the Bruins are in a set back.

You know what I say to that? Good!

They needed to take strides back before taking larger strides forward but it couldn't happen until ownership, and management were willing to do so.

Selling at last season's trade deadline was much needed for the Bruins, who after decades of competitive prominence finally paid the price.

They traded draft collateral for years to try and win, and they never did.

The result was barren draft boards, and an unimpressive prospect pool.

Because of that, the organization wasn't prepared to internally replace core players who aged out of the league.

The Bruins were going down a dead end street called Mediocrity Boulevard prior to the 2025 trade deadline.

But after selling some soon to be expiring assets for some much needed draft capital and a few prospects, it's as if Boston found a cul-de-sac to turn around at.

Now, they can start driving back in a positive direction. How long that road will be is to be determined. But at least there’s destination worth traveling for.

There is absolutely much to enjoy in a journey back to contender status however long it may be.

Look back at the Bruins from 2005-2011.

When Boston traded Joe Thornton, did anyone think they would be Stanley Cup Champions 5+ years later?

No shot.

But along the way there was progress, as well as many speed bumps.

Did anyone enjoy back-to-back 13th place finishes in the Eastern Conference in 2005-2006, and 2006-2007? No, not a surface value.

But looking into weeds a little more, how about witnessing the immediate impact, and culture shock of acquiring Zdeno Chara?

Yea that was promising.

Patrice Bergeron's continued development was encouraging.

Some squirrelly, out of position veteran goaltender named Tim Thomas? He turned out to be pretty important, huh? Didn't know that back then ...

Did people enjoy the Bruins playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in 2008 despite losing in Game 7? You bet. Because they saw promise and hope for the years to come after almost upsetting their arch rival, top seeded opponent.

Speaking of promise, and hope.

The very next season, did fans enjoy the Bruins finishing with the best record in the East in 2008-2009?

Sweeping the Canadiens in round one?

Yes, because it was a refreshing change.

Of course there was then the disappointment that followed of losing at home to the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime of Game 7 in round two.

After the joy of beating the Buffalo Sabres in an entertaining round one matchup in 2010, there was the heartbreak of blowing a 3-0 series, and Game 7 lead to the Philadelphia Flyers in round two.

But then, what happened the next year?

The high of a Game 7 overtime win at home against Montreal.

Sweep revenge on the Flyers in round two.

The euphoria of an Eastern Conference Final Game 7 win at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

One of the best played games.

The jubilation of winning the 2011 Stanley Cup Final after an all time hateful series against the Vancouver Canucks.

All followed by another decade of legendary moments, triumphs, and painful high stake failures including losing the Stanley Cup twice on Garden ice in 2013 to the Chicago Blackhawks, and 2019 to the St. Louis Blues.

But the 2013 loss to Chicago doesn't happen without the epic Game 7 3rd period comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Torey Krug exploding onto the scene against the New York Rangers, or sweeping Sidney Crosby and the heavily favored Pittsburgh Penguins.

The excruciating loss to the Blues in 2019 doesn’t happen before another Game 7 win on home ice versus Toronto, an underrated exciting series win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, or a quick sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes that gave the Bruins so much time off before then Stanley Cup Final that fans sold out the TD Garden just to watch their favorite team practice.

The embarrassing failure of blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Florida Panthers in 2023 after having 3rd period leads in both games 6, and 7 was so colossal because it came on the heels of a record breaking regular season, and the joys that brought prior to the postseason - which of course matters more.

Point is.

Professional sports, and fandom is about moments, not just championships.

Winning, or losing, the journey is everything.

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That wraps it up for this week.

Thank you to those who submitted questions, and to all of you for reading!