Keep or trade? Carlo and Grzelcyk edition

It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. I just learned to discover credit cards do something pretty awesome. At the end of your first year they automatically double all the cash back you've earned. That's right, everything you earned doubled. All the cash back from meeting at your favorite soup, dumpling restaurant, doubled. All the cash back from the trip where you sorta learned how to snowboard, also doubled. And the best part, you don't have to do anything ridiculous to get it. Nope, Discover does it automatically. Seriously though, see terms and check it out for yourself at discover.com slash match. It is a two for one Friday here on Lockdown Boston Bruins as we are breaking down both Matt and Grizzlyk and Brandon Carlos past seasons and looking at whether they will be part of the team moving forward. Let's talk about it on today's episode of Lockdown Boston Bruins. Your Lockdown Bruins, your daily podcast on the Boston Bruins, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. What is up Bruins fans and welcome back to the Lockdown Boston Bruins Podcast. I'm your host Ian McLaren and this is a daily show where we discuss all things spoke to be. I want to thank you so much for making Lockdown Bruins part of your day every single day. We are free and available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Today is Friday May 26th and this episode is brought to you by Bird Dogs. Go to birddogs.com slash locked on NHL and when you enter promo code locked on NHL, they'll throw in a free custom Bird Dogs Yeti style tumbler with every order. They used my Yeti tumbler Bird Dogs branded last night when I played softball and we won our first game of the season. So yay us. It is a Friday episode here and like I said off the top, we are talking about both Matt Grizzlyk and Brandon Carlo on today's episode continuing our series of seasons in review. Before we get into that, a quick reminder, you can find the podcast on LinkedIn and LinkedIn. Man, I got my day job on my mind. You can find it on Twitter and Instagram at locked NHL Bruins and you can find me, my dad jokes and hockey tweets at Ian C. McLaren. Those of you watching on YouTube can see by our fancy new graphics that we're going to begin today by looking at Matt Grizzlyk. Our boy appeared in 75 games this season, four goals, 22 assists for 26 points, which was a new career high for Matt Grizzlyk. Now I should say I'm talking about these two specifically because apart from Tampa Slintome and Brandon Carlo, it's the de facto second pair or your other top four defensemen. While Grizzlyk played mostly with McAvoy and Lindholm played mostly with Carlo, these two guys did have some time together as well. In fact, 18.4% of Grizzlyk's ice time was spent played with Brandon Carlo, just to shade more than with Connor Clifton, 50.6% of his ice time was spent with Charlie McAvoy. But other than McAvoy, he had some success with Brandon Carlo this season, 16 goals four while they were on the ice, 15 goals against for a goal differential of plus 11 when they were together. Grizzlyk was a plus 45 if you care about that stat, which was among the league leaders, perhaps even highest in the league. His 26 points were a career high, although well down from his career high in terms of points per game average, which was set in 2021, he appeared in only 37 games, but 20 points for a 0.54 point per game average, duped me into keeping him on my fantasy team and was playing at a 44 point pace over a full 82 games. You know, as a potential Tory Crueg replaced, that's what we all thought at least anyways. He had 20, sorry, two minutes and 44 seconds of ice time on the power play per game that season, only 26 seconds on the power play. So it's pretty impressive that he had a career high in points, despite getting really next to no power play time for the Bruins this season. So again, 0.35 points per game, but 26 total points, which was a career high. Now when it comes to Magrizlic, we can't not talk about being scratched for three games during the playoffs and a big knock that a lot of people, a lot of people who listen to this podcast have on grislic is that he's not built for the playoffs. And in fact, he was scratched for three games of the postseason, zero points in the four games that he did play and he was a minus one with only six shots on goal. Now, I for one would not have scratched Magrizlic from the playoffs. Despite the fact he didn't get any points, I think he was much more effective than both Connor Clifton and Derek for board for board out there for his penalty killing prowess, but the Bruins were still killing a bunch of penalties without him down the stretch. So I think that was a mistake scratching Magrizlic despite the fact he didn't have any points in the postseason. He played mostly with Charlie McAvoy when he was on the ice, they had an even goal differential, one goal for one goal against when they were on the ice, a negative shot differential and a negative shot attempt differential as well. I mean, let's be honest, a lot of people struggled for the Bruins in the playoffs. Magrizlic wasn't immune to that, but I think he gave the Bruins a better chance to win than when Derek for board was in the lineup. Overall, a pretty good season for Magrizlic. Again, not quite as prolific offensively as we thought he might be, despite having career highs in points, his point per game average was second highest of his career. Well down from what he showed in 2020-21, but again with much less power play time as well. Only 26 seconds of power play time on average the season, which was down from 2-44 a couple of years ago. And that just goes to show you the options that they had on the power play. How deep this team was and it really did affect his average production while still generating the highest total points of his career, which is a testament to what he's able to accomplish at 5 on 5 as a member of the Boston Bruins. He had positive goal differentials with everybody that he played with, no negative goal differential when he was on the ice plus 25 with McAvoy plus 11 with Carlo plus 2 when he played with Hammers Lindholm plus 2 when he played with Connor Karak even a plus 1 when he played with Anton Strahlman. For him, positive shot differentials and positive shot attempt differentials with the guys that he played with the most save for Connor Clifton. They were a minus when it comes to shot attempt differential and shot differential showing you that he belongs more with either Charlie McAvoy or Brandon Carlo in the top 4. We're going to talk about Brandon Carlo here in a moment. But first, a quick word about one of today's sponsors, which I mentioned off the top, are friends at Bird Dogs. Now I was sent a pair of two pairs of Bird Dog shorts a couple weeks ago and I cannot get enough of them. They are the perfect fit you enter in, your size, your length, all of it and their stretchy fabric. I mean I don't want to brag but they make my legs look great and they're comfier than my other shorts and pants by far. They also give me the freedom to wear when I'm playing softball or even going on a date night to a meeting, hanging out with friends. They're the perfect pants for dads because they have a little breathing room for those of us carrying around an extra gut. They make me look great and feel comfortable. Go to birddogs.com slash locked on NHL and when you enter promo code locked on NHL, they'll throw in a free custom Bird Dogs Yeti style tumbler with every order. I don't have mine on me but my son's using it, making him feel a little special like he's got a little, a special drink in there, it's just water. But again, go to birddogs.com, lock down NHL, enter promo code locked on NHL, pick your perfect fit and they'll throw in a free custom Bird Dogs Yeti style tumbler with every order. Hey there, locked on listener Erica L. Ayala from Locked on Crack in Here and I just learned discover credit cards do something pretty awesome. At the end of your first year, they automatically double all the cash back you've earned. That's right, everything you've earned doubled. All of the cash back from eating at your favorite soup dumpling restaurant doubled. All the cash back from that trip where you sort of learned to snowboard also doubled. And the best part, you don't have to do anything ridiculous to get it. Nope, discover does it automatically. Seriously though, see terms and check it out for yourself at discover.com backslash match. Thank you so much again for making Locked on Boston Bruins part of your day every single day, every dayers can expect continued off season coverage. We're going to look at the fourth line on Monday next week as well. We're going to take a look at Derek for board Connor Clifton, Jeremy Swamin, some fringe players prospects and trade deadline acquisitions all looking at the year in review for the Boston Bruins one of course, which ended in disappointing fashion. Let's talk about Brandon Carlo, shall we? He had 16 points this season, three goals, 13 assists for 16 points in 75 games. That 75 games very encouraging seeing as he is oft injured, a 0.21 point per game average, 15 point pace, which was the second highest of his career. He had 23 points back in 2019, 2020, 0.28 points per game that season, four goals, 15 assists in 67 games, which were career highs for him. He only had 94 shots this season, which was one of the lower shot per game averages of his career, 128 hits getting very involved physically, obviously no time on the penalty kill and he had 116 blocks, which was a career high for Brandon Carlo. Here Jim Montgomery, we know that he wanted defenseman to get more active. We saw that at times from Brandon Carlo, where he was taking the puck towards the net or being the man left open for that extra pass. Pretty good overall season for Brandon Carlo, who played the majority of his shifts with Tampa's Lindholm, they were a plus 21 when it came to goal differential this season. They were a positive shot pairing as well, 53.7% of shot attempts when they were on the ice, when in Boston's favor, also a positive mark when it came to shot attempts as well. Of course, he average. I mentioned Carlo and Grizzly played together at times. Also a positive result there. He did play with Derek forebort as well, 100 minutes of ice time forebort and Carlo. They were a positive when it comes to goal differential shots and shot attempts, not so much. 37% of the shots taken with that pairing on the ice were in Boston's favor. Let's not do that again, shall we? He did play a bit with Dimitri Orlov that had some success. I wouldn't expect that to carry on seeing as Orlov likely won't be with the Boston Bruins next season. In the playoffs, he played all seven games, four assists for a 0.57 point per game average. That is well above his career production. Again, highest point per game average in the regular season has been 0.28. In the playoffs, he was on a 47 point pace over a full 82 games, which probably unsustainable, but still, he had only had two points total. In the playoffs, over the past three seasons, he had four points back in 2019 when they went to the Cup final. He matched his single season career high in points in only seven playoff games, which is pretty remarkable for Brandon Carlo. Brandon Carlo also emerged as a leader on this team. There was one thing he said that was very interesting in the end of season media availability about improving his game. He said the mental side of things is where he improved the most. It's a conversation that's out there now with mental health and whatnot. There were times where I was pretty anxious for games and I wanted to change that. I don't know if that's due to his concussion history and being a bit hesitant out there, but he added, quote, I knew just being as confident as I could would lead to putting in the work. I feel like for me, just taking steps mentally was a big part of that this year for sure. You can see that renewed confidence and becoming more of a leader on this team. If Bergeron and Craychee are not back, he will be called upon to be even more of a leader, that is if he's still with the team. There's always the possibility that he could be traded. But he said, having watched Patrice Bergeron, David Craychee do their thing, having seen Zadino Chara here in the past, he said, quote, it's important to recognize our responsibility to carry on the values and the things that they brought to this organization and continue to make them lie within this room, take care of those things that they've built into this culture and continue to work towards the goal that we've all been striving for, end quote. And when it comes to whether or not Matt Grizzly or Brandon Carlo will be on the team moving forward, probably more likely that it will be Brandon Carlo. But we're going to talk about that here in a moment, keep her trade, Carlo or Grizzly Blake. First, a quick word about today's other sponsor, our friends over at FanDuel. FanDuel is the best sports book out there and they're making it fun to bet on the NBA playoffs and the NHL playoffs. Right now, new customers can get a no sweat first bet of up to $1,000. That's $1,000 back in bonus bets if your first bet doesn't win. There's no better place to bet all playoff action than America's number one sports book. Just visit fanduel.com slash locked on to get the no sweat first bet of up to $1,000. That's fanduel.com slash locked on fanduel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Go over there to put some action on the Celtics. We're still alive. Thank goodness. And Western Conference finals in the NHL Stanley Cup finals coming up next week. For the first time in team history, the Denver Nuggets are headed to the NBA finals. This has to be just like the most satisfying, validating playoff run that we could have imagined up until now for fans of this team. The Florida Panthers are headed to the Stanley Cup final thanks to yet another game winner from Matthew Kuchuck, and Los Angeles Lakers fans are strapping in for a roller coaster ride of an offseason. For more on all these stories, check out new episodes of locked on Nuggets locked on Panthers and locked on Lakers all free and available wherever you get podcasts. Alright let's discuss whether Brandon Carlo and or Magrzik will be with the team moving forward. Now Brandon Carlo has more term on his contract for seasons left with 4.1 million going against the cap. He's only 26 years old, so for a guy who handles pretty heavy minutes for the Bruins, top 4 mainstay, not bad value there. You have McAvoy making the most 9.5, Hambers Lindholm 6.5, and Brandon Carlo 4 more seasons at 4.1 million dollars. He also has some no trade protection, 10 team no trade list for the next 2 seasons, an 8 team no trade list in 2526, and a 3 team no trade list in 2627. So for the next 2 seasons, a 10 team no trade list. It still opens up some possibilities, but he has that no trade protection or some anyways. Magrzik on the other hand, 1 season remaining, 3.6875 million, 3 years older, 29. He will turn 30, when's his 30th birthday coming up. Not till January, so he'll turn 30 this coming season. And 1 season left on his current deal with no trade protection. So he's a pretty big candidate to be moved this off season. Personally, I'd rather try to get rid of Derek Forbort, who also has 1 year remaining, 3 million dollars. He has some no trade protection, we'll talk about him more next week. But you know, if it came down to who should go, who should stay, I'm pretty comfortable with this top 4 that the Bruins have in McAvoy, Linton, Carlo Grislick. You'd want to move either Derek Forbort, certainly Mike Riley, if possible. And the questions about whether Connor Clifton will come back, he's a UFA, Demetri or Love, likely won't be coming back either. If you have that top 4, Jakob's Boral can move in. He's got 1 year remaining on his deal. He's 26, 1.137. You gotta see what you have in him. But the reality is, Magrizlic could be traded, seeing as he has that 1 year left. It's a pretty reasonable deal. He's a very efficient puck moving defenseman. Productive 5 on 5, we know that he's able to chip in on the power play. He's played big minutes on the power play in the past. So if they're looking to cut salary, they're not able to move Mike Riley, then Magrizlic becomes a very real candidate. Now, Brandon Carlo isn't immune either. There could be teams that come calling for a still fairly young guy who can carry big minutes. His term might scare some teams off. His concussion history might scare some teams off. Personally, I would keep Magrizlic. I'm not married to Brandon Carlo. I know he's taken on a bigger role when it comes to leadership on this team. He's very limited offensively. Gets caught. You know, he's a big body. You can get caught by some speedier players out there on the opposition. If you can package him for something of significance, then I'm not opposed to making that move. I'd be much more reluctant to trade Magrizlic, although of course, you don't want to lose him for nothing next summer either. So big decisions ahead for Don Sweeney with respect to his defense corps. I mean, they do have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven guys signed, including Mike Riley, Jakob's Boral, four board. But they also have some guys who might be able to make the jump next season in Mason Laura. I probably could use some time in Providence before jumping up. Jack Ashan, I should mention, is a unrestricted group six free agent. Unrestricted free agent because he did not get enough games prior to turning 26. So he's an unrestricted free agent. I still like him to get a contract. Connor Kerrick, Anton Strahm, and also unrestricted free agents. All that to say. I love Magrizlic. I don't want him traded. Brandon Carlo. You know, I respect his leadership qualities that has become somewhat of a core member for the Bruins, but I would not be shedding any tears if he were to be traded, just to be honest. All right. That's it for today's episode of Lockdown Boston Bruins. Thank you so much, my friends, for tuning in. Thank you for the ongoing support. I know it's not easy to talk about the Bruins as we get closer to the Stanley Cup final. And again, just continuing to lament an opportunity, missed here for the Bruins, but those who continue to watch, listen, really do appreciate the support. And we press on here on Lockdown Boston Bruins, your favorite team every single day, part of the Lockdown podcast network. Take care of yourselves, friends. Take care of each other and have a great weekend. We'll talk to you again here on Monday. Do you want to talk to you again? Do you want to talk to us? For the first time in team history, the Denver Nuggets are headed to the NBA Finals. This has to be just like the most satisfying, validating playoff run that we could have imagined up until now for fans of this team. The Florida Panthers are headed to the Stanley Cup final thanks to yet another game winner from Matthew Kachuk, and Los Angeles Lakers fans are strapping in for a roller coaster ride of an offseason. For more on all these stories, check out new episodes of Lockdown Nuggets locked on Panthers and locked on Lakers all free and available wherever you get podcasts. Hey, Celtics fans, I'm John Corral, host of the Lockdown Celtics Podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team, every day. And I'm bringing you everything you need to know about the Celtics. No hype, no hot takes, just hoops from a former professional basketball player that covers the team every single day. So download this 30 minute daily podcast on every app wherever you get your podcast. Search Lockdown Celtics to get your daily Celtics fix here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team, every day.