Conor goes solo for a mailbag episode of Poke The Bear, tackling the questions Bruins fans are most fired up about heading into training camp. Why has free agency been so quiet across the league, and what does that mean for Boston's ability to add pieces? Pavel Zacha's extension status is the biggest storyline — Conor breaks down the contract math, what a fair deal looks like, and whether the Bruins should get ahead of a rising market or let it play out. Mason Lohrei's long-term future comes up next — a talented young defenseman stuck in a complicated roster situation. Then it's Matt Poitras: what's the holdup on his deal, and is he ready to take on a bigger role? Conor closes with Fraser Minten's realistic ceiling and what the fourth line could look like when camp opens. 0:00 – Intro 1:09 – State of the Bruins: waiting for camp to heat up 3:43 – Mailbag begins: why is free agency so quiet league-wide? 7:51 – Pavel Zacha extension: should Boston get ahead of it? 10:49 – Mason Lohrei's future & the patience question 12:55 – PrizePicks 14:14 – Trade candidates 17:40 – When does a Zacha extension announcement happen? 21:21 – Mailbag: Matt Poitras contract holdup explained 25:29 – Fraser Minten's role & fourth line outlook 26:02 – Outro Bruins on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 PrizePicks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in Lineups if you win your first $5 Lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Poke The Bear, Conor and Ty discuss Brad Marchand's injury woes, and debate where the Bruins stack up in the Atlantic Division. 0:00 – Intro 2:49 – Brad Marchand in Florida: the weird conundrum for Bruins fans 5:29 – Bruins cap situation & the dangers of bad long-term contracts 8:27 – Don Sweeney's trade record: hits, misses & what could have been 14:31 – What if the Bruins had developed Marchand differently? 17:19 – PrizePicks 18:36 – Atlantic Division tier breakdown begins 20:06 – Ottawa, Montreal & the Gavin McKenna factor 22:25 – Buffalo Sabres evaluation 26:11 – Goaltending across the division 28:42 – Montreal: better than their record suggests? 33:34 – Tampa Bay Lightning: still dangerous? 36:39 – Florida Panthers: injuries & concerns 41:27 – Where do the Bruins fit? Final verdict 43:23 – Outro Bruins on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 PrizePicks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in Lineups if you win your first $5 Lineup! Simplify your style with Jack Archer Apparel for Men Visit http://jackarcher.com/attack for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Poke The Bear, Conor and Evan run through both the best and worst case scenarios for the Bruins in 2026-27.  0:00 - Coming up! 1:07 - Welcome in! 5:06 - What is the best & worst case scenario for the 2026-27 Bruins? 7:50 - What is the worst case scenario for the 2026-27 Bruins? 19:10 - Prizepicks 20:43 - What is the best case scenario for the 2026-27 Bruins? 31:44 - Wrapping up! Poke The Bear on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 PrizePicks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in Lineups if you win your first $5 Lineup! Poke The Bear on CLNS Media is Power by Jack Archer: Visit jackarcher.com/attack for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Poke The Bear, Conor and Ty dig into one of the most important questions heading into the Bruins' season — which players are set up to take a step forward, and which ones might be due for a reality check? They run through the regression candidates on Boston's roster, the veterans who may have had career-best seasons that are tough to replicate, and why that matters for a team still trying to figure out its identity post-rebuild. On the flip side, they make the case for a handful of breakout candidates — younger players with something to prove and the opportunity to finally get consistent minutes. Whether you're optimistic or skeptical about where this Bruins team is headed, this episode gives you a realistic lens to evaluate the roster before puck drop. Who goes up, who comes down, and what does it mean for Boston's season? 0:00 – Intro 7:39 – State of the Bruins roster heading into next season 8:24 – Regression candidates: Elias Lindholm breakdown 14:46 – Regression candidates: Hampus Lindholm 19:11 – Defensive pairings & domino effect of Lindholm struggles 24:03 – PrizePicks 25:41 – Breakout candidates: Fraser Minten 28:56 – Breakout candidates: Matt Poitras & the young forward group 34:18 – European players & the culture-building advantage 37:37 – Outro Bruins on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 PrizePicks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in Lineups if you win your first $5 Lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Poke The Bear, Conor Ryan and Evan Marinofsky run through Boston's potential free agent and PTO options at this stage of the season, and explain why right now it doesn’t make sense for the Bruins to pursue any of these veteran free agents & shut down the idea of even pursuing a guy like Vladimir Tarasenko. They also discuss whether or not some of the team's depth forwards can take a step forward this year and who is the most intriguing player of the group of Alex Steeves, Lukas Reichel and Michael Eyssimont. They wrap things up by taking a look at the Providence Bruins and discuss what under the radar players in Providence could potentially get some minutes for the Boston Bruins this upcoming season. 0:00 - Coming up on show! 0:50 - Welcome 2:46 - Should Bruins pursue veteran free agents? 12:59 - Prizepicks 14:40 - Who are you most intrigued by Alex Steeves, Lukas Reichel or Michael Eyssimont? 15:27 - Alex Steeves 17:25 - Lukas Reichel 19:11 - Who will be first one Sturm turns to of Steeves, Reichel & Eyssimont? 20:57 - Subscribe to the podcast! 23:18 - Which Providence Bruins player will make jump to Bruins? 26:40 - Wrapping up! Poke The Bear on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 Prize Picks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in lineups when you win your first $5 lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Poke The Bear, Conor and Ty run through the NHL hopes of Frederic Brunet and Matt Poitras — and look at Marat Khusnutdinov's upside in his second full season in the NHL. 0:00 – Intro 6:53 – Bruins offseason state of play 8:24 – Matt Poitras unsigned & Frederic Brunet's roster spot 13:57 – PrizePicks 15:24 – Linus Ullmark trade talk & cap situation 19:37 – Cleaning house: the case for moving on from certain players 22:36 – Prospect depth & the young forward group 29:52 – Line combinations and role projections 32:01 – Outro / where to find Ty's work Bruins on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 PrizePicks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in Lineups if you win your first $5 Lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Poke The Bear, Conor and Evan run through their early predictions of what the Bruins' lineup will be to open the 2026-27 season.  0:00 - Welcome in 3:22 - Projecting the Bruins Lineup for this season 4:18 - Bruins 1st Line 7:51 - Bruins 2nd Line 10:14 - Looking at the projected Top 6 15:32 - Prizepicks 16:33 - Should James Hagens start on 3rd line? 20:04 - Bruins 3rd Line 23:09 - Bruins 4th Line 25:47 - Subscribe to the podcast! 26:35 - Bruins 1st Defensive Pairing 29:30 - Bruins 2nd Defensive Pairing 32:08 - Bruins 3rd Defensive Pairing 35:50 - Goalies 35:58 - Wrapping up! Poke The Bear on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 Prize Picks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in lineups when you win your first $5 lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this episode of Poke The Bear, Conor answers some of your mailbag questions about Don Sweeney, the Bruins' schedule, and Fraser Minten's next contract.  0:00 - Welcome in! 3:13 - What’s Don Sweeney’s plan for the future of the Bruins? 12:18 - Will Bruins trade Mason Loheri or Henri Jokiharju? 16:59 - Prizepicks 18:13 - Looking at potential extensions for Fraser Minten & Marat Khusnutdinov 23:52 - Subscribe to the podcast! 24:19 - Looking at Bruins schedule this upcoming season 28:59 - Wrapping up! Poke The Bear on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 Prize Picks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 instantly in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Poke The Bear, Conor answers some of your mailbag questions about Pavel Zacha, Boston's best contracts, and much more! Poke the Bear on CLNS is Powered by:  💰 Prize Picks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Poke the Bear, Evan Marinofsky fills in for Conor Ryan and chats with Ty Anderson about all the latest Bruins moves and what might still be to come. 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Traveling Stories & Summer Check-In 2:35 - Bruins Offseason Moves Breakdown 9:39 - Too Many Defensemen — Who Gets Moved? 15:35 - PrizePicks 16:51 - Fraser Minten Extension Talk 22:43 - The Zacha Question 28:13 - Where Do the Bruins Stand as Contenders? 29:29 - Breaking Down the Atlantic Division Race 41:01 - Closing Thoughts Bruins on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 Prize Picks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 instantly in lineups when you play your first $5! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices