Daily Bean: Mariners Down 2-0, Hurricanes Sweep Flyers, Team Linked to Bruce Cassidy

Daily Bean: Mariners Down 2-0, Hurricanes Sweep Flyers, Team Linked to Bruce Cassidy

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Boston Bruins most certainly have decisions to make this summer, and though they might have the pieces in-house, just not ready, they might have to explore for an immediate fix.

Cam Neely said that the Bruins do not have a 1C. That will not come through free agency. It’s not 2006. The Bruins, if they want to address that vacancy, will have to find a trade partner.

The Bruins also burned the first year of their top prospect’s entry-level deal, but they will see him play as a member of Team USA’s men’s national team as he competes in the IIHF World Championships. Maybe the five games were not worth the year lost, but he cannot be hit with an offer sheet when he’s due for his first re-up.

The Bruins’ ECHL affiliate is the only team in the organization still in the playoffs, but they find themselves in a hole after a three-goal loss last night.

Elsewhere around the league, the Hurricanes completed the sweep. They have not lost in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and for the third time in the last four years, they are in the Eastern Conference Final. The Canes will also have some time to rest, as the other Eastern Conference series cannot end until Thursday at the earliest.

The Flyers made some lineup changes ahead of the game, and now that they lost, conversations will surely come up this summer about their seventh-overall pick.

And a former Bruins coach might be landing another gig all the way on the other side of the country, though close to his last one.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Catch up on Bruins and league news in today’s Daily Bean:

Boston Bruins

SPEED AND SKILL: The Bruins want speed and skill. They are not finding it in free agency. It will require a trade – and a steep one. Bona fide number one centers are not cheap, and they are not readily available.

Though the Bruins have two in-house candidates to become the 1C, they cannot bank on them being ready for that role next season.

HAGENS WORLDS: James Hagens is absolutely one of those candidates to become the Bruins’ 1C in the future. It will not happen overnight. But he is going to the IIHF World Championships, making his debut for Team USA’s men’s national team. Marco Sturm, Don Sweeney, and Cam Neely all had positive things to say about his development, and all praised the World Championships as a solid next step.

Prospects Update

MAINE: The Maine Mariners are in a small hole – they are down 2-0 to the Wheeling Nailers in Round 2 of the Kelly Cup playoffs. After a 4-1 loss last night, the Mariners are returning home looking to extend their season.

Today is a travel day. Tomorrow, Tuesday, and Wednesday* are game days.

Game 1: at Wheeling – WHL wins 4-3 (OT)
Game 2: at Wheeling – WHL wins 4-1
Game 3: at Maine – Monday, May 11, 7:00 PM
Game 4: at Maine – Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 PM
Game 5***: at Maine – Wednesday, May 13, 7:00 PM
Game 6***: at Wheeling – Saturday, May 16, 7:10 PM
Game 7***: at Wheeling – Monday, May 18, 7:10 PM

*if necessary

NHL News & National Hockey Now

Carolina Hockey Now: Sweep! The Carolina Hurricanes are on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals after an overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers last night. For the first time all series, the Hurricanes did not score in the first period. It did not matter.

Video (video via YouTube): Here is Jackson Blake’s series-winning goal.

The Hurricanes are 8-0 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they are the first team to do that since the Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier Oilers in 1987.

Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers jumped to the lead, thanks to Tyson Foerster, and Alex Bump tied the game early in the third period, but the Flyers could not save their season last night. They only finished with 17 shots. Will James has more on the season-ending loss.

Philly Hockey Now: Double-dipping in Philadelphia! Ahead of the game, the Flyers made some lineup changes. Oliver Bonk and Jett Luchanko each made their playoff debuts, taking the places of Emil Andrae and Matvei Michkov.

What a way to stir up conversation going into the offseason.

Colorado Hockey Now: For the first time this playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche have lost a game. All four goaltenders have seen the ice this series; the Avalanche pulled Scott Wedgewood for MacKenzie Blackwood. Aarif Deen has 10 takeaways from last night’s game.

Jared Bednar never committed to a starter and a backup; it is undetermined who he will start on Monday.

PLAYOFFS:

A1 – Sabres (1) vs. A3 – Canadiens (1)
M1 – Hurricanes (4) vs. M3 – Flyers (0)
C1 – Avalanche (2) vs. C3 – Wild (1)
P1 – Golden Knights (2) vs. P3 – Ducks (1)

Dennis Bernstein via 𝕏: Bruce Cassidy, remember him? He could be staying in the Pacific Division. David Pagnotta reported the LA Kings’ interest on The Hot Stove on Sirius XM.