Marco Sturm finally had enough and sent a Bruins defenseman to the press box for a hard reset and some time to think about the mistakes he had made
The return of Hampus Lindholm from injury was going to be an interesting one when it happened for the Boston Bruins. Jordan Harris was playing well in his absence, and it was going to be hard for Marco Sturm to take the Massachusetts native out of the lineup when Lindholm did return. However, once Harris also suffered an injury, the easy move for head coach Marco Sturm was to swap Lindholm with Michael Callahan.
The Harris injury seemed like a blessing in disguise for Mason Lohrei. Last year's minus-leader was having another less-than-stellar defensive season, and fans were clamoring for him to spend a night in the press box. His place should've been secure, but Lohrei struggled so much in Monday night's loss to the Ottawa Senators that the Bruins called up Jonathan Aspirot from Providence to replace him.
There are no hidden meanings or ulterior motives for Lohrei spending Tuesday night's game against the New York Islanders in the press box. The young defenseman simply hasn't been good enough, and Sturm made that clear pre-game when he announced the move.
""We expect more from him, and sometimes we have to press that reset button. And it's not like we want to bury him, no, I want to help him, and that's part of the process. And again, you get some good things, but too many mistakes lately.""Marco Sturm
It's always interesting when a new coach comes into the fold and you start to see him find his own favorites and players who he doesn't see a fit in his system. With the hybrid defensive zone system Sturm is running, it isn't too surprising that Lohrei is struggling, and his comments seem like a coach who is sick of seeing his defenseman make the same mistakes.
Will Jonathan Aspirot stick around?
On the other hand, Aspirot is quickly emerging as a favorite for Sturm. He stuck around until the final days of training camp and is already getting his first NHL game, not even a month into the season. After coaching against Aspirot in the AHL's Pacific Division over the past few seasons, Sturm sees something he likes, and I think if he had it his way, Aspirot would be a full-time member of the lineup.
The reality is that it's simply not smart for the Bruins to keep sitting Lohrei and playing Aspirot. Lohrei needs the reps so that the front office can actually see if they have something, and there's no way he can learn Sturm's system without game action. In a season where the Bruins aren't likely to contend, Sturm has to just roll with the punches and keep Lohrei in the lineup. An occasional benching to reset isn't a bad move, it just can't become an every night occurence.
While this defense decision might be something that Sturm is going to dig his heels in on with the front office, it's likely that Don Sweeney and co. will get their own way with this one.
Cowboys Urged to Trade for Reunion With 1,000-Yard Rusher
When it comes to putting together potential trades for the Cowboys as the NFL deadline for deals approaches, it makes sense to add to what has been a terrible defense, a unit that ranks second-to-last in points allowed and yards allowed. The Cowboys need cornerback and safety help, they need linebacker help, they need pass-rush help and they need defensive line help. That’s pretty much every unit on the D covered.
But there is a chance that the Cowboys could add to their already potent offense, and instead of bringing in better personnel on defense, simply lean into their strength. The team lost RB2 Miles Sanders to knee and ankle injuries, and they’re in need of a change-of-pace guy behind Javonte Williams.
The Cowboys have had some nice change-of-pace options in the recent past, and while getting back Rico Dowdle is out of the question, they could trade to reunite with one of their better RB1/2s from recent years: Tony Pollard.
Cowboys Could Use a Backup RB
That’s the notion from the Dallas Morning News and writer Joseph Hoyt, who pegs Pollard as the last on his list of potential Cowboys trade targets for next Tuesday. While the list features the expected two linebackers and two edge rushers, it also features two running backs to replace Sanders.
One is Jets star Breece Hall, who could be available because he is a pending free agent on a rebuilding team. But Hall is good enough to likely require a significant outlay of draft assets, which the Cowboys would be unwilling to do for a backup runner. “This could be a rental with the hopes of a compensatory pick in the future. It would certainly help in the meantime, however,” Hoyt notes.
As things stand, the Cowboys’ top backup for Williams is rookie Jaydon Blue, who has struggled to make an impact this year. He has made just 22 carries for 65 yards in four games thus far.
Tony Pollard ‘Was Excellent in Dallas’
But as for Pollard, the Titans are going nowhere and need a major roster overhaul. Pollard bolted Dallas for a three-year, $21 million contract in Tennessee after first serving as a combo with Ezekiel Ellliott and then getting the starting job to himself. Pollard ran for 1,007 yards in 2022 and 1,005 yards in 2023 for Dallas.
“Tony Pollard was excellent in Dallas when he spelled Ezekiel Elliott. Could he do the same for Williams? Just a thought,” Hoyt wrote on Wednesday.
Pollard is on the books for next season at more than $9 million, but that’s not guaranteed, and he could be cut after this year with just $2 million in dead cap, per Spotrac.
