Marco Sturm Wants 'Special Things' From Young Bruins Players, But Is That Fair?
The Boston Bruins have been scrutinized for their development of young players under the Don Sweeney regime over the last ten years. Even Sweeney himself said that the Bruins have not done a great job with advancing young players, particularly at the forward position. But have the Bruins given their more talented youth a fair chance, and are the expectations too high?
Matt Poitras, Fraser Minten, and Fabian Lysell are considered the best of the prospects that the Bruins have in their organization. All three are vying for a spot on the opening night roster. There might only be one spot for the three of them.
Poitras has the most NHL experience. The center burst onto the scene as a 19-year-old and showed flashes of offensive ability. Since then, injuries and his slight frame have been factors in his playing in the AHL with the Providence Bruins for much of last season. Minten was acquired in the trade that sent Brandon Carlo to Toronto. The forward is a good prospect with upside. In limited time in the NHL, Minten has had good moments. But in this lineup, is there room for him? Lysell is a first round draft pick who has battled for time in the NHL. His defensive deficiencies prohibit him from having a stable spot in the lineup. Marco Sturm has had success in the past with younger players, but as has been the case with Boston, opportunities will not be handed out for nothing.
“I heard a quote and I said it to the team during my opening speech from the head coach from Philadelphia Eagles (Nick Siranni) when he won the championship, ‘Players have to do some special things’ either to win the Cup or to win games or the trophy. And I feel like it goes into that too. Those young guys have to do special things to make the team,”
Lysell in particular is an interesting case. He has tried to play the way the organization wants him to while still being able to play a creative offensive game. It has been a struggle to combine both. Sturm has talked with Lysell about the expectations.
“He sees himself as an offensive guy, but I want to see both sides of it,” Sturm said. “I want to see with the puck and without the puck, and in both areas, I think he can be better. There’s nothing new anymore. Everyone knows the system now. Everyone knows the drills. Everyone knows how I want to play. And now they just gotta show it.”
Minten has been good in camp and is pushing for a spot, but “special things” are expected. Is that too lofty a goal for young players? Do the current veterans do special things in games now? The Bruins are trying to add some youth to the lineup but seem to want near perfect performance. Is that fair? Is it hypocritical on a team that projects to be near the bottom of the NHL this season. It might be time to add some youth and see how it goes.
Cowboys’ Jalen Tolbert Sends Strong Message After ‘Hard Conversation’ With Brian Schottenheimer
The Dallas Cowboys are 1-2-1 with a wacky initial schedule to the season, with the latest 40-40 tie in overtime against the
Tolbert’s performance in an overtime win against the Packers. The third-year wide receiver had a 34-yard catch that set up a winning overtime field goal. By Next Gen Stats, the pass had a mere 7.2% chance of being completed, one of the lowest such probabilities since 2017.
”This is something you practice, you dream about, you think about all the time, you envision yourself making plays like that,” Tolbert said afterward. ”And so, when it comes, it’s easy for you to do it.”
With his life, Tolbert’s ascent is about more than one catch. “Opportunities will come, and I know what I’m going to do with the opportunities,”
In the Cowboys’ first three games collectively, he had a combined six receptions. Across from the Packers alone, he ended with four receptions for 61 yards, two of which made first downs. To him, his role is outside of receptions, whether he’s blocking, running routes that clear receivers, or even special teams, where he found a niche in 2023.
“I’m always needed in a sense,” Tolbert explained. “And like I said, that’s just whatever role I have that week for practice, that date, that game, that week, whatever it is, whatever that role is, I’m needed in some form or fashion.”
Tolbert’s consistent growth has been years in the making. A third-round selection in 2022, the South Alabama career leader got off to a slow start, getting used to the NFL’s speed. Tolbert began to show it off in 2023, and last season, he delivered with seven touchdown receptions, tops on the club.
With veteran receiver Brandin Cooks out of state, Tolbert set himself up for a potentially expanded role, one that might have him joining the Cowboys’ upper echelon of receiving threats.
Brian Schottenheimer on Jalen Tolbert
Tolbert has performed fantastically on the field, no doubt about it. But his route to getting there has not been free of hitches. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted that the receiver has survived enough abuse since reporting to the league.
Schotty opened up about Jalen Tolbert’s journey this season, praising the receiver for handling unexpected setbacks with resilience. “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that he’s been through a lot,”
The Cowboys sent a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick, immediately shaking up Tolbert’s role. Schottenheimer recalled a tough conversation after the move, noting,
The trade has already paid dividends for Dallas. In four games, Pickens has proven his worth, hauling in 21 catches on 33 targets for 300 yards and four touchdowns. He’s found the end zone against the
For Tolbert, however, the transaction wasn’t a reason to sulk but rather a motivator.
He explained how he worked through camp struggles, leaned into helping Pickens develop, and sharpened the finer details of his game instead of retreating.
That unselfish approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. Dak Prescott praised Tolbert’s leadership, saying, “There’s nobody out there helping George more than he is right now. And that is the best part to see as a quarterback. Understanding how challenging that was for him personally. And he’s out there helping [Pickens] in any moment and any time he needs it. And that’s why he’s going to reap the success. It’s just because he does it the right way.”
Schottenheimer echoed the sentiment, calling Tolbert’s commitment ‘special’. This is a proof that even in a changing depth chart, his value to the Cowboys runs deeper than just box scores.
