That’s Gross

On Episode 44 of That’s Gross, we dive deeper into the Bruins’ bigger picture after the deadline and why this season feels like they’re playing with house money. We talk about how Boston has outperformed expectations, why standing pat made sense, and what this team still needs most: high-end impact talent, not just more depth.

We also get into James Hagens, what Mike/JB saw live at BC, why his skill and maturity stand out, and how he could fit into the Bruins’ future. From there, we talk Lukas Reichel and what the new addition could bring to this group, plus why injecting more youth and skill into the lineup could matter down the stretch.

We also hit on college hockey, the current wave of young talent jumping to the NHL, and our new College F*in’ Hockey** merch drop. Plus, Mike tells the story of randomly running into Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff at Boston College and the cool conversation they had about scouting, drafting, and team building.

A lot of Bruins talk, some college hockey love, and a really fun behind-the-scenes hockey moment in this one.

On Episode 43 of That’s Gross, we take a deep dive into James Hagens’ game and what his future could realistically look like within the Bruins organization.

Hagens is one of the most intriguing young players in hockey right now — a high-skill playmaker with a relentless motor and a feisty edge. One of the most noticeable traits in his game is how he never seems to stare down the puck — his head is always up, surveying the ice and processing the next play before the puck even gets to him.

We discuss how that style could translate to the pro level and bring up a Charlie McAvoy comparison — when McAvoy left Boston University, played one pro game, then jumped straight into the Bruins lineup for their playoff push and Round 1 vs Ottawa. Could Hagens follow a similar path?

We also talk about the reality young, undersized centers face in the NHL. Matt Poitras is a recent example — highly skilled but forced to keep his head on a swivel to avoid devastating hits and injuries. JB makes the point that Hagens’ quick puck distribution style, as opposed to Poitras’ possession-heavy game, may actually help him avoid some of that danger.

From there we transition into the Bruins’ trade deadline strategy.

Boston didn’t make a splash, but we break down why the moves — and the moves they didn’t make — may have been intentional. The Bruins essentially treated their own UFAs and internal options as their deadline acquisitions, alongside smaller moves like adding Lukas Reichel.

We discuss:

Why Andrew Peeke wasn’t moved

What Don Sweeney’s long-term strategy might be

How last year’s asset-gathering step back quietly positioned the organization well moving forward

We also get into some lineup ideas we’d like to see down the stretch, including:

Fraser Minten getting regular reps with David Pastrnak and Marat Khusnutdinov

The continued emergence of Pavel Zacha, also known as “Somewhat Scared Sasha Barkov”

Then we zoom out and talk about future Bruins possibilities.

Names like Robert (Bob) Thomas come up, and we float an intriguing Don Sweeney-style reclamation project idea: Elias Pettersson. The Bruins have historically found success bringing in talented players who struggled in other environments.

We also talk about the importance of not burning assets too early, especially when you consider the unpredictable nature of the league and the possibility of major players becoming available down the road — names like Auston Matthews or Brady Tkachuk.

The ultimate goal?

Later in the episode we talk about one of the most powerful moments in hockey this week:

We wrap things up talking about:

The Tkachuk brothers’ podcast

Stories from Brady and Matthew about the Olympics

Biz’s appearance

A quick Play Free Bird / Gross Hockey apparel teaser

…and send it off.

USA Hockey is back on top.

One week removed and we’re still not over it — a gold medal overtime thriller against Canada, 41 saves from Connor Hellebuyck, and a performance that felt less like a miracle… and more like dominance.

We break down:

The OT winner and key turning points

Hellebuyck’s legacy performance (.976 in the final)

Quinn Hughes vs Cale Makar — who are you taking?

McAvoy, structure, and why the U.S. defended the middle so well

The postgame celebrations and “more beers” moment

Then we shift to reality.

The Bruins are entering the stretch run toward the playoffs with major deadline questions looming:

Do they need a true 1C to contend?

Is a top-4 RHD the missing piece?

Will they play it safe — or swing big?

What we would do vs what they’ll likely do

And we close with something bigger.

Gross Hockey is growing. The USA drop, the Helly designs, the Jack cracked smile line — it’s turning into something real. Premium hoodies. Quality hats. Designs built for hockey fans who live this sport.

If you’ve supported already — thank you. If you haven’t — now’s the time.

Play Free Bird.

The boys are back and we recorded this one before the chaos.

We break down Team USA’s first three games of the Olympic men’s tournament and what needed to change heading into a do-or-die matchup against Sweden — which ended up going to OT in absolute movie fashion.

We talk:

– The strengths and identity of Team USA 🇺🇸

This episode was recorded before the playoff games kicked off — so if you’re listening after the OT win, enjoy the tension knowing what was coming.

Big stage. No excuses.

Big things coming.

Live from a cabin on a frozen lake in New Hampshire… this one hits different.

For the first-ever in-person episode of That’s Gross, we escaped the rat race, laced up on the ODR, and handled some official Gross Hockey business — packing and shipping merch while talking puck with the boys.

Mike, JB, and Watts are joined by good friends Mize (aka The Billboard) and Dan-O for a wide-ranging episode covering:

The recent surge from the Boston Bruins and what they might do at the trade deadline

Young talent including Poitras, Minten, and Lohrei

Team USA’s outlook for the Milan Olympics 

A football crossover with a deep dive preview of Super Bowl 60 and the state of the New England Patriots

This episode is about more than hockey — it’s about getting away from the noise, building something real with your friends, and watching things trend up.

Huge thank you to everyone who supports the show, the merch, and the mission. This is just the beginning. More to come.

Gross to the moon 🚀

From pond skates to playoff races to Super Bowl dreams — this one’s for the love of the game. Thanks for riding with us.

On Episode 39 of That’s Gross Hockey, we take a long-lens look at the Boston Bruins, the chaos around the league, and where hockey — and Gross Hockey — are headed next.

We start in Boston, breaking down Morgan Geekie’s recent struggles and why shooting percentage regression was inevitable. Slumps happen — the real conversation is about habits, simplicity, and how players respond when things aren’t clicking. With the Olympic break approaching, we talk about why a reset might be exactly what he (and others) need.

From there, we zoom out on the Bruins as a whole. This isn’t a perfect team — but it is a well-run organization. We discuss asset management, low-risk/high-reward pickups, and why Boston is positioned to get back to winning faster than most, even if this season isn’t the finish line. We also look ahead at potential playoff matchups and why, in a league full of parity, anything can happen if you get in.

Around the league, we touch on the latest drama, distractions, and media frenzies — from Ottawa-style chaos to how rumors and noise can derail teams faster than bad hockey ever could.

We wrap the hockey talk with Leafs vs Avs, star power, and perspective — including why the Auston Matthews discourse has gone off the rails, what Toronto’s real playoff problem has been, and why Colorado looks every bit like a wagon.

To close, we shift into Gross Hockey mode: Olympics momentum, upcoming merch drops, expanding the Free Bird/USA identity, a potential Canada theme, content strategy moving forward, and how we’re focused on building a real hockey community — not just chasing numbers.

As always, thank you for listening, supporting, and helping build this thing with us.

On this episode of That’s Gross, we unpack the Bruins’ recent struggles—what’s actually going wrong, what’s noise, and what the rest of the season could realistically look like. We get into lineup usage, accountability, and why certain young players are starting to get more rope, including Fraser Minten and other youth in the organization earning extended looks.

We also touch on the World Juniors, Bruins prospects to keep an eye on, and how those development paths matter more than ever right now. To close it out, we zoom out and talk personal goals heading into 2026, the direction of Gross Hockey, and why the movement is just getting started.

Huge things coming in 2026. Appreciate everyone who’s been listening, supporting, and riding with us.

Episode 37 of That’s Gross Hockey starts loose and ends honest.

We open by shooting the shit and drifting into the future of cars and transportation—self-driving cars, trust issues, and whether technology is actually making life easier or just more complicated.

Then it’s back to hockey, and specifically the Bruins, who’ve hit a rough patch at a bad time. Losses to Ottawa and Vancouver, slipping in the standings, and a league where everyone is hovering around the same win percentage means there’s no margin for error. When David Pastrnak calls a December game against Montreal the biggest game of the year, it says a lot about where this team thinks it is.

We dig into what’s actually going wrong: a struggling penalty kill, inconsistent goaltending, and a roster that lacks elite scoring outside of 88 and 39—forcing them to win by committee. We get into personnel and roles, including Pavel Zacha’s game and whether he’s essentially a “Walmart version of Sasha Barkov”— no shade though - actually a compliment. We also talk Mason Lohrei, his softness at times, and whether a defenseman in that mold—Ryan Whitney–esque, all due respect—can be justified if the offensive upside isn’t there.

On the flip side, we give credit where it’s due: Kastelic earning trust in tough minutes, Sturm’s group fighting til the end, and the small signs that still give this group a chance if they tighten things up.

Zooming out, we look at the Atlantic Division dogfight—Detroit on top, Florida heating up even without Tkachuk and Barkov, Tampa striking, Toronto struggling (thankfully, with Boston holding their pick), and Buffalo surging after a front-office shakeup. That naturally leads into a realistic trade deadline conversation: sell, buy, or stand pat—and why the Bruins likely won’t mortgage the future either way.

We wrap with a quick Team Canada roster build and close things out with some Christmas vibes—favorite movies, traditions, best gifts, and how the holidays hit differently now than they did growing up.

Honest hockey talk, a little chirping, and a reminder to enjoy the game—even when it’s uncomfortable.

We’re livin’ the dream and buildin’ a team on Episode 36 of That’s Gross.

This week, we open by breaking down the blockbuster trade that sent Quinn Hughes from Vancouver to Minnesota. We unpack the implications for both organizations, how it reshapes the Wild’s blue line, and what it signals for the Canucks moving forward.

From there, we dive headfirst into the Buffalo Sabres dumpster fire. Since 2011, what has gone wrong, why has it never clicked, and what would we do differently if handed the keys as GM?

We also break down major goaltending storylines around the league, including the Stuart Skinner–Tristan Jarry swap, Brandon Bussi’s emergence, and the Bruins’ decision-making at the goaltender position both now and in the future.

Then it’s full Bruins talk: where this team truly stands, whether a legitimate 1C can be acquired via trade or if patience with James Hagens and the prospect pipeline is the smarter long-term play. Is Tage Thompson actually available? We debate it. We also dig into why the Bruins’ power play has taken a real step forward this season, discuss a recent waiver-wire pickup, and highlight the depth pieces quietly driving results.

We wrap things up with junior hockey and draft talk, the growing excitement around the World Junior Championships, and finish by building our Gross Hockey Team USA roster—14 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 3 goalies.

Sit back and enjoy this one.

In Episode 35 of That’s Gross Hockey, the boys are buzzing and there’s nothing to lose… and something to prove. We open with the Boston Bruins — from Pastrnak’s return and the surprising chemistry with Minten & Khusnutdinov, to the emergence of the depth guys (Kastelic, Jeannot, Steeves, Kuraly), to an early look at the big question every fan is whispering: who should be the next captain — McAvoy or Pastrnak?

We also dive into the Bruins prospect pipeline, highlighting the young talent rising across the system and how it ties directly into the team’s identity this season.

From there, we’re joined by The Billboard, revisiting his preseason picks, what he nailed, what didn’t age so well, and where he stands now as the NHL picture gets clearer. Dark horses, disappointments, and bold takes — we dig into all of it.

JB & Mike also break down their trip to the BC–UML game: seeing James Hagens’ bite, Dean Letourneau’s dominance, and why this year’s World Juniors is stacked with storylines. We expand on Team Canada, Team USA, and the players who could steal the tournament.

Then, the headline drama of the week:

Plus all the chaos around the hockey world: Geekie vs. the Blues on social media, the Paige Spiranac x Biz Sandbagger, Jack Hughes’ injury saga, and thoughts on the Diddy and Charlie Sheen documentaries.

It’s Episode 35 — chaos, laughs, receipts, rumors, and hockey talk that gets gross.