The excellent news for some younger Bruin hopefuls is that there are jobs obtainable, particularly within the backside six ahead slots.
The extra, let’s consider, difficult information is that the B’s brass has not handed what may very well be the following Black and Gold era something, signing younger veterans like Patrick Brown and Jesper Boqvist and bringing in established vets Alex Chiasson and Danton Heinen on PTOs, each of whom have appeared greater than succesful thus far in camp of incomes contracts.
So whereas alternative is there, gamers like Oskar Steen and Marc McLaughlin should seize it with each fingers, very like AJ Greer and Jakub Lauko did final season.
It received’t be simple making this roster, regardless of the turnover.
But each Steen and McLaughlin deliver some instruments to the desk that would give them a bonus. Let’s begin with Steen. At 5-foot-10, 195 kilos he brings a physicality that the B’s are on the lookout for this yr in entrance of each nets. When he first got here up two years in the past, he introduced a chunk to his recreation that appeared to wane throughout the 20 video games he spent with the large membership. But with two extra years of bodily maturity underneath his belt, Steen must be in a greater place to maintain it over the lengthy haul. And if he skated on a line with Milan Lucic, then that would actually assist any participant’s temerity.
The 25-year-old Steen, a sixth-round choose in 2016, is getting into his fifth professional season in North America and time could also be working out to show he’s an NHL participant, a minimum of on this group. Coach Jim Montgomery mentioned his play within the first three days of camp suggests Steen is feeling the urgency.
“He’s been very good. Where we’re looking to improve as a team, we want to be physical at net fronts. He’s been physical. When he’s on top of his game, that’s what he’s doing. He’s getting to hard areas, driving to hard areas, making it hard on other teams to have time and space,” mentioned Montgomery, who likes Steen’s low heart of gravity.
“I think he’s very comfortable, too, as far as camp goes. Everyone who was here last year kind of knows the drills, knows the routine. They’re a little more used to me. We’ve had a camp that is very good so far in the early going just from familiarity.”
In Saturday’s session, Steen bumped as much as play on a line with Charlie Coyle and Brad Marchand. Last yr, he didn’t have a terrific camp and it was no shock when he bought despatched right down to Providence, making it by waivers. But he did play three video games in Boston later within the season and he demonstrated his recreation higher in these contests than he did in camp.
“It was good to get some games in front of Monty, so that was good for me to show myself for him,” mentioned Steen. “They liked my game last year in the three games I played, so I’m just trying to work on my game and be the player that I am.”
And the ask of physicality is correct in Steen’s wheelhouse.
“That’s a part of my game and I can bring that to the team,” mentioned Steen.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin’s hook is his versatility, one thing the B’s have lengthy valued. On Saturday, he performed proper wing on a line with Lucic and Brown however the B’s haven’t given up on McLaughlin as a pivot.
“He did have a good camp last year and I think he’s having another good camp. He’s stood out,” mentioned Montgomery. “We’ve talked to him about giving him opportunities on right wing and center because we just don’t know the makeup of our team this year like we did last year, as far as centers especially.”
McLaughlin had such a superb camp final yr that it was a light shock when he was one of many final cuts. He began slowly in Providence however rebounded properly towards the top of the season, posting 13-17-30 in 66 video games.
“At times it can be (tough to swallow),” mentioned McLaughlin of final yr’s demotion, “but they had a great team last year. You can’t get frustrated about that. I think I definitely had things I needed to work on in Providence and I think I made good strides there and I think I made good strides this summer, too, working on all kinds of things with the skating coaches here and around Massachusetts, so I’m excited for this year.”
Rarely does administration or a training workers say there’s no competitors in the beginning of any coaching camp. But typically occasions the fact is that there aren’t loads of jobs open. That’s not the case this yr. Every observe, each preseason recreation alternative issues. Montgomery is on the lookout for proactive gamers who received’t sit again ready for issues to come back to them.
“In camp, it’s called tryouts for a reason,” mentioned Montgomery. “You try – or you’re out.”…
The B’s launched their roster for Sunday’s preseason opener towards the Rangers and, as anticipated, it’s heavy on youth. We’ll get our first take a look at Matt Poitras, believed to be a middle of the long run, whereas veteran James van Riemsdyk will don Bruins’ colours for the primary time. Montgomery mentioned Brandon Bussi is anticipated to get the total recreation in web.
Here’s the total lineup:
Forwards: John Beecher, Patrick Brown, Jake DeBrusk, Trent Frederic, Morgan Geekie, A.J. Greer, Brett Harrison, Fabian Lysell, Jayson Megna, Poitras, Anthony Richard, van Riemsdyk
Defensemen: Mike Callahan, Ian Mitchell, Alec Regula, Reilly Walsh, Parker Wotherspoon, Jakub Zboril
Goaltenders: Bussi, Kyle Keyser
