A few weeks in the past, there weren’t lots of people pegging A.J. Greer to win a spot on the Bruins’ fourth line, by no means thoughts something greater on the depth chart.
But now, because of a key damage to Taylor Hall and his personal stable play, Greer has been talked about by coach Jim Montgomery as a left wing candidate to skate on Patrice Bergeron’s line with Jake DeBrusk.
Whether that involves fruition or not, it has been a seemingly meteoric rise for Greer. But just like the musicican who lastly scores a success after enjoying in small membership’s and lounges for years, Greer will not be an in a single day sensation. And he by no means restricted his aspirations to being a fourth liner. If he will get a possibility to play within the prime six, even for a brief interval, it’s not like he hasn’t visualized it.
“I wouldn’t say right now at this moment, I couldn’t predict that. But I always knew that it was going to come. That’s why I stayed ready,” mentioned Greer, who opened eyes along with his two-goal, seven-hit efficiency towards the Rangers final week. “It’s a tough game when you’re up and down for the last six years and there doesn’t seem like there’s much hope. You have a bad year or a couple of bad games and you think your NHL dreams are over but it’s really those that persist who have success and I think it’s mentally really frustrating at times. But I always was a hard worker and I always was someone who had to grind my way up to places when I was young and up till now, so I never really gave up.I knew I had the ability to do it and I had to be ready once that time came.”
The 25-year-old Greer, drafted thirty ninth total in 2015, had one thing of a breakout 12 months within the AHL final 12 months enjoying for New Jersey’s affiliate in Utica, compiling 22-30-52 totals in 53 recreation. That would earn him a two-year, one-way contract with the Bruins with an AAV of $762,500, although he solely obtained 9 video games with the massive membership in Jersey final 12 months. He couldn’t reply why he didn’t get extra of a shot in Jersey, however he wasn’t about to apologize for his growth timeline.
“I think personally I was really happy with my year, the organization, the coaches and everyone around me was ecstatic with how I was playing down there. Not only was I putting points up but I was playing on the penalty kill really well, defensively I was very good. I can’t answer that question,” mentioned Greer. “I keep getting the same question over and over again. ‘Why haven’t you made it to the NHL?’ Well, you look at these first round picks who have played in the league for two or three years and they haven’t blossomed. Then they’ll blossom in their fourth, fifth year. It happens all the time. Try and do that when it’s your sixth, seventh year and you get 10, 15 games here and there with four or five minutes of icetime. It’s going to take a while. I knew I had that tenacity and that skill and that level of play that’s going to get me here. And I know I have even more than what I’ve shown already. It’s just a matter of being comfortable and having trust. That’s the biggest thing here. You see me here playing with so much passion and energy and being comfortable, it’s because I feel that trust within the locker room. I feel that trust within the management and the coaches.”
Greer was not getting the chance to play with Bergeron in Monday’s preseason recreation in New Jersey, because the established prime six forwards remained house whereas these gamers battling it out for roster spots have been within the lineup towards the Devils.
He was getting one other likelihood to play on a line with Jack Studnicka and Marc McLaughlin. He was additionally slated to see power-play time at net-front, the place he performed some in Utica.
“Being net-front, I have very good hand-eye coordination. I can use my body to tip pucks. And the biggest thing to the power-play is winning battles,” mentioned Greer. “If there’s a shot that gets through and the pcuk goes in the corner and you’re not winning those battles and they get the clear? My old coach Greg Cronin (with the Colorado AHL team) told me it takes 18 seconds on average for a power-play breakout to come in and set up in the zone. You get two or three clears, and it’s pretty much over. So those loose pucks in the corner, you’ve got to get there first and that’s my job, not only that but just creating plays, creating havoc and making sure that I get the pucks to the guys who can shoot.”
Krejci getting again in groove
David Krejci made his return debut on the Garden on Saturday after a 12 months in Czechia.
“I was kind of surprised there was lots of people. Usually from years in the past there aren’t that many people for preseason, but this Saturday it was a pretty good crowd. Obviously with 1 p.m. (start) there was lots of kids there, that helps. But it was nice to be back there and see the rink from the inside a gain. It was pretty cool,” mentioned Krejci.
Just who’s going to be his left wing to begin the season stays to be seen. With Hall (higher physique, week-to-week) at the moment on the shelf, there’s a risk that Pavel Zacha will play there to create an all-Czech line with Krejci and David Pastrnak.
“The communication would obviously be a little different, maybe not easier but different, just staying in one language,” mentioned Krejci. “Hopefully, Hallsy’s going to be back soon. Not sure how that injury is. I hadn’t talked to him yet. But if Pavel’s going to get a shot, then obviously we have to talk. But I like what I see. I know what kind of player he is. I’ve played against him for many years. But who knows? We’ve just got to talk. If we get a chance to play together, we’ll click on and hope the chemistry is going to be there. Thar’s all you can ask for.”
Odds and ends
Matt Grzelcyk, coming back from offseason shoulder surgical procedure, skated in a group session on Monday for the primary time, albeit in a pink non-contact jersey. Though Montgomery doesn’t know when he’ll be a full participant, the coach did say that he’s “slightly ahead of schedule.” Grzelcyk had been pointing towards an early November return….
Montgomery had Joona Koppanen centering Tomas Nosek and Oskar Steen. It was extra to try Koppanen towards heart than to see Nosek at wing, mentioned Montgomery, saying the membership is aware of what the veteran Nosek brings at heart…
Fabian Lysell, who left Saturday’s recreation with an higher physique damage, additionally skated in a protecting jersey.
Source: www.bostonherald.com