From Stanley Cup winners to the scrappers and everybody in between, the Bruins’ All-Centennial staff represented all eras of B’s hockey.
Unveiled on Thursday evening on the B’s Gala on the Fairmont Copley Plaza, the staff of 20 gamers – 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goalies – consisted of members from all six Stanley Cup groups, some present Bruins and the wildly standard Lunch Pail AC staff that was much more gifted than the nickname would point out.
The high 20 gamers got here from a paring down of the “Historic 100” that was voted on by Bruins’ media members and hockey historians. The Herald had a vote on the committee. There had been some apparent no-brainers – Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Phil Esposito, to call a couple of – but additionally some powerful powerful cuts.
Current captain Brad Marchand is fifth amongst Bruins forwards in all-time factors – and counting – and is among the 12 forwards on the Centennial staff. But he’s nonetheless star-struck at occasions like those which were staged this week.
“I still don’t think I ever should be on any list with Bobby, Ray or Cam (Neely) or all the guys who’ve come before me,” stated Marchand. “But it does mean an incredible amount with what those guys mean to hockey, not just in Boston but across the world. Being in the room with them is always special, no matter what it is. You’ve got to stop and watch them. And that feeling will never go away.”
Rick Middleton, now a teammate of Marchand’s on the Centennial staff, was tickled as nicely.
“I grew up in Toronto, Original Six era, Maple Leaf fan when I was a kid. You had to be. Bu they won four Cups so, I mean, c’mon. But I had all the cards, the Bruins cards, the Rangers cards. There were only 120 players in the whole,” stated Middleton. “I listened to the old Bruins games on the radio from the old Boston Garden lying on the floor. And then all of a sudden I am one. And to be one of the top hundred, that’s awesome.”
The Gala was the fruits of the three-day reunion for the Bruins’ alumni. Gerry Cheevers, who made maybe the hardest of all of them within the goaltender class with Frank Brimsek aka “Mr. Zero,” raved concerning the festivities.
“It’s been great. They really outdid themselves,” stated Cheevers. “Everyone has had a great time, meeting guys you hadn’t seen in years, different eras. Eddie Shore’s son is here. It’s just really a great time. A hundred years of memories, right?”
Stacked protection
If there’s one, almost steady thread that has held the Bruins’ group collectively over its 100-year historical past it’s been the presence of nice defensemen. From Eddie Shore to Fernie Flaman to Orr to Brad Park to Bourque to Zdeno Chara, the Bruin blue line has been nicely patrolled during the last century.
Charlie McAvoy appears poised to take his place in that line, and a few of these greats agreed with that evaluation.
Park believes his nearly there, and he has to grab it.
“Very nice player. I like Charlie, I’m cheering for him. He’s from Long Beach, where we had a practice facility (with the Rangers), so I’m kind of cheering for him. I hope he does it,” stated Park on Wednesday on the Garden. “I’m cheering for him and I hope he continues to grow and continues to put some numbers up because I think this is kind of a transition year and they’re going to have a couple of good guys on the roster and guys are going to have to stand up and be the go-to people. Everyone wants to be a go-to person and you really have to take it upon yourself. I remember when Ray Bourque was my protege. After a couple of years, I had to go to Ray and say, ‘Ray, look it, when you’re on the ice, you have to control the game. When I’m on the ice, I’m going to control the game. So don’t be looking at me, waiting for me to do it. You go and do it.’ And he did. And he became a superior defenseman in NHL history.”
Chara, after all, helped ease McAvoy’s transition into the NHL.
“You could sense from the first time he stepped on the ice that he was going to be a special player and he’s proving that he’s getting better and better and he’s really finding himself in the mode where he’s going to be very steady and solid for many years,” stated Chara. “I think he’s going to still improve. He’s got so much ability to improve. And he’s going to add to that with his leadership. I’m excited for him.”
Bourque has been impressed as nicely.
“I think he has the potential of doing that. He’s got the whole game. He’s got the physical game, the skating game, he’s got some great vision and shot,” stated Bourque. “He’s got great instincts that are very special. I love watching him play, the potential is there, it’s just a matter of time. He’s already talked about as being among the best in the league and for him, it’s just about getting better and better.”
Dirty space
Trent Frederic had the excellence of scoring the primary objective of the B’s Centennial season. And whereas it’s at all times good to get the primary objective out of the way in which, the way wherein he scored it – standing in entrance of the web, preventing off a defender and tipping it dwelling – was simply as constructive. Frederic has stated he needs to supply extra across the web, and that’s music to teach Jim Montgomery’s ears.
“It’s been a focus for our group and I think Freddie knows that,” stated Montgomery. “And he’s really skilled there. He’s a real gifted athlete, so we talked to him about being in those areas. We thought he got good at it last year and I’m happy to hear he’s telling you guys that he wants to get better at because that’s something we need not only from him but several of our forwards, to be a more efficient offensive team.”
Mixing it up
After Montgomery combined up his strains halfway via the season opener, the strains in Thursday’s observe was again to the place they had been initially of the sport. With the participant turnover creating new combos, Montgomery needs to present the groupings, particularly the highest six, time to develop collectively – to a sure level.
“That’s the way I envision handling it. To let them play it out and have more opportunities to play with each other,” stated Montgomery. “But as the game goes on, I find in the third period you have to trust your gut no matter what’s going on and if you see an opportunity to get someone in a position where you think two players are clicking, I think you’ve got to do that in the third. I’d be more patient in the first and second.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com