Sorry Bruins followers, Patrice Bergeron shouldn’t be strolling by means of that door.
Let’s again monitor for a bit. The widespread hockey podcast Spittin’ Chiclets dropped a tantalizing nugget for Bruins followers on Wednesday. Two of the hosts, former NHLers Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette, who can be a TNT analyst, mentioned a rumor that B’s former captain Patrice Bergeron may be making an attempt a comeback.
“I’m hearing that ‘El Capitan’ might be making a comeback,” stated Bissonnette.
While the hosts had been having enjoyable with the concept and labeled it as a “rumor,” it naturally set B’s followers hearts’ a fluttering.
Sorry to throw chilly water on that concept however, except the longer term Hall of Famer has a 180 diploma change of coronary heart, it’s not taking place.
Reached by way of textual content on Thursday, Bergeron was as unequivocal as he may very well be.
“I am NOT making a comeback,” wrote Bergeron succinctly.
Oh properly, it was enjoyable whereas it lasted.
If you closed your eyes and crossed your fingers, you possibly can persuade your self that it is smart. Considering he gained the Selke Award final season and, even on the age of 38, he retains himself in good condition, one would nonetheless assume he might contribute to this workforce.
The foundation of the rumor, apparently, was the truth that he’s been skating regionally. Whitney stated he’d heard that was to remain in form, which Bissonnette playfully selected to not purchase. At the very least, Bergeron might assist in the faceoff circle, the place the B’s have had their ups and downs. He would even be a cheap second half add for the B’s, who don’t have a lot draft capital to make use of, having traded away their first-round picks for the subsequent two seasons.
But when Bergeron introduced his retirement on social media after which at Legends, he appeared very a lot a person at peace along with his resolution. Apparently, that’s nonetheless the case.
Wotherspoon praised
The Bruins have their share of first-rounders. A complete of 11 such gamers gamers grace the roster. But Parker Wotherspoon isn’t one among them. Not solely was Wotherspoon taken within the fourth spherical, a pedigree that ensures him not even a sniff of the NHL, the 26-year-old Wotherspoon has put in 324 AHL video games, largely with Bridgeport within the Islanders group, to get to this chance with the Bruins.
It’s a street that these within the B’s dressing room admire.
“Some guys have that journey, some guys don’t,” stated Kevin Shattenkirk, himself a first-rounder. “But more than anything I think when you have guys come up like that, with a fresh attitude and knowing maybe he’ll be up for a week or two weeks or maybe he’ll be up for the rest of the season, he just takes every day, I think, gratefully and really cherishes the moment. You see obviously when he goes into games how prepared he is and I think the last few games he’s really come into his own. He’s gotten more confident with the puck and not just worrying about defending. And his game is really starting to blossom.”
Wotherspoon’s versatility has up to now made him a keeper.
“The thing I was most impressed with is he had to come in and play on his off side. It’s never easy to do and he handled that really well,” stated Shattenkirk. “And I think he showed the coaches that they had that flexibility with him, so again, I think he built his confidence in his first few games and really just started to run with it from there. He’s constantly asking guys questions and talking about plays and making sure that he’s again as prepared as possible in games and making sure he’s carrying his weight.”
Winging it
Matt Poitras, working his manner again within the lineup after struggling a shoulder damage, remains to be a candidate to get a have a look at wing sooner or later.
“That’s been bantered about among the coaching staff and my conversations with (GM Don Sweeney). It’s just that he’s really good through the middle of the ice so right now it’s just been about putting him in those situations where he’s comfortable. We’ll see how that progresses,” stated coach Jim Montgomery.
As it’s, the employees has accomplished its finest to shelter the rookie from a number of the heavy lifting requested of the centermen.
“We usually pair him someone else who can play low and take draws, so it’s really the first guy who’s back that plays low in our D-zone,” stated Montgomery.
Loose pucks
The coach admitted earlier this week that this 12 months’s All-Star nomination was a bit extra particular than final 12 months’s.
“I congratulated the staff. I get nominated for the All-Star bid but first it’s the players and then my staff that has done an incredible work this year, to be honest. And I feel that we’re giving the players more consistent video and one-on-one line/D combination feedback,” stated Montgomery. “Last year, I joked that I could have fallen asleep behind the bench and I would have been the All-Star coach. And this year we’ve had to grind. It’s just because that’s the nature of the business. So this year I feel it’s more rewarding for the staff because of the work we’ve had to do. But also it’s rewarding to see the player and the team develop like we have. We were a well-oiled machine eight games in last year. And I feel like we’re starting to develop a well-oiled machine now, understanding how we need to play, how we have to get there. We’re a lot simpler of a team. In a lot of ways easier to coach, but a lot of ways harder to coach.”…
Linus Ullmark, out of the lineup since struggling a decrease physique damage in Arizona on Jan. 9, was set to be again in uniform backing up Jeremy Swayman.
Source: www.bostonherald.com