There was a time when the Bruins thought Jack Studnicka was a high six centerman of the long run.
Somehow that future by no means lined up with Studnicka’s growth and, on Oct. 28, GM Don Sweeney determined to unencumber some roster house by dealing Studnicka to the Vancouver Canucks for a goalie (Michael DePietro) and protection prospect (Jonathan Myrenberg).
On Sunday, Studnicka returned to the Garden for his first sport in opposition to the crew that chosen him within the second spherical in 2017.
While it’s a brand new lease on his NHL life, Studnicka nonetheless must show himself as an NHL centerman. Coach Bruce Boudreau has been utilizing him primarily without any consideration wing. He’s favored what he’s seen from Studnicka so far as his skating and coachability go, however the jury remains to be out on the place the participant’s future lies.
“Right now, I don’t know what I envision him as. We could always use another centerman,” mentioned Boudreau. “That spot is there, but it’s probably got to wait till he’s more familiar not only with this team but with the NHL in general. He’s only played a handful of games with the Bruins. But I think down the road he could become a good centerman.”
Studnicka’s professional profession received off to a wonderful begin. In his first season, he posted 23-26-49 totals in 60 video games with Providence. But when COVID hit, his growth went sideways. The 2019-20 Calder Cup playoffs have been canceled after which, in 2020-21, he was restricted to only 31 video games between Boston and Providence.
For two consecutive years, Studnicka had a stable coaching camp, solely to run up in opposition to the B’s riches on the middle place. He was despatched again to Providence final season, however he required waivers this season so the B’s stored him in Boston regardless of not having a spot within the lineup for him.
Studnicka concedes that he didn’t do sufficient to power anybody out of the lineup.
“It’s on the player as well. I probably could have performed a little bit better,” mentioned Studnicka. “But in the training camps, I thought I did my job and maybe wasn’t rewarded with how I thought I would be. But that’s life and some of that is on me. But it’s nice to get a fresh start.”
His one and solely sport with the B’s didn’t go nicely. In that Oct. 20 sport in opposition to Anaheim, he performed simply 8:01, was on the ice for the one Ducks aim and he took two minor penalties in a sport the B’s finally received in a shootout, 2-1.
Studnicka had a sinking feeling that sport may need sealed his destiny with the Bruins.
“I had a hunch, maybe,” mentioned Studnicka. “I know how the league works with roster limitations and such. I knew they had a lot of guys, so I knew it was definitely a possibility after that.”
Studnicka has a aim and an help in six video games with the Canucks, averaging a little bit over 10 minutes a sport.
“It’s been an adjustment for sure, but each day has been more comfortable, getting to know the system, getting to know the guys, so that helps. I’ve really been enjoying it trying to create a role for myself,” mentioned Studnicka.
To Boudreau, Studnicka wants to acknowledge that he’s received an awesome alternative in entrance of him.
“(Boston) is a tough lineup to crack and sometimes you get frustrated when you’re sitting there and, A, you’re not given the chance to crack it, or, B, you aren’t able to crack it because they’re very good,” mentioned Boudreau. “If I was him, when I got moved, I’d be like ‘OK, this is just a breath of fresh air, this is a new life for me.’ Hopefully he takes it as it is.”
Top line reunited
It didn’t take lengthy for first-year coach Jim Montgomery to return to the identical conclusion that former coach Bruce Cassidy did – that Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are fairly good collectively. After reuniting them in Buffalo, he mentioned previous to Sunday’s sport that he was going proper again with them in opposition to the Canucks.
“We haven’t been generating enough 5-on-5 and I’ve put them together a little bit and they’ve generated 5-on-5 goals for us. We need more production 5-on-5 in general. The (Tomas) Nosek-(Nick) Foligno line has been our most productive line 5-on-5 the last six games,” mentioned Montgomery.
Montgomery can be fairly dedicated to the five-forward power-play unit, because the successes have far outweighed the shorthanded aim that was allowed on Saturday in Buffalo.
“It’s feast or famine, but we have four power-play goals in seven attempts. That’s pretty good numbers (since putting it together),” mentioned Montgomery.
Smith scratched
After seeing simply 7:42 of ice time in Buffalo, Craig Smith was scratched for Sunday’s sport and A.J. Greer received again within the lineup. …
From the obscure stat division: When Jakub Zboril scored the game-winner on Saturday in Buffalo, he turned the primary defenseman in Bruins historical past – and eighth participant general – to have his first profession NHL aim be a GWG. The final Bruin to perform that was Ty Randell in 2015.
Source: www.bostonherald.com