BOSTON -- They showed up for class back in September, eager to learn.
Now it’s time for exams.
When the Bruins play Game 1 of their first-round, best-of-7 series against the Maple Leafs on Thursday night at TD Garden, up to six rookies could be in their lineup. After a season’s worth of learning from mistakes, they’re entering territory where mistakes hurt more, and can be tolerated less.
"This [...]
BOSTON -- They showed up for class back in September, eager to learn.
Now it’s time for exams.
When the Bruins play Game 1 of their first-round, best-of-7 series against the Maple Leafs on Thursday night at TD Garden, up to six rookies could be in their lineup. After a season’s worth of learning from mistakes, they’re entering territory where mistakes hurt more, and can be tolerated less.
“This is all about winning,” general manager Don Sweeney said. “That’s how you’re judged and surveyed this time of year -- even more so.”
With the exception of winger Ryan Donato, who left Harvard University to turn pro on March 18, the Bruins’ rookie crop has spent all or most of this season in the NHL and, according to veteran David Backes, “brought another level of speed and skill and ability to our lineup that was a breath of fresh air, and really contributed -- especially to our offense -- during the regular season.”
Most, although not all, are about to learn the difference between regular season and post-season. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who turned pro late last year after two seasons at Boston University, found himself in the NHL playoffs against Ottawa after just four AHL games; center Sean Kuraly, who hopes to play after missing the last seven regular-season games with an upper body injury, got a late call-up from AHL Providence and scored twice in Game 5 against the Senators -- the second goal in double overtime -- to extend the series.
NHL playoffs will be a new experience for defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, wingers Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen, and Donato, who may have to wait in line for a turn to play because of the pending returns of Kuraly and veteran winger Rick Nash (concussion).
Head coach Bruce Cassidy may temper expectations for the kids at the start of the series, but he won’t baby them.
“I think you’ve got to talk them through it, be mindful of the situations you put them in,” the coach said.
“But I’ve tended not to coach too defensively with the young guys all year, because we want to get them better in March and April than they are in October. That doesn’t always work out, but that’s the idea -- that your team is better as the year goes on. Some of that has to do with the growth of the young players.”
While McAvoy has played on the top defensive pairing with captain Zdeno Chara all year, the others had to win and grow into roles. DeBrusk, a second-line winger with veteran center David Krejci, and Heinen, who settled into a a third-line winger assignment with veterans Backes and center Riley Nash, both contributed 16 goals and passed the 40-point mark. Kuraly thrived as the center of a physical, effective fourth line between Tim Schaller and Noel Acciari. After starting his second pro season at Providence, Grzelcyk was called up near Thanksgiving to become a puck-moving component on the Bruins’ third defense pairing.
“Those young players deserve a lot of credit for moving along and developing accordingly,” Sweeney said. “They got opportunity … it was up to them to take advantage of it.
“I think several of those players have done that, and we’ve benefitted as an organization as a result. But I’ve said all along, I think the (veteran) core group of our players are the driving influence there.”
Cassidy says the veterans “can be good big brothers towards” to those entering the playoffs for the first time. “They have been all year, so that won’t change.”
Krejci, who bounced between Providence and Boston as a second-year pro before making his playoff debut in 2008, has spent much of this season mentoring rookies like DeBrusk, Heinen, Anders Bjork (lost to season-ending shoulder surgery in February) and, most recently, Donato. He remembers how he felt 10 years ago, and has simple advice for those about to experience it for the first time.
“You’ve got to keep your emotions in check,” Krejci said. “Everybody’s going to be excited; the building’s going to be going crazy.
“So be excited, but be in the moment. Have your mind on the game. Be focused on the next shift. That’s what you’ve got to do.”