BRUINS: Glut on blue line will be a preseason focus

With training camp on the horizon, the presence of eight proven NHL defensemen sets up competition for playing time.

BOSTON -- Training camp doesn’t open until Sept. 10, but plenty of Bruins are already in town, working out and skating informally at Warrior Ice Arena.

Also already, there’s plenty of discussion about two topics: Who steps in at forward, and who’ll be asked to step out on defense?

Question 1 stems from vacancies on the second, third and fourth lines -- the first resulting from Rick Nash’s unsigned status and indecision about whether he’ll continue to play, the others because of the free-agent departures of center Riley Nash and winger Tim Schaller.

Question 2 was created by the Bruins’ offseason addition of free agent defenseman John Moore, without subtracting any of the seven NHLers already on the roster. History shows the B’s will need defensive depth (Matt Grzelcyk was the only one of last year’s seven who didn’t lose time to injury), but basic math says eight players won’t fit into six spots.

Moore, who spent the last three seasons with the Devils after playing for the Coyotes, Rangers and Blue Jackets, thinks the situation is great.

“I was aware of the numbers here, some really good defensemen on both sides,” said Moore, 27, after skating on Thursday at Warrior.

“I’m excited. You’ve got to be playing your best hockey if you want to be in (the lineup). That kind of pressure is going to push certain guys. I’m excited to be part of that competition.”

Pressure like that seemed to weigh on second-year defenseman Brando Carlo at times last season. After playing all 82 regular-season games as a rookie in 2015-16 and the first 59 last year, he was a healthy scratch when the B’s played at Buffalo on Feb. 25.

“I can tell you, when I was healthy in the stands in Buffalo, I really didn’t enjoy that experience,” said Carlo, who has recovered from the fractured ankle that cost him last season’s final five regular-season games, plus the playoffs. “I’m going to do everything I can to help the team and be in the lineup every night (this season).”

Carlo, pressed last season by the expected ascension of Charlie McAvoy and the unforeseen presence of Grzelcyk, another rookie, said uncertainties about playing time “will have a little bit of a mental drain on every player. I feel like that’s kind of normal to go through.”

After sitting out, though, Carlo played some of his best hockey until he got hurt.

“The competitive juices that are in all of us … push you the next step further,” he said.

Although his five-year contract ($2.5-million salary cap hit) is three years longer than anyone on the defense corps (Carlo, McAvoy, captain Zdeno Chara and veteran Adam McQuaid are all entering the final season of their deals), Moore says the Bruins’ depth chart on defense will keep him competitive.

“Security doesn’t exist in this league,” he said. “You’ve got to prove it every day.

“It feels good to be wanted, but I’m hungrier than ever to go out and prove it now.”