Positive outlooks during the team’s wrap-up day.
It was “season wrap-up day” today for the Boston Bruins at Warrior Ice Arena.
While the Florida series was still on their minds, the Bruins were optimistic about the team’s future and exceeding expectations when they were “written off” in a building year.
I caught up with Brad Marchand and Hampus Lindholm who talked about “new pieces” added to the locker room this season and who became integral parts to the team’s regular season success and playoff push.
I also caught up with Johnny Beecher and Justin Brazeau. Beecher discussed what he learned from his first postseason and Brazeau talked about Marchand’s captainship and his comfortability joining the team in February.
Marchand on the “young guys” — Beecher, Lohrei, Poitras and Wotherspoon
SCOC: The team brought in a lot of new pieces during the year, how have you seen them become an integral part of this team and find their own success?
Marchand: “To be a successful team, you need young guys to come in and produce,” Marchand said. “Johnny (Beecher) really grew a lot, especially toward the end of the year.”
“He (Beecher) came in, he was unbelievable in camp, earned a spot and then, you know, he had a little bit of a learning curve there,” Marchand said. “Then he came back and when he came back, he was driving. I think he understood his role, understood how he had to play to have success.”
“That was the same with (Mason) Lohrei,” Marchand said. “He was unbelievable in playoffs for us and down the stretch.”
“Sometimes with the young guys, it takes a little bit of time to understand how you have to play, to understand expectations, to be able to manage life off of the ice,” Marchand said. “That can take a big toll. All of that, it plays a part in guys’ success and how comfortable they are on the ice.”
“And it’s the same with (Matt) Poitras,” Marchand said. “He had surgery and unfortunately in this season. But he grew a ton as well and he’s another player that’s going to be great for us in the future.”
“You need these young guys to come in,” Marchand said. “They create a lot of great energy in life, day-to day.
“With Wotherspoon, he came in and earned a spot, and became a regular player for us. He played hard and he was a player that we really relied on in playoffs. As we continue to grow as an organization, you need guys to be able to do that and come in and thrive and you need that internal competition. It pushes us all to be better every day.”
“They’re all great kids off the ice,” Marchand said. “It’s great to see the strides they made. But the exciting thing is they’re still going to grow and be better. There’s a lot of room for growth which is only going to improve our group and our chances to win.”
Lindholm on Wotherspoon
SCOC asked Lindholm about Wotherspoon and the role he played in the regular season and playoffs to earn a spot.
“He’s one of those guys,” Lindholm said. “I don’t really count him as a young guy because he’s been around a little bit, but obviously, in the aspect of coming up here, he is,” Lindholm said.
“He (Wotherspoon) did a great job,” Lindholm said. “It’s not easy. He played his offside as a left a few times too, but he came up and he played with swagger and confidence and made plays. That’s the way you have to. There’s no surviving this league if you come up and try to be defensive.”
Brazeau on transition to NHL game
SCOC: What was it about the (locker) room that helped you make the transition this year from the AHL to NHL and sustain it?
“It’s a lot easier when you come in and you have people to talk to,” Brazeau said. “You’re not just kind of off in your own corner, not being able to talk to anybody.”
“They were great,” Brazeau said. “And Marchand, you know, is the best captain in the league for making you guys feel welcome and comfortable. I’m really thankful for them.”
Beecher on the playoffs
SCOC: what do you take from these two playoff series to fuel next year for you and just continue to grow your game?
“It just goes back to the whole consistency part,” Beecher said. “I think I was able to stream together a good couple of games there.”
“It’s crazy, you always see and hear about how hard the playoffs are and then, when you’re finally in them, it’s a whole new animal,” Beecher said. “It’s nothing you could have even expected.
“I think just being more prepared mentally and just be more comfortable in that situation knowing that you belong there and you’ve been there and done it,” Beecher said.
SCOC: Does it make you more anxious to get back to work and get things started again?
“I’m excited to get back, just to get to 100%,” Beecher said. “But I’m definitely looking forward to some time off though. It will be nice to get home and relax and take a step away for a couple of weeks.”