Deaf on deadline deals
Bruins keep focus on winning
DALLAS — On Feb. 7, the Bruins were the unwanted orphans of the Boston sports scene.
While the Celtics had become contenders of a sort, hope was springing eternal for the Red Sox and the Patriots were celebrating their fifth Super Bowl title, Bruins’ management was firing the franchise’s alltime winningest coach in a seemingly futile attempt to breathe life into a team with too many holes to avoid missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year.
There weren’t many shots taken at them that they didn’t deserve. And they took a lot.
But what a difference a few weeks make.
Just 20 days after the firing of coach Claude Julien, the Bruins have won six of the first seven games under interim coach Bruce Cassidy as other contending teams squandered many of their games in hand. With 20 games left, the B’s are in good position to make a run at the playoffs.
Now what are they going to do about it?
Tomorrow, the B’s and the rest of the league face the trade deadline, usually a time of anxiety for at least a handful of players on each team. But while the Bruins have been out west for eight days and outside the hockey hubs of the league, they’ve remained blissfully unaware of trade chatter while enjoying their own reversal of fortune.
“We’re confident in what’s going on right now,” said defenseman Torey Krug. “I haven’t heard anyone talk about the deadline or anything like that, so I think it shows that we’re confident with what’s going on in this room and the way our game is starting to take form. It’s exciting to play and guys are excited to come to the rink every day.”
According to Krug, there’s a distinctively different vibe among the Bruins players.
“The last two years, there’s been a lot of commotion outside of our room and people wondering what’s going to happen,” said Krug. “This year it hasn’t been talked about once. So it’s a different feeling, but I think the excitement is what’s changed the most. Guys are excited, they’re attentive to the details and that’s important.”
Perhaps lending to that feeling are signals from general manager Don Sweeney that he’s not expecting much to happen in the form of a big deal. And with the prices for buyers — the Wild paid a first-rounder and possibly two second-rounders for Martin Hanzal, Ryan White (both pending unrestricted free agents) and a fourthrounder — you could understand why Sweeney isn’t eager to buy. Last year, he hung on to unrestricted free agent-to-be Loui Eriksson and then traded draft picks for Lee Stempniak and JohnMichael Liles. Are there needs? Sure. Peter Cehlarik has been a revelation as the second line left winger, but having a veteran in that spot could improve their chances of getting into the postseason and making some sort of run. Then again, this is also an opportunity for growth that could benefit both Cehlarik, if he keeps playing well, and the team in the long run.
You also have to wonder if, with David Pastrnak due a big raise this summer, Sweeney would offload some salary. Matt Beleskey, on the books for $3.8 million for three more years, was a scratch for Sunday’s win over the Stars.
But for now, that is all conjecture. And the Bruins are keeping their fingers plugged firmly in their ears when it comes to that kind of talk.
“We’ve had a little time on the road where we’ve bonded together and had some fun together,” said forward David Backes. “When we’re away from the rink, our minds are not off the game but off that sort of peripheral stuff. We’re worried about what we’re doing in this room. That’s been a good focus point. We’re enjoying each other’s company and it’s translating onto the ice, bailing each other out when mistakes are made, when penalties are taken.
“The deadline’s going to come and go and the business part of the game, that’s going to take care of itself. There are guys that we entrust to make those decisions. They’re going to make our team better, one way or another. Maybe it’s standing pat, because we’re cruising right now. Whatever happens, happens, and the majority of the guys are going to be here. That group needs to stick together and continue to play well. But that can’t filter into our minds. We’ll take care of business one task at a time and right now it’s Arizona (tonight). Then the deadline. I don’t even know who we’re playing after that.”
It’s the Rangers on Thursday. But you get the point. The B’s are locked in right now. And while they’re no one’s Stanley Cup contenders, the Bruins are charging up the hill instead of sliding back down it for the first time in a couple of years.