Moore healthy, set to return
Has skated with Chara & Lindholm at Warrior recently
The NHL’s attempt to reboot the season into playoff mode during the dog days of summer is an “unprecedented” undertaking.
That was the opinion expressed by Bruins defenseman John Moore during a Zoom conference call on Tuesday. The Bruins were 70 games into the season and in first place (100 points) when the NHL locked down on March 12 in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The NHL has targeted July 10 for the 24 contending playoff teams to begin training camp with the hope of crowning a Stanley Cup champion in September. Moore was at a loss to explain the individual and team challenges that await the Bruins in the coming days.
“I wish I could answer that but this is unprecedented and right now it’s just getting your feet back under you,” said Moore. “We’ve all been off the ice for a really long time and I think this break has been longer than the entire off-season last year.
“I think everyone has been disadvantaged to a degree but at the end of the day, mentally how are you going to frame this? I think as group we’ve talked and this is a chance to rest and recover and be ready for what comes next.
“You can’t kind of get blinded by the trees in the forest. We still have an amazing opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup. We are very grateful for that while understanding the challenges in the real world and how lucky we are to go out and play a game.”
Moore spent the last months hunkered down locally with his wife and two daughters while maintaining a prescribed off-ice conditioning regimen and awaiting the call to return.
The Bruins players living in the area have been allowed to resume skating in small groups at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton. Moore took his initial turns on the ice with defenseman and team captain Zdeno Chara and center Par Lindholm.
“You temper your expectations the first time out because it feels like you are wearing someone else’s equipment,” said Moore. “But then, understanding there is a process to returning and building back up to where you were.
“It’s being really focused on what I want to accomplish from a day-to-day standpoint and feeling good about yourself each and every skate. I’ve skated with Par and Zdeno and the night before, we’ll get together and devise a practice plan for the three of us and talk about what we want out of each skate.”
The other unprecedented aspect of the new normal is playing playoff hockey in remote locations inside empty arenas. That combined with the isolation and safety protocols imposed by the NHL sounds antiseptic in a spectator sport enlivened by crazed fans, libations and pizza.
“Everyone’s health and safety are the priority and that’s been said since day one by everyone whether that is through the league or the PA,” said Moore. “This is a sacrifice no one saw coming and it’s an opportunity to go compete for a Stanley Cup and you hope that things will be good at home.”
Moore, 29, has been a back-end journeyman since being drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round (21st overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Moore did varsity time with the Blue Jackets, Rangers, Coyotes and Devils before signing with the Bruins on July 1, 2018.
Moore needed the rest and recovery more than anyone on the roster from an injury dating to the 2018-19 season.
Moore suffered a shoulder injury at Tampa Bay on March 26, 2019, when he was drilled from behind by Lightning forward Adam Erne. Moore gutted it out through the playoffs before having surgery in June.
He missed the opening 28 games of this season and played a scattered 24 contests with two goals and an assist.
“It’s what I’ve reflected on in these past however many months, it was a trying season for me,” said Moore. “I’ve been around long enough and I have really scratched and clawed for everything in this league and this is no different.
“My gas tank is full now, I’m healthy and that is all I can ask for. I’ll come to camp ready to compete and however the team needs me. We’ve got a great chance to do something special and I’m all on board. I want to be a part of that.”