B’s Bjork still looking for traction
The conversation was a lengthy one. Actually, as post-practice chats between coaches and players go, it was a very lengthy.
After the Bruins’ finished their brief on-ice session at Warrior Ice Arena on Friday following Thursday’s shootout win over the Flyers, coach Bruce Cassidy chewed the fat with Anders Bjork for quite some time. The former Notre Dame star has not been able to find his niche in this still young season. Part of it can be chalked up to his bouncing around the lineup due to injuries elsewhere. But a good portion is the player’s responsibility.
Late in the second period, Bjork took a penalty and, though the B’s killed it off, he was still trying to hustle back into the play when the Flyers scored to take a 2-0 lead. For much of the third period, he did not leave the bench. In 10:45 of ice time, he did not land a shot on net and has just one in four games.
Several veterans were given a maintenance day — Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Kevan Miller — but the two bottom-six lines were intact. Cassidy flipped his left wings, moving Trent Frederic up with Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith and moving Bjork to the fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner.
Cassidy is actually reverting to the original plan when the season was about to start and before the injuries hit. And if Bjork can find traction on this line, it can be a vital role on this team. That unit often sees plenty of shifts against top lines. But, with David Pastrnak nearing a return, time is running out for Bjork to sink his teeth into something.
“If you’re going to be an offensive player, then you need to generate offense. Simple as that,” said Cassidy. “To generate offense, you’ve got to get inside, you’ve got to beat some people one-on-one, you’ve got to win your puck battles, make plays, all of those things. And it’s been hit or miss a little bit. And we talked about it going into the year that if we were fully healthy, maybe he’d be a fit where (Joakim) Nordstrom was. Unfortunately, we’re not fully healthy so he got moved around, right or wrong. The discussion was about how he could best create an identity for himself and solidify a spot in the lineup. But that role’s a little different. You’re playing against good players every night so you’ve got to be real accountable defensively. I think he is a good defensive player. Puck possession in the O-zone wears the other team down I think frustrates the top lines they’re playing against. Penalty kill, I think he’s been fine. Then there’s a certain level of physicality and blocking shots, little details that gets your bench exited that don’t always show up on the scoresheet and you have to take a lot of pride in and understand your role there. I think our guys in our room will value that. We’ve always had a good fourth line, so maybe that’s the best fit for him. If the offense comes, then great. He moves up.”
In July, Bjork signed a threeyear deal worth $1.6 million annually, a hair above what the team is paying its other fourth liners. At the time of the deal, there were was certainly hope that he could develop into a point producer, but the deal also left room for the possibility that big offensive numbers may not be in his future. He may just be a grinder, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
But the time for urgency is nigh. “I believe if it’s not (here), it’s really close. Eventually, Pasta’s going to get back in the lineup and someone’s going to come out, assuming everyone stays healthy,” said Cassidy. “There’s always guys pushing from underneath.”
Grzelcyk expected to play tonight
Matt Grzelcyk did not skate on Friday, but Cassidy said that he expects the undersized puck mover to be in the lineup tonight against the Flyers at the Garden. If he is, then that would be the second bullet he’s dodged in as many games. Grzelcyk left Monday’s game against the Islanders with what appeared to be a shoulder injury and did not return. In Thursday’s game, he crashed feet first into the end boards and had to hop all the way back to the bench, not putting any weight on his left foot. He returned to the game Thursday, but Cassidy did not feel comfortable playing him in the overtime with all the extra ice he needed to cover in the 3-on-3.
Cassidy said Grzelcyk, who’s getting more minutes because of his elevation to the first powerplay unit, has to be careful about putting himself in danger areas.
“He’s an important part of our team when you’re on the top of the power-play now,” said Cassidy.