DeBrusk lining up with new teammates
Forward skating with Haula, Foligno in early camp sessions
If it’s a clean slate that Jake DeBrusk needs to get back on track after his disappointing 2020-21 season, then the Bruins’ bottom-six overhaul should provide him just that.
We’re only two days into camp and the forward lines are subject to change, but the third line that the left wing DeBrusk has been skating on is with two of the new arrivals, center Erik Haula and jack-of-all-trades Nick Foligno, who has been playing on the right wing.
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
Putting DeBrusk with two newcomers may not have been the first consideration in the line construction, but it couldn’t hurt.
“Whatever works for Jake to get him back to his game, we’re on board with,” said coach Bruce Cassidy on Friday. “It’s a shared responsibility between us and him. If it’s a new center that he reads off better, or a winger or what have you, that’s great. At the end of the day, however it plays out, I think Jake will determine how productive his year is for the most part...If he’s playing his game and using his compete level and using his feet and his natural abilities, because he can finish when he does separate, I think hell be fine no matter who he plays with...I can’t say that he played with poor centerman in (David) Krejci and (Charlie) Coyle. It’s not about that. It’s more about him finding his game.”
While building chemistry with his centerman Haula is the most important thing for DeBrusk, it could be beneficial for DeBrusk to play with a vocal leader-type like Foligno. And the former Columbus captain is more than willing to be heard. For all the criticism the David Backes contract received, the former Blues captain played a pivotal role in helping along young players like Sean Kuraly and Danton Heinen in that transitional year in 2017-18 when the B’s took a leap of faith with some young players.
DeBrusk was another one of those rookies that year. He’s not exactly starting over, but this does feel like something of a reboot for him. And Foligno recognizes that DeBrusk is trying to get back on the same track that made him a 27-goal scorer in 2018-19.
“I’ve talked to him a little bit,” said Foligno. “As we’ve gone through camp, I like to get my own bearings before you really start to dig in and get to know guys. But I can tell he has a ton of potential and a ton of talent. And he wants to be a great player. I think it’s just a matter of understanding what that takes. A lot of times, people think it’s just a snap of the fingers and the guy figures it out. Sometimes it takes a little bit of a a step back to realize ‘OK, that’s not the way I want to go about doing things.’ And I’m sure he’s hungry to prove to people that he is the player we all envision and he envisions.
“He has higher standards than a lot of people realize. I’m looking forward to helping in that regard but also just putting him in an environment and helping on that line so that he becomes that player. He’s put in the work and he looks good out there and I’m excited to get going with him.”
Chemistry class on second pair
All three defensive pairings are to be considered works in progress but the second tandem of Mike Reilly and Brandon Carlo at least got some playing experience together last year. They played a handful of games down the stretch in the regular season when Carlo returned from an oblique injury and then in the playoffs.
It’s fair to say the pair has not reached it’s ceiling in terms of chemistry.
“I feel like we got a good teaser with the games that we did get to play last year,” said Carlo. “Even in practice (on Thursday) I noticed I can hear his voice really well and I think he’s doing the same with me. We’re trying to understand positioning. Defensively, I’m trying to help him with reads that I like.. Offensively, I feel like he’s doing a great job of using me on the blue line, especially in practice and even in games. I like the way that he’ll pass the puck to me a little bit more than I’ve been used in the past, so I think we’ll develop a really good chemistry and just feed off each other’s game as long as we can continue to communicate. We’re all positive vibes.”
Both players inked new deals over the summer. Carlo was a pending RFA and signed on for six more years at $4.1 million and Reilly, on the eve of unrestricted free agency, signed a three-year deal at an AAV of $3 million. Their similar situations produced some more common ground for the pair.
“When we got together last year, I think we jelled pretty quickly,” said Reilly. “It’s pretty clear we’re not the same players but I think we have a lot of things in our games that complement each other pretty well. As time went on, and as time goes here, I think we’ll just keep getting to know each other and learning each other’s tendencies. Whether it’s a forward line or a D partner, it’s about learning guys tendencies here and there. It’s just going to make things easier. We’re excited. We love playing together. When he signed this summer, we were talking and vice versa when I signed. Definitely excited to pick up where we left off.”
This and that
Charlie McAvoy was wheeling and dealing in a 3-on-3 drill near the end of the second session on Friday until he took what apparently was a high stick from Ian McKinnon.
Not exactly thrilled, McAvoy went to the dressing room a minute or two before the session ended. Cassidy said he’ll be fine, though the defenseman pushed off his media availability for a day as he received some maintenance ....
Jesper Froden, the 27-yearold free agent signing out of Sweden, has not looked out of place while playing with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
“I think he’s a smart player,” said Cassidy. “He reads off two elite players and hasn’t slowed them down at all.”...
There was speculation in the offseason that Foligno would join his younger brother Marcus in Minnesota until the B’s swooped in and grabbed him. On Thursday, little brother joked with Minnesota reporters that Patrice Bergeron’s recruiting pitch carried more weight than his own brother’s.
“Bergy’s got a few more accolades on the wall. Sorry, Marcus. One day you’ll get there,” said Nick with a laugh. “No, it was hard. A tough decision. Obviously I always made it known that I want to play with my brother, but just the fit here and the timing more or less with what their team is going through and what this team is trying to get to right now, it’s just lined up a little better for me.”