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Boston Globe
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Bruins talk about the benefits of going through the drill
'That's an angle drill that we work on frequently with our guys just to try to work on proper angling techniques, trying to stay skating forwards as much as possible. Keep the player to the outside and not let him grab inside ice,' said coach Joe Sacco . 'It brings out some competitiveness in the players and a little mocking going on back and forth with each other.' The work helps forwards work on burst, cutting, and maintaining possession, while the defenders can sharpen their reach and body position. Advertisement 'The drill serves a good purpose, especially with younger guys coming into the league now, adjusting to the speed and the pace of the game and making sure that they have the proper technique angle on players and trying to keep them and force them to the outside as much as possible,' said Sacco. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up It's a favorite of defenseman Nikita Zadorov , who at 6 feet 6 inches and 255 pounds, can be quite intimidating to go against mano-a-mano. 'I like that drill. We did it a lot in Colorado. [Coach] Jared Bednar was a really big fan of that drill, and I think it's really helped the defensive system as the F three and the D man, when you lose the puck in the O zone and you need to take an angle to close play on the blue line,' said Zadorov. 'And the same thing for D. You close on your blue line like this, taking a better angle so nobody cuts middle on you. I think it's a really productive drill. I'm enjoying that for sure.' Advertisement Zadorov relishes the competition and also the extracurricular commentary from the spectators. 'If you take somebody wide, you can chirp the guy over there,' said Zadorov. 'Everybody's watching at the same time. It's only two guys going, everybody else watching. So, I think it's pretty competitive and a cool drill for sure.' The drill creates a buzz, which has been a Zadorov specialty. 'He brings energy to the rink. He brings energy to the practices and the locker room,' said Sacco. 'Obviously, we need some of that. We've needed it during the year because the group at times when you lose some guys that have been here a long time, voices that carry a lot of weight in the room, you need other guys to pick up that part of the leadership and he's trying to do his part in that area too.' Awards handed out Some housekeeping items: The Bruins handed out their annual awards Thursday with David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie double dipping. Pastrnak earned the Dufresne Trophy as the club's top performer on home ice. He was also 98.5 The Sports Hub's First Star ... Geekie took home the Eddie Shore Award for 'exceptional hustle and determination.' He also was named 98.5's Third Star ... The Second Star went to goaltender Jeremy Swayman ... Parker Wotherspoon won the John P. Bucyk Award for 'exceptional off-ice charitable contributions ... The Seventh Player Award will be announced at the home finale Tuesday ... Thayer Academy's Morgan McGathey and Kyle O'Leary of Noble & Greenough were awarded the John Carlton Memorial Trophies. The award is handed out annually by the team to Massachusetts's most outstanding high school senior girls and boys hockey player. McGathey had 39 goals and 58 points in 28 games. She will attend Harvard. O'Leary put up 24 goals and 59 points in 27 games. He is Yale-bound. The award is named in honor of Carlton, the late Bruins scout. ... It's been a hot start for Dans Locmelis at Providence. The winger, who recently wrapped up a two-year stint at UMass, collected 1 goal and 5 points in his first five games with the Baby Bs ... The Bruins finish their road schedule with a Sunday matinee against the Penguins. Advertisement Jim McBride can be reached at
Boston Globe
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Bruins review: Sizing up underperforming roster ahead of daunting playoff push
Brad Marchand: He may not be a top-five winger these days, but the 36-year-old captain is still on pace for 29 goals while remaining one of the better spark plugs in the game. That profile — coupled with his Stanley Cup pedigree — would make him a coveted asset at the trade deadline. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Elias Lindholm: The Bruins handed Lindholm a seven-year, $54.25 million contract in July to slot in as the top-line pivot. But to this point, he looks more like a defensive-minded 3C. The initial hope that he'd become a 60-point player while stapled next to Pastrnak fizzled quickly, with the 30-year-old on pace for 14 goals and 42 points. Advertisement Morgan Geekie: After tallying one goal over his first 15 games, Geekie found new life on a line next to Pastrnak — lighting the lamp 16 times over his last 34 games. Geekie's age (26), versatility, and contract status as a pending restricted free agent would make him an appealing player to keep. But his trade value might also be at its peak. Pavel Zacha: Zacha seems to be at his best when slotting in at center next to Pastrnak. He's flirting with a third-straight season with 50-plus points, although the offensive ceiling of a top line centered by Zacha might be limited — Matt Poitras: An extended stint in Providence seems to have done Poitras some good, as the 20-year-old recorded seven assists over 12 games since returning to the NHL. He still needs to pack on some muscle if he wants to develop into a legitimate top-six pivot, but the poise with the puck is hard to ignore. Advertisement Trent Frederic: When he's on his game, Frederic thrives as a steady middle-six scorer happy with doling out punishment after the whistle. Unfortunately, those performances have been few and far between for the pending free agent — with Frederic on pace for just 22 points. He might be the most likely trade candidate on the roster. Charlie Coyle: A year removed from a career-best 25 goals and 60 points, the Weymouth native is on pace for just 19 tallies and 29 points. The 32-year-old's standing as a puck-possession center with a versatile skill set could make him an intriguing trade chip. Mark Kastelic: One of the few lineup regulars who has exceeded expectations, Kastelic has been a spark whenever he hops over the boards. The Bruins were wise to sign him to a three-year extension in January, with the 25-year-old ranking 10th in the NHL in hits (184) while winning 56.3 percent of his faceoffs. Justin Brazeau: After a hot start, Brazeau has cooled off significantly with just one goal and three points in his last 16 games. His size (6 feet 6 inches) and touch around the net could make the pending UFA a trade target. Cole Koepke: Koepke looked like he wrapped up the Seventh Player Award in October after scoring three goals and seven points over his first nine games. Since then, he has five points in his last 40 games. Still holds value as a fleet-footed, straight-line skater on a checking unit. Advertisement Johnny Beecher: There's no knocking Beecher's skating ability or faceoff skills (55 percent). But the 23-year-old still has work to do to unearth more offense (three goals in 55 games). Oliver Wahlstrom: The Bruins' hopes of Wahlstrom finding his offensive footing haven't panned out, with the waiver pickup limited to one goal and one assist over 15 games. Defensemen Charlie McAvoy: Few NHL blue liners can mimic McAvoy's game as a puck-moving presence who can shift momentum by way of a bone-crunching check. Mason Lohrei: Amid the expected growing pains in the defensive zone,Lohrei has had solid stretches as a playmaker in his first full NHL season — leading Bruins blue liners in assists (20). He could use more reps on the power play, as he ranks first on the team Hampus Lindholm: Lindholm was arguably Boston's most impactful skater at the time he was struck by a puck off the knee Nov. 12. The 31-year-old's veteran's return would provide a lift to a Brandon Carlo: It hasn't been the strongest season for the respected veteran. Lindholm's return should help steady Carlo, although the 28-year-old could also be regarded as a trade chip as a right-shot, second-pairing regular signed for another two seasons. Nikita Zadorov: The good? Zadorov is a punishing presence who is happy to agitate and antagonize opponents. The bad? Those antics have put him in the penalty boxfar too often (league-high 117 minutes), while he's prone to miscues that often end with pucks sailing past Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo. Advertisement Parker Wotherspoon: Wotherspoon has developed into a useful asset as a steady depth defenseman who can slot into the third pair when needed. Plays a lot larger than his 6-1, 192-pound frame might indicate. Andrew Peeke: Peeke has been as advertised as a solid third-pairing D who can land a few hits and eliminate scoring chances. His value tends to wane if handed heavier minutes, but Peeke fits the mold of what teams are looking for further down the depth chart. Jordan Oesterle: Pressed into service following injuries to key cogs, the 32-year-old isn't flashy, but moves his feet and doesn't put himself in bad spots with the puck. Could be in line for more reps, given McAvoy's status. Goaltenders Jeremy Swayman: An offseason rife with drama seemed to throw Swayman off his game early. Joonas Korpisalo: Despite his seemingly pedestrian stat line (.892 save percentage), Korpisalo has been a solid backup — recording three shutouts in 19 starts. Conor Ryan can be reached at
