Before the Bruins' main practice kicked off on Friday, a familiar figure from the team's storied past took to the ice. Patrice Bergeron, donning a coach's tracksuit and cap, skated to his old stomping ground at the bumper spot inside the right faceoff circle. There, he was all business, sharing his expertise with Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie, both of whom have been occupying that crucial spot.
Bergeron, known for his six Selke Awards as the league's top defensive forward, evolved into a lethal force in the bumper role during his career. His ability to connect the dots on the power play was legendary, and now he's passing on that knowledge to the next generation of Bruins.
Minten, reflecting on the session, said, "It's our second time working with him. This was our first on-ice bumper session, just getting those reps and soaking in his insights.
He was a master at this, so we're learning as much as we can. We also watched faceoff videos with him-he's one of the best ever in that area."
During Bergeron's prime, the Bruins' power play was a spectacle, often highlighted by David Pastrnak's one-timers or Brad Marchand's dazzling moves. But it was Bergeron who made everything click.
Minten points out the growing importance of the bumper role as teams increasingly counter elbow threats with diamond penalty kills. "A lot of goals are coming from there now.
It's about perfecting those chances when they come," he added.
Geekie, who joined the Bruins with a background in power-play bumper work, appreciates Bergeron's influence. "He revolutionized the bumper role, making it a scoring threat while supporting the play. Learning from him adds new tools to our game," Geekie remarked.
Bergeron isn't the only alum from the 2011 Stanley Cup team contributing to the current squad. Chris Kelley is an assistant coach, Zdeno Chara is a regular off-ice contributor, and now Bergeron is sharing his wisdom. Geekie notes, "It's a testament to the organization's culture that these legends want to give back."
Coach Marco Sturm, a former teammate of Bergeron's, has facilitated these sessions. "He's not here every day like Chara, but having someone of Bergeron's caliber around is invaluable. We want to pick his brain whenever we can," Sturm said.
Whether Bergeron will take on a more permanent coaching role is uncertain, as he's currently focused on family life and some local commercial work. "He's great at it; he could be an actor," Sturm joked. But when the time is right, Sturm believes Bergeron could excel in coaching.
Meanwhile, the Bruins are gearing up for a challenging matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Marat Khusnutdinov, acquired from Minnesota, will face his former team. Khusnutdinov has transitioned from a lesser-known player to a key contributor on the top line with Pastrnak and Minten.
Coach Sturm praised Khusnutdinov's growth, saying, "He's not just filling a spot; he's a vital part of our team. He's reliable and not afraid to make plays, even alongside a star like Pastrnak."
As the Bruins work to improve their power play, Sturm is contemplating personnel changes but hasn't made any moves yet. The focus remains on improving puck entry, a critical aspect that needs fine-tuning.
"It's about keeping teams honest and minimizing turnovers. We need to get the puck in and work for it," Sturm concluded.