Boston Bruins: Informal Practice Kicks Off
With the rookies inching closer to their respected preliminary practices, the Boston Bruins began there’s far more leisurely.
Monday introduced the first informal practice of the 2015-16 season in Wilmington for the Bruins, with the most notable attendant being 38-year-old Zdeno Chara. Nine skaters took the ice including Chara for roughly 80 minutes, per a BostonBruins.com report.
Team captain Chara and alternate captain Patrice Bergeron ushered the drills, which included small-ice drills. Alongside Bergeron, five other forwards participated Monday. They include Noel Acciari, David Pastrnak, Matt Beleskey, Zac Rinaldo, Brad Marchand.
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Newly acquired Beleskey and Rinaldo reportedly felt acclimated quickly in the new setting with new teammates. It’s a positive start for both. They’re decision to join the team was wise, though, many veteran skaters eluded the event. David Krejci, who attended last season’s informal practice, was missing in action.
Dennis Seidenberg joined Chara as the two lone defensemen attending Monday’s practice. Tuukka Rask was the lone netminder.
Chara loquacious when describing his feelings on being back and reuniting the team during the informal practice.
“It’s always exciting to be back,” Chara said following practice. “You see every day, probably, more and more guys coming back, and you’re going to have more quality skates.
“Today, we had nine guys, and I’m sure that number is going to increase with [camp getting] closer.”
The Bruins undoubtedly would have liked to see more than nine skaters on Monday. It’s the nature of the business, though. To these professional athletes, informal practices are naturally arbitrary. Coaches, though, gauge a sense of urgency from those who attend and appreciate the commitment.
Afterword, Chara touched on the team’s struggles from the prior year, while also suggesting it’s time to turn the page.
“I think the most frequent word that came out of the last season was inconsistency,” Chara said.
“That’s what we have to work on — make sure that we play with consistency, and don’t have those up and downs like we did last year.”
Follow Christopher Bokum on Twitter @ChrisBokum