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Boston Bruins Prospect Rob O’Gara Could Break the Bruins Lineup

By Brandon Share-Cohen

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney makes the first of three consecutive draft picks in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney makes the first of three consecutive draft picks in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Bruins Prospect Rob O’Gara Has Bright Future With the Team, and He Could Break the Lineup This Year

When the Boston Bruins drafted Rob O’Gara with the 151st overall selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, they never could have predicted the player O’Gara would one day become. When the team drafted O’Gara, he wasn’t the biggest or the best defenseman by any stretch of the imagination. To his credit, however, O’Gara has put in the work to get bigger, and he managed to fill out his 6 foot 4 frame, currently weighing 215 pounds.

O’Gara, 23, has been to six summer development camps, but he’s now earned a spot in the team’s main camp.

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After O’Gara was drafted, he became a standout defender for Yale University, though more for his puck-moving instincts and defensive ability. Offensively, O’Gara doesn’t bring much to a lineup, but his two-way game allowed him to log big minutes for Yale in his four years at the university. Whether it’s offensive-zone starts, defensive-zone starts, the penalty kill, or even the power play, O’Gara can contribute to the Bruins.

“There is some definite mobility back there,” said newly-appointing Providence Bruins coach Kevin Dean.

"“The way the game has been going, the way it’s trending, that’s definitely encouraging,”“The (defensemen) have to be mobile now. The Bruins have focused on that the last 2-3 drafts and you can see they’re starting to reap a little bit more with their draft picks. If a kid has mobility, you can build a player out of him. You can tweak the other areas that need improvement, and you’ve got a player.” – Kevin Dean"

O’Gara isn’t just looking to show that he can be a future piece in the Bruins lineup. He’s aiming to crack the lineup of a weak Bruins defensive group; a task he’s ready and willing to take upon himself. O’Gara, however, will definitely have his work cut out for him.

“My mindset coming in is to try and earn a spot,” said O’Gara. “I’m going to do whatever they say, try to work as hard as I can and try to earn that.”

A Strong Effort to Improve for O’Gara

As mentioned, O’Gara has improved his size, and strength since being drafted, and he is still looking to build upon that. This summer, O’Gara trained at Brian McDonough’s gym at Foxboro Sports Center; a facility used by other Massachusetts-native NHLers.

Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Jimmy Hayes, Charlie Coyle, and Brian Boyle are just some of the names that used McGonough’s gym to train this summer.

“That was different than anything I’d gone through before,” said O’Gara. “(There was) a big group of pro guys, highly competitive guys who’ve been through it and know what it takes, know what kind of work you have to put it. Being in that crowd was really eye-opening. I had always worked hard at home on Long Island — but I never experienced anything like that.”

Next: Bruins are Bridging the Gap to a Brighter Future

The Bruins could use some help on defense, and O’Gara would love to prove his value this offseason. Many Bruins defensemen within the system are vying for a few jobs. Improvement is needed this year, though, and it simply isn’t an option anymore. The Bruins have missed the playoffs in consecutive years, and a sense of desperation is now sinking in.

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