May 16, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center
Patrice Bergeron(37) celebrates with center
Gregory Campbell(11) and Boston Bruins center
Brad Marchand(63) after defeating the New York Rangers 3-2in the first overtime period in game one of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
There is plenty of good news for Bruins Nation after day one of the Bruins’ training camp. Every last player on the Bruins invite list passed the basic fitness test. This at the very least means there will be plenty of competition for every spot on the team’s roster.
There is a down side to the news of day one. The worst news came from Bruins head coach Claude Julien in an interview with CSNNE.com. “ are going to practice with us. They’ll be on the ice. I think when it comes time to play those exhibition games it will be a conversation with our trainers making sure there isn’t a risk factor if they play.”
Now granted, the Bruins first pre-season game is four days away in Montreal, and even against the rival Habs..it’s just a pre-season game. It’s more of a showcase of the Bruins potential (and very likely a demonstration of both teams’ pugilistic skills and see how well Subban’s diving has improved.) That risk factor is serious. Bergeron and Campbell can’t afford to be injured in a pre-season match.
But how would those injured Bruins fare during the regular season? Would they be able to pick up their sticks and get right in the game? Julien’s answer was a bit more troubling.
“They wouldn’t be cleared today if we were playing a game.” said Julien.
When I heard this news at work, I was with several co-workers who are also Bruins’ fans. We literally issued the same expletive simultaneously. You could even hear the swearing in Vegas. Then common sense took over. We’ve got three weeks before opening night against Tampa Bay. Bergeron says his chest is a little tender, but his skating is one hundred percent. Campbell says his foot still feels a little odd in the skate, but he’s at one hundred percent.
The Bruins will have a full eighty two game season. It won’t be required for either them to play all the games, and as long as they stay healthy, they’ll produce for their respective lines. They’re cleared for contact though, and that makes me feel far more confident about them being ready for October 3rd.