Tyler Seguin: Love him or hate him, he beat us square at the Garden.
Nov 5, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) scores a goal on Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) during the shootout at TD Banknorth Garden. The Dallas Stars won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Seguin was part of the big “Tyler/Taylor (Taylor Hall) buzz going on in the 2010 Entry Draft. The Bruins had traded away power forward Phil Kessel in order to get the first round draft pick to make the pick possible. When the Edmonton Oilers selected Hall, there was no doubt who the Bruins would choose. Tyler Seguin was one of those people who had the potential to play their entire careers in a Bruins uniform, get his number retired and glide into the Hall of Fame. While the last option is still possible, the other two have fallen by the wayside.
Why? Seguin’s lack of playing to his ability on the ice, and the rumors of his off ice antics only spelled doom for him in Boston. Sure, Seguin was popular (very, very, very popular) with the ladies. He liked to party (often), and was occasionally seen as a total mess coming into practice. That was Brad Marchand‘s problem to a lesser degree, but Marchand realized it would only hurt his game and made the adjustments to become the team’s leading scorer last season. Seguin chose not to, and the results were the trade.
“I look at the player and person I am today, it’s not the same as when I was in Boston. I feel like I’ve improved and I have no limit on where I’m going to go…I look at my game, and it’s a whole different situation and a whole different opportunity, and I’m just trying to take advantage of it,” he told the media on Monday.
Seguin knew that a good percentage of the reasons for the trade were on him though. “There were some decisions that I could have made differently. But I think people make mistakes, everyone does. I don’t think I regret too much. I’ve faced up to all of music already, and I’ve moved on and I’m very excited to be in Dallas.”
Seguin got a fresh start in Dallas. He currently leads the team in points. While his face-off percentage is certainly lackluster, the rest of his qualities have made him an effective player in the Lindy Ruff system. (I’m sure Ruff is also enjoying the fact his name is no longer attached to the Sabres.)
When Seguin came to the TD Garden on Tuesday, the fans that should have at least welcomed their problem child home respectfully chose the path of scorn and derision. They booed everytime he got the puck. The even chanted “Seguin” in the way they mock players like Phil Kessel or Roberto Luongo. In my opinion, it lowered the class level of the fans of Bruins Nation and a lot of us on social media felt it was too much. It almost seemed fitting that the Hockey Gods punish the Bruins and the Nation by having Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley score on Tuukka Rask in the shootout to give them the win.
Yesterday Seguin offered advice to potential Bruins players to make sure they were married at the age of eighteen. While this was a lukewarm attempt to firing a parting shot at Boston, it showed that he was genuinely hurt by the fans reaction to him. I won’t lie. I lamented Peverley’s absence more than Seguin’s. While Peverley will never be a Seguin caliber player, he had the work ethic and he contributed. The Bruins sorely need more Peverleys than Seguins right about now.
Seguin was asked if he could ever see himself in a Bruins uniform, and Seguin was blunt. “I have been asked that question a few times today. If I got a contract or a trade to come back here or was asked, I don’t think I would come back. I think in the end you want to play where you are wanted,” said Seguin. “I have great relationships with our coach and the GM here, and I know how much they want me. It feels good to play here. I guess that is all I want to say on that.”
He got two points on us and in the end he gets the last laugh on us.