Tyler Seguin: Boston Bruins gave up on me.

The 2015 All Star Game finds old friends and former Boston Bruins taking the ice to compete with and against each other. With Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron together again at the NHL All-Star Game, it brings back a certain nostalgia. The last time those two were really clicking together, the Boston Bruins produced their own little miracle on ice. Sorry about that one Kessel.

With Tyler Seguin likely playing with Bergeron again, we once again take a look at the whole Seguin trade debacle. While the Bruins organization has claimed (via Peter Chiarelli) that “That ship has sailed.”, as Bruins fans we never got to hear much from Tyler Seguin. How much of this was on the shoulders of a nineteen year old, and how much of this was on a hockey organization that might have wanted too much?

“Do I think the Bruins gave up on me too early? Yes, I 100 percent believe that.” – Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin decided to contribute an article to The Players Tribune over how he felt over the whole trade to Dallas.  His main argument is rather correct. Seguin was a natural center. The Bruins haven’t really moved their centers around since June 15, 2011. (The sole exception is moving Chris Kelly to the wing to accommodate Carl Soderberg.) There was also the salary cap to consider. The Bruins organization had gone into overdrive with their long-term, no trade clause contracts. The organization had overpaid a few players, and there wasn’t going to be the money needed to keep #19 in Boston. (If they kept Seguin, we would have seen the team turn into an AHL-filled mess.)

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“When I got traded to the Stars after only three seasons in Boston there were a lot of articles and rumors about how I was pushed off the Bruins because I was some kind of immature, unfocused party animal.” said Seguin over the trade. “Looking back, based on the way the Bruins were situated at the center position and the realities of a salary cap system, it’s clear that the business side of hockey played a big part in why the trade happened.  But that doesn’t make for a very interesting headline or Tweet.”

“I admit that there were probably some decisions I could have made better, but I also highly doubt that anyone would endorse every choice they made in their late teens. It’s part of growing up.”

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Two years later, the Tyler Seguin looks as bad on paper as it did when it happened. While the Bruins may have dodged a bullet over Rich Peverley‘s health problems, the trade still looks way too lopsided in favor of Dallas.Tyler Seguin is currently tied for the most goals in the league. Matt Fraser was sent down to Providence on waivers only to be claimed by the Edmonton Oilers. Loui Eriksson was projected to be Seguin’s equal in scoring. Two serious concussions limited his play last season. This year, the Swedish forward only has eleven goals, and has become a part of the Bruins third line. Joe Morrow is still playing in Providence.

The one bright spot could be Reilly Smith. Smith has taken up Seguin’s old spot, but has been very streaky with his scoring. He’s only got nine tallies this season, but he is playing with Patrice Bergeron (the man that makes everyone around him play better). Smith fits in with the Julien system far better than Seguin did.

Tyler Seguin has exploded since coming over to Dallas. Why? He’s been given a lot more freedom to play to his style. He’s certainly less constricted than he was playing under Claude Julien‘s system. Most importantly, he’s grown up. He’s become more of an adult off the ice, and certainly a more professional player on it.

The Seguin trade may go down as the worst move made my the Chiarelli administration in Boston. Had the Bruins given Tyler Seguin the amount of time they’ve given Jordan Caron, the Bruins outlook would certainly look better than it does now. Now, we have to see what the Bruins front office has in store for us as they battle on to secure a playoff spot this season.