Jan 27, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Maxime Talbot (25) skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Avalanche defeated the Stars 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
“I’ll play anywhere they want me.”-Maxime Talbot
Maxime Talbot has officially arrived in Boston and took part in his first team practice today. One of the questions marks with this trade acquisition was where the versatile forward was going to fit in.
“I’ll play anywhere they want me,” Talbot said. “I can play three positions, and I think any line as well, so I’m excited to know what my role will be with this team and where they’re going to want to use me.”
That question was answered today as he was sporting a maroon jersey alongside Chris Kelly and Daniel Paille. However, with Brett Connolly Out Six Weeks With Fractured Finger, Gregory Campbell Practices” href=”https://causewaycrowd.com/2015/03/04/brett-connolly-six-weeks-fractured-finger-gregory-campbell-practices/” target=”_blank”>Brett Connolly going down for six weeks with a displaced right index finger, there is a possibility that he could slide in along the third line next to Eriksson and Soderberg. However, for Thursday night’s game and Talbot;s official Bruins debut, we will likely see him with Kelly and Ferlin making the assumption Paille gets bumped up.
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Upon completion of his first practice he told reporters;
“I’ve seen them play throughout the years, and the core group — how solid it is — and how much of a good team the Boston Bruins are. It’s exciting, and just coming here in this dressing room — with the team and the city — I expect great things.”
While he may be new in town, he is no stranger to the members of the Black and Gold, growing up in Montreal (yes, that’s right, he’s a Montreal native), he has a friend in Quebec native Patrice Bergeron who drove him to his first team practice this morning.
“ helping me out and showing me the ropes, and I think he’s not a bad guy to because he knows the city, and the city loves him and the team.” Talbot said with a grin.
Puck Prose
In addition to knowing Bergeron, he also played in World Juniors with Daniel Paille, worked out with Torey Krug over the summer and has fought Campbell and Kelly a couple of times and, like anyone in the NHL, has had a few scraps with Marchand.
Naturally with any trade or transaction fans have mixed emotions. However, with the addition of Maxime Talbot, we are able to get bac a little of that veteran presence that we have been missing since the departure of Johnny Boychuk. Talbot brings forward the same type of attitude and charisma that Boychuk carried with him. While he may not be a sacrificial on the ice, he plays with the same dirty grit and determination that we like to identify with Bruins hockey.
All season long we as Bruins fans have been crying over the departure of Johnny Rocket, hopeful that we could get him back at the deadline but keeping that hope at bay. With Talbot, we get some of those qualities back. Even Claude Julien mentioned the similarities;
“He’s been a great guy,” Julien said. “He’s a guy I’ve known for a little bit there, and he’s going to do anything he can to help this team out. Peter alluded to him being a glue guy; to me, he’s a lot like a Johnny Boychuk-type in the dressing room, where he likes to have fun, will keep things loose, but at the same time, when it’s time to play, it’s all business. He comes to play, and he’ll do whatever he has to to fulfill his role. So he’s definitely a good addition to have with us, without a doubt. That veteran leadership you look for in the stretch is often overlooked, and he’ll fill that gap very well.”
While Talbot is only one guy (and isn’t the defensemen we needed), he should give an added boost to the Bruins and help string them along a little ways in the final stretch.