Last week the Boston Bruins saw a whirlwind of talent skate by them during the team’s development camp at Ristuccia Arena. Prospects battled with one another in an attempt to establish a lasting impression on team personnel, including both general manager Don Sweeney and coach Claude Julien.
Ryan Spooner was once a novice development camp prospect himself. He currently resides as a starting forward with the team. Yet for any fledging forward with the varsity squad, a starting role can always be short-lived.
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Last year in the 2014-15 season, Spooner surfaced onto the starting line pairings due to injury, and injury alone. David Krejci’s partially torn MCL from back in Feb. against the St. Blues subsequently penciled in Spooner for a starting bid, and he hasn’t looked back since. Julien ultimately accepted Spooner, in just his third year with the organization, and presented him the opportunity to showcase his improvements from Providence in the AHL. The decision, at the time, was rather unorthodox for the coach. He’s had a tumultuous time assimilating youth into his rosters over the years in Boston.
Julien has seemingly felt younger players could not hold their own. Raw, talented youth simply has not been breed naturally under Julien for several seasons, due impart to his previous boss in Peter Chiarelli.
Spooner has the potential of being the substantive, young forward under Julien with great responsibility. Primary projected lines indicate the 23-year-old will be centering a bottom-six pairing, likely on the third forward line. It is responsibility Julien likely would have never entertained without Krejci being battered, which highlights one of Julien’s greatest downfalls: his inability to trust youth.
Puck Prose
With the exception of David Pastrnak last season, Julien has shied away from evoking younger skaters with pivotal roles on his teams. Frankly, Pastrnak was a management decision, with Julien endorsing Chiarelli’s better judgement when his entry-level contract was ousted. While Pastrnak will skate with arguably equal importance next season, Spooner, meanwhile, leads a line pairing as a centermen. His job will require more accountability than that of Pastrnak at wing.
If they want me to play wing up there, I’m glad to play wing. If they want me to play center I’ll play there, if they want me to play defense I’ll play there, I don’t care” – Ryan Spooner
Last season while piloting the Milan Lucic-Pastrnak line, Spooner was not only producing but developing. In 29 games, the 45th overall pick from the 2010 draft had his breakthrough season in his fledging career in the NHL. All eight of his goals were scored as a result of his call up from Providence, as far as netting his first career NHL goal last year. As a result of Spooner’s late production, the team has entrusted him with a comfortable starting role, and a raise in salary.
Back on Jul. 1st, Spooner signed a two-year contract worth $1.9 million, a rational figure for a player of his experience. The deal has a harmless cap hit of $950,000 per year. The Bruins are shelling out a similar cap hit to that of Pastrnak, fresh off his entry-level contract, for Spooner to center their third line. Spooner’s youth, cap-friendly salary, and productiveness all suggest the Bruins are finally coming to terms with evolving, younger NHL.
Julien stressed Spooner had earned his job with the varsity team back in late March, early April when Krejci returned to the lineup. It was the first indication that Julien may rattle off his old, stubborn ways in giving the centermen the right to play. Not only did he gel with Pastrnak lucratively during his tenure with the Bruins, Spooner also aided in the resurgence of Lucic. Beginning on Spooner’s arrival on Feb. 22 last season, Lucic scored 6 of his combined 18 goals (33%). Julien recognized Spooner’s ability to rub off well with his teammates, and his decision to keep him with his team was a modest one.
The 2015-16 season will test Spooner. He’s not vying for a starting role anymore. There’s no current tension of landing back in Providence. He’ll have the tall task of centering the Bruins’ third line. The team believes in him. Thus, it’s time for Spooner to step up, capitalizing on his opportunity.