John Moore’s year with the Boston Bruins ended prematurely last season, as the veteran defenseman opted to receive hip surgery. He was limited to just five games on the year and he had two assists. With that, he had a -3 rating. It was another lost year for him, as he played just 24 games the season before, as he dealt with injury trouble and was not a mainstay in Boston’s top-six. In those games, he scored two goals and added an assist.
However, it seems that Moore perhaps is finally feeling healthy, as he looked very solid in his taste of NHL action in over half of a year. There’s no denying that Jake DeBrusk was the player of the game, as he had a goal during regulation and also scored the shootout winner. However, Moore quietly tacked on two assists and looked strong defensively in the process.
This is a huge start for Moore, as he’s been one of the most ridiculed B’s basically since arriving. During the 2018 off-season, the Bruins signed him to a five-year, $13.75 million contract. Since then, as previously stated, he has not been able to stay in the lineup on a consistent basis. During his first year with the team, he saw his most action, as he played 61 games and had 13 points.
A very good Boston Bruins start for defenseman John Moore
Yet, with him receiving $2.75 million per season for multiple years, it’s fair to state that things haven’t worked out well. He played just 29 games over the past two seasons and has been healthy scratched often, too. Yet, barring any sudden moves, he has two more years left in Boston to help change this narrative.
With Kevan Miller retiring and the Bruins not bringing in a specific replacement for the right side, Moore has a shot to compete for a spot on the bottom pair. He has experience playing on his off-side and if he continues to put up performances like last night’s, he should get a little consideration.
At this juncture, Connor Clifton does seem like the more likely choice, as he suited up in 44 games this past season and had seven points. He also played 10 postseason games but was held off the scoresheet. However, things can change in the blink of an eye during the preseason, so maybe Moore could enhance his chances more.
Regardless of what Moore’s role is this season, Bruin fans should be happy that he played well in his first game. Maybe the best has yet to come with Moore as a Bruin. At this point, we should be rooting for not only his success but also his health. He should be a nice depth option for the team this season if he keeps playing like that.