Cassidy Sees Another Wave of Leaders Ready to Emerge

Boston Bruins Training Camp is presented by Plymouth Rock Assurance.
BOSTON - When Bruce Cassidy walks the halls of Warrior Ice Arena these days, there are plenty of fresh faces. The veteran leadership core that has defined the Bruins over the past decade has dwindled with the likes of Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Torey Krug, and Kevan Miller all departing in recent years.
Despite all of those exits, however, Cassidy believes the Bruins remain in strong position to maintain the culture that has been created in the club's dressing room, starting, of course, with the example set by captain Patrice Bergeron and alternate captain Brad Marchand.
But Boston's bench boss sees another wave of leaders ready to emerge.

"It's up to those guys to look around the room and say, 'Hey, you know what? I learned the Bruins way and culture from [the leadership group] and now it's my turn to pay it forward," Cassidy said on Wednesday afternoon following Day 1 of Bruins Training Camp.
Cassidy pointed to Boston's trio of homegrown blue liners - Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, and Charlie McAvoy - as well as forwards Charlie Coyle and Nick Foligno as players he has an eye on when it comes to taking on more responsibility on the leadership front.
"Brandon Carlo who just signed a nice new ticket, well earned, well deserved, good for both sides…understanding there's some security there. Hopefully that translates into a more comfortable person in the room," said Cassidy.
"Charlie McAvoy is right there now. Matt Grzelcyk. You look at those three defensemen who kind of came up together when Zee and Miller and [Adam] McQuaid were in those positions - and Torey. Now it's their turn.
"Up front with Krech leaving, hopefully Coyle becomes more of an assertive personality. We'll see with the newer players. I think it's in Foligno, he's been a captain [in Columbus], so won't need much coaxing out of him. We'll see how the other guys are vocally."
Cassidy also mentioned David Pastrnak, who is entering his eighth season with the Black & Gold, as another player ready to take a step forward.
"Even a guy like Pasta, he's been around now for a while," said Cassidy. "He's becoming more of a seasoned guy in our locker room in terms of years served here. Hopefully he becomes more of that as well. David's always got plenty of personality. I'm not worried about that. But in terms of the leadership side, maybe he'll take a couple guys under his wing."
On the ice, Cassidy said that while he has a pretty good vision of how his lines will shake out to begin the season, it will likely take a few weeks before the coaching staff has a final idea of which combinations will work best together.
"How [the lines] fit will be determined through training camp, obviously, and exhibition games," said Cassidy. "A little bit of the back end, some opportunity to move some pieces around. Obviously, the goaltending is not how we started last year. There is enough change, for sure. But training camp will determine all that.
"I think every team, to a certain extent, goes through some level of experimenting the first 10, 12, 15 games. We'll be no different this year and hopefully it square itself away sooner rather than later."

Finding Common Ground

Cassidy said that he met with winger Jake DeBrusk over the summer to discuss how both sides could better work with each other moving forward. DeBrusk had a challenging 2020-21 campaign, notching just five goals and 14 points in his fourth NHL season.
"We had a good talk about some of the things that didn't allow him to be at the top of his game away from the rink," said Cassidy. "Some people with the COVID protocols affects people differently, what they can and can't do. I think Jake was one of those guys, being by himself, it was a little tougher on him.
"We discussed some of those things and how we can help as a staff and how it was probably on both of us to reach out a little more. I think in today's game, with today's athlete, there has to be a little more of that. I think we both held ourselves accountable in that regard.
"Open the lines of communication better and that may bleed into the on-ice performance and that will take care of itself. At the end of the day, the message is the same: how he can help the Bruins win. That's what we ask of every player."

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