Bruins benefitting from Paul Postma's presence thanks to unlikely assist

Matt Fraser hasn’t played for the Bruins since Dec. 27, 2014 but he’s still helping the organization.

Now playing professionally in Austria, Fraser is best known for his dramatic game-winning overtime goal to help the Bruins to a 1-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of the second-round Stanley Cup playoff series in 2014 at Bell Centre in Montreal.

Fraser was eventually placed on waivers and the Edmonton Oilers claimed him on Dec. 29, 2014.

This summer, the Bruins were in search of a veteran defenseman to add depth to an already impressive prospect core, so general manager Don Sweeney signed Paul Postma to a one-way deal worth $725,000 on July 1.

Postma, who was originally drafted by the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers in the seventh round (No. 205 overall) in the 2007 draft, has played a total of 191 games in the NHL – one for the Thrashers and the rest for the Winnipeg Jet.

He knew nothing about Boston or the Bruins when he signed. So, he called one of his best friends for advice. Postma and Fraser were born and raised in Red Deer, Alberta. Postma is 28. Fraser is 27. Postma is known as a quiet guy, so he was nervous walking into a new locker room without knowing anyone.

“He was pumped for me,” Postma said. “He watched that first exhibition when I played at home and I scored. He texted me right away and was fired up. Basically what he said was they’re an awesome bunch of guys. He still talks to a few of them, and as soon as I mentioned his name, everyone remembers him. And, it’s true, the core group of guys has been really accepting.

“Everyone here is new for me; I don’t know anyone. I came in pretty blind and obviously a little bit nervous but everyone’s been awesome.”

Even though the Bruins have up-and-coming defensemen in the organization, Postma’s presence can help the organization right now, especially with veteran Torey Krug sidelined with a broken jaw.

“He’s interesting because he might be a tweener. He’s a young veteran, is how I would describe him,” said Bruce Cassidy.

Postma doesn’t disagree with that description.

“That’s probably a good way to describe it,” he said with a smile. “I’ve been around the league quite a bit and got stuck in a tough spot in Winnipeg, didn’t play a ton of games, but I’ve been around the game a long time.

“There’s a good mix of veteran guys on this team, but there’s also a good mix of younger guys and I’m somewhere right in the middle. Hopefully, I can help those younger guys to get to know the league a little better. I’m just here to play the best I can and try to make an impact on the team.”

Given his status with the team, Postma has a limited window to make an impact. When Cassidy spoke with Postma, the coach made it clear that the younger defensemen in the organization would push the veterans. With one preseason game remaining against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, Postma, Rob O’Gara and Matt Grzelcyk are all fighting for a spot on Boston’s blue line.

“It’s dwindling down but there is competition,” Cassidy said.

Postma has the ability to work the power play and is adept at moving the puck up the ice quickly. His defensive game remains a work in progress but he’s fundamentally sound.

When Postma signed with the Bruins, Sweeney told the newest member of the team to focus on playing the left side during offseason practices, so that’s what he did. The natural right-handers, Postma worked on picking up the puck on his backhand and focused on retooling his game since it had been awhile since he played the opposite side.

“He’s been playing well,” said Zdeno Chara. “He’s a veteran guy and he’s been in the league for a number of years. He brings experience and he’s a great teammate. He’s just a very steady guy.

“He brings stability to the lineup, experience, and balance in the room. All the things that are needed, especially for younger players to have on and off the ice, and as much as everyone wants to rely on younger players, or younger generations, (teams) still need those mentors in our room and on the ice beside coaches.”

It can’t be easy when he arrives at camp, looks around the room and realizes the organizational depth on the blue line.

“Every team you go to there are good players on every team,” Postma said. “It’s such a good league. You got guys like Zee and Krug and they’ve been very successful in the past and that’s one of the reasons I came here. I thought there might be a good chance for me to play some minutes. If there’s any way I can help this team out and be successful, I want to be part of that.”

Once Krug is healthy, and the remaining cuts have been made, it’s likely Postma will be the team’s seventh defenseman. The nerves have subsided a bit and he’s a lot more comfortable on and off the ice with the Bruins. It was a phone call from Fraser that helped that process.

“He’s just a great guy,” Fraser told BostonSportsJournal.com. “He comes from a great family. We hang out a lot in the summer and always doing stuff outdoors. Paul decided to get chickens one year, so I call him the ‘Chicken Farmer.’ Those things are disgusting but it’s like Paul’s little project, or maybe they’re his pets. In his next life, he will be a farmer for sure.

“That guy can build some cool stuff too. It’s why he never picks up his phone in the summer, because he’s always in his woodworking shop, building some piece of furniture. I usually just show up and he’s covered in chicken poop or sawdust.”

If everything goes according to plan for Postma, it will be awhile before he’s playing with chickens and cutting wood.