Ryan Spooner has finally arrived. How long will it last?

Ryan Spooner has made it easy to criticize his game at the pro level.



Ever since the Bruins selected him with their third pick (No. 45 overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, he has struggled to live up to expectations. There's no doubt he’s a talented hockey player, but the desire to reach his potential seemed to be lacking since Day 1. Every season many wondered if he would finally figure out it and produce. Every season turned into a disappointment.

Until now.

He’s finally showing signs of the game the Bruins have been waiting to see. Some will say it’s the coaching change from Claude Julien to Bruce Cassidy, but that’s a lame excuse because Julien did everything he could to get the most out of Spooner. It does help that Cassidy and Spooner have a relationship from their days in Providence, but it’s on the player to produce.

This season, Spooner’s creating opportunities all over the ice. He’s a smarter player now. He’s finally not shying away from the physical aspect of the game too. Overall, he’s missed a total of 19 games, during two separate stints, with a groin injury. He’s definitely a different player. Maybe he looked at the landscape and realized with all the younger talent in the organization, he could become expendable if he didn’t produce. He has to be more than a power-play specialist.

To his credit, he has been, especially with David Krejci out of the lineup.

“He’s committed to trying to play the right way and help and do his job defensively away from the puck, whether it’s backchecking and reloading well, or getting in the shooting lane,” Cassidy said. “I see a commitment there. He enjoys the atmosphere right now and wants to be part of the winning program here.”

Spooner wasn’t alone in his early-season struggles. At the start, the entire team was struggling and a lot of that had to do with all the injuries and the lack of consistency in the lineup.

“He’s a different player,” admitted Cassidy. “He was definitely hurt at the start and he tried to play through it. He’s a guy who needs his legs. That’s his greatest asset and in the last five or six games you’ve seen that and he’s done a good job for us.”

For the first time, Spooner was honest when discussing his season and his struggles when talking with BostonSportsJournal.com. He said he’s been pleased with his play the last seven games, but wouldn’t necessarily agree with Cassidy’s positive assessment.

“I’d say the beginning of the year, no. I wasn’t playing as well as I could, but I was hurt and when I came back I said to myself, ‘I have to play well or I’m probably not going to play.’ It’s on me. I’ve been trying to go out there and play to my strengths, trying to skate and use my speed and I think I’ve been doing that. I’m trying to create a little bit more and trying to shoot the puck a little bit more.”

Spooner did admit that his relationship with Cassidy has helped.

“I know what he wants, what he likes,” Spooner said. “If you’re not playing well, he’s not going to play you. If you’re playing well you’re going to get your ice. It’s always been like that with him and I think that’s fair and the way it should be. Obviously, some players have a little bit more of a leash and you earn that and I think I’ve earned that in some aspects. I have to play well if I want to play. I’ve been trying to be more of a consistent player and in the last seven games I’ve been doing that.

“In the games when I’m not getting the puck a lot, I need to make sure I’m good on the defensive side of things and I feel like I’ve been better at that, so it’s been good.”

It also helps that the Bruins are winning. No matter what it ailing Krejci, if the Bruins continue to win it allows him to recover properly, especially with the mandatory holiday break.

“I’m told when guys are medically ready, and then you make the decision to put him in or not,” explained Cassidy. “To me, Krejci’s an automatic. He goes in when he’s ready. He makes us a better team. He’s a good player for us and the challenge has been finding the right linemates he works well with and that won’t change over night.”

Without Krejci, Cassidy has had Spooner centering Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork. It’s worked well. There’s a lot of speed. These guys are playing hard on the pick and have been managing it well. The Bruins need that, especially with Krejci out.

“(Spooner’s) been great,” said Patrice Bergeron. “That line has been creating a lot of things and making a lot of good plays. When he plays like that and moves his feet, it creates a lot of things because he’s so smart with the puck. It’s tough to be aggressive on him, because if you do, he might catch you and he’s going to find someone. He’s been playing well.”

Once Krejci is healthy and returns, Spooner will remain in the lineup because he’s earned it. But, if he starts to slip, Cassidy won’t hesitate to make a change and Spooner knows that.

“Hopefully it’s only better in the second, post-Christmas run,” Cassidy said.

Spooner’s case is a perfect example of better late than never.