NHL Notebook: O'Gara honing skills, Marchand anxious, Kelly representing

It can’t be easy for a prospect in the Boston Bruins’ organization to study the depth chart and realize it could be awhile before he’s back in the NHL. That’s the case for defenseman Rob O’Gara. Due to an abundance of injuries early in the season, he played eight games for the Bruins before being sent back to Providence.

Currently, the Bruins’ defensive core is playing so well, even veteran Adam McQuaid, who broke his leg on Oct. 19, has been on the outside looking in since he was cleared to play two weeks ago. The overall production of Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy, Torey Krug, Brandon Carlo, Kevan Miller and Matt Grzelcyk is one reason the Bruins are playing well of late.

At this point, unless there are injuries or sub-par play, it can be an anxious time for players like McQuaid and O’Gara. In Providence, O’Gara has been going about his job as a true pro, said P-Bruins coach Jay Leach.

“I don’t sense him getting anxious,” Leach said. “Like any kid, who’s had the taste, wants to get back. I think he has a hunger for it.”



Leach, a former defenseman, explained it perfectly. When a defenseman is sent down, his initial instinct is he wants to do more. Whereas, when a forward is sent down, he wants to score and prove he can produce.

“Really, Robbie’s job is to defend and close and be solid for us, so sometimes when that happens you feel like you’re not doing a whole lot and you think, ‘I gotta do more to get to the next level.’ We’ve had that with a lot of our guys,” Leach said. “We say, ‘Guys, we know it seems a little different, but you just have to simplify and be solid down here because it’s more about waiting for your opportunity than beating someone out.’ You’ve got to bide your time and make sure you’re playing the exact way down here that you would be playing up there. So, when your opportunity comes, and it will one way or another, you’re playing that game and that’s how you build from there.”

O'Gara's compete level is consistent. He's always engaged and is a leader on the off the ice. The tall, rangy defender has the ability to make a good first pass and projects as a bottom pair defenseman in the NHL. Even though he continues to hone his skills in Providence, Leach doesn't believes it's had a negative affect on the young blueliner's game.

“I don’t think he’s pressing,” admitted Leach. “There were a couple of moments early on after he was assigned that he was feeling as though he needed to do a lot to get back, but the last four weeks he’s been really solid and in his game. He’s fine-tuning his gamer and waiting for his opportunity.”

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Ask any NHLer who was recently named to the 2018 All-Star festivities on Jan. 27-28 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., and those players will likely credit their success because of their teammates. In the Bruins' case that's true. Forward Brad Marchand was selected to represent the Bruins and no doubt he's become an elite player in the league. It also helps that he's been a longtime linemate of Patrice Bergeron, and most recently with David Pastrnak. That trio is considered one of the most dangerous lines in the league and Marchand is enjoying tremendous success. He entered Saturday's action with 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points in 32 games this season. Of course, he credits his linemates.

"They’re huge," Marchand said. "I know I wouldn’t have the year that I’m having without them. I owe a lot of it to them. I am very fortunate to have them as linemates – both phenomenal players, both deserved to be here, as well. It is an honor to come to the rink every day and be on their line and have the chemistry we do. We have a lot of fun together."

This will be Marchand's second consecutive All-Star appearance. He's the type of player that you want on your team, but hate to play against. Believe it or not, players around the league have grown to appreciate his game and ability to succeed. Marchand will have an opportunity to hang with some of the league's elite in two weeks.

"To be honest, I am still nervous about going. Just excited for the whole thing," he said. "A big thing last year that I really enjoyed was seeing the All-Stars and players of the past that were around, favorite players that I watched growing up and getting to meet them, getting to meet the legends of the game and being around them. Being a part of the whole atmosphere is a lot of fun, so I’m looking forward to being part of that again."

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Team Canada has a new leader as it attempts to defend its back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the upcoming Winter Games in PyeongChang.

Since NHLers are not permitted to participate in the 2018 Olympics, Team Canada this week named a roster of 25 players to represent Canada and former Boston Bruins alternate captain Chris Kelly was amongst them.

Kelly, 37, played 13 seasons in the NHL and made significant contributions during the Bruins’ Stanley Cup run in 2011 after Boston acquired him via trade from the Senators on Feb. 15, 2011. In exchange for Kelly’s services, the Bruins sent their second-round pick in the ’11 draft and the Senators later picked Shane Prince with it.

Kelly was an outstanding leader both on and off the ice for the Bruins. As a member of Boston’s solid bottom-six core, he had five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 25 playoff games in 2011. After six seasons with the Bruins, Kelly returned to Ottawa as a free agent and played all 82 games last season. He played 10 games for the Senators AHL affiliate this season before being named to Team Canada.

Here's Team Canada's 25-man roster for the Winter Games.

Forwards:  Rene Bourque, Gilbert Brule, Andrew Ebbett, Quinton Howden, Kelly, Rob Klinkhammer, Brandon Kozun, Maxim Lapierre, Eric O'Dell, Mason Raymond, Derek Roy, Christian Thomas, Linden Vey and Wojtek Wolski.

Defense: Stefan Elliott, Chay Genoway, Cody Goloubef, Marc-Andre Gragnani, Chris Lee, Maxim Noreau, Mat Robinson and Karl Stollery.

Goaltenders: Justin Peters, Kevin Poulin and Ben Scrivens.

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It's been a difficult season with injuries for Bruins forward prospect Peter Cehlarik. After dealing with offseason shoulder surgery, his rehab minimized his participation at training camp. When he was cleared in late September but was eventually assigned to Providence to start the season. Despite his surgery, Cehlarik was bigger and stronger than he was during the 11 games he played for the Bruins last season. Boston recalled him on Nov. 15, but only after five games he suffered a knee injury and only started playing again last weekend for the P-Bruins.

His potential contributions should not go overlooked because Cehlarik has the ability to make an impact in the top six for Boston.

"Peter, like a lot of our guys, he works. He’s a pro," Leach said. "He wasn’t here at eight this morning (Tuesday) and I was worried about him because he’s usually here right around eight. Then he was here at 8:05, so it was ok. The way he handles it all, he just puts his head down and goes.

“Cleary, that ability to score goals is still there. If you were to ask him I’m sure he would like to do some things better, but he hadn’t played in five weeks, so it’s expected. As far as the way he handles (adversity), he handles them as a true pro.”

While he continues to rehab and rediscover his game in the AHL, it won't be long before Cehlarik could find himself back on David Krejci's wing.

“He wants to get back to where he was when he was playing (in Boston) and playing the role he was playing,” Leach said.