TORONTO — Anders Bjork might have 21 fewer goals in his career than fellow winger Jake DeBrusk, but Bruce Cassidy acknowledged that both No. 74 and No. 10 look awfully similar when the 22-year-old skaters get their feet moving out on the ice.
Two gifted forwards that can catch an opposing blue line flat-footed with their strides, both DeBrusk and a stronger Bjork are also hard to knock off the puck — although Bjork has largely yet to be rewarded on the stat sheet for his efforts this season.
While DeBrusk sits second on the Black and Gold with 10 tallies on the season, Bjork has only managed to light the lamp once in 19 games this year — with the Notre Dame product set to return to the lineup on Monday against Toronto after sitting out the past two games as a healthy scratch.
Even with the lack of production, Cassidy noted that Bjork has the pedigree of being an effective scoring winger — if his previous stop at Notre Dame was any indication (109 points in 115 games with the Fighting Irish).
Even at the start of last season, Bjork was an effective addition to Boston’s top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand — with the trio averaging 4.46 goals per 60 minutes through 12 games to open the 2017-18 campaign.
So what’s kept Bjork off the scoresheet this season, even as the young winger has made strides to improve his shot and play away from the puck?
For Cassidy, the answer lies in Bjork’s positioning on the ice.
While Bjork has the wheels to carry the puck through the neutral zone, his average shot distance lies at around 30 feet, a bit below the league average for all skaters.
Of his 28 shots on goal this season, eight have been wristers from low-danger areas either near the blue line or the high slot — with his lone tally coming off of wrister from the right circle on the rush against the Red Wings back on Oct. 13.
(Stick tap to Sean Tierney at @ChartingHockey for the comprehensive shot map).
Much like Bjork’s current issues, DeBrusk’s slow start was largely due to
, with his recent hot streak punctuated by four tip-in goals — a direct byproduct of mucking up the crease and low slot.
“
We always try to draw comparables for these younger guys. ... His comparable sitting across the room from him is Jake DeBrusk,” Cassidy said of Bjork. “They skate, they're both the same size, similar skill sets. Jake finds a way to get inside and get greasy goals, that's where I think it's going for Anders.
"Play a little more on the inside, find a way to get those chances around the top of the crease. Now Jake has gone up in the lineup, so some of that helps playing with
(David Krejci)
and Anders has been up at the start of last year with
(Patrice Bergeron)
and Marchand. We moved him around with Krech later, so he's had some opportunity but maybe not the same. Part of that will be on us to get him in the positions, but part of it is on him. I think that's where we're at with Anders.”
On Monday, Bjork won’t have the firepower that DeBrusk will have on a line with Krejci and
Danton Heinen
, with Bjork set to skate on left wing on a juggled third line that will have
Joakim Nordstrom
at center and
Noel Acciari
on the wing.
Acciari and Nordstrom may be a bit of a mismatch for a skilled winger like Bjork, but joining a line with some heavy players on the forecheck might be just what Bjork needs to pot a loose puck and get going on the year.
"W
hether it be funnel pucks to the net, shooting more or just being around the net more. Just be a net presence there for rebounds, point shots and stuff. ...
I think the last game in Detroit, I wasn't that good with my play," Bjork said. "I think I was a step behind on plays and with my feet and wasn't creating much. So I was kind of disappointed in myself then.
"But the couple games before that, I think I played well and was moving my feet and was sort of making plays. I think the area I struggled with was my consistency and attacking the net. That's going to be my focus, to do that every shift and every game."
