Dec. 30, 2018 was a day that Anders Bjork would like to forget.
Set to suit up in his 13th game with the Providence Bruins, Bjork’s chances of returning to Notre Dame for the 2019 Winter Classic was all but out the window — based on Bruce Cassidy’s comments earlier that day from South Bend.
“We need to feel he’s one of the best 20 guys we can put on the ice, then we’ll make that decision,” Cassidy said. “It’s not looking that way right now. He’s doing well in Providence down there. But we’ve kind of settled on our lineup here with what we have. That’s kind of where I’m at.”
A disappointment, for sure, but given his steady production down at the AHL ranks (10 points in 12 games), Bjork’s return to Boston seemed to be a given at some point in the 2018-19 campaign.
That is, until another promising season come to a disappointing end just 11 minutes into Providence’s matchup against the Hershey Bears later that night. While racing for a skittering puck along the boards, Bjork was knocked to the ice by Bears forward Nathan Walker, with the winger’s left shoulder taking the brunt of the impact with the sheet.
Bjork did not return for the remainder of the game — nor will he get back on the ice for the remainder of 2018-19 season — as the 22-year-old forward is set to sit out the next five to six months after undergoing surgery on his shoulder at Massachusetts General Hospital, per a team release.
This stands as the second year in a row in which Bjork’s season has ended prematurely due to shoulder issues, as the speedy skater underwent an a
rthroscopy and labral repair procedure on the same shoulder back on Feb. 20, 2018 that capped off his rookie season.
BSJ Analysis
Rehabbing from that procedure largely kept Bjork out of preseason action for most of September, but he still managed to crack Boston’s roster to open the year — but only managed to notch three points (one goal, two assists) over 20 games.
In 216:13 of 5v5 TOI this season, Bjork generated a Corsi For Percentage of 47.99 — the lowest mark for any Bruins skater logging over 10 games played this season. During that extended stretch of 5v5 play in which Bjork was out on the ice, opponents held a 32-17 edge in high-danger scoring chances.
Despite his lack of scoring and disappointing possession-focused statline, Cassidy was encouraged by Bjork’s play away from the puck this season — as well as the strides that the young skater made to add some weight in order to adapt to a heavier NHL game.
But when speaking after Bjork’s demotion at the end of November, Cassidy admitted that Bjork still had plenty to learn when it comes to replicating the scoring touch he mastered with the Fighting Irish (109 points in 115 collegiate games).
“We felt like he wasn’t getting inside enough, he wasn’t driving deep enough wide,” Cassidy said. “What we found when he first got here, he'd get over to the blue line, slow down a bit and try to cut inside every time. The D wasn’t respecting his outside speed, so you’ve got to back them off by driving deep or chip and chase yourself, find a way that they know, that you’ll get it behind them and then they’ll start to give you the space in front of them.
“He was starting to do that, now it’s finding that happy medium. That was one of the messages. Hit the net with his shots. Not every shot has to be a post and in kind of effort. When it’s there, pick your corner. Otherwise, let’s find some 2 -or-1s, we call them, where you hit the net and have a second chance. I thought away from the puck, he had been doing what we had been asking for the most part.”
Much like last offseason, it wouldn't come as much of a surprise to see Bjork continue to work on building some upper-body strength — one shortcoming to his game that has limited his ability to contribute and stay involved in the offensive zone.
It’s a period of adjustment that all young forwards must go through, with Cassidy noting that
Peter Cehlarik
had to put on some weight and add some tenacity to his game in the O-zone before putting things together in his quick start to this season.
“He’s a bigger body and little more mature, so he can hold his ground, I guess, for a better term,” Cassidy said of Cehlarik. “Ryan Donato is trying to get there. He’s just not as strong on his skates as Peter right now, so we’re trying to encourage
(Danton) Heinen
when he’s in that role to get there.
Jake (DeBrusk)
gets there all the time with his footspeed. He’s got so much speed that sometimes he doesn’t stop there, like his tip chance. Those are all things we’re trying to encourage. Those are power forward qualities, and Anders Bjork and them are not 6-foot-3 guys, but that’s the new NHL. We’re trying to get them to hang around there as much as possible. “
Given the nature of his injury and the time needed for Bjork it recover, it’s still another disheartening development for a skater that flashes plenty of promises — but has been unable to put it all together at the NHL level.
There’s been times where Bjork has fit in seamlessly in a top-six role in Boston. Starting last year on Boston’s top line with
Patrice Bergeron
and
Brad Marchand
, Bjork served as a nice compliment to a trio that generated four 5v5 goals over 12 games while posting a Corsi-For Percentage of 60.38.
While you’d imagine that Bjork will once again contend for a roster spot with the B’s come September, it’s still a tough break for a talented prospect that has failed to crack 40 games played in either of his first two seasons in pro hockey.
