When Bruce Cassidy noted on Thursday that the Bruins were looking to shuffle their D corps around, the rationale was that the new configurations would allow Charlie McAvoy to open up his offensive game a bit next to Matt Grzelcyk.
But the BU products are far from the only skaters on the blue line that should benefit from Cassidy’s latest tinkering.
With Grzelcyk-McAvoy expected to skate together for Friday’s road matchup in Detroit, Zdeno Chara is expected to log minutes next to another young skater in Connor Clifton — who could benefit from some extended reps with the B’s captain.
Now in his first full season in the NHL, Clifton has gone through the expected peaks and valleys that come from another go-around in the pro ranks. A year after Clifton led all Bruins defensemen with a 0.95 5v5 goals against per 60 minutes rate, the Quinnipiac product has been a bit more permeable — with the 24-year-old skater knocked for seven 5v5 goals against in 179:31 of ice time so far in 2019-20.
Slotting Clifton next to a sturdier defensive presence in Chara can only help the younger D-man improve in his own zone, but when it comes to getting Clifton back on track, Cassidy is looking for more down the other end of the ice.
“Zee and Clifton, haven’t seen much yet. So we’ll see,” Cassidy said. “But I thought Cliffy brought much more of his style of play the other night (vs. Montreal). “He was physical, attacking with the puck and it’s something we want to see more out of him. Not reckless and I think he took that message a little too much to heart where he stopped being assertive, so we’re going to try and get it back in his game.”
There’s a fine line between being too conservative and putting your team in a bit spot by jumping up into the play too often — but when Clifton is at his best, the dynamic blueliner is impacting a game by being assertive, rather than aggressive.
Tuesday’s matchup was a good example of Clifton playing to his strengths, with the defenseman batting down a puck at the Habs blue line and bringing it down to the slot before snapping a puck past Carey Price for his first career regular-season goal.
(Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
Bruins
Bruins Notebook: Cassidy looking for more ‘Cliffy Hockey’, Bruins to open 2020-21 season in Europe
With Chara solidifying the blue line with his hard-nosed play, Clifton could be given a bit of a longer leash to capitalize in the offensive zone when the opportunity presents itself.
A stout Bruins blue line isn’t looking for freelancers out on the ice, but an assertive, impactful Clifton adds another layer to this B’s club — especially when compared to the restrained Clifton that Cassidy has seen plenty of times this season.
“He was just more engaged,” Cassidy said of Clifton on Tuesday. “We had a little conversation with Cliffy. I think he’s been fine without the puck, I just don’t think he’s played, kind of his — ‘Cliffy Hockey,’ really. He hasn’t gotten involved a little more, more assertive, more confident and that could be by design.
“He’s trying to find his balance. But for him to be effective, he still has to get those timely hits or don’t be afraid to move your feet and get into space. If teams are gonna back off and give you space, take it and that’s what he did.”
Bruins heading to Europe
The Bruins had plenty of success the last time they opened a regular season overseas — as Boston’s 2010-11 campaign that ended in a Stanley Cup title actually began with a sojourn over to Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic.
Now, a decade later, the Bruins are set to return overseas for another season-opening stretch — as the NHL announced Friday afternoon that the Bruins and Predators will kick off the 2020-21 campaign with a matchup in Prague.
Ahead of the matchup at Prague’s
O2 Arena, the Bruins and Predators will complete their training camps in Europe and will each play in an exhibition match as part of the 2020 NHL Global Series Challenge. Boston will hold court in Mannheim, Germany and play an exhibition game against Adler Mannheim at SAP Arena.
Heading over to the Czech Republic makes plenty of sense for the Bruins, who boast two of the country’s top hockey stars in
David Pastrnak
and
David Krejci
.
“I was very excited to learn that the Boston Bruins would be heading back to my home country to play in the 2020 NHL Global Series in Prague,” Pastrnak said in a league release. “I remember driving to O2 Arena as a kid to go see the Bruins play the Coyotes back in 2010 for the NHL Premiere games. The passionate fans and atmosphere were something I’ll never forget – I can’t wait to feel that energy again from the ice in Prague and Mannheim.”
The last time the Bruins played in Europe, they split a pair of games against the Coyotes in Prague during the 2010 NHL Premiere Games – losing 5-2 on October 9 and winning 3-0 on October 10. They also played an exhibition game at the Odyssey in Belfast, Northern Ireland, defeating the Belfast Giants select team 5-1 on October 2.
Boston’s overseas treks always seem to bring good fortune, as Boston took part in a preseason venture to China last year before putting together a run all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Time will tell how the 2020-21 campaign will pan out for a Bruins club that should once again roll out a loaded roster.
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