Even though some of the fears and health protocols associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have subsided this season with almost all players, coaches and staff fully vaccinated — the potential for setbacks and other roadblocks remain ever-present, especially with more breakthrough cases sprouting up across the NHL.
Whereas the Bruins only had to don masks when up in Toronto just a few weeks ago — now the protocol around Warrior Ice Arena follows a similar script with facial coverings.
“Three weeks ago, you're going into Toronto, and we have to wear a mask, right? I'm like, s--- - we're starting this all over again. We did this in a bubble,” Bruce Cassidy said on Monday. “That's the part that you've limited in your activities away from the rink, even though none of the players have tested positive and there's a lot of that stuff going on — the new regulations. And it's all for everybody's good, we understand that. But it does get tiring mentally.”
Of course, some of those new mandates are a direct result of Cassidy himself contracting COVID, with the B’s bench boss missing six games while on the mend.
Cassidy officially returned to the club in an on-ice for Monday’s practice — with the 56-year-old dodging any major complications with the virus.
"Mine was okay, the toughest day I had was the Vancouver game at home, I tested positive the next day. Bad, bad headaches,” Cassidy said of his time in quarantine. “And at first I'm like, is, 'Was it that stressful?’ You know what I mean? But now I know why — looking back, so I had two or three bad days.
“And then that's it, but you're in protocol. So you're separated and isolated, trying to find things to do, stay busy with the team and I think I get lethargic because you're not doing anything for four or five days and you used to be active. So that was mine. So I'm thankful for that, health-wise, it was not challenging, I guess, for me other than a couple of bad days of heada ches.”
Of course, even though Cassidy’s role was reduced during his time away from the club — he still remained active through regular meetings with Joe Sacco (who served as interim head coach) and the rest of his assistants.
All things considered, the Bruins more than managed to stay afloat despite Cassidy’s absence — with the B's posting a record of 3-1-2 over those six games, including two-straight regulation wins on the road against the Oilers and Flames.
“There was some contact with Joe between periods, the odd time with Kevin (Dean), but predominantly they were doing their thing," Cassidy said. "They're in the soup, in the heat of the battle. So I wasn't gonna bother them, other than if I saw something obvious and then the power play because I take a bigger role in that and set up the meeting. So I Zoom with the guys a couple of times, game day for power play, and then a couple of times just postgame to address a few things.
“So you're trying to stay involved but out of the way once the puck drops, right? They've got to make their decision. And Joe was great. They did a great job, get the guys ready to play — Kevin and Chris and Bob. I think it was good for Joe to get back at it, to be honest, where he'd been a head coach before and hopefully that raises his profile. He did a good job. And guys responded well. But I'm also looking forward to getting back at it. I told him, ‘It's not your job yet.’”
Even though Cassidy is now in the clear, the concerns regarding COVID likely aren’t going to dissipate.
The last team that the Bruins faced in Calgary is now in a COVID-related shutdown — with six Flames players and one staff member placed in COVID protocols on Monday. As a result, the NHL has postponed Calgary’s next three games in order to avoid a larger outbreak.
Meanwhile, Linus Ullmark, John Moore and Connor Clifton all missed Monday’s practice due to “testing issues”, although Cassidy hopes that all three will be cleared by Tuesday morning.
“Now you see what happens with Calgary right? They're shut down. So are there any after-effects for our guys because we just played there? And we hope not — in the long run. So it is tough, but it's the way the world is now. And you got to battle through it.”
Frederic benefitting from a move to middle
The Bruins will certainly welcome the offensive contributions put forth on Saturday in Calgary — with the B’s burying four 5v5 tallies against Jacob Markstrom and equaling their even-strength scoring output from the previous four games.
The play of Boston’s fourth line of Anton Blidh, Trent Frederic and Curtis Lazar was particularly encouraging against the Flames — with that checking unit on the ice for two 5v5 tallies in just 5:37 of ice time together.
Considering Boston’s struggles to get Frederic going for most of the first few months of the season, the 23-year-old forward seems to be responding positively to his recent shift back to his natural position at center — where he has a bit more ice to work with.
For Cassidy, more ice means more opportunities for Frederic to get his feet moving — which usually leads to more chaos when the pugnacious forward is out on a shift. And given his resume, more chaos often means that Frederic is checking off some of the boxes when it comes to the strengths in his game.
The fourth line cashes in.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 12, 2021
Curtis Lazar knocks home the loose puck for his second goal of the season.
4-1 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/oheOe7Yfh3
“I think he's moving his feet more in the middle,” Cassidy said of Frederic. “Obviously, you have a little more room to do that. Playing the wing is a little more stop and start, confined areas on the boards. So that part has been good. I think the physicality has been there, he got rewarded a little bit offensively the other day. But hey, the clean breakout, right? That's where it starts. You're not going to get any offense if you don't get out of your end. … The other play was getting pucks to the net, around the front of the net. Lazar, he's scored a couple like that now and understanding how you're going to score in this league as well, or be part of the scoring, which he was.
“So good for Freddy, hopefully it gives him some confidence offensively. Obviously, there are still parts of his game we want to clean up. But all in all, we put him in the middle with a plan in mind that we'd like to keep him there for an extended period of time and see if he can handle it in the NHL level on a regular basis.
“So we're still in that sort of process. And he's done a good job. And obviously, if he was going to hurt the team, we would have pulled him out of there. You got to do what's right for the team first, but you're trying to put the players in the best chance to succeed, too. So as long as it keeps going in a positive or neutral manner, then we'll stick with it."
Cassidy discusses DeBrusk trade request
As for the lingering drama regarding Jake DeBrusk and his public trade request, Monday marked the first time that Cassidy was able to discuss the news since going into COVID protocols.
When it comes to the potential distraction of a public trade request, Cassidy referenced a quote from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin when it comes to dealing with such a player within the locker room.
“I heard a quote -- I don’t know if they were dealing with a player," Cassidy said. "(Tomlin) said, ‘It’s always better when you have volunteers as opposed to hostages.’ It’s just easier to run your room and your team. We’re no different in that case.”
Still, even though Tomlin’s comments were usually echoed in the midst of some ugly trade drama surrounding names like Le’Veon Bell and Melvin Ingram, Cassidy added that DeBrusk has been a model citizen since news of his trade request was aired out in the open.
"Jake’s come to work every day,” Cassidy said. “Talking to (Sacco), he’s ready to play and not be a distraction. Talked to the leaders in the room, and they’ve accepted it. It happens in sports. The ask of Jake when I talked to him was, help us win games. Help us win hockey games, be a good pro, and we’ll try to do what we can for you.
"That goes upstairs to Donny obviously, but we want to do what’s best for the team as well. I think we’re handling it well as a group. He’s trying to be as professional as possible in this situation. So that’s the ask of everybody. We’ll see how it plays out. That’ll be up to Donny to do what he has to do to improve our team. Only he can answer that timeline.”