It hasn’t been easy this season for the Boston Bruins to get to their Dec. 1 centennial game against the arch-rival Montreal Canadiens, but it has finally arrived with the usual pomp and circumstance that the Black and Gold do so well.
And it also serves as a reminder to the current group of B’s players about what, and who, they are playing for each time they put the Black and Gold sweater on their back. The Bruins are 11-11-3 and out of a playoff spot prior to Sunday afternoon's matinee against the Habs and are keenly aware there is plenty of work to do for an Original Six franchise that finds that kind of status unacceptable.
"The fans are very, very passionate and they support us all the way through,” said Brad Marchand. “It is special, and you really grow to love being a part of the city. I really appreciate [the Bruins organization] commitment to winning. It’s such a special thing that I think a lot of players take for granted being in an organization that consistently puts themselves in a position to play for a Cup, or to compete for a Cup.
“That is ultimately what every player is trying to accomplish during their career. It’s a childhood dream that you’re [chasing]. Obviously, you fall short a lot of times, but every year they put a team together that’s competitive and could get there. That’s not something every organization can do.”
Brad Marchand on appreciating the connection with fans ahead of the #NHLBruins Centennial celebration tomorrow: "I really do...the fans are very very passionate and they support us all the way through...it is special and you really grow to love being apart of the city." pic.twitter.com/2LK6Ef6MEW
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 30, 2024
The Bruins unveiled the Centennial Legacy Monument on Saturday afternoon at TD Garden, which consisted of a massive, growling bear statue that represents the first 100 years of the iconic Original Six NHL franchise. It certainly goes well with the flying Bobby Orr statue at the main entrance of TD Garden, and created a moment where the legend behind the statue was on hand for the new addition to the Garden grounds.
Bobby meets the bear 🐻👋 pic.twitter.com/KHqwOElxIb
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 30, 2024
“Today, as we unveil this new Bear statue in celebration of the Boston Bruins’ first 100 years, we mark not just a milestone in our team’s history, but a symbol of the enduring spirit of this franchise and its fans”, said Boston Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs. “We are proud that this statue will greet generations of hockey fans, players and all who pass by, reminding them of the rich legacy we have built together and the exciting future that lies ahead.
“Thank you to Mayor Wu, Governor Healey, MassDot and the Department of Conservation and Recreation for their partnership in securing the perfect spot for this tribute, as the Bear watches over Causeway Street and TD Garden. A very special thank you to Harry Weber as well, whose vision and artistic talent have brought this remarkable sculpture to life.”
Weber is the talent behind “The Goal” statue featuring Orr and the Doug Flutie statue at Boston College as well, and this time stands 6 feet tall, 10 feet long and weighs an imposing 3,500 pounds.
The bear is composed of 90 individual bronze pieces all welded together, and positioned on a 28-inch plinth, which is inscribed with a message directed to the Boston community. The inscription reflects the core values and legacy that the team and its fans have fostered in the city throughout its first century.
The unveiling of the new monument is part of a weekend full of Boston Bruins activities in celebration of the club’s Centennial Game, which marks the third NHL team to celebrate their 100th anniversary following Toronto in 2017 and Montreal in 2009 when they hosted the B’s for their iconic Centennial game.
ONE-TIMERS
*Nice tribute to one of the good guys on Friday night as defenseman Matt Grzelcyk returned to Boston for the first time as a member of a visiting NHL team with the Pittsburgh Penguins. There’s obviously a legacy there given that his dad has worked for the bull gang at TD Garden for the last 30 years and because it’s always worth celebrating when an honest-to-goodness Charlestown kid plays for the hometown hockey team. l NH
Former Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is the latest to get a tribute video in his return to Boston. pic.twitter.com/3kti6m1ET7
— Greg Dudek (@gdudek10) November 29, 2024
Grzelcyk is having a decent season with the Penguins and currently has 10 assists with a minus-13 rating in 26 games while averaging 19:51 of ice time, and there’s definitely been an adjustment period for the B’s defensemen corps after his departure.
*That wasn’t the only “welcome home” moment for the week, of course, as Jake DeBrusk received his own video tribute when the Vancouver Canucks rolled into the Garden on Monday night. DeBrusk had his video shared with Danton Heinen, who was also returning with the Canucks after he signed with Vancouver in free agency along with DeBrusk and Derek Forbort this summer.
DeBrusk got the last word scoring the game-winning goal in Monday’s shutout win over the Bruins but admitted that it was difficult to put the Bruins in the rear-view mirror after spending the first seven seasons of his NHL career there.
Interesting photo choice by Jake DeBrusk pic.twitter.com/OPrwMqwfFk
— Mike Cratty (@Mike_Cratty) November 30, 2024
“Oh yeah,” said DeBrusk. “I went through a lot with some of the guys on the team that are still there. It kind of brings back everything. It's closing a chapter of your life. You try to look at it from the other side, but at the same point, it’s also excitement. It’s been an exciting second chapter for me in terms of my career here in Vancouver.
"I feel like I made the right decision for myself and my future. And the guys here have been great. But it definitely wasn’t a hoorah moment if I’m looking back at it. We have emotions. We’re people.”
*A really funny exchange with Bruins captain Brad Marchand and TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette this week as the former Coyotes tough guy learned, once again, that it foolish to get into a war of chirps with the Bruins winger.
Never a good idea to get into a chirp-fest with 63 🤣 https://t.co/2MnoGn5RGs
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) November 30, 2024
Biz, of course, had a crazy encounter this week when he was sent to the hospital following a brawl with a group of seven rowdy golfers as he explained he was coming to the defense of restaurant workers. And Marchand wasted no time making light of it much to the delight of all the other members of the TNT studio panel who do a great job making the NHL such an entertaining product to watch on television right now.
Thanks for your calls & messages. Love you fuckers. Had a blast getting to record @spittinchiclets today and share some laughs with the gang. See you tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/5WOxkxARvx
— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) November 26, 2024
*While it’s of little doubt that you need to take some of the bad with the good that big Nikita Zadorov is going to bring in situations where you need a big, strong and mean defenseman in the defensive zone, there are also going to be times when he needs to reel it in just like everybody else. There may be past history with fellow Russian player Evgeni Malkin and most of the time Zadorov will get the benefit of the doubt because the Bruins want players with swagger and a tough guy attitude, but the poke from behind on Malkin from Zadorov sitting on the bench was a bridge too far.
Malkin AND Zadorov each fined $5,000 by @NHLPlayerSafety for this incident in yesterday’s game. pic.twitter.com/uMW2DAoxnT
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) November 30, 2024
Both Zadorov and Malkin were fined $5,000 by the NHL Department of Player Safety with Malkin getting his fine after he swung his stick at the Bruins bench and clobbered Mason Lohrei in the head. Zadorov is having some good moments and he’s starting to get the penalty issues a little bit more under control, but he needs to play a little smarter hockey in some situations where his decision-making hasn’t been stellar in the first few months of the season.