Kalman: Sweeney-Favorite Spooner Set To Seize Prominent Role For Bruins
WILMINGTON (CBS) -- Like a doting dad, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney seemingly manages to work in Ryan Spooner's name during any conversation about how the Bruins are going to improve in the upcoming season and beyond.
The center, whom the Bruins drafted with the 45th pick (second round) in 2010, is clearly a favorite of the new GM. The things Sweeney wants the Bruins to do more of, like put opponents back on their heels more, fit the left-shooting center's skill set when he's engaged.
Of course, Spooner doesn't just play for Sweeney. The 23-year-old also plays for coach Claude Julien, who wasn't shy last season of publicly criticizing Spooner's sluggishness in adapting his game to fit the Bruins' style as a third-year pro. Knowing that Sweeney is enamored with Spooner, and that Spooner should give the Bruins a better chance to win (thus giving Julien a better chance of keeping his job), the coach has been more supportive of the player in public comments in recent months.
The tough-love approach from Julien, though, hasn't discouraged Spooner.
"I think he has to be [tougher on younger players]," Spooner said after a captains' practice at Ristuccia Arena on Wednesday. "I think when you get called up, I think at the end of the day he just wants us to be successful and that's why he's a little bit harder on us. I think it's worked out for me. He's said some things about me, but I think at the end of the day I probably wasn't playing how I should have. I think that it's kind of worked out for me."
Most of what Spooner needed to do was be more responsible in the defensive end and be willing to sacrifice his body as best he could when called upon to win a puck battle. He wasn't perfect toward the end of last season, but Spooner earned enough ice time to score 18 points (eight goals) in his final 24 games. Spooner's emergence was caused as much by a change in his mindset as it was his skills improving.
"I think when I was called up before I was more focused on trying to score and get shots on net and all that kind of stuff," he said. "And then at the end of last year I kind of just came up and I just said I was just going to try to play the defensive side of things. If I didn't get the puck just try to go down and just try to do my thing. And it seemed to work out."
The Bruins have made a respectable commitment to Spooner to be part of their group this season. They traded center Carl Soderberg to the Colorado Avalanche and then re-signed Spooner, a restricted free agent, to a two-year contract. Whether he continues his chemistry from last season with right wing David Pastrnak or plays with two totally new wings, Spooner is going to get a chance to become entrenched among the Bruins' top nine forwards. Consistent, high-caliber linemates should give Spooner and even better chance to flourish in the NHL.
"I'm just I guess going to go out there and focus on my game right now. It doesn't matter who they play me with, I'm just going to go out there and play," Spooner said.
Spooner chose the blandest response possible to describe his situation. But with the open spots on the Bruins' roster and the boisterous support of his GM at his back, Spooner is in a spot every young forward dreams about. His continued blossoming could net the Bruins more wins and earn more adulation from his coach.
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.
