Whatever His Role, Turco Fits Bruins Room
WILMINGTON – The days of Marty Turco posting sub-2.00 goals-against averages and better-than-.920 save percentages died long ago.
In fact, the lockout pretty much killed them.
Turco's performance in the higher-speed, higher-octane NHL starting in 2005-06 was mixed at best. And postseason success eluded him until he helped Dallas reach the 2008 Western Conference Final. Then after two playoff-less seasons with the Stars Turco toiled last season in Chicago, where his subpar play put him on the bench watching Corey Crawford while the Blackhawks were pushing eventual Western-champion Vancouver to seven games in the first round.
It's safe to say the Bruins have not imported a star goaltender, a savior or even someone close to being on par with Tuukka Rask in terms of serving as a No. 1A to Tim Thomas. Luckily, they're not asking the 36-year-old to do that.
Heck, the Bruins might not wind up asking Turco to do anything. There's nothing that would stop the Bruins, should they not like the way Turco's performing in practices, from bringing up their incumbent No. 3 netminder Anton Khudobin from the Providence (AHL) farm club once he's healthy and giving him a start here or there.
Read: Turco Feels Bruins' Camaraderie Instantly
For now, there's hope around the Black and Gold that Turco, who's fresh off a 10-game stint playing in Austria, can round into form and at least take a few starts. Head coach Claude Julien wasn't ready Wednesday to commit to a number because there were too many variables to process in the three hours or so Turco was officially Bruins property after clearing waivers. Julien talked about giving Thomas practice days off to get rest rather than sitting him for games if it comes to that.
But in Turco, no matter how he performs and whether he gets into a game or not, brings a few things the Bruins need in the absence of Rask. He gives Julien that ever-necessary psychological weapon – the threat of a goalie being pulled. Coaches use the chance of a goalie switch to spark teams and keep their starting goaltenders at their best. With all due respect to prospect Michael Hutchinson, the 22-year-old second-year pro who's produced an AHL season general manager Peter Chiarelli recently characterized as "average" wasn't ready to loom over Thomas and a sometimes lethargic-starting band of Bruins.
Turco also gives Bruins shooters a higher caliber of competition in practices and morning skates. He brings 10 years of NHL experience. And, at least as far as his comments on his first day in a Bruins sweater, he seems to bring the right attitude. He acknowledged how impressed he was with the Bruins' team unity and resolve. He acted grateful to have a chance to return to the NHL and seemed ready to accept any role Boston has for him.
"Act like a winner and things take care of themselves," he said.
So Turco already has the Bruins' notion down of not putting the individual ahead of the team. There's no telling what, if anything, he'll give the Bruins on the ice. At least seems a fit for the team behind the scenes.
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com. He operatesTheBruinsBlog.net and also contributes coverage to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on twitter @TheBruinsBlog.
