Tyler Seguin becomes the “centre” of attention at the Boston Bruins’ training camp
Newly-drafted forward Tyler Seguin should be thanking injured star centre Marc Savard for being allowed to assume his position.
The Boston Bruins prized prospect will play his natural position of centre while Savard is on the mend with post-concussion syndrome. Before the unfortunate loss of Savard, Seguin, the
second overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, was slated to play on the wing.
Allowing Seguin to move back to centre does come with a pit of a price, though. He will undertake additional responsibility, and must improve upon his defensive abilities as well. Of course,
he will still be counted on to provide offence as well.
“I think it starts with adapting,” Seguin said after a Sunday skate on a line with veteran Mark Recchi and Jeff LoVecchio. “You find your comfort zone. You've got to go into the NHL or
any new league with confidence, know your game, and play it, and learn all the little things as you go.”
Seguin is not a lock to make the Bruins roster just yet, but many expect him to make the team. In order for him to do so, he needs to be at the top of his game, and he also has to earn
the admiration of the coaching staff.
Bruins head coach Claude Julien will be maintaining a close watch on the 18-year-old Seguin throughout the team’s training camp and exhibition games. He has already managed to pinpoint
a minor issue affecting Seguin after having watched him perform in last week’s rookie games.
“As a centreman, you've got to be a little bit more patient in your own end,” Julien said of Seguin’s play. “When he played those (rookie) games he was really wanting to produce offensively,
and sometimes he was a little quick leaving the zone. It's just explaining to him why.”
Julien added that making a good impression goes way beyond scoring goals, although a little offensive production never hurt anyone.
“First of all, you become a better outlet,” said Julien. “Second of all, when you come down low and you help out and you get the puck, you have time to lift your head up and see what's
in front of you.
“If you're too far ahead in this league here, by the time you get the puck you're going to have somebody right in your face. So it's maybe explaining a little bit the thinking behind and
the understanding of it. Players like him catch on pretty quick.”
On any team, the veteran players often help the youngsters adjust to the professional with their valuable nuggets of wisdom. In Seguin’s case, 42-year-old Mark Recchi has taken the young
forward under his wing.
Recchi, a definite future Hall-of-Famer, has been impressed with Seguin’s play thus far, and admits to having trouble keeping up with him while on the ice.
“He's d**n fast,” Recchi said of Seguin. “I had to keep up with him so it's good, it's good for me. He could be my son, so it's good, I have to keep up with him. He's a good skater and
it looks like he has great skills. I'm going to have some fun with him and work with him and it looks like he really wants to learn.”
Another thing Recchi has noticed about his new centre is that he is never afraid to seek advice from the coaching staff.
“He's asking coaches questions, and that's great,” said Recchi. “If there's anything I see I'll help.”
Seguin has also responded well to working with a well-established player like Recchi. Every time they play together, Seguin is in awe of the right-winger’s amazing skill set.
"He's just so experienced,” Seguin said of Recchi. “He's got the saucer pass and there's definitely a lot of skill there. You can see he knows the NHL quite well because he can really
find the pockets out there and find the seams, even in practice.”
If Seguin does make the team, he may prove to be a potent one-two punch with Recchi. The two have displayed great chemistry together thus far, and Seguin has likely found a great mentor
in the 22-year National Hockey League veteran.
“Obviously, when you're older, you've always still got to have a high tempo,” said Seguin. “So he's always doing that, motivating everyone, being a leader and always giving advice even
when he's needed.”
Tags: