
Hunwick/By S. Bradley
WILMINGTON, Mass. – Probably the worst time in any sport to post a blatantly ugly stat is opening day.
Whether you go 0-for-5 at the plate or shoot 0-for-10 from the floor, you’re digging yourself a big hole right off the bat and attracting the fans’ eyes to your stat line right away.
Matt Hunwick suffered that fate two weeks ago in Prague, as his minus-3 was one of the more repulsive numbers on the Bruins’ ledger after their 5-2 season-opening loss to Phoenix.
Folks were so up in arms about the defenseman’s poor play (even though he was one of several perpetrators in Boston’s awful outing), you’d have thought they were going to storm his downtown apartment with torches, dress him up in a Dennis Wideman sweater and carry him out to pasture.
Such is the life of an NHL defenseman, especially in Boston where the standard has been set by guys named Orr and Bourque. Even captain Zdeno Chara isn’t immune to an inordinate amount of criticism.
But a funny thing happened after that minus-3. Hunwick followed up with a couple plus-2 games and he’s now sitting at even for the season. Suddenly, the clamoring for his head died down (until he struggled through two periods of play Tuesday in Washington).
“It’s a terrible feeling. I know my first feeling was ‘shit, this is going to be last year all over again.’ I just couldn’t get any breaks to go my way,” Hunwick said after practice today when talking about his opening-night performance. “But the next night, I was plus-2. I wasn’t even directly involved in those plays. That’s just how it works. You get noticed for being a plus and you get noticed for being a minus. You don’t necessarily have to do anything on any of the goals to get the recognition. Sometimes the bounces go your way, but it was nice to get back to an even playing field over the next few games.”
Rightfully, Hunwick was one of the poster children for Boston’s 180-degree turn in the wrong direction last season. He went from a plus-15 to a minus-16 and from 27 points to 14. To his credit, Hunwick showed up this season ready for a fresh start. He’s about seven pounds lighter, but just as strong as he should be for his size. And he’s slowly starting to find the comfort level required of a player being asked to move the puck and chip in at the offensive end without causing the team harm in the defensive zone.
He’s also learning that lesson everyone needs to absorb in sports – have a short memory. That ability was certainly one of the major factors in Wideman’s demise. Hunwick’s determined not to wind up sliding down that path.
“You want to play well. Mistakes are definitely magnified. That’s hockey. It’s a game of mistakes. That’s what we try to do when we forecheck is put pressure on the other team’s defensemen to make them cough up the puck. It’s no secret that everyone’s playing more aggressive these days. You have to be able to make quick decisions,” said Hunwick, who made up for his mistakes in D.C. with a third-period goal. “And for me, that’s a big part of my game. I’m not overly physical; I’m not going to do some of the other things. So I have to be good breaking the puck out and getting back. If I do make a mistake, then shrug it off and make the right play the next time.”
That ability to bounce back, especially when his giveaways lead directly to goals (like against the Caps), is how Hunwick has shown head coach Claude Julien that he’s a better player for 2010-11.
“I thought he’s been pretty good since the start of the year. He had a tough two periods last night, no ifs, ands or buts about it,” Julien said. “But the thing as a coach early in the season, you want to see those guys battle through it. Had he not [turned things around] at one point, I think he would’ve watched the game a little more than he would’ve played. But he battled his way out of it. You want to give those players an opportunity to get themselves back on track and he did that. I think Matt’s progressed in that area, where before he’d really put a lot of pressure on himself and probably got worse before he got better.”
Hunwick’s seeing-eye shot from the blue line 2:08 into the third period eluded Washington’s Semyon Varlamov and ended the Bruins defenseman’s 50-game goal-less stretch. He admits that even though he doesn’t heap the pressure on himself to light the lamp the way a struggling forward would, he knows he needs to be part of the offense in some way to be successful.
“Not necessarily scoring, but creating goals – setting up a play, breaking the puck out. You want to be out there to create some offense,” he said. “Scoring the goal is one way, but it’s not the only way.”
Averaging 16:07 of ice time, the coaches have shown Hunwick they have the confidence in him to produce more positives than negatives going forward. Even those observers that base a defenseman’s play on plus/minus have to back off Hunwick now that he’s erased that early minus sign.
“Now it’s just about going out and making plays, kind of regaining some of that confidence and swagger back,” he said. “Once that comes, you can kind of do anything and you end up making better plays.”
I’m with Mark, here. Hunwick also had to chase from behind a couple times. His plus 2 and the score do not erase that he isn’t an effective D man. Claude said he wants to keep everyone competitive, what am I missing here? He’s had four games to prove himself and hasn’t cut it. Time to sit!
My bad Jeff. Thanks. I knew it was a first rounder, but I couldn’t remember which year. That’s good news. Then deal the 2011 pick with Ryder for another defenseman…
PCL, I am not giving up on Hunwick. He has shown flashes of awesomeness, especially 2 years ago. I am just saying maybe give him a night to watch the game from up top and give McQuaid a chance. Hunwick hasn’t done much to keep such a chokehold on the lineup spot. The game looks too fast for him right now, which leads to Wideman-esque plays in the defensive zone
MCK, Just as a FYI the Horton deal included our 2010 First round pick, not 2011. As of right now, the B’s still have their 1st round pick and the Toronto 1st round pick for the upcoming draft.
The Washington games was not just bad it was AWFUL! Unforced give aways, an inability to pinch the puck in the zone, undersized, he was not one of the best 6 defenseman out of camp, there are a lot of reasons to get on his case early.
But with that said, “getting on his case” for me is just pointing out what he is doing wrong. I dont think I am being unreasonable.
I truly hope he turns this around and becomes what they need, a speedy quick first pass defenseman that will occasionally join the rush.
The defense is the achilles heal of this team. Only a matter of time until the league sees what they are doing and adjust.
Just look at the fill of the mid ice pass lane that destroyed them against Carolina.
Lets just hope Clode can friggin adjust this time.
It would be nice if Toronto would give us Kaberle for Ryder and one of your higher end rookie or a 2nd round pick. Ryder’s salary should offset Kaberle’s almost entirely.
MCK: “I also don’t understand how Hunwick beat out Bartowski.”
Experience, good to great speed on the backend, and a tremendous offensive upside. That’s my guess anyway.
Two years ago, when he was bumped up to the big club he played lights out, even scoring a one punch, earhole TKO of Justin Williams of the ‘Canes. The future for him was sooo bright, as it should have been at the time, becuase he showed no signs of what was to come last year.
I think the B’s and us have to give him a bit more time. He’s only 24/25 right now, that’s pretty young for a d-man. Especially considering what he can do as he has shown in the past. Maybe his spleen was like his “Sampson’s hair” though… ;-p
Pierre, yeah, I didn’t mean Ryder alone for a top guy. You are right. The Bruins have already dished their 2011 first rounder I think in the Wideman-Horton deal. Maybe something else like Wheeler or Hunwick or some other younger player.
As for Hunwick, he is on thin ice for me. I don’t understand why McQuaid doesn’t get a shot. I also don’t understand how Hunwick beat out Bartowski.
Glad Hunwick was able to” rebound” after a bad start but even by his own admission he didn’t have anything to do with a with a lot of the goals to get him to the plus side. That turnover last night was just horrid. I watched it back quite a few times and couldn’t figure out why he just didn’t hold the puck against the boards. Perhaps McQuaid can get some action soon on the 3rd pair. Couldn’t hurt to get him some playing time early on.
i don’t think they win last night if hunwick didn’t score that goal. i was there and he sucked the life out of the crowd.
Ryder + ??? to land a high-end D? Perhaps the Bruins own 1st pick in 2011 draft knowing that they hold the Leafs 1st round pick? Regardless of Ryder’s performance it’s gonna take more than him to land someone in the Seidenberg or above class. Just not many of those guys available.
This defense worries me. I keep saying it, but I hope Ryder lights it up so they can go out and get a top shelf defenseman
I wouldn’t say there’s a “slew” of D-talent in the B’s organization. I actually think the lack of D depth is a cause for concern. If you are referring to Kampfer, Bartkowski, and Alexandrov – sure, nice prospects but are any of those guys projected to be impact, top pair D? Doubt it, more like depth guys in the NHL. As for Hunwick, let’s not count him out yet. If he builds confidence and pulls it all together-could be very valuable. C’mon Hunny!!
I remember a similar lucky goal from him last year as well.
His turnover that led to the Caps’ only goal of the game last night was (on my count) Hunwick’s third unforced turnover of the game. After that, i stopped counting.
Either way, as an impending RFA in July and the slew of talent on the blue-line in Boston/Providence’s pipeline, Hunwick’s days donning black-and-gold are numbered.