Seguin/By S. Bradley
WILMINGTON, Mass. — It’s debatable whether Bruins rookie Tyler Seguin, who has put up 2-2-4 totals in his four games since consecutive healthy scratches, will now get enough ice time to continue to flourish if he’s skating on the fourth line to start Boston’s upcoming four-game road trip.
Seguin had been centering Michael Ryder and Blake Wheeler prior to Friday’s trade with Atlanta. For practice today, head coach Claude Julien went ahead with his plan to mix Ryder with newcomers Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley, while dropping Seguin to a line with Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton (with Daniel Paille mixing in).
Should the Bruins opt to dress Seguin in Calgary Tuesday night for the trip opener, Julien doesn’t expect the speedster to be limited in his duties.
“I think if he is [in the lineup and on the fourth line], that’s one thing. The other thing is, you can spot him in different areas too,” said Julien, who noted that post-power play and post-penalty kill situations should open up ice time for the No. 2 overall pick.
If Seguin is in there and skating alongside Campbell and Thornton, he won’t lack for offensive opportunities with that duo’s ability to get the puck deep and keep teams hemmed in their own end. If Seguin’s on his line, Campbell’s looking forward to having the improved first-year pro at his right.
“Ty’s got exceptional skill; I mean that’s obvious,” said Campbell. “And he brings a lot of speed. So with me being a centerman and him being a centerman, we can kind of interchange as far as communicating together on the ice and supporting each other. I think it can be a good fit. He’s been playing real well lately.”
With standings points at a premium and Boston’s top nine filled up (in Julien’s eyes anyway) after the recent trades with Atlanta and Ottawa, Julien and his staff might be hesitant to go with Seguin over Paille in a fourth-line role. But at this point in his development, especially in light of his recent more-engaged play, any ice time for Seguin would be better than none. Sitting the kid after he got his act together post-scratches really doesn’t send the right message.
We’ll find out if Julien agrees when the team take the ice Tuesday in Calgary.
After all 76 games last year Paille had 10 goal and 10 assits. After 55 games in his rookie year Seguin has 10 goals and 11 assists. I don’t believe it is even a question as to who plays. This time isn’t for breaking in a rookie? When is? This is the perfect time & perfect team to do it on. He needs this time to grow! We don’t need Paille to stay up in the standings. Don’t get me wrong, Paille has his skills and we still need him but he can fit in the line up in order to give others a break. This is the time… if not for this year but for the years to come in this great organisation! Let’s go B’s!
Hungus is right, someone will get hurt and the kid will get his ice time, but until then a couple things to remember are A) Seguin didn’t play as many years in Jr as say T.Hall and B) we are 60 games in and he is still trying to find his NHL game. The last 20 games of the season, the playoff push, is not the time to break in a rookie. Things are going to heat up, it’s going to get faster and more physical. The B’s will to need to lean on seasoned veterans like Kelly, Peverley, and Paille to stay up in the standings.
somebody will either get hurt or suck enough for segzy to play. think how many games boychuk sat last year before he got a chance to shine.
I have to agree. Bergy and Marchand with Seguin would be a good line. It would be fast and with over half of the line being responsible two way players it would create a great learning environment fot Seguin. Fourth line duties are ridiculous though. He won’t fit in. Peverly, Seguin and Ryder would be good too.
Chris-
Based on what you just said, I’d say you know a lot. Rex does still go to the corners…but he just doesn’t win battles. Being with Bergy and Marchand could give Seguin some confidence and room to operate.
Why not look at putting Horton down to a lower line and put Seguin on the top line. Horton is not playing all that great and maybe a demotion would bring his game up to where it should be.
It’s seemed like he’s been screwed all year. From the start of the season, I think Claude knew his top six and bottom three and the third line has been the leftovers, so unfortunately, Seguin got stuck with Ryder and Wheeler, who are just not guys who are going to help him develop. I wanted to see him with Bergeron and Recchi from the start. I think he’d have done well learning from those two, but what do I know?
SIT RYDER. He is a MINUS – ONE! He’s the only forward to be below zero +/-. I know you’re in love with him Claude, but Seguin deserves to play and Ryder does not.
Seguin should replace Recchi who is doing nothing – if marchand has flourished with Bergy then Seguin could possibly take off. Recchi looks done
sitting him doesn’t send the right message after the last few games but demoting him does? as usual, you are clueless. kelly and peverly haven’t earned anything, what happened to the idea of earned ice time?
GR90, Marian Gaborik is exactly what the boston offense is lacking. minus the injuries of course.
I’m not sure that Claude has any clue on how to develop Seguin, particularly with the current lineup. Yes, Seggy has learned more about defense and responsibility, but Claude will never take a risk and skate him with Bergeron to give REX a rest.
“Sitting the kid after he got his act together post-scratches really doesn’t send the right message.”
– exactly MCK
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matt Kalman, BostonSports93. BostonSports93 said: RT @TheBruinsBlog: New blog: Fourth-line time better than no time at this stage of Seguin's career http://bit.ly/g1PxQL #bruins [...]
I really hope SegNasty gets bumped up to another line for the games vs. the Oil and Ottawa. The B’s can hopefully afford the risk, and compensate accordingly in those games. The kid is going to be a hell of a player once he gains some mass and some more confidence.
On a side note, I’ve read about so many people being up in arms about Claude’s approach to coaching the kid… saying he’s going to “stunt his growth” as an offensive player. But if Tyler can learn to be responsible in both ends, as well as a hard worker in the dirty areas (both of which I believe Claude can teach, with the help of guys like Bergeron), then he will get much more out of his NHL career. His skill and shot will always be there, but if this kid can develop a serious work ethic, he will be great. If not, he’ll be another Marian Gaborik.
Depth is such a lovely and valuable thing.