Tyler trying to impress enough to get back in the lineup
Seguin/By S. Bradley
WILMINGTON, Mass. — Although he’s been a healthy scratch for three of the last five games, Bruins forward Tyler Seguin thinks he’s still getting a fair shot to earn time and feels a part of the team.
“Really, it’s like a tryout every practice. Every practice you’ve got to go out there and try to show your stuff,” said the 2010 No. 2 overall pick after a pre-road trip practice at Ristuccia Arena. “Being in and out of the lineup definitely sucks, but I still feel a part of this club. We’re a very big family and I feel part of that. I support the boys no matter what I’m doing to be a part of it.”
In 61 games, Seguin has produced 10 goals, 21 points and a minus-1 rating in a little more than 12 minutes per game on average.
He’s gone seven games without a goal, but part of that can be attributed to playing wing on Boston’s fourth line, which hasn’t exactly been racking up the points lately. In fact, in four of his last five games Seguin has skated on a line with Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton. He hasn’t gotten a sniff of power-play time since the first half of the season.
In his expansive answer Sunday about where Seguin fits in on his team, Bruins head coach Claude Julien emphasized that he doesn’t see the 19-year-old as a fourth-line player and Boston’s top nine is just too crowded to fit Seguin in. Julien turned his feelings into actions by skating Seguin on the third line with Mark Recchi, Michael Ryder and Chris Kelly the last two days instead of on the fourth line. Barring a major injury or drop-off in performance by any of the Bruins’ top nine though, it’s unlikely we’ll see Seguin featured in more than a bit role through the end of the season.
At least publicly, Seguin says he understands the situation.
“I understand. We do have our top three lines, there’s so much skill on those lines, and they’ve already come up with the chemistry,” Seguin said. “I understand why he’s not going to just pop in the young kid on that line. I’ve got to try to get all the stuff I can get. I’ve got to do more with less, just try to get through.”
Admittedly, Seguin’s struggles in his first year of pro hockey have been about more than just production. He lacks a physical element to his game and hasn’t done enough battling in front of the net or in the corners to justify a regular spot anywhere among Boston’s dozen forwards.
To his credit, every day he stays out extra long after practices and morning skates and tries to show the coaching staff that he’s ready to get another chance. Seguin hasn’t show the ability to carry over the accumulated knowledge and improved skills to the games, so you can’t blame the Bruins’ coaching staff for keeping Seguin sidelined with points at such a premium down the stretch of the season.
Even as he continues to sit — and there’s no reason to believe he’ll get a chance to play even on the upcoming three-game road trip — Seguin says the right things and doesn’t ruffle any feathers.
“It’s definitely tough. But I just try to do everything I can to really get back in the lineup,” he said. “[Daniel] Paille’s been playing well and it’s hard to compete with that when you’re sitting in the stands. You’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do and try to get back in there.”
If Seguin subscribes to his “do what you’ve got to do” theory for the long haul, he’ll be able to turn all his sitting into something positive for his career down the road.
Guy,
Hammil and Caron were being showcased for toronto in the Kaberle deal, but Julien couldn’t come out and say that.
its obvious to me julian doesn’t like playing roockrs period seguin could be playing a great game but regardless how seguin plays julians has him sit out most of the game not good. For the kids confidence and the next. Game sits him out as a healthy scratch. & says he wants to bring hamil & caron to have look at & what happens they sit most of the game I wish he stop making B.S excuses why he’s not playing seguin & admit he dosen’t like playing rookies
It remains to be seen how the Chiarelli deals pan out. Although he hasn’t brought much to the table so far, Kelly could be useful come playoff time. Yet, giving up a second round pick seems to be far too much, considering what it cost for other players around the league. Hopefully Kaberle can jump start the Bruins power play and we can turn this thing around.
Maybe we could just give him back to the Sens
I agree that flip flopping Kelly and Seguin between the third and fourth lines makes more sense-and if Seguin isn’t up to par then they can insert Kelly to the third and let Seguin see more bench time.
I too can’t help but think the Bruins will be looking to trade Kelly come summer and I am also not convinced he has been worth a second round pick.
David, bet you a dollar Kelly is not on this team next year.
Gibbz, even though Edmonton sucks Hall was still playing on their first line with their best players and on the first power play unit. Your right that Hall’s hands weren’t tied and that is why I would like to see Seguin just at the end of the season, not the playoffs, have his hands untied. He can make mistakes and learn with less reporcussions on the first two lines and power play than he can on third or fourth. The bottom two lines are just not good enough for that and that is why he’s sitting. I know he needs time to learn and improve but purely as a fan I see glimpses of what he can do and would just love to see Claude letting him loose with the best talent on the team for maybe even just 5 games. I think with all the class and maturity he has had this season with limited playing time it’s obvious he’s a special kid, he deserves a couple games playing with the best talent on the team to show what he can do.
Kudos to Tyler for keeping a positive attitude. It is a completely different situation he is in (trying to be fit into a role – a winger – that is not naturally his on a winning team). In Hall’s case, he doesn’t have his hands tied – he is (before the injury) playing his natural position and he is on a losing team, so he essentially has nothing to lose. Seguin on the other hand has his hands full and has to make more of an effort – so every single one of his actions is scrutinzed to the nth degree. I think that he could really benefit from a Savard like mentor – to me, that is where a guy like Marc will be missed most. In my opinion, when playing ‘weaker’ teams (although the Bruins never seem to play well against them), this is where CJ should give Tyler a chance to play and give a guy like Rex the night off. Poor coaching decisions in my opinion – but then again, that’s probably one of many reasons as to why I’m not coaching in the NHL. Keep up the hard work Ty – it will come all work out in the end – like it did for guys like Joe Thornton, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and even Tim Thomas.
Don’t forget kessel, out fo that list krejci/lucic /rask will become gems to the bruins in the future.
Yes, Rich you are.
Kelly has another season in Boston unless we trade him.
I do agree with the idea that Kelley belongs on the 4th line. I see it as a pretty easy. Put Paille in his place on the bench, Kelley on 4th line wing and Seguin between Recchi and Ryder.
Putting him higher on the depth chart than 3rd line is exposing him to some bad situations to be in for a rookie, his lack of defensive responsibility will make it harder for an already cold line to make plays, and as others have said, he has yer to use positioning to make himself open in a goal-scoring area.
That being said, our current 3rd line really isn’t that good, so give him some time there and see if he can make it not suck (for a contending team).
I do get the feeling we are not seeing something though. If you look at Julien’s record with young players, despite a lot of badmouthing involving Seguin, he has at this point seen:
Blake Wheeler
David Krejci
Milan Lucic
Adam McQuaid
Johnny Boychuck
Brad Marchand
Vladimir Sobotka
Matt Hunwick
Steven Kampfer
And Tuuka Rask
All emerge as NHL regulars under his watch. Maybe they all just happened to be ready to exceed what was expected of them (remember when we called up everyone other than Krecji, Sobotka, and Marchand they immediately exceeded our expectations for them. Lucic also just really brought his offense this season to, so maybe that’s his pattern with forwards) Maybe Julein has a clue how to bring players along.
Kelly has yet to score a goal as a Bruin, how many games? A third line player, “Really”. the B’s were winning with Seguin in the lineup. Seguin is the future, Kelly is outa here at the end of the season…am I missing something!
If someone already mentioned this I apologize…..
Claude says Seguin is not a 4th line player and I agree totally. Where I disagree with Claude is I don’t think Seguin belongs on the 3rd line either. If Seguin needs so much work on his game and needs to depend on other players on his line then the only place for him is on the 2nd or 1st lines. How much more speed and offense would he give to an already defensively responsible 2nd line? How many chances would he have to get a quality shot off playing with Krejci? I know he needs time to learn the game and figure things outbat the NHL level, but at the end of the season moving him punt 1 or 2 is not going to hurtbthis team. He would get more chances, have more talented line mates who can play defensively responsible, and his confidence would go through the roof. It’s the end of the season Claude, let’s really see what Seguin can do with the best talent on the team around him. If he sucks, then bench him.
He can always get stronger on the stick which he needs big time, But man I think I have never seen a pro player go the wrong way more times, He needs to work on angles and positioning. When the play is behind the net he rushes to the opposite corner where the puck never makes it that way then he gets stuck tries to rush back and help then cant take the puck from anyone , If Horton or any good goal scorer was out there they would get out front . When he is out front he just stands there to get blocked, Move around get open to rip that unworldly shot he has. I was to call Glen Murray back up to teach this kid how to position right to snipe goals. Kids got the skill he just has to learn how to use what he has properly. His best goals he sneaks far side and gets open . Keep getting open kid skills enough to score so many goals.
This is everything wrong w this bruins coach and gm. Rather play old stiffs and muckers, and r short sited. This tm needs offensive production, not more guys like Kelly, paille, Rex, peverly, ryder, Campbell, on and on. We have a stable full of these type guy and pc blows a 2nd for Kelly to “replace savard”, Hahaha, that’s hilarious and sad all at the same time
Yawn
I really don’t see why Kelly is considered top 9 by the coaching staff. He brings intangibles like a high “compete level,” but everything about him seems like it is right out of the book for a 4th line player. He is not a big points guy, and although I like his work ethic, he just doesn’t produce enough to be a 3rd line center on a division winning team.
Seguin needs more ice time so he can actually develope as a players, yes the Bruins are a playoff team and every point counts at this point, but I have yet to see anything from Kelly or Pallie to warrent their ice time.
It comes down to one very simple thing. Seguin needs to understand when not to round off his turns in the defensive zone and he needs to understand the importance of his own blue line. Young kids today, especially with his sill level, are always looking to break the other way with the puck or with an outlet pass. This causes them to take a big wide turn going out of the zone so as to keep their speed for a break the other way. In doing this Seguin takes himself out of the play in the D-zone constantly. Sometimes the right play there is NOT to round off and look to go the other way, but to stop on a dime and maintain a correct defensive posture. This leads me to my other point, which is that a lot of young guys just don’t understand the importance of their own blue line. Sometimes the right play is just to get the puck out of your own zone. The Bruins, as a team, tend to struggle with this. They constantly try to make plays at their own blue line (lateral passes, stickhandling, etc.) and end up giving the puck away instead of just getting it out. Seguin is as guilty of this as the rest of the team, and for someone who is touted as a DEFENSIVE coach, Julien’s team is notoriously bad at getting the puck out of its own zone. It’s ok for a kid, just learning the game at that level to make that mistake, but when the whole team does it constantly there is a bigger problem. Seguin’s offense will come. It’s his overall toughness, and his improved defensive zone play that will get him the icetime he needs to show it.
Julien considers kelly a top 9 player… what is he smoking, as much as i like recchi also he isn’t top 9 he is starting to look like he is out of gas and constantly gets burned on plays.