WILMINGTON, Mass. – After his first informal skate with his Bruins teammates today, former Montreal forward Benoit Pouliot was asked about making amends to Boston center David Krejci, who Pouliot pounded in a fight during last season.
A better question might’ve been about whether Krejci should buy lunch in order to prevent another beatdown. However, there shouldn’t be any fisticuffs between the two now that they’re on the same side trying to defend Boston’s Stanley Cup title from a season ago.
“I talked to him earlier,” Pouliot said of Krejci after the skate at Ristuccia Arena. “I’m on the team now. Things like that happen. When I was in Montreal, guys I’d gotten in fights before and stuff [were there], and they were best friends. I’m not looking to come here and try to screw up everything that’s going on down here. I’m just looking to try to find a spot and get along with the guys as much as I can.”
If Pouliot’s performance on the ice can even half match the potential that Minnesota once saw in him (he was the Wild’s first-round pick, fourth overall in 2005), fitting in won’t be a problem. The Canadiens acquired Pouliot during the 2009-10 season and thought the fresh start might work out. He put up just 30 points 79 games during the regular season last year, and by the playoffs he was scratched for four of the seven games against the Bruins.
“I think there was maybe a lack of trust between me and the coach,” said Pouliot about Habs coach Jacques Martin. “At first when I got there, I think he played me 17, 18 minutes a game. Things went well, and then it kind of went downhill after that. But last year I had a good year on the third line, fourth line all year long, and it was more positives than negative stuff when I was Montreal.”
So now Pouliot has his second fresh start in as many years. The Canadiens, Pouliot said, didn’t show any interest in retaining him and the feeling was mutual. The Bruins were the first team to contact him when free agency opened in July.
He’s already used to looking forward to Habs-Bruins tilts, so it shouldn’t be difficult for him to get extra amped for those showdowns. What role he’ll have in those games, how much he’ll play overall and what role he’ll have will be up to him to determine over the course of training camp, which opens Friday.
“Coming to a new team, you’ve got to show them what you can do, and try to get the trust of the coaches, the players, and do your own thing, do what you’re capable of. That’s what I’ll try to do,” he said.
Bruins16 basically has it right about Pouliot. Jacques Martin is a defense first ‘system’ type coach much like Claude Julien. Pouliot has some scoring touch and has a good shot. If given 1st or 2nd line minutes, he could probably reach 20-25 goals and maybe 50 points but his defensive game and overall effort is not good enough for him to be there.
He may have only had 30 points but when you consider he was on the 3rd and 4th line on a team that can’t score 5 on 5, those numbers don’t look so bad.
As much as I hate to say it, I expect Pouliot, like so many ex-habs, to flourish elsewhere. In Boston, the physical aspect of his game will be encouraged. If he doesn’t hold up his end defensively, I don’t think the Bruins locker-room will tolerate it for a minute. Not only do the Bruins have the pride of the Stanley cup champs to maintain, but they also have leaders like Thornton, Thomas and Chara that will keep him in line.
If you guys run into injury problems and Pouliot’s minutes increase, you might be pleasantly surprised by his play.
His biggest glaring weakness is that he is easily knocked off the puck and somehow despite having made it all the way to the NHL, has very bad balance on his skates. He’s be spending more time on his ass than you are accustomed to seeing players spend.
He’s a good player and has the potential to be a good scorer in this league. Good luck with him.
I defended the signing but if Caron or someone else outplays him in training camp, I hope the upper management admits the mistake and plays the player who earns the spot.
I don’t blame Jacque Martin for Pouliot sub-par performance. He doesn’t backcheck and has a penchant for dumb penalties. Kostitsyn should worry about his own game and the next time he has to face Lucic.
You don’t go fourth overall if you don’t have some tools. His boneheaded hit put him in civies. I think he will help this team. Not a big risk with lots of upside.
I’m sorry the Habs gave up on him and kind of agree with Scott that Martin was a problem for Benny … not that I trust the stuff printed about A.K. But whatever. I think Benny just mind find his game in Boston and that would be a damn shame for the Habs.
just like horton last year, benny has something prove.
khl
benny-bergy-lboh
kelly-segzy-pev
soup
After Andrei Kostitsyn ripped Jacques Martin in that Belarusian interview it leads me to believe that the coach is the reason that BP was a bust in MTL.
At first, I was dead set against this signing. But now I am thinking this potentially could be a very good signing if Pouliot is ok with playing 3rd line minutes. Very low risk and has a good upside. Gotta think he is running out of chances, and maybe he will realize it this year. If it doesnt work out, its short money and there are a few young guys in Providence who could fill in. He’s still young… who knows.