The Boston Bruins are headed out west for a four-game road trip that started against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. Following that, they’ll make stops in Los Angeles, Anaheim, and then wrap things up in Chicago.
Although their competition might not be considered at the top of the league, it’s still a great bonding opportunity. With many new faces in the dressing room, a trip out west early gives them a chance to glue together.
New Faces on the Bruins
There are a total of seven players on the roster who weren’t on the team last season. Going on a far road trip early in the season gives a great chance for the new guys to be acclimated to the team culture. The new players include James van Riemsdyk, Kevin Shattenkirk, Morgan Geekie, and Ian Mitchell.
Rookies John Beecher and Matthew Poitras are also new in the room. Milan Lucic was also added in the off-season, but he was a long-time Bruin earlier in his career and already knows the culture. That makes him a guy who can step in right away, and be a leader, working well with Marchand whom he has a previous relationship.
The Bruins are an organization that has taken pride in their welcoming and team-oriented environment. Brad Marchand was named the franchise’s 27th captain at the beginning of the season, and it’s a good opportunity for him.
Furthermore, it’s a good opportunity for the alternate captains Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak as well. The road trip gives a chance for those guys and others who have already been with the team a chance to mesh with the new guys. Having time on the team plane and going out for meals will surely build team chemistry.
Time Together
An early road trip also presents opportunities to get inside jokes and other fun things going on within the team. The players will always be with one another, forcing them to get to know each other better.
There also won’t be as many distractions as there would be at home. They can just focus on team activities and building a bond with one another. These factors are widely overlooked because they play a large part in a team’s continuity on the ice.
🎥 Coach Montgomery on the #NHLBruins shifting to the road for the first trip of the season: "You spend a lot more time together, you're having dinner together, they're playing cards on the plane together. They're just creating memories." pic.twitter.com/nC77du6t82
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 18, 2023
We’ve already seen things players do together, such as the goalie hug between Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. Creating similar things is important, and what better way than on an early road trip? Trust is also a big thing to establish between teammates, and being together for an extended period makes that easier. It’s just a great all-around opportunity for the team to build camaraderie.
Build on a Good Start
The Bruins won their first two games of the season at home and are now out west with a chance to build on that. They look to carry their momentum through their road trip and have to feel confident. Using that confidence should be something they channel to keep things going in the right direction.
If they do build on a good start and can come back home with a few more wins, they’ll be in great shape. You should never take your opponent lightly, and the Bruins aren’t a team to do that. However, three out of the four teams they will play are unproven, and one they already beat in Chicago.
They then return for a four-game home stand, and the team always plays well on TD Garden ice. A great opportunity for the Bruins to get off to a strong start in the first quarter of the season. Furthermore, it builds confidence going forward and builds belief in the dressing room. It’s important for this team to gain as much ground as they can in the standings. because the Atlantic is a very tough Division.
Main Photo Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
