The annual Boston Bruins golf outing at the International Golf Club in Bolton signals that training camp is around the corner. It also provides the first opportunity for the Bruins to fully get together before embarking on the upcoming season.
Prior to hitting the links on a beautiful Monday afternoon, a few of the players, namely Patrice Bergeron, spoke to the media in attendance about turning the page and focusing on the 2019-20 campaign.
Bergeron was in good spirits as he took questions from reporters for the first time since June. But the longest-tenured Bruin admitted that his lingering injuries from Boston’s postseason run might hinder his preseason availability a little bit.
“That’s still a question, I’m not sure if I am going to be limited. It’s better but still lingering a bit most of the summer,” Bergeron said about his health. “I got a PRP shot in July I think and I am slowly ramping it up on the ice. I think we are trying to shoot for more of October than Thursday.”
As Bruce Cassidy has alluded to several times this offseason, training camp will have a very different feel following the team’s lengthy playoff run.
Bergeron’s absence gives Cassidy an opportunity to evaluate his young centerman in the system. Jack Studnicka and Trent Frederic are just a couple of prospects itching to earn playing time in Boston.
This might be a blessing in disguise. Bergeron is one of the best centers in the league and the Bruins need him in the lineup. Yet Cassidy and the coaching staff know that they need to manage Bergeron’s workload during the early portion of the season.
A vital key for the Bruins this season relies on keeping players as fresh as possible come crunch time. Bergeron acknowledged that thought before swinging his first tee shot on Monday.
“Kind of take this slowly and make sure you are getting ready for October instead of getting ready for first day of camp. I think it’s kind of how you are able to build that up and how you are able to feel good in January and February,” Bergeron said about his approach to the season after the short summer.
“I think that is what the team is going to do to manage workload and whatnot. That’s what I have seen in the past based on experience in 2013 and 2011 and I know that’s something that is being talked about right now.”
We don’t know when Bergeron will hit the ice for the first time this year. But we know the Bruins will report to Training Camp on Thursday for off-ice testing before lacing up the skates for their first practice on Friday at Warrior Ice Arena.
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