The
Bruins trading for Chris Bourque this past offseason surely was a feel good
story. Chris, son of legendary Bruin Ray Bourque, was acquired from Washington
for prospect Zack Hamill. It was a move that everyone in and around the
organization could get behind. Management and fans alike would have loved to
see the youngster succeed this season. Despite being sent down to Providence,
Bourque could certainly wind up dawning the spoked “B” somewhere down the line.
While
in Boston, Bourque totaled four points and averaged twelve minutes of ice time
in eighteen appearances. Bourque spent the majority of his time playing along
side Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly on Boston’s third line. This was a line that
received a fair amount of criticism for its lack of offensive production
recently. Claude Julien was well aware something had to change as he witnessed
his squad lose back-to-back heartbreakers at the hands of Montreal and
Washington. Peverley and Kelly both are highly skilled defensive forwards that
fit the Boston system perfectly. Someone had to be the odd man out.
Bourque,
an undersized forward, battled through his fair share of struggles during his
stint with the parent club. The left-hand shot winger was highly sought after
by the Bruins because of his point per game production at the AHL ranks. Unfortunately
Bourque was unable to find his way at the NHL level. With only three years of
professional experience on his resume, Bourque may just need some time to hone
his game in Providence.
The
twenty-seven year old possesses great speed, high energy, a lofty offensive IQ,
and a spectacular attitude. He has the tools and makeup to succeed in the NHL.
His game is still raw in many ways. If Bourque can fine tune his shot and
produce on a more consistent basis, his future with Boston will be bright. Look
for Bourque to play a large role with Providence. He certainly has the talents
to be a solid NHL player. Bourque needs to embrace his time in Providence, work
hard, block out any distractions, and keep an open mind, as one can never be
sure what the future holds.
Jordan
Caron, Bourque’s replacement, is more than capable of rolling on Boston’s third
line for the rest of the season.
The six foot three, two hundred pound winger plays a power forward brand
of puck. Caron excels in using his size along the boards. He does a solid job of
keeping pucks in and forcing play in deep. Last season he showcased his
offensive ability, registering seven markers and eight helpers. Caron is only
22 years old. At such a young age, Caron will only blossom as he gains experience.
Spending his time around several accomplished NHL veterans will only help point
him in the right direction.
My personal opinion:
Caron
most likely would have been already suiting up for the Bruins if he had not suffered a
shoulder injury playing in Providence during the lockout. I believe Caron is the answer to
Boston’s third line question marks. I look for him to someday morph into a
mainstay in the Bruins lineup and produce at a high level. Given the chance he will undoubtedly
make this Boston team much better. He is big kid who has scoring ability and
can play defensive as well. The Bruins are one of the elite defensive clubs in
the NHL. They also score at a rather high rate. He makes sense. Caron is
similar in stature to Nathan Horton.
As he matures so will his toughness, grit level, and production ability.
In his season debut this afternoon, Caron showcased his offensive ability in
assisting on a Chris Kelly snipe. He also blocked two shots in a Bruins 3-0 win
over Philly. Shot blocking, a statistic the Bruins certainly appreciate and
value. Horton began his NHL career at a similar age and the two share striking
similarities. In my eyes, Jordan Caron’s future is so bright, it’s blinding.
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