The Boston Bruins are only a month before the regular season starts. There is some uncertainty though of how would they start the campaign on their blue line. With Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo unsigned, the situation might get tricky. Both John Moore and Kevan Miller will also most likely start their seasons on the shelf as they progress in their recoveries from their respective injuries.
That’s also a reason why the Bruins brought in defenseman Alex Petrovic on a professional tryout agreement last month. In case the Bruins have to approach their first regular-season game in Dallas Oct. 3 without a quartet of defensemen, three of which are right-handed, Petrovic will come handy.
Petrovic had a season to forget. Last year, the Edmonton Oilers traded for him from the Florida Panthers. For the hometown guy, playing for the Oilers was a dream come true. Instead, it was not as fortunate as one would have imagined.
“Last season was just one of those years where things didn’t pan out,” Petrovic said in an interview with the Edmonton Sun.
Last year, it wasn’t great for the 27-year-old, riddled with injuries and a continuous presence in the press box. He was an unrestricted free agent, but ultimately, he decided to sign a PTO with the Bruins.
“I was a free agent coming up and I was waiting for the best team and opportunity to go with. I had two-way offers from other teams but I’m not ready for that,” Petrovic said.
For Petrovic, it’s more about proving himself to get a regular NHL job rather than signing a two-way contract, which may become risky for him.
“Just going there to prove myself … I still believe I can play at a high level. I think I’m more mature now, I realize it’s part of the business but there were a lot of sleepless nights,” Petrovich said. “I love hockey. I’m not 35 or 36 years old. I worked on my skating after the season, starting early, not waiting until June.“
Will he get such a desired opportunity on the crowded Bruins blue line?
“You look at who’s signed and what-not. I’m trying to figure out what I can bring to the table, what they’re missing,” Petrovic said. “I think the Bruins see the style I can play … it helped to play in Florida against them a lot. They told me they’ve watched me and know what I can bring. I just have to suck it up,”
The 27-year-old right-handed defenseman will have to really impress the Bruins because as of now, the Bruins have up to five strong right-handed blueliners on their roster. Of course, two are unsigned and one is injured and may be headed for a trade. However, this is the challenge Petrovic wanted and who knows what the future has in place for him and for his new team as well.
