The Boston Bruins benefited positively from the integration of the likes of forward Sean Kuraly and former Boston University standout defenseman Charlie McAvoy for last season’s return to the playoffs.
It did not take longer than the practice session during this September’s training camp and introductory press conferences with general manager Don Sweeney and head coach Bruce Cassidy to confirm that youth would be a major theme of the team’s 2017-18 incarnation.
"We’ve always stated that we want to be a deeper team, a deeper organization from top to bottom," Sweeney said. "You have to have players that can push through and push other players out. We potentially have (open roster) spots, but we also have incumbents that don’t want to give spots up, players that broke through last year that are going to want to continue their own progressions.
"We’re excited about the competition."
Much of that competition plays out during the team’s training camp and preseason games in September, but Sweeney, Cassidy and the Bruins will have achieved their overarching organizational goal as the new season opens. They will be a deeper team, but a pair of returning New England natives are especially hoping this season will mark a key next step in their professional careers.
This is a big year for East Longmeadow, Mass., native Frank Vatrano, the final year of the three-year, entry-level contract he signed after forgoing two years of collegiate eligibility at UMass.
Vatrano began his pro career on a torrid offensive pace two years ago, posting 55 points and scoring 36 goals in as many American Hockey League games, and 11 points in 39 games upon being called up to Boston.
A foot injury set Vatrano back three months at the beginning of last season, but he returned to score 10 times and add eight assists in 44 games at the NHL level. When camp began, Vatrano reported to Warrior Ice Arena with a greater confidence, knowing what it will take to make this year a successful one.
"It’s my third year here, so I feel a lot more comfortable being here," he said. "Obviously, I had a little bit of a hiccup in the road not being able to skate until November, so now that I get to start off right away, it’s good to be with everyone and there’s no catching up."
While Vatrano’s place in the lineup might not have been fully signed and sealed at the start of camp, Cassidy — who enters his first full season behind the Bruins’ NHL bench — sees the Bay State winger as a player who can surely contribute in filling an open roster spot, although he still has room to grow.
"Frank never played a lot of pro hockey, so coming to the NHL from one year in the American League and some time in Boston, it was going to be a learning curve," Cassidy said. "He was trying to catch up to the rest of the group or was chasing the rest of the group — at times that happened with Frank, but other times he was fine."
There is another local third-year pro on the B’s roster, but it seems that Noel Acciari’s (Johnston, R.I.) spot on the roster is more secure after the Providence College alum signed a one-way contract extension for the next two seasons in June.
Similarly to Vatrano, comfort has come with time for Acciari, who captained the Friars to a national championship as a senior in 2015. He is a likely candidate to start the season as the B’s fourth-line center after playing in 29 NHL games a season ago, scoring twice and adding three assists.
Acciari is hoping that comfort leads to increased offensive production and a full-season stay in the NHL for the first time in his career.
The summer of on-ice training with the likes of cornerstone players Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand shouldn’t hurt either. Cassidy joked that his linebacker-like build has slimmed down to that of a free safety.
"I feel a lot more comfortable than I have in the past. Just being around the guys the past couple of years and staying here all summer has really helped me," Acciari said. "I got a lot more confident out there toward the end last year. I know I can score goals and it’s a matter of time before they come."
"I like his game so far," Cassidy said of Acciari. "You always know he’s going to give you 100 percent effort and finish all of his checks, so if he can round out where he’s a bit of a threat offensively, that would be great."
Aside from the two local "veterans" looking to crack the big-league lineup, a host of other players with local ties could be in the Bruins’ roster plans. Former Boston University standouts Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.), Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and McAvoy, and Boston College alums Ryan Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) and Tommy Cross — the veteran Providence Bruins captain from Simsbury, Conn. — also were on the camp roster.
All three Terriers have a taste of NHL experience and are, too, looking to take another step. The BU connection, and working alongside veteran defensemen like Adam McQuaid and Zdeno Chara, have given Grzelcyk comfort as he enters his second pro season.
"It puts me a little bit more at ease, so I can just go out there and play my game," Grzelcyk said. "Last year was a little more nerve-racking, but now I know what the expectations are and how it all works. The older (guys) have done a great job helping us along."
The Bruins have depth, no matter who — a local native or not — winds up making the cut and finding success this season. Finding the right fit will be key.
"We have a great group of guys here, guys who have been here for a long time, but I think this might be one of the youngest camps we’ve had since I’ve been here," Vatrano said. "It’s good acclimating those guys into the system and getting to know them a bit.
"Everyone here is going to be a part of the team, so they’re going to have to fit in somehow."
