By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
The Boston Bruins are off to a strong start in their retool with a 3-1-0 record, but fans should also keep an eye on how the team’s culture and leadership are taking shape. The early record may already convince some fans of the culture this team has built, but it’s still worth watching how players and coaches respond to games and the media.
To set the stage for any feedback that stands out, it’s important to consider their background. When someone like forward Casey Mittelstadt speaks up, having experienced the tumultuous culture of the Buffalo Sabres and the at-times peculiar culture of the Colorado Avalanche, it’s worth paying attention. He did just that with the media recently, following the Bruins’ first loss after a late in-game push.
“I think it starts with our leaders. You see Pasta playing goalie and taking runs at guys. I think it makes it easier for the rest of us. And obviously Chucky is a warrior out there.” –Mittelstadt on being resilient despite falling behind versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, via WEEI’s Bridgette Proulx
This type of quote is exactly what Bruins fans should want to see when it comes to being assured about the next phase of the organization. This shows that forward David Pastrnak and defenseman Charlie McAvoy are handling things the right way to ensure the Bruins maintain their infamously strong locker room presence.
When new players join from other organizations, they have the potential to disrupt the locker room if the foundation has any cracks. Fans can recall another former Sabre who joined the Bruins, Taylor Hall, who was initially feared to be a potential locker room issue but quickly proved otherwise with the guidance of the Patrice Bergeron-led room. Similarly, Mittelstadt’s comment indicates that players want to be around this new leadership and play for them, no matter the score.
Again, the numbers and results are encouraging as an indicator of how things are going internally, but feedback from the team can also hint at future outcomes. Especially in a retooling culture, the chatter off the ice is almost as important as the action on it.
What better way to continue testing this culture than on a road trip against the Vegas Golden Knights, Avalanche, and Utah Mammoth? The Bruins will need all hands on deck for the next three games, and fans should expect the same resilience they show at home to carry over on the road. If it doesn’t, it should only underscore the importance of paying even closer attention to the team’s feedback.
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