Bruins’ Leadership Proves to Be a Valuable Trait

When it comes to hockey a lot of the focus is put on the team and individual statistics. While it takes talent and skill to be a hockey player, it also takes character and leadership. The Boston Bruins are very fortunate to have a solid, respectable group of men that younger players can look up to and seek advice from.

Their leadership comes from a group of veteran players that are the core and heart of the team. They have experience under their belts but are also good-natured and kind-hearted. They go out of their way to help each other and make sure each member of the team feels supported.

David Krejci – Alternate Captain

Once Andrew Ference left the Bruins organization as a free agent, there was a split alternate captain vacancy to fill. Having donned the ‘A’ on his chest before and relishing in the role, it was decided that David Krejci would serve as the other alternate, splitting the time with Chris Kelly.

While he’s not a vocal leader, he leads by example. At the time of being assigned, he was coming off of one of the strongest postseasons of his career, leading with nine goals and 26 points in 22 games. He demands a lot from himself as a player and consistently shows up every time his skates hit the ice. His simple leadership style is similar to former Bruin Mark Recchi who he viewed as a mentor.

“He just had such smart things to say in the dressing room. I can’t really tell you exactly what. There was a time that also we won the Cup with him, so there were times that we were down, there were times that we were up, and he just knew how to manage the locker room.”

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Krejci on Recchi.

He’s a part of a veteran core that has been helping nurture players like Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak into the elite forwards they have become.

David Backes – Alternate Captain

As the Bruins missed their second consecutive postseason after a regulation loss, they were missing someone who could set them straight. They needed someone like Ference, Shawn Thornton or Jarome Iginla that could spark physicality or say exactly the right thing to ignite motivation. With those presences gone, their edge and ability to make the postseason had seemingly vanished with them.

Having such a close-knit group of players speaks volumes of the type of men that don the black and gold jerseys. In actuality, there are a handful of members that are worthy of wearing a letter on their jersey. Their relationships with one another don’t start and end on the ice, they’re there to support one another in whatever capacity is necessary. Having that kind of camaraderie is just one of the reasons they are one of the best teams in the league.