Bobby Robins, Ryan Spooner crack Bruins roster
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With the 2014-15 National Hockey League season set to kick off tomorrow night, NHL teams have until 5 PM on Tuesday to finalize their 23-man rosters, the Bruins announced some moves this morning prior to Tuesday’s deadline.
Meeting with the media for the teams’ annual “media day”, General Manager Peter Chiarelli and company announced that forwards Ryan Spooner and Bobby Robins will be with the club tomorrow night as they host the Philadelphia Flyers in the teams’ season opener.
Forward Matt Fraser has also made the team, while Simon Gagne remains with the club, still under his professional try-out. Gagne will practice and travel with the team and a decision on his future should come in the coming days. First round draft pick David Pastrnak has been sent down to Providence.
Despite those announcements, the Bruins still have some decisions to make.
“We have until 5 pm Tuesday to submit a final roster,” Chiarelli said. “We’ve already done one transaction. We sent David Pastrnak to the American Hockey league, to Providence. We want a little more time to watch him and assess him. I spoke to him this morning before practice, so he’ll go down and join Providence. Both Spooner and Robins are in our group going into the season. We still have some decisions to make.”
After being sent down to Providence last week, only to be recalled shortly after, Spooner is excited to remain with the club.
“Yeah I was pretty upset when they told me that [he was being sent to Providece]; I tried to stay kind of focused and all that kind of stuff. But yeah, I was definitely upset with it,” Spooner said Tuesday morning.
Spooner knows what he needs to do to remain with the club. The 22-year has had his chances with the Bruins in the past, but never could get to the level of play where he wants to be.
This time around, Spooner hopes that he is here to stay.
“I mean, I just got to play my style and try to stay here, try to be a little bit more, I guess consistent with it,” added Spooner.
Spooner has shown what he is capable of, racking up 110 points in 116 regular season games with the Providence Bruins. Spooner did his best to show he belongs in the NHL, scoring three times in the preseason.
For Robins, it’s a matter of hard work finally paying off. Nine years in the making, Robins finally gets his shot in the NHL.
“It’s pretty amazing; it definitely proves that sticking to the game plan and the program of working hard every day and getting a little bit better every day over the course of a long time, nine years actually,” Robins said. “So over the course of that long time you improve, get better and accomplish your dreams.”
You’re not going to see Robins’ lighting the lamp night in and night out. You’re not going to see Robbins out there in key situations, shutting down opposing teams’ top line. You’re not going to see Robbins logging big minutes on the Bruins’ special teams units. But Robins knows exactly what his role is and what he brings to the table.
“Just bring energy every single shift, bring a physical aspect to the game where I am going to be in there on the fore-check, putting guys to the glass and really inspiring my teammates, getting the crowd going and just bringing that energy and getting the Garden going,” added Robbins.
Robins couldn’t be happier with the way things have panned out. Robins can’t wait to put on a Bruins sweater and get himself into a meaningful game.
“It’s an honor, I went to UMass-Lowell and have played down in Providence the past few years, so to know the history here, to have watched all the games and the all the faces that have come through the organization,” Robins said. “To be wearing this jersey is a huge honor and I will do everything I can to represent it.”
It remains to be seen exactly how Robins and Spooner will be used, but for two guys who wanted in on the Bruins roster so badly, they will take whatever role is thrown their way.