Anders Bjork could be Boston Bruins top rookie in 2017-18
Charlie McAvoy steals a ton of headlines, but Anders Bjork could be the best rookie on the Boston Bruins this season.
Anders Bjork is certainly ready for his time in the NHL. He’ll get his chance with the Boston Bruins, and he could end up being a huge contributor right off the bat.
Of course, fellow rookie and teammate Charlie McAvoy demands a lot of attention in the city, but Bjork can hold his own with anyone. Right now, it looks like Anders Bjork could even land on the B’s top line.
On Monday night, Bjork was on the top line against the Chicago Blackhawks with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. The forecheck was tremendous all night, and for some extra icing on the cake, Bjork added a goal. Bergeron forced a turnover before sliding the puck over to Bjork for the score. He looked like a true top-line NHL player.
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy is certainly liking what he sees from Bjork on the ice right now.
"“I do believe he’s ready if he continues to be able to play like this,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said of Bjork following the 4-2 win at TD Garden. “We won’t get ahead of ourselves. There’s still a couple more games. We’ll see, I don’t know if he’ll play both (final preseason games), but he’ll definitely play one of them.”"
That right there tells you that Anders Bjork has locked up a spot on the Boston roster to open the season. He’ll appear in one more preseason game, and will also have a night off to gear up for the season.
Bjork’s linemates are also enjoying playing with him on the ice. Here’s what Patrice Bergeron had to say about Anders after the game.
"“He’s got that speed and the smart to get open and find the openings in the quiet ice. It was a great play by him just to get open and for me to see him. He made it really easy. He skates well, he made some great plays, we just need to keep talking and finding each other more and more on the ice.”"
Patrice Bergeron makes players better. Brad Marchand makes players better. And now, it looks like Anders Bjork can make his teammates even better on the top line. The Chicago game was the first game in which the potential linemates all played together. Bjork credited his teammates with his success so far.
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Last season, Bjork appeared in 29 games for Notre Dame at the NCAA level. He had 52 points in those games, with 21 goals scored. Bjork is a playmaker and he could certainly become a difference maker on a young Boston Bruins team.
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The future looks bright on Causeway street with all of the young talent available, and Bjork will be right in the middle of it all. If Bjork, McAvoy, and David Pastrnak all stay in Boston, this team is going to develop into an NHL power. While they may not win the Cup this year, give it time and let the chemistry develop. In a few seasons, the black and gold, the Boston Bruins, will be raising the Stanley Cup and another banner into the TD Garden rafters.