Lauzon, Studnicka Starting at the Top

BOSTON - Youngsters Jeremy Lauzon and Jack Studnicka are starting out on top.
For the first few days of camp, the two former second-round picks are getting looks on the top defense pairing and top line, respectively, as the Bruins' brass tries to determine which combinations will work best for the 2020-21 version of the Black & Gold.
Studnicka, the 53rd overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, has been skating in the injured David Pastrnak's place with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron and appears to have the inside track to begin the season in that coveted right wing spot.

"It's no secret those two have unbelievable chemistry, the way that they see the ice and the ability to play with each other is awesome," said Studnicka. "They like to play at a high pace, always moving their feet, always separating from guys. I just want to hop in there and if given the opportunity, just play my game and play to my strengths, which is speed and playmaking and just playing at a high tempo like those two like to.
"They're really good players together. If I'm fortunate to get an opportunity, just little things like pace and being in the right spots, hopefully begin to read off them a little bit better and hopefully fit in and create some chemistry."
It is not the 21-year-old's first time playing with Boston's dynamic duo. Studnicka practiced in the same spot at times during the summer bubble in Toronto and was on a line with Marchand during the Bruins' preseason trip to China in 2018. During each instance, both have made sure to provide advice and guidance when it comes to learning systems and making adjustments.
"Every time it gets easier, but I think I'm at the point in my career where whoever I'm out there with I'm comfortable, a sense of I believe that I belong," said Studnicka. "They're big-name players obviously, but I'm just trying to play my game and definitely feel comfortable."

Studnicka led the P-Bruins in scoring in 2019-20, registering 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists) in 60 games. The Ontario native also made his NHL debut last season in Montreal, picking up an assist in the B's victory, before suiting up for five postseason games in Toronto.
"I think it was great to get into some games in the bubble," said Studnicka, who Tuukka Rask on Wednesday called one of the standouts of camp so far. "That helped with my training this summer because I realized what pace I have to be able to play at and the kind of shape I need to be in, specific things like holding onto the puck in the offensive zone instead of chucking it and hoping.
"Things that I learned about my game that takes being in real NHL action to learn, to see what you have to do to become the player to consistently be in the lineup."
Lauzon, meanwhile, is stepping into some pretty large shoes. With Zdeno Chara now suiting up in Washington, the 23-year-old Quebec native has found himself alongside Charlie McAvoy on the Bruins' top defense pairing.
"Me and C-Mac talked a lot," said Lauzon, who switched from No. 79 to No. 55 for this season. "I think he's comfortable playing with me and I'm comfortable playing with him…we're still trying to learn from each other and learn how the other plays. We're just trying to be straightforward with each other and concentrating on those little details."
The 6-foot-1, 204-pounder was the 52nd overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and has played 35 games with the big club over the past two seasons. He also saw acrion in six playoff games over the summer.
"The bubble, I'm just trying to turn the page, looking forward to the opportunity that I have this year," Lauzon said when asked about finding himself out of the lineup at times. "I was just concentrating on getting ready off ice and on ice and just get to camp in shape."
Lauzon, who has two goals at the NHL level, is aiming to improve his offensive zone play and get more pucks to the net. He is also hoping to put his large frame and patented snarl to good use.
"Obviously I'm a big body that plays hard, wins some puck battles," said Lauzon. "I think me and Charlie could be a really good pair together. We're both guys that compete a lot and can log minutes against big lines. That's my goal.
"I want to make Charlie better and I'm gonna focus on that and I think it's a big opportunity and I think I'm ready for it and I've just got to jump into it and make a good impression."

Scrimmage Scenes

The Bruins held an intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday afternoon at Warrior Ice Arena with NHL officials in what will be the closest thing to game action they get to experience before the regular season begins in New Jersey in a week.
It was a high-paced affair with plenty of jump and jam and had goals from Nick Ritchie (2), Jake DeBrusk, Matt Filipe, and Paul Carey over two 30-minute halves.
"Pace was excellent," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "Start to finish, we didn't know how it would play out, if we'd have to shorten it…I liked the activation of our D, I thought they were up the ice a lot trying to be part of the offense. I thought our O-zone play at the O-zone blue line was good and crisp. We finished some plays around the net. Slot coverage we'll look at, thought there were some breakdowns.
"Overall, energy was good, compete. We didn't expect guys to be running each other but puck battles were good. I liked it. I thought there were some good plays, some good saves, wasn't sloppy, didn't break down, not a lot of unforced errors.
"For the first scrimmage after a long time off, I thought it was real good intensity and pace."
Cassidy liked what he saw from Filipe, the Lynnfield native and Northeastern alum who was signed to a two-year, entry-level deal in August. The 23-year-old winger finished a breakaway five-hole through Tuukka Rask.
"He can really get around the ice," said Cassidy. "Scored a nice goal. He's got good pace to his game once he gets going."
The B's boss also thought young defensemen Urho Vaakanainen, Jack Ahcan, and Nick Wolff, as well as veteran blue liners John Moore and Kevan Miller, acquitted themselves well during the scrimmage.

Taking it Easy

Marchand did not participate in Thursday's scrimmage as he takes a cautious approach in his recovery from offseason hernia surgery. The winger had participated in every other camp session and appears on track to play on Opening Night in New Jersey.
"We're going to scrimmage again [on Friday], I believe," said Marchand. "I just started skating with the guys on Monday and only half a practice and a full one [on Wednesday]. It was more just to not do too much too early. The last thing I want to do is take a step back when I'm right there to being good to go.
"It wasn't necessary to play two scrimmages in two days. That was more what it was. Just have to hang out and relax and recover and make sure that we continue to trend up and not take a step back."

Staying Quiet

David Krejci is entering his 15th season with the Black & Gold and the final year of a six-year, $43.5 million deal that was signed in 2014. The veteran pivot, 34, said that to this point he has not had any discussion with the Bruins about an extension.
"No talks," said Krejci, who has centered Jake DeBrusk and Ondrej Kase during camp. "Like I've mentioned before, I'm not planning on retiring after this season, but I understand with the COVID situation, there are other things more important than me talking about an extension right now."

Thursday's Scrimmage Lines

FORWARDS
Anders Bjork - Patrice Bergeron - Jack Studnicka
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Ondrej Kase
Nick Ritchie - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Trent Frederic - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
Paul Carey - Par Lindholm - Zach Senyshyn
Matt Filipe/Cameron Hughes - Greg McKegg - Robert Lantosi
DEFENSEMEN
Jeremy Lauzon - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
John Moore - Connor Clifton
Jakub Zboril - Kevan Miller
Jack Ahcan - Steven Kampfer
Urho Vaakanainen - Nick Wolff
GOALIES
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Daniel Vladar
Jeremy Swayman
Callum Booth
UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE
David Pastrnak
Karson Kuhlman
Oskar Steen
Anton Blidh