- It's early, very early, but fans and media on hand for the practices and scrimmages couldn't ignore who was playing alongside each other. Some examples: Yanni Gourde centered a line between Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann; Morgan Geekie centered Brandon Tanev and Jesper Froden (28-year-old Swede who played seven games for Boston last season, spending most of the year at American Hockey League franchise Providence); Adam Larsson worked with 2021 second-rounder Ryker Evans as his defensive partner for Team White while Larsson's usual partner Vince Dunn was skating with Will Borgen for Team Blue.
Both Larsson and Dunn, in separate interviews earlier this week, talked about their comfort level with the other during the second half of last season. Larsson, always the team-first player, expressed confidence in the coaching staff's decision on which D-men pair together yet admitted he enjoyed the chemistry with Dunn and said the two are close off the ice too (they also sit side-by-side in the locker room).
For his part, Dunn praised Larsson's highly responsible defense play for allowing more offensive creativity from Dunn, plus the young defender was equally enthusiastic about their off-ice bond. Larsson said he hopes to join the offensive play more often this season, signaling he believes both in the Hakstol system of defensemen seizing opportunistic scoring chances and that Dunn improved in the supporting defenseman role last season.
- Thursday was the first time the 2022 draft choices joined an NHL training camp. First-rounder Shane Wright is winning over the veterans with each drill. Third-round pick Ty Nelson, played solid defense and more than held his own in puck battles with the likes of Brandon Tanev and Yanni Gourde. David Goyette, one of four second-round draft choices, played quick and separated himself from defenders several times during the scrimmage.
- Matty Beniers played with Boston-area friend Ryan Donato and newcomer-scorer Oliver Bjorkstrand during Thursday's scrimmage. The line scored on a quick-release shot from Beniers from the right faceoff circle that Magnus Hellberg saved. The puck bounced to Bjorkstrand, who with his back to the net, delivered a rebound shot and goal.
Hakstol said during his media session he and coaching staff will be trying different combinations for the forward lines and defensive pairings. He said the idea is to allow a few days for possible lines to stay together. He said he hopes the forward lines and D-pairs can be decided by the final couple of preseason games and most certainly by the end of preseason games.
Bjorkstrand told media he was impressed with the skating and playmaking of Beniers and Donato: "The offensive skills are there. We just have to make sure we get back on defense."
- Highlight play of the Thursday Team Blue scrimmage beyond the two goals in a 2-0 final: Yanni Gourde drove to the net with a defender closing in. Gourde used one arm to hold off the defender, then used the remaining arm to backhand a shot on goal.
