BOSTON BRUINS QUOTES
FREE AGENCY CONFERENCE CALL
BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD BENOIT POULIOT
On his initial thoughts on joining the Stanley Cup Champions…
I’ve heard a lot, you know, throughout the year, with playing in Montreal [against] Boston, you know, a big rivalry. They always do well in the playoffs. This year, especially winning the Cup was a huge thing.
On his flexibility and ability to move up and down the lineup…
My first year in Montreal, when I got there, I played on the second line the whole year and it went well, [this] year was a whole different story, by starting on the third line, fourth line, up and down like that. I did the job well on the third line. It’s a little different but at the same time it’s good for my game, you know, it shows that I can do. I can maybe be a top two-line guy or maybe play on the third line, do the same thing there. So I learned a lot from it, playing a little bit everywhere this year, and it helped during my game, with my game.
On if joining a strong Bruins lineup is daunting and if he looks forward to competing to prove himself…
For sure, but the thing is, too, it’s part of why I love Boston. They have three awesome [lines], all four lines can roll pretty easily. All the guys are very good there, so it’s something I’m looking forward to, you know. Sometimes, you know, you go to the third or fourth line anyways, you still play with good players. So it’s going to be awesome, it’s going to be fun, and I just can’t wait to show up at camp and prove to Mr. Julien that I can do the job and have his trust.
On if there are any members of Boston’s roster that he’s looking forward to playing with…
Yeah, I know Patrice [Bergeron] a little bit, we’ve got the same agents and stuff, so I know him a little. I haven’t really talked to him in a couple of years, but it’s going to be — I’m looking forward to [it] you know, they have so many good players that it’s hard to name a couple, but it’s going to be fun. Every line’s got some good players and I’m just looking forward to that.
On joining the Bruins as a former Canadien…
Not too worried, actually. You know what, it’s part of the game, it’s part of the business, it’s what you have to do. Now I’m on the Boston Bruins and I’m going to enjoy every moment of it and try to help the team out as much as I can, and this is my team now. So I’m not looking to the past, I’m looking in the present, and what’s going to happen later on, when the camp starts. So I’m not too [worried]. Yeah we play Montreal often, which is going to be fun, I’m not going to lie, I’ll love it, but I’m a Bruin now and that’s what it is.
On playing in Boston and if he looks forward to that…
Yeah, the atmosphere’s awesome. When we played, the first round playoffs [was] awesome and all throughout the year. It’s a big rivalry [with] Montreal, but even though I would be on Montreal, just coming to Boston would be fun to play. It’s a big sports city and they’ve been a good team for a few years now and I’m looking forward to joining them.
On what he is looking to improve upon in his game…
Yeah, for the summer-wise, it’s just, I try to gain weight every summer. My thing is to keep my weight up and try to get to camp as big as I can, as in shape as I can, for me it’s a little tougher to gain weight but then, at the same time, when I show up at camp I’ll be ready and yeah, that’s pretty much it.
On improving upon last season’s performance…
I can do more. Obviously, this year was a tough year, not saying that I didn’t really get the chance that I should have, but sometimes, you know, you want to be on the top two lines, you want to be a power player, especially when you’re playing well. And at times, I was playing well and sometimes it’s the coach’s decision and you can’t really do anything about it, you just have to keep playing. It’s just a thing about being consistent every night, being good, playing good, in practice and in games. It’s just a thing about, my game, I mean the game is fine, it’s just being able to compete every night and every time you step on the ice.
KEVIN HARRIMAN
