Always Learning Bruce Cassidy Takes In Patriot Camp

Bruce Cassidy has never stopped learning. After a disastrous tenure as head coach of the Washington Capitals, a humbled Cassidy reinvented himself, matured, and learned everything there was to learn about being a head coach. It has paid off. About to enter his third full season as head coach of the Boston Bruins, Cassidy isn’t content. In fact, his learning was taken to another level on Monday. Cassidy turned to the greatest football coach of all-time for a few tips.

A little over two months after the Bruins reached out to the New England Patriots for advice on preparing for the Stanley Cup Final after a lengthy layoff, Cassidy was at the Patriots’ complex taking in practice and learning how coach Bill Belichick runs his camp. Cassidy and the Bruins will be in camp next month in Boston.

“Whatever he wants” laughed Cassidy when asked by NBC Sports Boston’s ‘The Camera Guys’ about what he and Belichick talked about on Monday. On a more serious note, Cassidy admitted that the two discussed situational things. That includes a familiar, heartbreaking feeling.

“For example, this year comin’ off a loss at the end of the season, they did it two years ago to Philly and rebounded with a championship last year so what kind of preparation goes into that, or do you just put it all behind you and move on” continued Cassidy.

The Bruins will enter the 2019-20 season after losing in their last game of 2018-19, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Belichick and his Patriots lost the last game of their 2017 season, Super Bowl 52 to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Patriots response? A Super Bowl Championship over the Los Angeles Rams this past February.

“We’ll try to steal a few things here and there in that area.”

#NHLBruins coach Bruce Cassidy took in #Patriots training camp today. Like all the great ones- he never stops learning. pic.twitter.com/I44CPhjGdb

— The Camera Guys (@NBCSCameraGuys) August 12, 2019

The day wasn’t all business, as Cassidy watched his son have a little fun by catching a field goal on the practice field. In Cassidy’s own words, his son “played it safe” by taking a knee instead of running it back.

Lastly, like so many on his roster, Cassidy dealt with an injury during the club’s run to the Final. He had knee surgery earlier this summer following the NHL Entry Draft.

“It’s good, it’s six and a half weeks in,” he said. “It’s come around a lot the last couple of weeks. I wanted to get a few golf games in before the year starts, but I should be good to go for September.”