Bruins D John Moore Using Injury Experience To Deal With Layoff

The NHL has not played a game in over three months. When they return at some point in early August, it will be approaching five months without game action. For most players, that’s an almost unprecedented break. That isn’t the case for veteran defenseman John Moore, who is used to long layoffs because of injury issues.

“Unfortunately, I kind of have a little bit of experience with this. Being off for an extended period of time following my surgery, I try to lean on that experience,” John Moore said on Tuesday when addressing the media. “I guess temper your expectations the first time out because it feels like you’re wearing somebody else’s equipment.”

It won’t just feel weird for players around the league to get back into action. They’ll need to ramp up to prepare for almost a completely new season. After all, the Bruins will be off longer due to ‘the pause‘ than they were from the conclussion of Game 7 last June to training camp in September. That means going through the process of getting up to speed.

“Understanding that there’s a process to returning and building back up to where you were,” Moore said. “Being really focused on what I want to accomplish on a day-to-day standpoint and feeling good about yourself with each and every skate.”

Moore has been skating in a group that includes captain Zdeno Chara. Although the skates are technically informal, the captain has made sure there is structure.

“I’ve been skating with Par (Lindholm) and Zdeno (Chara),” Moore continued. “Every day the night before we’ll get together and devise a practice plan. The three of us talk about what we want out of each skate. That focus is really good for the three of us. We’ve gotten a lot (out) of the skates so far.”