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Bruins Summer Camp

Anders Bjork Taking Advantage Of Opportunity At ‘Return To Play’ Camp

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Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins forward Anders Bjork has been in and out of the lineup since turning pro for the 2017-18 season. Bjork, who had nine goals in 58 games this past season at the NHL level, is no lock to be in the lineup when the Bruins take on the Philadelphia Flyers on August 2nd. Bjork has done everything to change that in the first 72 hours of the club’s ‘Return to Play’ camp.

“Anders Bjork looked terrific, maybe the best guy out there today (Monday),” head coach Bruce Cassidy said after the team’s first practice. “It’s Day 1, so are we automatically going to say ‘OK, he’s in with player so-and-so’? But it’s good for him. I mean there’s competition here and I think our guys understand that and they’ve understood it for two years here.”

On Wednesday morning, Cassidy again fielded a question about the young forward. This time, about the message Bjork has received after two strong practices.

“The message to everyone is be ready,” Cassidy quipped. “Obviously Anders, to me, is further along then Jack (Studnicka) in his career in terms of the time he’s spent up here. So, those might be different messages to be honest with you. As we go along in camp, let’s get everyone on the ice, let’s get the full group out there. There’s no use in me talking to Anders about being patient when he might be in there day one, we just don’t know until we get started. So, the message right now is put your best foot forward.”

BJORK GAINS CONFIDENCE

Anders Bjork has certainly put his best foot forward in the early goings of camp. Even a humble player like him can admit that.

“It’s gone well,” Bjork admitted via video conference on Wednesday. “I think for everyone, everyone’s been impressive with the high-paced the practices. We seem pretty sharp too with passes and everything like that so that’s been promising for sure.”

Bjork admits he’s “been pleased” with how he feels on the ice. One of the worries he and his teammates had coming in was that they wouldn’t have the legs they had during the season. Although there are things he’d like to work on in that regard, Bjork made a commitment to using this time to improve.

Cassidy, so far, seems to think Bjork is using his time well.

“At the end of the day, I think he’s done a good job.”

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