Bochenski Clicks With Bruins

 

Justin Dahan (HV)

 

Bruins players looked to the ground dejected; a jubilant Brandon Bochenski had his arms raised. The date was, October 15, 2005 and Brandon Bochenski had just scored his first NHL goal, while a member of the Ottawa Senators.

Fast forward to 2007, two teams later Bochenski is now a member of that same team he scored his first goal against, the Boston Bruins. Since being traded to the Bruins from the Chicago Blackhawks earlier in the season, Bochenski has had a major impact for his new club. There has never been any question about Bochenski’s talent to put the puck in the net. He starred for the University of North Dakota and quickly moved on to the AHL, his first year with the Binghamton Senators he notched 70 points in 75 games, 34 of those points being goals.

For some reason Bochenski was never able to take his scoring touch to the NHL. In his rookie season he scored 6 goals and 7 assists for the Ottawa Senators in 20 games. He was sent back to Binghamton where he played 33 games and scored 22 goals and 46 points. At the trade deadline, he was traded to Chicago where he played another 20 games scoring only 2 goals and 2 assists. He started this season in Norwalk , the Blackhawks AHL affiliate. He only played 10 games for the Blackhawks, scoring just 2 goals, before being traded to the Bruins. Bochenski has only been in Boston for 8 games but has already notched 8 points, 5 goals and 3 assists.

“He’s a dangerous player, he almost goes unnoticed and all of a sudden he’ll make a play, strip a puck, score a goal, get an assist and that’s what we’ve seen to-date since I had him.” Was how Boston Bruins coach, Dave Lewis, described Bochenski’s play as a Bruin. Perhaps that is why he was unable to stick with another team, they didn’t give him enough of a chance.

With all the injuries the Bruins currently have (Glenn Murray and Patrice Bergeron); Bochenski has been given a chance on the 2nd line with Phil Kessel and Marco Strum. The three meshed together and give Boston a very effective 2nd line, both defensively aware, and all three have the ability to produce offence.

Bochenski looks like he has found a home in Boston ; he is finally getting his chance to shine in the NHL on an offensive line with ample ice time. If Bochenski continues to produce it looks like he will have a bright future in the NHL.

Photo: Brandon Bochenski © NHL PR