Last season, Hunwick was a familiar face in the TD Garden press box, frequently ending up as a healthy scratch and the extra defenseman for the Bruins. He was a good soldier, though, never complaining and working hard in practice.
Head coach Claude Julien even found a way to get him some time at forward when a spot opened up from time to time. So just as he did last season, Hunwick is rolling with the punches and plans to work his way back into the lineup as soon as possible.
"It is what it is," Hunwick said, obviously not happy to be sitting out but understanding of the situation. "Our team played great Saturday night, so you can’t argue with the decision. All those times I was scratched last year, I always bounced back well and that’s what I’m going to do this time."
Eventually, Hunwick's hard work paid off last season and he ended up playing in 53 games and amassing 27 points. His playoff time was cut short due to a ruptured spleen, but he did enough to impress the team brass to sign him to a two-year extension that will pay him an average of $1.4 million per season.
This season, however, Hunwick hasn’t had the start he or the team expected, and Julien just felt it was time to give this season’s press box regular Johnny Boychuk a shot. Julien is confident Hunwick will turn things around because he is familiar with the feeling of watching the game from above and not playing regularly."It’s not unfamiliar territory for him," Julien pointed out. "He’s had to battle for his spot last year and I thought he did a good job of that and he’s going to have to keep battling to keep his spot this year. He had it and he earned it based on his play last year. Right now he’s struggled a little bit and Johnny Boychuk deserved an opportunity."
While Hunwick has struggled and needs to be better, it was the perfect time to reward Boychuk, who is basically this season’s Hunwick. Julien also admitted the situation creates some healthy competition on the blue line as well.
"It’s maybe not as much a situation of pulling Hunwick out as it is giving John an opportunity," Julien said. "And at the same time it is creating a bit of competition there and we know that Matt Hunwick can be a better player than what he has shown so far. That’s the bottom line and it’s not about him not wanting to be, it’s about him finding his range and his game and that is the player we all know he can be. It’s not like he’s banned for the year; it’s just one of those situations where we got extra players and right now he just needs to work on fine-tuning his game."
Hunwick said he plans to take advantage of extra practice time this week and also watch some film.
"You definitely look at film. It’s been a little tough since we’ve been on the road a lot but that’s something I’ll certainly do."
Hunwick may get back in the lineup Thursday without Julien having to sit another defenseman. Dennis Wideman, who suffered an undisclosed injury and missed the third period Saturday night, was not present at practice Monday, nor was Derek Morris. Morris appears to be fine and just took a day off, but while Julien said he was planning on having Wideman back in the lineup when the Bruins face the Maple Leafs Thursday, he wouldn’t make any promises.
"We don’t play until Thursday, so if you’re going to ask me, 'Is he in?', I’m going to tell you I think so but I can’t tell you for sure," Julien admitted. "It’s a day-to-day situation with him. It’s maintenance and we’re hoping everything goes well by the time Thursday goes around."
