BOSTON — At least somebody was happy to see snow on the first day of April.
While most Bostonians have had enough of the miserable winter weather, former Bruins defenseman Mark Stuart was glad to see a little of the white stuff on the ground as he returned to town for the first time since being traded to Atlanta in February.
"It's crazy, it's so weird being in Atlanta where it's like 80 degrees out," Stuart said after the Thrashers' practice at the Garden on Friday afternoon. "It felt like it was summer. I'm not used to that kind of weather, so it was actually kind of refreshing to come back here and see some snow."
Stuart and forward Blake Wheeler will both play their first games against their old club on Saturday, when the Bruins host Atlanta at the Garden. Stuart and Wheeler were sent to the Thrashers for forward Rich Peverley and minor-league defenseman Boris Valabik, a cap-clearing move that helped pave the way for the Bruins' acquisition of Tomas Kaberle.
It was a tough adjustment for Stuart, who was Boston's first-round pick in 2003 and had never played in another pro organization. Having Wheeler come along with him helped ease the transition.
"It was nice to have somebody with me," Stuart said. "It would have been tougher going to a new team by yourself, so I think Blake and I have really helped each other."
And on Friday, both former Bruins had a chance to catch up with many other old friends.
"It's been fun seeing everybody," Stuart said. "It's fun being back, but it's definitely a weird feeling. I'm sure [Saturday] will be a little different going out on that [visitors'] bench and having a different uniform on."
Stuart admits he misses playing in Boston, and not just for the weather. He also misses the packed houses at the Garden and the passionate fans that follow the Bruins. The Thrashers have a loyal fan base of their own, but a much smaller one as they've faced the struggles of playing in a non-traditional market.
"It's different," Stuart said. "The fan base isn't what it is up here, but it's tough to compare any place to Boston. The fans are so good here."
Atlanta does have its pluses as well. There's that balmy weather, and the fact that the Thrashers are building a solid nucleus of young talent under former Bruins assistant Craig Ramsay that bodes well for the future. Stuart obviously thinks so, as he signed a three-year, $5.1-million extension soon after arriving in Atlanta rather than testing the free-agent market this summer.
"I'm enjoying it," Stuart said of playing in Atlanta. "I was very excited about [the extension]. It was nice to get that done and I can just concentrate on hockey now and not have to worry about it over the summer. I'm happy being in Atlanta. I think we have a good team we're building here."
Stuart has one goal in 18 games with Atlanta, where he's carved out a niche on the blue line playing his usual robust physical style with 24 penalty minutes, four fighting majors, 42 hits and 25 blocked shots.
Wheeler also has taken to his new home. After managing 11-16-27 totals in 58 games in Boston, he has 5-8-13 totals in just 18 games with the Thrashers, playing on the top line, power play and penalty kill.
"I've talked to him, he's playing 20 minutes a game, playing power play, first line and PK," Bruins center David Krejci said of his former linemate. "He's definitely making the most of it and he's having fun. That's what he told me. He's putting up points, scoring goals, so it's good to see him do that."
Krejci planned to get together with his old friend on Friday night, but then it would be all business on Saturday.
"It's going to be different, but just have to take it like another game," Krejci said of playing against Wheeler. "We're getting together [Friday night] for dinner. Obviously he was my closest friend on the team the last few years. We got really close, so any time we get a chance to be together, we'll get dinner or something.
"He's my friend, but once we go on the ice there's no friends," Krejci added. "It's just another game and we'll try to get the two points for the team."
