The Bruins haven't made many changes with the bulk of their Stanley Cup-winning roster returning, but Michael Ryder and Tomas Kaberle did sign elsewhere while Boston added Benoit Pouliot and Joe Corvo.
Pouliot has been on the opposite side of the Bruins' rivalry with Montreal the last two seasons and brings some baggage for never having lived up to expectations as the fourth overall pick of the 2005 draft, but Julien thinks he will fit in well in Boston and that the Bruins can get more out of him.
"I don't know him personally," Julien said. "I've had my chats with him and he's actually a kid that's grown up maybe 15-20 minutes away from where I grew up. So I've seen him enough and know enough about him but I think he's going to be a really good acquisition. I think his skill level is extremely high.
"I know that a lot of people seem to think that he underachieved," Julien added. "At the same time, we feel that we probably will be able to give him a better opportunity here with the space that's open for him. From what I saw, when he played for Montreal, there were times where he was really physical. We saw him get in a fight with [David] Krejci but also involved in the corners and then being physically engaged I guess. I think in this surrounding here, knowing he's got good support and our team has everybody's back, I think that it's even going to be even a better situation for him. But at the same time, we expect him to come in and demonstrate his skills and use his skills that everybody seems to think he has, so I'm really optimistic about him."
Julien went on to compare Pouliot's situation to the Bruins' biggest acquisition last offseason. Boston traded for Nathan Horton, who also struggled at times to produce consistently and live up to the lofty expectations of being the third overall pick by the Panthers in 2003. But Horton thrived in Boston this year, putting up 26-27-53 totals in the regular season, then 8-9-17 totals in his first postseason experience, including a pair of dramatic game-winning goals in Game 7 victories over Montreal and Tampa Bay.
"We've seen Nathan Horton come in here and everybody knew about his skill level but they kind of questioned whether he was able to get consistent and he showed that he can," Julien said. "So we feel the same way about Pouliot. That he's going to come in and be that same kind of consistent player and kind of grow from there. He's a young player, I think 24, so a lot of potential there."
Consistency was also a problem for Ryder, who struggled for long stretches of the regular season in the three years he spent in Boston, though he always delivered in the playoffs. He signed with Dallas for $7 million over two years, while Kaberle signed in Carolina for three years and $12.75 million.
"Michael went out and got himself a contract that gave him some security," Julien said. "And you have to respect that from players at this stage of their careers. They get into their 30s and [with] Kaberle [it's] the same thing. He got himself a nice three-year deal. So you know, you have to respect that sometimes. You try and keep those guys, but at the same time new blood is never a bad thing into your lineup.
"And you know Michael has been extremely good for us, especially in the playoffs. I don't think he's ever disappointed in the playoffs. His seasons have had some ups and downs, but his playoffs were good enough that somebody's giving him another opportunity. So he moves on and so do we, and we bring in another player that we think can certainly help our hockey club."
Pouliot will get a shot to replace Ryder up front, while Corvo was acquired from Carolina for a fourth-round pick to round out the defense after Kaberle's departure.
"I think when you look at Corvo who's got a really good shot, he's a player that's maybe a little bit more physical and more engaged [than Kaberle]," Julien said. "And we're going to have to work with him as far as kind of making him understand the way we play here. And I think the way we play will certainly help him a little bit. Because again, we don't want him running around, we want him playing well positionally. But he skates well and he'll move the puck well."
Kaberle brought some of those skills as well, and Julien, while excited to begin working with Corvo, defended Kaberle's performance in Boston after some early struggles upon his arrival from Toronto at the trade deadline.
"For people that thought he underachieved a little bit, which I think at the beginning we weren't quite getting what we wanted, but once you saw him get a little comfortable, we've got to give him credit," Julien said of Kaberle. "He's a smart player, he sees the ice well, makes good plays and that's where his strength is. But when you look at Corvo, his shot is going to be a lot better and hopefully on the power play which we did need some good shots from the back end, it will certainly help us."
