Peter Chiarelli, Bruins GM

Bruins play the Canadians in in July in a parking lot it would get the blood boiling for. Fans of their respective teams but when the Bruins play the Canadians. In the Stanley Cup playoffs it is even more special that's what happens tonight game one of their best of seven series at the TD Banknorth Garden. Joining us on the lines as the general manager of the Boston Bruins Peter -- rally on the AT&T hotline AT&T your world delivered hey Peter -- I. There's just something about it if you're a hockey fan Bruins Canadians makes you count down in the hours till they drop the puck I think.

And yet this has been their real. Of this -- highly anticipated series. And then that in the final weaker couple weeks is of the -- season. I had a feeling it would -- up to -- The fate brings us together again mayor. You know there -- very skilled team in. I would expect that there are. Penetrator it's better -- specifically of trying to mr. retaliate but. We get a place disco going to play smart.

And you guys saw this team last year Peter in the roles were reversed you were eight they were one. A do you think they're any similarities. This year is their continuation. And the style of play on Montreal's mark or your part.

I think cast. -- haven't changed. They've had they've had some. So key injuries. Through the or the year they're gonna be mission landing in our -- were two very skilled players. Are spit so I think our style hasn't changed either we've gotten better. They've been in it was some injuries may have been in habitable lol. Through -- chunk of the second half so. Stylists generally the same. Where we've had more -- more successes here and they have. But I you know it's gonna be -- series these guys immunity they picked it up for perhaps we took it up to them. And you know -- just I looked upon this series is it is as a springboard for our team like you're really it'll more of his game to game because were playing the Canadians. And that said a couple of times it's going to be it's going to be electric there's --

I I read a quote from Shawn -- a day or so ago when he said you know we throw away everything we've accomplished during the regular season if we don't do the job here in the playoffs. Are the expectations. For this team something that could weigh on the minds of your players.

It can't ignore it and and I don't -- and if it's if you read about it every other date so. Again I I have been part of this rivalries were very long. Now I'm deeply immersed in it and and I feel I feel you know detention. Statements so I that would -- the players feel the same way. They have a job to do they've been very good for the most part all year that keeping composed. You know likable composer talked about we -- first -- time this year and we have you know and teams commended ditch right not a soft approach so. Were playing -- different dynamic. And they've advocate Pamela. Pretty well so violently I would anticipate that they have a little while but I'd you know I'd be lying actually that there is pressure.

Peter one of the key guys in this series and for the rest of the post season will be Tim Thomas decided to a new contract. Can just tell us so what went into your thinking now only -- and the signing him to a four year deal as well.

Well he's he's obviously he's been one of the best if not the best -- this year. And east peace. She's improved -- it was very good -- but he improved this year. Whatever you sign a player. -- news over thirty generally you that you look to oh historically players. Physically peek in and around in nov -- in and they may improve his players but physically here there's skills. Peak around thirty so we you have to be cognizant of -- But he's but -- hasn't played yet slog accurately show travels and grind. For a long time so he's -- mean he's he's he's a lot younger mentally and physically -- that is agent he'll say that to any deal legion he genuinely feels that way. So you look at that. See you look at his performance. It -- such a character kind of -- place. And and he's had some people talked about what he's -- forgiveness. Success in the playoffs well she really has had a chance so that's not his -- I you know that he's ceased the -- wanted to stay here we want to keep -- and it bodes well -- to -- due to that we have a locked up for for four years.

Let's speculated that if it's it's safe to do on the radio. What do you think is worth would have been on the open market had not signed.

That's that's tough. Italy EDU look at you look at. They get so appreciative look at -- the recent signings if you want to -- or a -- on the market. And in others perished cool isn't resigned. A port a half million -- an actual -- better after police have resigned. At two -- six million net use. -- better at least terrible to their school is. More than that so you know you've got a range. The market you know in Everett North America it's gonna -- but all you need is really it is what other team. And and to get funky so. You know he recognized that to read it want to go to market and we did either so we we reached a deal.

When I look at the way the Bruins played this year probably the key word for me from the beginning of the season till now is depth. You've got guys literally on all four lines who -- that one of your objectives in the offseason when you set about building this team.

Certainly you want you want to -- deep and every GM wants to be deep. To get those players at two -- that those players in those rules the most specific clients. Ask the hard part that you couldn't. Can that players are difficult last year depth but it stayed don't fit in. To that specific lines sent to the coaches. The coaches want how we play the game that's an -- part so. Yes you wanted to be deep we do this we knew we had we need we have it at the very at least three. -- senators or that our servers that are able to to match up on against the top lines of three strong. Three its best start to three strong line so we were fortunate that way -- Sanyo has been very good -- and really etiquette but sportsline. Do we hear where you're strong down the middle it is it's easier to you know to -- in the winners on the on those lines so. Yes it was a plan. Yes we we did get deep. But we have to start the year before you start. The building in the -- on your roster we had that yet at the very recent three struck senators.

Well you RD and you have been -- all season long. But when you got to at a guy like Mark Recchi at the trade deadline a deep team I think became even deeper.

Yes yes and he had he's been really good source and do it on various cut off the various. And while -- you know going into that deadline has said about I would talked fanatic -- criticizes important. Obviously skills corpus sizes import in a grind and that's a playoff isn't recurrent. And in although markets and the tallest of players he's very sick and you see him play. He seemed go to those areas and he doesn't get pushed out of those areas at least eight years ago. But -- I mean those traffic areas where you're used to a lot of schools comes from so. He's been he's been really -- he's really complement that line well you got. And -- with Bergeron -- got players of similar ilk of -- they. That -- checked and cycle in and play hard so that they he's really compliment that -- while.

Phil Kessel nearly doubled his production from last year to this year nineteen goals last year 36 this year including a hat trick in the final game of the season. How would you. How would you characterize his growth from. Last year to this.

Well -- so obviously excused least physically and mentally the church so that that's that's added an element to his game. He's. He's he's he's better adapting to play without the -- And so that'll a lot of all his production. Dropped off from his original kasich's it is very very tough case to keep up -- we have public schools in the first half. I thought is is play without the talk to prove in the second half. And that's very important and there are under our system and are coaching staff. And -- you know he had 36 he missed some time many. United at port five if he would you know if you had a better production in the second half so. You can play he's except the fact that you can play. Effectively and still scored goals match test it to him because he's. These changes can you may not see it. Overtly but he's changed his game and Anthony's he's a lot better whereas years ago.

We talked about Thomas your teams already won the Jennings on positive he'll win the vezina trophy. Is -- don't -- the best defenseman in this league right now.

I think if you look at the definition and Norris trophy. You'll see that you'll see that he fits the bill perfectly. And that -- didn't -- defensive play. And he still contribute so offensively. You know it's it's in my treat a tremendous defense I think it's going to be between heaven and my dream. And tickets to beat the sports writers who vote for that if if there if they feel -- They feel that they should uphold the definition that he should win. Outside the definition used to -- try to best defense in the game. Atom based on its this year surprised at how he uses his size it is zone. And it's just it's just he dominates defensively. And respect you have to watch him you have to watch game to game to see how much he dominates defensively. And he takes pride in -- so for me it's a no brainer but I also know that there are some other good candidates -- there.

You're general manager of an NHL team I talk on the radio your knowledge of hockey far outstrips mine but I will respectfully disagree with you in this regard. I don't think my green as heck -- defenseman I think he's a great offensive defenseman. I'm not sure he's as good in his own and disease should be and that's where -- shines from.

While I agree with you I record it again it it's how you define defenseman and the case east they've been that his it's from the back -- He may be classified as -- really pays off it's in the packet is tremendous in eastern is breaking out ability. Changes. Changes if you take a step back it changes that you defensive zone. How you you present your defenses don't just so. But he does the beat of the fact that he could break edit make that pastor cleared resort to their outline. Allows Washington really took it took to treat their but it has its own system differently. And and then they have to change it to it is styles of the fact. My take is that he couldn't because he impacts that to initiate it it it is elevates his and his stature as a defensive. The -- you're right east east you know I have has -- earlier but the definition of defense and I think you know I think. And I don't think there's any comparison as far as what he brings defensively and always overall defense capability.

Well let's follow up on that for a second because we know we all know the -- of big guys 69 Reno. He's in excellent physical condition and can and can ride his bike all day and lift weights all day. But what what is it that people don't see a bottom that stands out to use it makes you guys feel like the system that you play.

Well you have to watch it without the puck to defensively if there's a if there's a -- battle down low. What you see look at his range and how we had told to stick and where did the tip of the stick touches eraser and where his skates a planet. -- big EDE ticket swat -- radius that spaces you can't get into that space. So you're talking about whatever the square footage is you can't penetrate that space so that he's moving so that's based. When he moves if it gets bigger so you're talking about. Making the defense's -- that much smaller and make it easier and the rest of the guys to have their Simon's. Lady has the pocket the defensive zone. You've got to the lead at least two guys to try to take in opt -- but neither are are -- him record their apparel with some further behind them. And it's -- not much to park and the camps so I'd say 90% the time they can't put two guys are expending energy on him. Defensively yes Pataki there's a -- makes a -- you before the epicenter of the middle. And it's it's what it takes the other players to do it to try to attack him. It's almost as important as his defensive assignments that he doesn't resolve without the blocks so aegis you know what EEE has an impact on a lot of different. Areas in the defensive zone and if you really have to see how they react to do to really see the impact we see is here it's of course usually registered there -- good. Is is is outlet passes -- very good. And we -- all that's expected but you have to see how the rest of the office. That react to him defensively when he's when he's defending really -- true defensive work.

We knew that after missing almost all of last year that this year was going to be kind of a a growing experience for Patrice Bergeron. How much better as Patrice today going into game one of the playoffs then he was when you started the season in October.

But I think W like kissed his is treaty camp was outstanding. And any had been Japanese stepped in and we all attributed that little could travel and coming back and we knew that it would take some time to get back to where you wise he had. There's a little bit of a -- and the of course he got injured. It's been in the last month or so where you can see his confidence. You concede is still coming back you could see it the way he if you look at the power play you see his confidence with the -- It's been the last spent backed you know we and it's easy to make a play we developed before players victim picked up for your mistake but what you're. In a position where you lose the pockets that it results speak had the chance the other way. That's what you see their confidence in -- and an agency Japanese stepped in. And he's he's you know he's giving back -- she's -- where he was -- And I think if at all it's it's a function of confidence really attic that's that's the sole determining factor.

Peter seems like five years ago that I believe someone asked the question I remember the quote I don't know what the context was somebody asked the question about. Your head coach and if there's a possibility that. He could be fired you guys were slumping then do you remember that question and and could just comment on. What this market does too.

In what that market and that was about. But. It's like you don't.

Every exceed 65 years ago. Yeah yeah you know you go through -- listen to Simon and you know I've I had established market that. The thought they have to aspect question so I'm. I'm scared to answer it and you know what if we if we don't win four straight -- we you know. Between the two split its home which you know nobody -- questions so I expect that in the that's what this city is all about made demand. Protection than -- demanded champions so we know. Where the standards are in this in this pattern and we respect that's so. That's scientist you know so well that shouldn't be questions like that against.

You said it was an impossibility. That was an interesting phrase it's impossible that will not happen -- to phrase it that way.

Pocket. You know I again I can -- wanted to be very clear I guess that's. And if so does that match that's that was the fact it was going to happen in in the east is you have very good -- Staten. -- Lawton and use it just was going to happen. So let's I don't know how more clear it could be but it was pretty clear.

Earlier in the season when we spoke I think I said to you that for me Blake Wheeler was the biggest surprise on your team for me watching the team this year. And at the time I meant it but it's changed forming a little bit Wheeler has got -- Come back to the pack a little bit and Matt -- what might be the biggest surprise for me now from what I I don't know what I expected but what I seen has been unbelievable.

If he's he's really he's he's really elevated his game and Mets game is is obviously skating. And when he's with his game is simple any skating. These are very very effective player because he's a smart player. And you'll know you went a step up and on the when the jump into Olson. And that -- This district of his game the skating. Puck retrieve it you use their standing at that gap control like a rush is coming down and he's able to pick cheaper smaller cap to -- on command. Attackers. So he's either really efficient player and he's just he's an efficient player to inspire any. Very good skater -- very strong for for his side so. These these good kid and the use it's really commodity it's not surprising dust. But he's he's really stepped up display and more --

Now Peter the cliche is that the game is called differently in the post season do you buy that.

I don't know if you say the games classmate if you looked at last Nate you'd have to say no. I think there's adjectives -- sub conscious part of the -- in the players just because down through history that's been the case. It's. Its its -- distended now out of officiating in the standard of the rules and and zero tolerance more or less I think you're gonna see. -- probably is a -- see a little -- let up I would just think it's just natural but I still think you receive those calls were. You shake your Hadden and if you look at a closer they've been reflectors here tarts.

One of your predecessors in fact he still in your organization. Used to think that the game was called differently in Montreal and it was any place else did you share or do you share that opinion.

Well. You know let me preface my response that this I take the position that officials to a really good job I think it's hard. Position your -- it's hard to call. Now Obama responses is -- it's hard for anyone. Not to be influence. In -- up in like a place like -- show the fans in their reaction to every single little. You know twister. There are managers whatever in. So I and it would be impossible he's we're -- will be impossible not to be influenced.

It was a politically correct and they act as a crystal Elizabeth to talk radio assume that Kabila. It's hard to get out to.

Yeah I know was. Peter we appreciate the time is always we wish you the best of block I think you know Bruins fans are pretty excited about tonight and they should be their team is got a real good chance of going along ways these plants. Thanks guys thanks Peter is -- an heir apparent by Peter sure rally the general manager of the Boston Bruins joining us on the AT&T hotline eighteen T. -- world delivered.