Dave Lewis, New Bruins Coach

Open their NHL season tomorrow night in Miami against the Florida panthers joining us on the line right now. Is that coach of the Boston Bruins Dave Lewis David's -- Michael how aria. -- gentleman Oreo great thanks that's good anxious to get this thing going on.

Yeah we had enough training camp still looking forward to it you know get going seeing what we have that talking to the players you know I don't know how many minutes certain guys going to play but. You don't remind NATO -- is going to play a lot -- virtually going to play a lot but other than that it's like you're not exactly sure actually get into those games and make reactions based on them what you --

Daewoo we're talking about captains earlier and Sharon and you said in previous interviews that your show me guy. What it -- showed you to let you know make you feel confident that he was going to be the -- the perfect captive for your team.

Well when he came to -- you know the first -- training camp we do -- testing in this test scores were the highest you know at some -- that I've ever seen you know he's a big -- 260 -- need to -- pull -- Is his VO two max was 73 and I compared some guys in the trait like ours are -- instrument area around seven B 70 ones so. Those are really high numbers so easy came with with that attitude and then watching his performance in Montreal killing of five -- three was. You know I guess a real moment of definition of what it stands for the game really didn't mean a lot betray him admit. To send a message of vote winning this is you have to do this for first be successful guys not just -- but everybody so those right there were great indicators and it's just watching him practice -- worked -- like.

I was interested in your selection of one of the alternate captains in particular. Just because Patrice Bergeron is so young and I'm I'm sure you came here with some idea of what he could do what is he shown you that surprised you since you --

Well just -- determined -- a quiet guy you know watching him play a little bit last year getting to normal little bit and I don't know -- really well yet because there's a lot of new faces in the room over trying to get nor everybody. But -- talking to some of the people in the organization of of his age but his age is an indicator of his maturity is it these are very mature guy who's been in the league awhile since 18 years old. He's seen a lot happened and I think he's the kind of guy that you want to identify with what but the Bruins stand for it is is a guy that. You know he was a -- as part of the package here and he's he plays the same on the road as he doesn't halt trains are he series about the drills -- You know he he competes he says the right things and then that is I think in my mind a sign of maturity all -- that is his years of age.

Dave I'm wondering what the bigger challenges for you is it was it replacing Scotty Bowman in Detroit we know what a hockey legend he is or is coming here in trying to resuscitate a franchise that didn't make the playoffs last year. And in and in some cases has lost the trust of some of them longtime fans.

Well they're two totally different environments you know for -- replacing Scotty Bowman -- besides replacing a legend you had to win a Stanley -- just to be equal. And that was you know what's very challenging task in itself. And and this is you know a lot different in that you know -- the expectation I guess of of winning the Stanley Cup it's still here people stands I've talked of as recently as last late. They want to Stanley Cup there's tremendous passion in the fans and considerably sister read cultivating I think there's there's a strong history -- strong fan base and the only way to win the fan base back is the team that's. You know winning will solve a lot of things but -- 18 minutes that's difficult to play games and I have some sort of identity that we that people can attach onto -- mean. When you see a player like Turkey is hard to miss when -- come to a game and see him then you're gonna watch him play and he's a difficult that a plate instant if you can have a power play it's difficult to plaguing the people have apparently till it's difficult to play -- need to fight -- fight. Either for checking or nutritional tenacity think like that so that's so we're going to try to establish here -- it's you know a lot of words -- rhetoric have been said no big -- starts organist people were out and -- as far as all those areas bowl but that's what we're -- Strive to do as a coaching staff is to establish.

Did you have a preconceived idea in your mind in general about 18 year old trying to make an NHL roster. In if you did did Phil -- goal against those preconceived ideas.

That he he really did -- I guess it's so hard for a player of you know of that age or even 20 years old to break -- of national likely need the best collegiate hockey. And he I guess the biggest thing he has going for visibility the speed he's just such a tremendous Gator in and he's been great here doesn't. In the ability to move the puck so those things are really complement in right now he has made our team we told -- it was yesterday -- immunity before. That he is going to be starting -- that season opener down at -- down and Miami. To you know just to see as a reaction to every building now is new every everything he sees that I dated a basis dissolved in some pretty excited the bottom but 18 years old -- remember I was 18 just trying to. Break into the junior ranks over western Canada. And the one good thing that I guess we haven't Patrice Bergeron -- he'd -- some sort of -- knows what it's like can I know I seen them talking a little bit and spending time together in the same lines so I think that'll help that'll help.

physical skills are obvious and without much question. They're -- questions about his maturity level have you seen any indications that that's a concern.

you at all well would you say maturity level he's 18 I mean that's I haven't seen. Anything or at least these aren't crazy things are things that are outlandish she's been pretty quiet and committed here no players have talked of also things and he has he has -- he's he's worked hard he's done all the things that we passed some and you know his peers are watching him to the players in the locker room and to date -- been you know there's been nothing at all these. You know he's just he's a teenager yet when he procedures failure to Boston brought.

Dave I'm curious what did you think in what do you think this reputation gotten Detroit of being too nice of a guy.

Well I don't know except not a whole you can do about that if that's what people think it's is that group in the locker room. I tend to treat people aware that I like to be treated when I played him I think communication is an important factor I think the players to work hard -- have fun doing it. And in Detroit as a head coach I was an assistant coach there for many years and -- those guys when they won three Stanley cups all the wars and battles that they had two. -- climb those mountains and windows you know either internal demons that you have to shake out to be successful or external things put pressure in the media and and finding ways to win hockey games so I think that's factored into may be image because I was an assistant coach there then became the head coach here no I'm just the head coach so people don't really know me the players. But it's it's although winning -- everybody has a certain philosophy and style. And -- like to think that you know I as -- season success didn't have a playoff success that I want to but that's you know that's nothing than usual this game.

That was going to be my follow -- do you think that -- was unfair

you know to me it doesn't bother me if despair and fear of its its -- what's perceived -- at times externally is believed but internally it's all about the same thing it's about winning hockey games and maybe at that time that it wasn't. The reason I was hired in Detroit was deformed. To take to team because they knew the team and we didn't win so you can make whatever assumptions you want but here in Boston we're here to win hockey games and we're going to do with the way we have to do it if somebody has to get. Skated next target and explorer's somebody need to -- back that's up dust were identified as coaching staff -- to meet either disciplined player or re warden caught you know give confidence to power.

Can give us an idea what you thought process was in putting the personnel together on your first two lines. What you were looking for in those two groupings.

Well right now that two groups that are too large talking about Bergeron outlined and so are playing yes well Marco Sturm. Is the player that I know that last year they played well together Bergeron stormont boards that -- really well errors chemistry there. And we we'd signed some art works of art and he needs a player that can get open like glen Murray and and then he also -- the player I believe that -- separate he can he can create space for because martial art has agreed ability to get into the areas where he can drop people tool but he has to have people he didn't dished the puck off too. So -- has that incredible speed that I think that the three of them in utilize and we saw a little bit of -- in some of the pre season games and now we're going to have to wait and see if this becomes. You know comes through in in the real -- in the same thing with -- like felt that for him being -- with the other two guys have Bergeron and boys that he has you know he's got speed he -- create -- and those are two guys are created to so whether or not these will work for a way -- the fastest -- behind it.

And a toy evidence showed a lot of promise last year before he got hurt then Tim Thomas came -- he had some great moments but are you confident right now Dave that you have a legitimate number one goaltender on the street.

Yeah well I think we have like 1 -- 1 -- right now nobody has jumped Arafat Jimmy had a little bit better camp recently -- is game performance was. A little bit better than hand to amino faced some -- fight -- three in the culture great power plays that were were gains and so we're we're gonna be starting with -- to borrow in net and then decide after the game what we're going to do for the next game but you don't handle hasn't played a lot of games we don't have a lot of experience but the only way to get experience -- the play hockey games so -- it's a wait and see let's see what we have let's let's see how -- collectively. I tell them goaltenders that just you know just give us a chance to win makes they just forced to make you don't have to make the unbelievable saves saves. That is impossible Europe to try to make those it's nice to have them at times they do happen but just make -- are supposed to say and after rebounds expected defenseman to take here and maintain -- rebounds.

In the new landscape of the of the changed NHL of a year ago there were some some players who found that it was tough to compete. Based on the rule changes and particularly on defenses how does your defense stack up in the new NHL.

Well we have to make sure that were not careless with the puck you have to be moral while. And I really like the size of -- you don't get three or four guys that are huge and I think we can utilize that you all I was palace relatives smell or take the Superior right stick to number one -- position away. And then he put -- shooter in the second period position. So we've we've talked audible -- I think we can do a better job in front of our -- I think we can do better job in the quality because -- and restraint he can't -- guys like he used to be able to but I think you can make initial contact and then roll off. And then what citizen the containment mode because of our side I think we should be hard to get around if we ever sticks in the right positions so. It's an ongoing process talking about showing video and then teach the guys on the ice from the living experience in the games but that's going to be the theory behind it anyway.

There's no doubt that Zidane -- char is a number one defenseman in the National Hockey League do you think Brad Stuart could be as well.

He's close if he's not he's real close. Yeah he's smart he's quick keys he's agreed age for defenseman he's 26 point 27 you know -- international experience and he's he's a smart smart occupier.

Dave right after you got the Boston job now surprised by this you said you feel like you have something to prove why is that.

Well yes. I guess as a player I looked at as a player and in the course yet to do that every year you have to recruit yourself. -- there's always somebody warning your job there's always somebody after your job whether it's another the better player coming in whether it's trade whether it's you know what draft pick free agent what are your father -- missed catching up US player. -- sort -- as a player I I coached in the NHL we want to present this -- is neither heckled recourse to All Star Games. All but I want to win the Stanley Cup as it sort basically that's sort of -- want to do and it's going to talk about it everybody does just 30 teams rate note three coaches don't want to win the Stanley Cup. Every city wants their fan -- to have that all the fans want that so. All of these you have to prove that the -- sort of Warren I'm coming from that's the mines.

How do you view toughness and team toughness in this new NHL.

The biggest that the best tool you have is your mind it it it. You'd look for mentally tough players to win championships you have to have a group collectively that is meant we strong everybody has different levels of strength in that area and -- have talent yet -- still you have to have passion that the best tool you have your mind and if if you can train yourself for you know we can train some guys to be met we talked to knows -- up hockey games you'll have more success not so that that's the one thing about toughness I think. He can be tough at home and not to talk to several borrowers to be possible series but that comes from the meant district but the does mystery.

From the years that we've been in this city we all know that the circus comes to town in October in the -- start the year on the road in some aspects though. Is that a good thing in terms of team building and things like that to begin on the road the way you are.

Yeah I know it is good it's it's good we're having a dinner articulate mystic coast of Florida get the guys together with the staff with the trainers with the coaches and he when you do today a year at a different level you're not making meeting presentations you're not having little conferences with -- more. These dining place things like that has more risk formal environment you get to know each other and our guys the group of players that we have they're still getting to know each -- quiet group and you know we're talking about -- talking about things like that so it's good and to be honest -- we have no choice has placed you know 41 games on the road 41 games -- homes -- everybody is that the same schedule. But it's it's going to be good to get on the road and we're going to open some buildings -- to -- I'm just looking forward seeing that guys that first game with the with a -- Jersey on and that's it after.

Have you been able to do any priest doubting it all of somebody like Florida.

You know little that we got some video on them they of course didn't have their full lineup but we have some video some of the special teams play. And we're going to concentrate a lot of our art our game marched out try to keep it simple and do the things that we think we can do all things that we worked in practice so where's the offensive -- coverage whether it's certain plays in the neutral -- try to concentrate more urgent.

Dave we appreciate the time good luck tomorrow night and after the whole season will see at the rank OK gentlemen thank slut and I -- that is Boston Bruins head coach Dave Lewis