When the trade deadline closed without the Bruins making a move for a second-line center, the current man in that position, Erik Haula, could take a breath of relief. With the pressure of potentially losing his job behind him, Haula has responded with a noticeable improvement in his production. That continued against the New York Islanders on Saturday, when he added another goal and an assist to his impressive offensive numbers since the deadline came and went on March 21.
Haula is currently on a three-game point streak, averaging over two points per game since the night of the trade deadline. He started out with a two-assist night against Montreal last Monday, followed by a three-assist night against Tampa Bay on Thursday, and then a goal and an assist Saturday against the Islanders. It was the first time this season that Haula has strung together multi-point games and the first time overall since March 2018 when he was in Las Vegas.
“With him I think you see that the deadline passes and he’s our centerman, I feel like that allows him to feel comfortable in his spot and he’s really taken off the last three games especially,” Haula’s linemate, Taylor Hall, said after Saturday’s win. “Overall I think he’s been a great influence.”
Hall was referring to the noise surrounding the uncertainty for Boston at second-line center in earlier portions of the season, when questions were raised about whether or not the Bruins should prioritize making a move in that position at the trade deadline, before Haula had proven his fit for that role. But as the line started to mesh and produce, Haula began to solidify his place between Hall and David Pastrnak. The escalation in play from Haula and Jake DeBrusk may have even contributed to Bruins general manager Don Sweeney’s decision to stand pat at forward, instead focusing on bolstering the defense with the additions of Hampus Lindholm from Anaheim and Josh Brown from Ottawa.
“We would like to have probably added a little more depth there [at forward], but you know several of our guys have really stepped up and played well and we feel that we’re in a good spot overall with our hockey club,” Sweeney said.
Haula has been making his case for the job since his elevation to second-line center on Jan. 1, after the Bruins’ COVID break. He put up massively improved numbers, gathering 27 of his 32 points (8 goals, 19 assists) in 37 games since the change of scenery, helping the Bruins to a 27-9-3 record in that span (Haula missed two games due to COVID protocol).
Haula has also been producing in games that matter, with 14 points in the 16 games against playoff teams since Jan. 1.
“All of a sudden you wake up and it hasn't been your year, let's say, and you’re now beside Hall and Pastrnak,” Cassidy said about Haula this week. “I think the guy’s been in the league a long time, like, ‘That’s a reset and OK I'm getting an opportunity here, now let's dig in and make sure I’m playing to my strengths. Now he's got confidence with those guys.”
While a final verdict on Sweeney’s decision to not add a forward won’t come until the playoffs, keeping Haula as the second-line center is working out so far.
Haula’s seven-point outburst over the last three games brought his numbers to a level of production that ranks third-best in his career. Now with nine goals and 23 assists for 32 points, Haula needs just three points for this season to become his second-most productive season, behind just his 55-point season with Las Vegas on their 2017-18 run to the Stanley Cup Final in the club’s inaugural season.
“It's been a really good partnership I think,” Hall said Saturday. “We have such good speed, all three of us, that we can be really good forecheckers and create chances that way. And then the other stuff will come off the rush.”
Cassidy has been impressed with the way Haula, whom he scratched for a game back in November, has picked up his game alongside Hall and Pastrnak.
"He recognized he needed to be better and he has,” Cassidy said. “Credit to him. We've needed it. … Let's face it, it's made our team a lot better with that line going.”
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