Taylor Hall admitted on Monday that he was "not the most confident hockey player" after his struggles in Buffalo this season, as he arrives in Boston with just two goals in 37 games.
Obviously the Bruins will be hoping for and expecting more offensive production from Hall, and that may start with getting him comfortable and confident in his new home.
Meeting with the media via Zoom on Tuesday, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy explained how the Bruins will try to do that and what his message is for Hall ahead of his Boston debut Tuesday night.
"I would think a guy that's scored his whole life, what'll get him going is producing offensively," Cassidy said. "That's what they're just used to. That's probably how they've been measured their whole life, right or wrong, and that becomes the story. So I've told him, hey, you're gonna play with good players here, but help us win games. That's how we're measuring it.
"We measure ourselves here with wins and losses, and how do we do in the playoffs. Yes, he's an individual that will get judged by his point totals, but for us here, if you play well, do your job and help us win, I think the points will just come, just because he's done it everywhere. This year was an off year for him and for the Sabres.
"…I don't know it affects a player's psyche, but for us it's like, hey, you're in an organization that has expectations and a city that has expectations, and we want those. We want pressure on us. We want to embrace that, because we've handled it well over here. So help us win games by playing to your strengths. That's kind of the message we give to Taylor, and hopefully that helps his confidence, A) winning, and B) making the plays he's used to making."
Boston general manager Don Sweeney noted Monday afternoon that he also thinks Hall could be helped by being on a second line and seeing some easier matchups, as opposed to being the No. 1 target for opposing defenses every night. Cassidy confirmed Tuesday that Hall will indeed start on the second line with David Krejci and Craig Smith.
Cassidy also pointed out that the Bruins' veterans do a good job helping new players get comfortable, even in a pandemic season when it's harder to do that without being able to hang out away from the rink. He hopes Hall and fellow trade deadline acquisitions Curtis Lazar and Mike Reilly will lean on those team leaders with any questions they have.
"Get to know them in the room. If there's any questions you have, these guys are high-end talents, but they're also even better people," Cassidy said. "So anything you need to talk about, whether it's the city, whether it's getting around, how your game's going, they're pretty receptive to that. I'm sure they'll make him, and all those guys, feel right at home. They have with every new player.
"…Hopefully those guys can get acclimated in a hurry and get comfortable with the group. Taylor's the one, let's face it -- he's been a high-end, face-of-the-franchise type of player. For him, how's the adjustment gonna be, expectations, all that stuff? We just tried to tell him, hey, we're a team here. Do your job. We're not relying on you, one person, to win or lose games for us here. It's a team. Hopefully that's how he feels and just goes out and does what he does best and helps the team win."
