Editor's note: My solicitation for Frolunda HC writers hasn't gotten any Swedes* on board (and if anyone would like to write about it - ideally in English - please drop me a line at hockeyblogadventure at gmail).
*being a Swede not required. Apparently, in European countries it's not uncommon for people to speak more than one language. Crazy.
Anyhow, I did get this submission from a reader who goes by "Caps" but would rather be known as "Cam Neely's Jock." I'm going to put his submission up, and let you, the reader, decide whether you'd like to hear more from him. Here it is:
As far as I'm concerned, Fluto could've stopped after the first three words. PJ, Per Johan, Axe, whatever you want to call him, personified Bruin. Not the strongest, not the flashiest (by a long shot), and not the fan favorite that other Bruins were during his tenure, PJ, nonetheless, was a Bruin in the purest sense. Hard work, a defense-first mentality, and grit defined the man. From the moment he came on in camp as a rookie, PJ flew under the radar. The duo of first round picks, Joe T and Sergei Samsonov, overshadowed him. We didn't know then, but PJ would outlast them both in Boston, and everyone else on that '97-‘98 team, or anyone until Patrice in 03-04 for that matter. In between then and now, he skated in 851 regular season and playoff games wearing the spoked B. He was a player who could slot in the 4th line and the 1st. Man up, man down, it didn't matter, PJ would be there for Burns, Ftorek, O’Connell, Sullivan, Lewis, and Julien to send over the boards.
On July 27, 2009, however, it was time to say goodbye. In ‘08-‘09, surrounded by a great cast, PJ looked a step slow in the offensive zone, a move behind the opposition on the PK, a second late to get to Savard's passes on the PP. I cringed when injuries forced him onto a scoring line for parts of the season...
The Bruins could have opted for the player they knew best over what was best for the Bruins. But, when I read that PJ was going to Sweden, I was relieved. He had nothing left to prove here. I wish PJ good health and success playing for Frolunda and hope he has no regrets.
So what do you think? I've put a poll in the sidebar for y'all to vote on. --->
Poll ends a week from this post.
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5 Comments:
Very poignant take on PJ and his tenure in Boston. While it was a rational decision for both sides, it is nice to see PJ get the credit he deserved for his decade of service by this blogger. I think he should stick by the name "caps," though. Cam Neely's jock is a tad questionable.
nice and concise yet insightful. writes like an insider with outsider appeal. but if he really wants to live up to his name he should write in ALL CAPS.
This mystery blogger clearly knows the pulse of Bruins Nation. I didn't think it was possible for someone to bleed black and gold more than I do, but "Caps" certainly knows what he is talking about. "Caps" seems to be the only person who is more of a Bruin than PJ and myself
I support this man, though he'll likely put me to shame. I'm still ahead by one post, though...
He's good. I liked it.
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