Tenacious Bruins Winger Earning Extended Playing Time In Boston
Cole Koepke has solidified his spot in Boston’s lineup
Bruins’ Cole Koepke played in 26 games across two seasons in the NHL before signing with Boston in the offseason.
The 26-year-old forward has played in all but one of the Bruins’ 26 games this season, developing into a vital cog on the fourth line with John Beecher and Mark Kastelic and earning an extended stay with the big club.
“The first thing that jumps out is his speed,” interim head coach Joe Sacco said after the club’s practice on Monday at Warrior Ice Arena. “It’s something that he brings to our team that when he’s skating the way he can, he’s effective on the forecheck.
“Even last night (against the Montreal Canadiens), we score a goal because of a reload. It was a good forecheck by the line, but he had a good reload coming back to the neutral zone; we turn a puck over. We ended up going back and getting a goal from it. So, the biggest thing for me is his speed and how effective it can be when he’s utilizing it.”
Koepke is a three-way threat on the ice for the Bruins with his speed, strength and size — he stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 203 pounds.
“When you look at him, he’s a straight-line player, right? If he’s supporting the puck the way he can, coming out of our defensive zone on our breakouts, coming through the middle of the ice, he puts a lot of pressure on the opposition’s defensemen,” Sacco said. “They start to unnerve a little bit, and that’s when he’s at his best. And when you do use that speed, you have to come up with some pucks as well on the forecheck. And that’s below the goal line. Good stick, being physical, being hard on pucks.”
Sacco continued: “You don’t need to necessarily put people through the wall or anything like that, but it’s just being hard on pucks below the goal line. We’re starting to see that a little bit more with him. And (the fourth line) had a great start to the year, and sometimes over 82 games, there’s ups and downs, but it looks like he’s back on track again.”
Koepke has five goals and five assists for 10 points this season, including a two-point night in the Bruins’ 6-3 win over the Canadiens in the centennial game on Sunday.
“This is an awesome organization,” Koepke told reporters on Monday. “We’re treated really well, and the guys in the room are awesome. So, just having a ton of and enjoying every part of it.”
