BOSTON – Tyler Seguin strolled to his locker where reporters, cameramen and bloggers already were in place.
The spotlight was shining again on the 19-year-old rookie with far more potential than production.
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“It feels like it’s draft day all over,” Seguin said Wednesday, weaving his way through media members eager for his thoughts on his playoff debut.
After being a healthy scratch for the Boston Bruins in all 11 playoff games, the second pick in last year’s draft is eager to play Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals.
His chance came when Patrice Bergeron, one of Boston’s top players in the playoffs, sustained a mild concussion, the third concussion of his career, in the finale of the four-game sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers last Friday.
The only estimate the Bruins have given for his return is General Manager Peter Chiarelli’s statement Saturday that it’s a “safe assumption” Bergeron, the second-line center, would miss one or two games.
For now, Seguin, slotted to play wing on the third line, is “very excited” about his opportunity. “I want to go out there and not be afraid to make any mistakes and play confident.”
But it comes with mixed feelings.
“One of our best players is injured, but injuries are a part of the game,” he said. “You can’t replace a guy like (Bergeron).”
Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman was executive director of Canada’s 2010 Olympic team that included Bergeron.
“He does so many things well,” Yzerman said. “He plays in all situations. He’s a good playmaker.”
The Lightning’s injury news is somewhat better.
Yzerman is hopeful left wing Simon Gagne, who resumed skating Monday, will play in the series opener after missing three games with a concussion.
Seguin, with his speed and scoring, was a star before coming to Boston.
In two seasons with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League, he had 69 goals and 104 assists in 124 regular-season games and 10 goals and 16 assists in 20 postseason games.
But then the level of competition changed.
In the NHL, he had to face bigger, tougher and more experienced players. In 76 games with the Bruins this season, he had just 11 goals and 11 assists.
He didn’t suit up in seven playoff games against the Montreal Canadiens and four against the Flyers.
“It’s tough watching,” Seguin said, but “you do learn a ton even just being here for a year, just watching both on and off the ice, the intensity even being around the locker room (and) playoffs.”
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