Chiarelli: ‘Unique' feeling watching Kings raise Cup

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It will be exactly a year on Friday that the Boston Bruins bested the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, so it seems like an appropriate time for reflection when it comes to everybody adorned in Black and Gold.
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli missed some of the playoffs while he was helping to manage the Team Canada representative at the World Championships in Europe, but he did watch the Cup Finals between the Devils and Kings. Something felt missing while he watching the six-game series, and thats probably to be expected given the drop in both TV ratings and overall buzz this June.
Compared to last years hate-fest between Boston and Vancouver, this seasons Cup Finals was a well-mannered showering of love and admiration.
There was a lot of drama in our series, so that probably built momentum as we went along, admitted Chiarelli. There was always something happening, and there didnt seem to be too much drama between those two teams. I noticed that, but wondered if it was just because I was a part of last years series.
With our team and the Canucks it was two opposing styles and there might have been a little bit of that. It was kind of an oilwater clash and I think there were a lot more things happening on the ice.
Thats a good point by Bs general manager: it was the bullying Bruins against the flop-artist, finger-biting Canucks and thats a far cry from Devils and Kings' teams reliant on good goaltending and fundamental defense.
New Jersey and LA are similar teams and there might have been more predictability as to how the games were going to go. But they were still entertaining, said Chiarelli.
But Chiarelli was happy for LA Kings general manager Dean Lombardi when things were said and done, and his family chose to reflect on happy Cup memories rather than any feelings of bitterness. Some Bs players felt sick or empty watching the Kings raise the Cup while officially ending their reign as Cup champs, but Chiarellis feelings were a bit different.
I probably watched more of the Finals than any of the other playoff series after we were eliminated, said Chiarelli. It was obviously a unique feeling because we won it last year, but I wouldnt characterize it as empty. It was different. It was almost like some of the feelings of joy that I had lifting the Cup came up again.
Thats what I feltthe remembrances. I was watching it with my wife and my kids, and thats what they were talking about while we watched it on television. It was a different feeling. When you talk about the players feeling empty watching it and wanting to get back there, I can certainly understand that.

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