Things ended too soon for his liking, but Brian Rolston thoroughly enjoyed his second go-round with the Boston Bruins.
The 39-year-old forward arrived in February and appeared energized by the move to a team in the thick of the playoff hunt. He put up 15 points and a plus-7 in 21 games for the Black and Gold after arriving along with Mike Mottau from the New York Islanders. It wasnt quite the same story when Rolston ended up with three points and a minus-2 in seven games while losing to the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs, however.
The Bruins third and fourth lines were outplayed by the Caps big bodies among their bottom-six forwards as the playoff series unfolded, and that helped things end the way they did so disappointingly for Boston. Rolston shared that crestfallen failure feeling along with everybody else on the team, but he also wanted to get a chance to redeem himself with the rest of the Bruins next season.
It was a hard-fought series. There werent a whole lot of goals scored. Its a game of inches in the playoffs and they ended up getting that one goal that won them the series. Thats basically what happened in a nutshell, said Rolston. The team made me feel welcome right away. It took me a little while to get into it, but the guys made me feel comfortable. It was great to have a purpose again.
He wouldnt rule out a return to Boston, andin factwelcomed it at this point in his career. It appears Rolston is at the state where he either signs with a contending team over the summer for one more crack at things, or hell be content to call it a day if nobody else arrives at his doorstep with contract in hand. That was the lesson learned by Rolston during his time with the New York Islanders last season where he truly lost the passion to play for a time among the losing and general malaise at Nassau Coliseum.
Well cross the bridge for next season at some point, and see what happens, said Rolston. Were only a couple of days out of the playoffs, so well see how it goes. I felt great physically and mentally during the playoffs, but the biggest thing for an older player is that you have to have purpose.
I had purpose again when I came back to Boston. If you dont have purpose that can make it tough play. That was my situation on the Island. When I came here it was great. The right situation is 100 percent the biggest key for me.
Boston Bruins
Its difficult to say whether that chance will come with the Bruins again for Rolston next season as Peter Chiarelli has already mentioned hell be on the lookout for another winger in the trade market this off-season. If nothing else Rolston did show there was something left in the tank for the grizzled veteran during his second go-round with the Bs.