WILMINGTON, Mass. — While the rest of the Bruins enjoyed a day off on Sunday, Jordan Caron was hard at work with his busiest afternoon yet.
Caron was assigned to Boston's America Hockey League affiliate in Providence on Sunday, and played that afternoon against Albany. It wasn't a demotion for the rookie though. It was just an opportunity to get Caron some game action after being scratched in the last two Boston games, and Caron was recalled in time to rejoin the big club in practice on Monday.
"I didn't play the last two games, so it was good to play and get a lot of ice time, power play, PK, all of that," said Caron, who was informed by general manager Peter Chiarelli when he was assigned to Providence that he would be returning to Boston after the game. "It was great. I felt confident out there. I felt fresh. I wasn't used to getting that much ice time, but it went pretty good. My legs were good, so I think that was a good sign."
Caron has played in just four of the Bruins' first eight games, and has topped 10 minutes of ice time just twice. He has no points and is a minus-2 with just two shots, so playing Sunday in Providence served the dual purpose of giving him some needed game action as well as a chance to restore some confidence that may have been flagging after his early-season struggles.
Both missions appear to have been accomplished. Caron played in all situations in Providence and even got on the scoreboard, assisting on a Zach Hamill goal in Providence's 3-2 overtime loss.
"Just move your feet and go out there and play," Bruins coach Claude Julien said of his instructions for Caron. "[Sunday] when he did play he got better as the game went on. In the first period he was trying to get his legs underneath him, and in the second and third he just got better and better, so it just goes to show that playing sometimes is a good thing for you."
Practicing with the big club also has its advantages, and Caron believes he'll benefit from the competition up here as much as the playing time in Providence.
"The main thing that I need to work on is my skating," Caron said. "So I think if I skate here every day practicing with the guys I think that's what I'm going to improve the most."
Caron could continue to split his time between the two clubs as the Bruins take advantage of the close proximity of their top affiliate to keep young players like him game ready.
"It's an advantage that we have," Julien said. "It's a great organization down there as well. Guys are treated well. We've taken advantage of that by sending some young players there to play so they don't get a chance to get stale here."
Julien did stress that Providence wouldn't be the only place Caron will be playing games, as he expects the youngster to contribute in Boston this season.
"You don't want to dismiss him just because he's missed a couple games early in the season," Julien said. "You remember Dan Paille last year, it took him a while to get going, but once he got going he was a valuable asset for us. Jordan had a really good training camp. He's sat out a few games here and we want to keep him going so we sent him down to Providence. But we want to get him in the lineup and he will get an opportunity at some point whether it's through merit or lack of playing by others or through injuries. He just has to stay on top of his game, keep working hard and he'll be there."
