Julien Calls Out Wideman, Bruins

Stephen Harris from the Bruins+%26+NHL+-+Bruins+%26+NHL+-+BostonHerald.com%29">Boston Herald reported that Claude Julien called out Dennis Wideman; one of the most underachieving Bruins defensemen (might as well lump in Andrew Ference in there as well) this season.  Julien didn’t hold back any punches when remarking about Wideman’s drop off in play.

Julien said:

“First of all, he’s got to bring his intensity level up; he’s got to have a better compete level. He should be easily a top two or three defenseman for us - and he’s not close to that now. He knows it, we know it, and he’s got to pick up his game. You can’t go up the ice half-speed, especially on breakouts and power plays, and expect that you’re going to surprise the other team with a pass. Everything’s got to be higher tempo.”

Wideman’s decline in play is pretty astounding. Last season, he posted 13 goals and 37 assists for 50 points, this season he has only contributed 3-11-14 totals in 42 games. Plus/minus ratio is probably the measuring stick for all defensemen. Last season, Dennis Wideman recorded a +32 which has now plummeted to a -8(tied with Byron Bitz for worst on the team).

After Zdeno Chara and Derek Morris, the defense corps has much to be desired. Ference, who is sidelined with a groin injury, was abysmal, recording a -3 plus/minus and was offensively impaired with only five assists. Mark Stuart is just returning from a sternum injury and Matt Hunwick has been a defensively liability, but his offensive skills help negate his deficiencies.

Youngster, Johnny Boychuck could make an argument for being the third or fourth best defenseman on the team. In only 23 games since his call up, Boychuck has a +4 while adding two goals and seven assists.  He has considerably outperformed Wideman on both sides of the blue line.

Wideman was brought to the Bruins in the highly criticized Brad Boyes trade during the ’06-’07 season. Boyes has had two highly successful seasons since his departure from Boston. With the Blues, he scored 43 goals in ’07-’08 and followed that up with 33 goals last season.

The Bruins gave up a gifted scorer for Wideman and is paying him a salary of $3.875 million for the remainder of this season and the next two. He needs to start earning it. No player should feel that they can skate through a season without giving their all.

If you don’t do your job, your boss is going to speak to you about your performance. If you don’t correct your mistakes and learn from them, you become a detriment and not an asset. The Bruins have been decimated by injuries all season. They can ill afford to have their healthy players that don’t perform to their potential.

Coach Claude Julien is completely right for calling out Wideman about his lackluster play. He did this publicly not to embarrass Wideman, but to motivate him. It was also a shot across the bow for the other members of the Bruins that are not carrying their weight.

Boston is holding on to the seventh playoff spot by a string.  So, it’s put up or shut up for Wideman and the Bruins the remainder of the season.  Perhaps, they should adopt this motto as their battle cry: Play hard or go home.