Knuble knuckles down

After his career year, he's still starting over

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 9/23/2003

WILMINGTON -- There's an old cliche about sports that says, "One man's injury is another man's opportunity."

There's no better example than Mike Knuble last season with the Bruins. When left wing Sergei Samsonov suffered a wrist injury that sidelined him for most of the season, Knuble was installed on the left side with center Joe Thornton and right wing Glen Murray. Knuble made it count, tallying career highs in goals (30), assists (29), and points (59).

This year, it seems, nothing has changed. He wasn't sure what his role would be going into training camp last year and he feels exactly the same this year. With new coach Mike Sullivan behind the bench, Knuble technically is starting over.

"I'm in limbo a little bit," said Knuble, 31. "I mean, you could sit and feel sorry for yourself, but I think if last year did anything, it keeps me in the mix. I'll get a chance to play some games now.

"I approached it from Day One that I wasn't coming in here and taking anything for granted. Last year was last year. The dynamics are different now. We have Samsonov back. I'd like to be involved in the mix somehow, and that's up to Sully to decide how he's going to use us."

After trading former second-line center Jozef Stumpel to the Kings, the Bruins are auditioning pivotmen. That, most of all, could affect Knuble.

"I know [general manager Mike O'Connell] is going to grab someone to make them the No. 2 center or use one of our guys -- Brian Rolston could very easily jump up there and be an excellent guy -- but the bottom line is I'm in the mix with those guys and I think I've proven that when the time comes, I can play," said Knuble. "It's not hearsay. I've done it and I have the confidence to do it again."

Knuble feels that having had Sullivan around as an assistant last spring after Robbie Ftorek was fired helps all of the incumbents.

"Any time the coach can have an idea about you on the good side, that's a good thing," he said. "He had a chance to know us. Sully's been great so far. He's not so far removed from being a player, and that's different. Coaches get into coach mode or whatever but I don't think he's lost the player side of things."

At the same time, Knuble is in no way complacent about his chances to make this team. He's been around long enough to know he has to pay his dues every day, no matter how impressive his statistics were in the past.

"I don't want to be one of those one-kick-at-the-can guys," he said. "You don't want to be that former goal scorer from the 2002-03 season. My biggest fear is being the guy who three or four years from now, people say, `Whatever happened to him?'

"I know a lot of things went right for me. I got a lot of breaks but the bottom line is I guess you have to be able to do it. I fit in with two guys really well and complemented them."

Just one look O'Connell wasn't overly concerned about the rusty performance turned in by Felix Potvin Sunday against the Islanders in Bridgeport, Conn., given that Potvin hadn't seen NHL action since January. Potvin gave up all six goals on 16 shots in the 6-2 defeat. "He hasn't had that much work here," said O'Connell. "I've watched some of the scrimmages and he's seen very few shots. I look at it the same way as if he'd played great. It's one game. Until you get down to the final two or three games when the team has practiced together and is in the proper shape and is playing correctly the way coach wants them to, then you have to make your decisions." . . . In terms of the job fights, O'Connell said, "Realistically, there are probably 16 guys playing for nine spots." . . . The club made cuts to get down to a manageable number. It's possible some players assigned to Providence will be brought back up for an exhibition game. Left wing Patrik Valcak was returned to his junior team, Lethbridge of the Western League. Assigned to the minors were forwards Doug Doull, Mike Gellard, Matt Herr, Pat Leahy, Robert Liscak, Brett Nowak, and Darren Van Oene; defensemen Ed Campbell, Kevin Dallman, and Shaone Morrisonn; and goalies Tim Thomas and Hannu Toivonen.