Dealing with the changes

Defenseman Sergei Gonchar, acquired from Washington at the trading deadline, talks about his first few weeks as a Bruin.

Q: I know you told me when you were in Portland [Maine, in the minors] that you used to come to Boston. What were your impressions of Boston then, and have they changed in these three weeks?

A: My first impression back then was that it was like a construction city; anywhere you go there was construction. When I got here 10 years ago, I didn't know the roads around the city, so I would get around, but anywhere you turn they blocked the streets. It was tough for me back then, but it got a little easier.

Q: They're pairing you most with Sean O'Donnell. I'm wondering, in your years with Washington, who did they pair you with at least initially? Did you have a longer run with someone?

A: Yeah, I had a long run with Joe Reekie. We played three or four years together. He's a similar guy to Sean O'Donnell. He stays back. It's not an easy role for them because sometimes they have a lot a two-on-ones against them and they have to cover them up. Fortunately, they've been doing it for me.

Q: Anywhere along the way, because it is such a rare commodity now to get the defenseman who wants to push the way you do, in Washington were you ever there when the coach was saying, "Wait a minute, you better be holding back a little bit?"

A: No, I never really had that problem. When Ron Wilson was there, he even told me to join the attack more and he gave me the green light more than any other coach to join the attack. I never had a problem with the coaches. They told me, "If you do your job defensively, then you're welcome to do whatever you want."

Q: This summer, you're a Group 2 free agent, which means you can negotiate a deal or go to arbitration. People are watching, and would love to hear you say you love it here, "I want to stay." Are you ready to say anything like that?

A: Yeah, I love it here. I like the team, I like the guys, I like the city. As a hockey player, you're going on a team that has a great chance to win every night. You have good fans behind you, what else do you want? Yeah, I would love to stay here. I would like to be here. Obviously, it's not only up to just me.

The Gonchar interview, edited for TV, will be broadcast on the Globe's "SportsPlus" on NESN tonight following the Bruins game. To view the interview in its entirety, log on to Boston.com after tonight's broadcast.