BOSTON — Max Jones was rusty. Playing in his first exhibition game after battling hip and groin issues for much of training camp, the new Bruins forward wasn’t back in sync yet on Thursday.
Jim Montgomery recognized that but still saw something he liked and the Bruins coach thought the fans would too.
“He hits hard. Bruins fans are going to like him,” Montgomery said.
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The 6-foot-3, 216-pound 26-year-old signed with the Bruins early in free agency with a reputation for playing and hitting hard. He’s had 31 goals and 31 assists in 258 games over six years, all in Anaheim after the Ducks picked him in first round of the 2016 draft.
“Max has been an intriguing player, not just because of where he was drafted, but the size of the player, the ability to forecheck, the ability to possess pucks,” Bruins GM Don Sweeney said.
The Bruins looked at Jones and thought playing with better teammates might unlock greater offense.
“He’s shown a willingness to get to the net. Can he finish a little bit more if he’s pushed up the lineup and play with guys?” Sweeney said. “That’s what we’re going to find out in terms of Max. But he just plays both sides, the possession game that Monty wants to have, created a little more anxiety arriving on time on the forecheck is a big part of the identification of several of these players.”
Sweeney’s comments were just part of what spurred buzz around Jones’ arrival in Boston. The former Duck is a big personality and a big hitter. He showed some of that on Thursday.
“I felt like my brain was moving faster than my feet there at times,” he said. “But it’s good to get in that one, just get rolling here, get the legs feeling better and I felt pretty good about the systems and the structure. Feeling pretty confident about the team moving forward.”
Jim Montgomery was glad to get him started.
“I thought it was a good first game,” he said. “You could tell there was some rustiness and maybe he wasn’t as poised with the puck. Everything seemed a little rushed. I talked to him about it.”
While many of the Bruins’ regulars will sit out Saturday’s 5 p.m. preseason finale at Washington, Jones requested to be in the lineup against the Capitals.
“I’ve missed too many of the games already,” he said. “I need to get going.”
The Bruins will be glad to have him. His hard-charging style fits both the franchise’s historic DNA and its current style after adding several large men to the roster. Jones’ plan was simple. Skate hard and go to the net.
“Especially through the neutral zone. If you transition the puck fast and look to get up the ice at speed and try to get that edge and take it to the net, create havoc at that net,” he said. “I feel like it creates a lot of space for my linemates. I just try to stick to that, play it simple. From there, confidence opens up playmaking.”
