LATEST | Long-time NHLer taking shots at the Boston Bruins: Felt betrayed
After parts of 16 seasons in the National Hockey League with seven different teams, defenceman Anton Stralman decided it was time to return home and signed a one-year contract with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League.
Last season, Stralman was with the Boston Bruins, who he signed a contract with after a successful try-out in September 2022. But his time with the Bruins organization wasn't what he was expecting at all.
In a recent interview with Swedish media outlet SportExpressen, Stralman said he felt betrayed by the Bruins organization for how he was utilized last season. He appeared in a few games for Boston, but was then a healthy scratch for nearly two months, before being sent to the American Hockey League for the first time since 2008.
He went on to add, "It was not a fun year in any way for me personally. But we also know how it is when NHL professionals complain. I understand how it can sound. But it is an example of how it can work over there."
"They say one thing and sell one thing, then it doesn't matter in a couple months. It was tough."
If his time in the NHL is over, as it appears, the Tibro, Sweden native had a very respectable career here in North America. He appeared in 938 games for the Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets, Rangers, Lightning, Panthers, Coyotes and Bruins, tallying 293 points (63 goals, 230 assists). Stralman also added 26 points in 113 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Source: SportExpressen
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Bruins should have utilized Stralman more? | ||
| Yes, could have been a good 3rd pairing guy | 101 | 32.8 % |
| No, they had plenty of depth and no room for him | 89 | 28.9 % |
| Unsure | 72 | 23.4 % |
| See Results | 46 | 14.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
