Bruins Defenseman Ian Mitchell Embracing Reserve Role, Stepping Up With Blue Line Injuries

The 24-year-old defenseman played Saturday for the first time in two weeks, and is relishing the opportunity to get minutes as Charlie McAvoy, Derek Forbort tend to injuries.

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Boston Bruins can’t seem to stay healthy in the back end, with injuries to Derek Forbort (lower body) and Charlie McAvoy (upper body) being the latest ailments impacting the defensive corps.

On the bright side, it has created opportunities for Boston’s top defensive prospect, Mason Lohrei, to come up from AHL Providence and gain experience at the NHL level. But Lohrei isn’t the only young defenseman getting looks.

Ian Mitchell, who started the season as the team’s extra defenseman, has moved up and down between Boston and Providence this season, but the 24-year-old is getting more involved since having to fill in for the injured veterans in front of him.

“I’ve been just trying to stay mentally engaged,” Mitchell said Monday. “It’s obviously tough when you’re out [of the lineup] for a period of time, but just knowing that when I do get an opportunity to play up, to be aggressive and ready to play.”

Playing alongside Hampus Lindholm in Saturday’s 5-3 win against the Arizona Coyotes, Mitchell had a plus-three rating in 18:27, the most he’s played in a single game all season. It was his first game since Boston’s 7-4 loss to the New York Rangers on Nov. 25.

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery credited Lindholm for covering more ice and making life easier on Mitchell, but liked how Mitchell played responsibly and broke out pucks.

“I think he’s grown more mentally than, I would say, physically,” Montgomery said Monday. “I think physically, the skating, being aggressive. But mentally he’s become more aggressive, and I think mentally he’s understood why it’s special to be a Bruin. … Even if you’re not in the lineup, you mean a lot to the group, and I think that has – I think mentally, at least hopefully – I think that’s put him in a better place.”

Mitchell practiced on a pair with Matt Grzelcyk on Monday, and he said he’s relied on both him and Lindholm being vocal on the ice and playing off their experience to get more comfortable in returning to the lineup.

“For ‘Grizzy,’ he and I are similar players: Good skaters, have offensive instincts and close quickly, so I think we complement each other well in that way,” Mitchell said. “And with ‘Lindy,’ maybe he’s the bigger guy, I’m kind of the smaller guy, so I mean, he kills the plays, and I think we both are good in transition.”

With the Bruins tied with the Rangers atop of the Eastern Conference with 39 points apiece and competing for prime playoff position, it’s difficult for players with less experience to consistently crack the veteran-heavy lineup. Even 19-year-old Matt Poitras, who has played all but one game this season, has not been given much ice time in the third period when the team’s protecting leads as of late.

As much as Mitchell wants to play more, his focus is more team-oriented.

“This year, being on a winning team, it’s easier thinking like, ‘Alright, I’m contributing to helping in some way,’” Mitchell said. “Where last year (with the Chicago Blackhawks), it’s like the team’s not doing well, so you want to get in more and play more.

“But when the team’s doing well, that’s ultimately the goal for all of us, is to win. So whether it’s ‘Shatty’ [Kevin Shattenkirk] or myself in the lineup, as long as we’re winning games, that’s all we can do. And we have a great relationship too, all of us, so we’re egging each other on trying to be the best we can be.”