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BOSTON -- After Boston's top four defensemen of Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg, Adam McQuaid and Johnny Boychuk, it will be a true competition between Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski for the final two spots on the blue line.

Hamilton, Krug and Bartkowski have all played well in the first week of camp and into the preseason exhibition schedule. But one of those three will serve as the healthy scratch once the season starts, so the competition should be intense and healthy.

"We don't have to spell that out to them," said Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli. "I spoke openly to the group about competition. I'm really looking forward to seeing the competition at all levels, at all positions.

"Common sense would dictate right now that it would be those three guys for those two spots. They've embraced it and they've played well. I thought Dougie had a good game [Tuesday night]. He was strong on the puck and made some good plays and closed well as the game progressed. Torey and Bart, the other night in Montreal, they both played well."

Chiarelli added that no spot is guaranteed, but when asked if he would be comfortable seeing Hamilton play for the P-Bruins at some point instead of watching from press level as the healthy scratch, the GM said: "My goal is to have him in the NHL."

* With two exhibition games in the books, all four goalies have each played half of a game. Tuukka Rask and Niklas Svedberg played Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals, while Chad Johnson and Malcolm Subban played Monday at Montreal. The latter three are competing for the backup role behind Rask.

"We're all competitive and we all want to be out there," Rask said. "I haven't paid too much attention to that yet but I'm sure as the camp keeps going further and further I'll get to practice with the other goalies and see how they're doing."

Camp has been split into two groups, so Rask has been on the ice with Svedberg all week.

"I thought he made some key saves out there," Rask said of Svedberg's performance Tuesday night. "I thought he was solid."

* Bruins forward Daniel Paille did not practice Wednesday, but both Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien said it had nothing to do with hockey, simply saying Paille was ill and expected back on the ice Thursday.

* While it's a possibility Gregory Campbell could return to game action Thursday night against the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden, teammate Patrice Bergeron still needs more time, according to Julien, but the coach added it's a possibility Bergeron could play Saturday at Detroit.

* Rask's spirited temper is in midseason form. During the last drill of Wednesday's practice, he took a couple of shots up high and had a few goals scored on him. He stormed off the ice, smashed his stick into pieces against the boards and threw his gloves down the hallway. Afterward, he was fine, saying he's not a fan of the neutral zone scrimmage.

* The Bruins made their first round of cuts Wednesday afternoon. Camp invites Scott Campbell, Jack Downing, Steven Spinell and Ben Youds will join the Providence Bruins training camp, while Tyler Randell and Adam Morrison have been assigned to Providence.

BOSTON -- If and when goaltender Tim Thomas earns a roster spot with the Florida Panthers, there’s a good chance he’ll play against the Boston Bruins at some point this season.

Thomas has not played in the 16 months since he decided to step away from the game to spend time with his family. The Panthers signed the 39-year-old netminder to a professional tryout agreement (PTO) on Monday.

If he makes the team out of camp, circle Nov. 7 on your calendar. That’s when the Bruins will host the Panthers at TD Garden. The Bruins also play the Panthers in Florida on Oct. 17.

“I was happy to see him coming back,” Bruins No. 1 goalie and former Thomas backup Tuukka Rask said Wednesday. “Like I’ve said before, I wouldn’t be surprised if this happened and it did. I’m hoping that he’s going to make the team, get a good contract and get a good year out of it.”

Thomas said Tuesday he feels refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to show he can still compete at this level, despite his hiatus.

“If he wants to be good, he will be good, there’s no doubt about that,” Rask said. “I don’t think it’s too big of an issue to take a year off and come back. I’m sure he kept himself sharp, saw some pucks and it won’t be that big of a deal to come back. He’s definitely the guy to make it happen.”

Thomas said he didn’t think about hockey over the past year until he watched his former team reach the Stanley Cup finals last June. It was then that the competitive juices began to flow and he started to train for his possible comeback.

“Obviously, he was here for a while and has deep relationships with a bunch of our players,” Rask said. “I’m sure he was emotional about watching [the Cup finals] and he felt the itch, I bet when he saw us play and make that run again after he was a big part of it a couple of years ago. I think it’s good that he didn’t think about hockey during the year. He just totally cleared his mind and he’ll be fresh coming out.”

Rask wasn’t the only Bruins player that thinks Thomas can return to the NHL.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” said Bruins forward Gregory Campbell. “He’s a competiveness guy and I know, personally, stepping away from the game for any reason, whether it’s an injury or the lockout, this is a game we play because we all love it. It’s obviously a job and a career but we all love playing the game. It’s only natural for anyone to miss the game. I know with Timmy’s competitive nature doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve played with.

“Seeing the success we had last year I’m sure brought him back to 2011 when we can all attest to the fact that the longer you play in the playoffs the more fun it is. We’re fortunate on this team to have such a great group of guys and it’s fun to play. I’m sure those are some of the thoughts going through his mind.”

Campbell learned first-hand how tough it is to watch from the outside and how difficult it can be to get back into game shape due to a significant time off the ice.

“I’ll say this: It’s not easy for anybody to take that amount of time off and come back, but if anybody can do it I’m sure Timmy is a strong candidate,” Campbell said. “He likes to prove people wrong. He’s a super-competitive athlete and he’s a talented player as well and that will bode well for him. He obviously had his reasons to take some time off, so sometimes you can reflect a little bit, refresh your mind and body, come back and you feel that excitement for the game again. I think Timmy is going to do well.”

BOSTON -- Bruins forward Gregory Campbell is anxious to play a preseason game, and he believes he’s ready.

Campbell suffered a broken right fibula during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 5 at TD Garden. He blocked a slap shot by the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin during a Pittsburgh power play and remained on the ice for more than a minute in obvious pain to help the Bruins kill off the penalty.

Doctors had to insert a plate and six screws to help the bone heal, and those will remain in place for now. He can have them removed in the future, but if he does it won’t be until the offseason.

Bruins coach Claude Julien said Campbell would not play in a preseason game until he’s been cleared medically, but the veteran forward appears ready for action.

“There’s no question I think I’m ready,” he said. “This is preseason and this is the point of preseason to prepare. No one is expecting me to go out there and be in Stanley Cup final shape, it’s more about getting my game back and feeling comfortable. The decision will be made by the coaching staff and the training staff.”

The Bruins will host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday at TD Garden and Campbell is hoping to see his name on the roster.

"I think [Thursday’s] even a realistic possibility,” he said. “I talked to the surgeon the other day and things look good, so it’s a matter of what Claude has in store and what he wants to do with the lineup. As far as I’m concerned, I'm more than willing to play and I want to play. I want to test myself and see how I feel in a game situation.”

During Wednesday’s practice, Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid collided with Campbell and he fell feet first into the boards. He quickly got up and continued the drill.

“It’s not really a concern,” Campbell said. “It’s kind of getting my balance back and feeling comfortable on my skates and feeling the weight of another player is something that will give me more confidence as time goes on. Those drills are beneficial for me. I lost my footing. It’s not so much me being worried how my leg is going to respond, it’s a matter of me feeling comfortable enough in those situations. I feel pretty good.”

A true indication of whether a player is ready to return to game action after an injury is how well he competes in battle drills. During Wednesday’s practice, Campbell showed no ill effects.

“If you can compete in those one-on-one battles and your strength is good enough, and you can do whatever you want off the ice, as soon as you get into the one-on-one battles you find out quick enough if you’re in shape,” Campbell said.

Speaking Tuesday for the first time since returning to the ice, goaltender Tim Thomas said it did not cross his mind to play hockey again until watching his former Boston Bruins teammates reach the Stanley Cup finals.

“You know what really gave me the itch? Watching the playoffs,” Thomas told reporters in Sunrise, Fla., where he is trying out for the Florida Panthers. “Actually, over the last season I didn’t watch hockey at all. But then when it came playoff time, I started to watch some hockey and it started to get the competitiveness juices flowing and I saw my former team, the Boston Bruins, and the success they had and I was so proud of those guys and what they did, what they accomplished last year, but it started to get the competitiveness juices flowing again.”

It has been 16 months since the 39-year-old Thomas declared he was sitting out the final year of his contract to spend time with his family. The surprise announcement thrust backup Tuukka Rask into the starter’s role, where he thrived last season.

During his hiatus, Thomas was off the radar, making his home in Colorado. He started a real estate business and built townhouses. He said he spent a lot of time with his kids and went on hunting trips. He said he even caught an alligator and turned it into a rug.

The Bruins last summer traded the rights to the two-time Vezina-winning Thomas to the New York Islanders, who made him a free agent when they decided not to toll his contract. Thomas returned to the ice in July, working out in Michigan, and on Monday agreed to a tryout deal with the Panthers.

Thomas’ departure from the Bruins was preceded by months of turmoil. He made headlines in January 2012 for skipping the team’s celebratory visit to the White House for political reasons. He faced heavy criticism for the move and his relationship with the media soured in the weeks that followed.

“My initial reaction after all that stuff was I was so surprised,” he said Tuesday. “Now, I don’t think about it at all. I’ve got better things to think about. I didn’t go out of my way to bring any political beliefs into that situation. I didn’t honestly feel I could go in good conscience to the White House. I had to give a reason for not going to the White House. I didn’t want to lie and say I was sick. I thought I gave, from my viewpoint, a very honest assessment of the situation. I just tried to leave it at that."

Thomas said the criticism bothered him but he has gotten over it.

“It did a little bit at first,” he said. “Over the course of the year I didn’t listen to the media at all. I’m not trying to do any digs, or whatever, and I moved past that and into a totally different place where now I’m focusing on different things and a totally different mindset. I have a new love for playing the game, a newfound appreciation for being able to play the game at this level and be part of a team. I just feel totally new.”

Thomas was asked Tuesday whether he had any regrets about how his tenure in Boston ended.

“That’s a hard one to answer,” he said Tuesday. “In the big picture do I regret it? No. I made the right decision for me and I made the right decision for my family. I’m very happy with what’s come out of it in my own personal life.

“Now, is it hard to leave an organization that gave me my opportunity to break into the NHL, and a place in the Northeast, especially Massachusetts that’s really accepted me as part of the family? Yeah, of course it’s hard to do that. Having said all things, it was the best decision to make for me and my family.”

Prior to stepping on the ice Tuesday morning in Florida, the last time he played in the NHL was on April 25, 2012, when the Bruins lost to the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at TD Garden.

That summer he decided to step away.

“I got tired and I needed a break,” Thomas said. “Now I’m energized and I’m looking forward to it. I feel great.”

Why Florida?

“I think this organization is on the verge of a big turnaround and a big bounced back,” he said. “I’ve actually been through that in Boston before. When I first came into Boston in 2005-2006, that was a low point for the Boston Bruins and I was able to see that rise in that organization. The Florida Panthers are situated in a similar situation.

“My time in Boston was great. I was very fortunate to have the type of personal and team success there. Great teammates, great area, the people of that area allowed me to almost be part of their family. This is a totally new start, totally new place and I’m looking forward to what’s going to happen in the future here.”

Thomas wouldn’t speculate on how long he wants to play hockey, saying only he felt “rejuvenated, refreshed and ready to go.”

Part of the reason the Panthers decided to offer Thomas a tryout is to add some experience to the goaltending position. Florida’s starter is Jacob Markstrom, the 23-year-old Swede who went 8-14-1 with a 3.22 goals-against average last season.

“Nothing can replace experience is one of the things I’ve learned,” Thomas said. “I remember being a young guy in the league and having people talk about experience and thinking experience is overrated,” Thomas said. “Now that I’m on the other end of the spectrum and I’ve been through it, I realize experience can be beneficial.”

Thomas quotes were courtesy a NBC6 Miami reporter, who was at the Panthers’ practice session.

The Bruins can move on from Nathan Horton and let him enjoy playing under the radar for the Columbus Blue Jackets because, after one exhibition game at least, his replacement in Boston, Jarome Iginla, fit perfectly on the team’s top line along with David Krejci and Milan Lucic.

After Horton’s surprise departure from Boston during the summer as a free agent, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli signed Iginla in hopes the future Hall of Famer would have an impact in Boston.

During the first four days of training camp, the chemistry between Lucic, Krejci and Iginla was evident. It continued during the Bruins’ first preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens Monday night at Bell Centre.

Iginla scored a pair of goals as the Bruins defeated the Canadiens, 6-3, as Lucic added three assists and Krejci contributed a goal.

VERY SPECIAL: Boston’s power play, which has struggled the last few seasons, was tremendous against Montreal. Sure, it’s only a preseason game, but Boston went 4-for-6 on the PP and showed quick puck movement and quality goals. The top unit Monday night of Iginla, Lucic, Krejci, Carl Soderberg and Torey Krug was outstanding.

KRUG IMPRESSIVE: The phenom rookie defenseman doesn’t want to be a flash in the pan, and by the way he played in the first preseason game, that won’t be the case. He provided three assists to help Boston to victory. He burst onto the scene for the Bruins last spring during the Stanley Cup playoffs and made significant contributions to help Boston reach the finals. He entered camp in great shape and with one goal: to earn a roster spot. Krug, who has shown an ability to get his shot from the point through on a consistent basis, assisted on Iginla’s second goal of the night. Krug also quarterbacked the power play. So far this preseason, he’s been paired with veteran blueliner Adam McQuaid.

IN GOAL: The Bruins had goaltenders Chad Johnson and Malcolm Subban split net time against the Canadiens. Johnson started and played the first 30 minutes and allowed three goals. Subban made his NHL preseason debut and did not allow a goal in his 30 minutes of action. Early in the third period, however, Subban learned he’s no longer playing junior hockey. He mishandled the puck to the left of his net, then was penalized for playing the puck outside the trapezoid. Subban played against his older brother, Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban, for the first time in their respective careers. Malcolm picked up the win with his 12-save performance, while P.K. scored a goal for Montreal.

BATTLING FOR A SPOT: There are two forward positions up for grabs in Boston’s lineup this season, and while the young homegrown prospects in camp are all in the mix, newcomer Nick Johnson made his presence known in the first preseason game, scoring a pair of goals. Johnson has 104 games of NHL experience with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild and Phoenix Coyotes. Boston signed the 27-year-old forward as a free agent in July.

LINED UP: Here are the lines used against the Canadiens:

FORWARDS
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Jarome Iginla
Matt Fraser-Carl Soderberg-Craig Cunningham
Anthony Camara-Ryan Spooner-Nick Johnson
Daniel Paille-Alex Fallstrom-Shawn Thornton

DEFENSE
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Matt Bartkowski-Kevan Miller
Tommy Cross-Zach Trotman

GOALTENDERS
Chad Johnson
Malcolm Subban

UP NEXT: With the first of seven preseason games in the book, the Bruins travel to Baltimore on Tuesday and will face the Washington Capitals.

Here is the Bruins’ roster for their first preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens Monday night at Bell Centre.

Forwards: Anthony Camara, Craig Cunningham, Alex Fallstrom, Rob Flick, Matt Fraser, Jarome Iginla, Nick Johnson, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Daniel Paille, Carl Soderberg, Ryan Spooner, Shawn Thornton.

Defensemen: Matt Bartkowski, Tommy Cross, Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Zach Trotman, Ben Youds.

Goaltenders: Chad Johnson and Malcolm Subban.

Patrice Bergeron is keeping a diary for ESPNBoston.com this season. In this preseason edition, he reveals how he is not as perfect as some have described him, whether he could have played in a Game 7 of last season's Stanley Cup finals, what his big splurge was after signing an offseason contract extension, and expectations for himself and the team as we head toward a new season. (As told to Louise K. Cornetta)

I know Marchy [Brad Marchand] has kept the diary the past two seasons. He’s a character. I think he’s very funny and always in a good mood. He keeps us all on our toes about what we say or what we do. He’s the type of guy that chirps a lot, but in a good way. He’s the type of teammate you want on your team. He just lights up the mood every day. On the ice, he works extremely hard. He wants to get better every time he’s on the ice. He’s like a sponge with the coaches and even with his teammates in wanting to learn. He’s a winner too. He’s proven himself. He wants to win and we need that.

I heard he described me as perfect. I’m here to set the record straight that no, I am not. Obviously no one is and I’m not myself. To prove it, I’ll tell you a bad habit and that is I’m messy. I leave my stuff in the kitchen. I don’t clean up much and leave stuff around the house.

So before we look forward to this season, why don’t we take a quick look back at last year. By now you know I suffered a separated shoulder, broken rib, torn rib cartilage and a punctured lung. It all started in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals and got worse in Game 5. Then the separated shoulder happened in Game 6 and I also punctured my lung in that game. So all that happened in the span of three games.

I don’t think I would have played had there been a Game 7. I don’t think the doctors would have let me. Because my lung was collapsed 30 percent, I don’t think I would have been able to play. Games 5 and 6, I was in a lot of pain. It just kept increasing also with getting hit, trying to hit and getting involved physically. Game 5 was very painful and I couldn’t finish the game. Game 6, I got a nerve block to kind of manage the pain, but still it was there and got worse as the game went on with my shoulder. Those last two games were pretty painful.

Getting over losing in a Stanley Cup final like we did in Game 6 took me a few weeks. At first it was tough to swallow because you work all this way and work so hard to give yourself a chance. Then you get there and you don’t get it. It’s hard to go through that and live with that feeling. At the same time, I was at the hospital for three or four days. I had to worry about my health first. I guess it kicked in when I got back from the hospital and I realized everything that happened. That’s when I started feeling very disappointed and it was tough for a couple of weeks.

When I look back on last year’s team, I am most proud of our fight and character throughout the playoffs. Game 7 against Toronto is something I will always be very proud of the way we competed and found a way to win. I think it propelled us to have the run we had. I was proud to be a part of that team and to be able to give this city something positive after everything that had happened with the tragedy at the marathon.

I had a good offseason with three big events that happened. First, I got married. The ceremony was great. It was a very small ceremony back home. It was great to have it with the people we wanted with our family and close friends. It was a fun day. My wife was worried about my health when everything happened to me, but things went along pretty good. I was able to enjoy the day without having to go through too much pain.

Second big event was signing an eight-year deal with the Bruins. It’s great to be fortunate to have security. It’s definitely something you look for in life. Having a chance to get that security is something that I appreciate a lot and am very happy about. I’m very thankful to be able to stay in Boston to finish my career. I am lucky and blessed that the Bruins felt the same way. I did have one big splurge item that I purchased once I got the new deal. I got a brand new car. I got an Audi R8 that’s white with some black.

The third event was being invited to Team Canada player orientation camp. I had company with [Milan Lucic] and Marchy with me this year. It was great to have them with me but, like them, it was a first for me too as I didn’t go to the orientation camp last time I went to the Olympics. It was good to see them there. It’s always better when you know people when you head into camps like that. It was a fun five days.

There’s something else that happened over the summer. I got my first tattoo. I spent seven hours in the chair getting it. It was long but wasn’t too bad. The tattoo is a protector, like a guardian that looks after me. It says “master of your destiny” in French. You can translate it as “control your own destiny” or “master of your fate.” It means to me that you have to believe in yourself. You’re the only one who can dictate your future. If you believe in something and if you have dreams or something that you’re aiming for, you go out there and work hard to achieve it and to get it. That’s how it speaks to me. I’ve been thinking about getting it for a while. I wanted to have something that looks out after me and is on me and a part of me.

Now we’re here at camp and I have a new linemate in Loui Eriksson. I was surprised like everyone else when Tyler [Seguin] was traded. He was obviously a good player, someone that we’d created some chemistry on the ice with. But at the same time, I guess it’s just the nature of the business. You can’t really control these things. We have to move on since it did happen. You wish him all the best, but at the same time, I look forward to playing with Loui. I think he’s a great player and a very smart player. It’s going to be exciting.

We talk about building chemistry on my line with Loui and Marchy. So far it’s just about talking and communicating. It’s about getting to know one another on the ice and where he wants the puck and whatnot. It’s just about reading off each other. You can’t really change your game either. After a while, you just know where he’s going to be.

Another new face here is Jarome Iginla. I’m pretty excited that he’s with us now. It speaks volumes that he wanted to come here. He’s the type of person that’s a guy who wants to win. He realized we’re a good team. You can’t really be mad at him for the choices he made last season. [Editor’s note: Iginla chose to be traded to the Penguins over the Bruins at last season's trade deadline.] He’s a proven leader and winner by the way that he’s played his whole career. He wants to compete every night and that’s the type of team we are.

My expectations for this team this season are the same. It’s about winning. We’re a great team. You can’t look too far ahead. We have to refocus on this year. Last year is in the past. We have to learn from what happened and obviously it gives you some extra motivation to try and get there again. We want to at least have the opportunity to get there and go from there. I think it’s about taking it a game at a time. It’s a long season, but I think our expectations should be high.

As for me, the ribs are still tender. It’s getting a little better. I haven’t seen any setbacks in the last four days. It’s a good sign. My goal for myself is to try to get better every year. To me, that’s my motto to go beyond my limits and try to be the best I can as long as I help my teammates and my team to win. It’s not always about goals and assists for me. It’s about details on the ice. I’m trying to do that.

I can’t believe I am the senior member of this team. It goes by so fast. Now I can try and help the young guys coming in the way that I was helped in my first and second training camps. The last 10 years have been a blast. I learned a lot. Hopefully there are many more years ahead of me.

BOSTON -- There are four goalies in Bruins camp battling for the backup role behind starter Tuukka Rask.

Chad Johnson, Niklas Svedberg and Malcolm Subban are all vying for that job in a healthy competition.

“It’s been good,” coach Claude Julien said. “I think when you look at the candidates, we’ve got some pretty good depth. From the fact that Chad Johnson has looked really good and Svedberg, who proved himself in the American League last year, and your first-round pick, Subban, who obviously is a little young and may not be ready right away but who knows when he’ll be ready as far as it could be sooner than later.

“So we’ve got some good competition back there and the competition has probably better depth than what most people think, so I’m comfortable with what I’ve seen and I think they understand that. Those guys that are battling for that backup spot understand what’s at stake. They’re certainly trying to be at their best here.”

Svedberg, 23, was outstanding for Providence last season, recording a 37-8-2 record with a 2.17 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in 48 regular-season games.

Johnson, 27, has spent the majority of his career in the AHL and has 10 games of NHL experience between the New York Rangers and Phoenix Coyotes. He signed a one-year, one-way contract worth $600,000 in July.

Subban, 19, enters his first professional season and is expected to be the starting goalie for the P-Bruins.

Adam Morrison, 22, also is in camp. He spent the majority of the 2012-13 season in the ECHL.

Svedberg has played well during camp and he’s looking forward to the challenge of the preseason games.

“It’s been good,” Svedberg said. “It’s good intensity and guys are competing hard. It’s really nice to start off the season and get going right away. It’s been fun.”

Since Rask will play the majority of the games during the season, the backup’s ice time will be limited. Still, it’s a position all four candidates would rather play than getting more playing time in the minors.

“You want to play, but at the same time you want to come up to the highest level,” Svedberg said. “My only mindset now is to make the team here and to be in the NHL. That’s all my focus goes to now and we’ll see how well I play and see what happens after that. But at this moment I’m just focused on being here and staying here.”

Svedberg served as the Bruins’ black ace goalie during the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring. It was a valuable experience, and even though he’s still developing and honing his skills, Julien believes if the young goalie is ready for the NHL level, then that’s where he’ll be.

“That remains to be seen. I think if he’s ready, he’s ready. It’s as simple as that,” Julien said. “If we feel he’s ready to be a backup here, we’ll make him a backup here. I think if he earns a job I have no issues with him being here even if he’s got one year in the American League. He had a great year last year and if we feel he’s ready, then make that jump.”

BOSTON -- It’s been nearly a year since Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid had surgery last October for thoracic outlet syndrome after a blood clot developed under his collarbone. It was a serious situation at the time, but after two surgeries he was able to return in time for the 2012-13 opener when the lockout-shortened season began last January.

He then suffered a left shoulder strain in late March and was sidelined nearly a month. As the Bruins prepare for the 2013-14 season, it’s evident McQuaid is healthy, stronger and his confidence is soaring.

“Quite a bit different,” McQuaid said. “I just feel a lot stronger, a lot more comfortable on the ice. I’m better prepared physically compared to last year. Plus, there was a lot of time off last year. We didn’t have as much time off this time, so maybe the rust was there in the first practice but it’s been getting better as we’ve gone on.”

When asked if this is the best he’s felt in his career, McQuaid said, “I would say so, yeah. If I’m being honest, it is, yeah.”

He feels with the added strength and weight he’ll be able to be more engaged physically and will be stronger on the puck in the corners and in front of the net.

“I’m able to play my game more,” he said. “I was able to work through some things last year and I’m better off for it. This year, having that extra strength, I just feel more comfortable on the ice.”

Because he’s feeling good about his game and his health, McQuaid is anticipating a successful season for both himself and the Bruins.

“I’m optimistic about it. I’m looking forward to getting things going. I’m getting into the mindset of one day at a time and come to the rink each day and being focused,” he said.

“It’s a long season and you need to stay focused. If you start looking ahead you can get, there’s a saying I’ve heard, ‘If you’re looking too far ahead, you’ll trip over a stone in front of you.’ That’s the way I’m approaching it. I’m excited about the opportunity. I want to have a good year and want our team to have a lot of success and a good winning atmosphere here.”

So far in camp, Bruins coach Claude Julien has McQuaid paired with rookie defenseman Torey Krug and the two complement each other well.

“You’ve got a big defensive defenseman that is strong and big, the other guy’s quick and agile and will carry the puck, so it’s a good mixture,” Julien said. “That’s certainly something we may see down the road. That’s one of the things we like about it, that there’s a good blend there.”

* The Bruins will play their first of seven preseason games Monday night at 7, facing the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Julien will announce the game roster prior to the team’s practice Monday morning before flying to Montreal. The coach did say most of Group B will play.

Here’s the complete Group B roster but not all are guaranteed to play against the Habs.

Forwards: Anthony Camara, Gregory Campbell, Craig Cunningham, Alex Fallstrom, Rob Flick, Matt Fraser, Jarome Iginla, Nick Johnson, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Daniel Paille, Tyler Randell, Carl Söderberg, Ryan Spooner, Shawn Thornton.

Defensemen: Matt Bartkowski, Zdeno Chara, Tommy Cross, Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Zach Trotman, Ben Youds.

Goaltenders: Chad Johnson, Adam Morrison, Malcolm Subban.

Julien said the preseason games provide an important time to evaluate his players.

“There’s guys that are great in practice, you get them in a game and you don’t see them. And you've got guys in practice that are painful to watch sometimes and then you see them in a game and it’s like ‘Wow, what a different player,’” Julien said. “And that’s why you have to be careful when you analyze players, and I think the game is going to really tell the tale here and I think it’s important that we watch those closely this year because there’s going to be some real big decisions to make down the road.”

There are a few open spots available on the roster and the younger players in camp are eager to show their game skills. For the veterans, the games provide an opportunity to get their timing back in time for the regular season, which begins on Oct. 3 when the Bruins host the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Garden.

“You want to feel good about yourself,” veteran defenseman Dennis Seidenberg said. “You want to get your feet underneath you. You want to try to get shots through. Everybody has their different philosophy of getting started, but overall you have to play the system and that’s the most important thing.”

It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or a veteran, playing well is important during the preseason.

“If you’re an older guy, you want to prove that you can play and belong,” Seidenberg said. “If you’re a younger guy, you want to prove that you can play and can make the team. Both sides want to prove things and want to show off what they can do. It’s good for competition overall.”

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BOSTON -- Bruins forward Carl Soderberg is competing for a roster spot during training camp and he's hoping the brief contributions he made last spring will help his cause.

He arrived at camp in great shape and wants to prove he can help the Bruins. After he signed with Boston late last season, and transferred to the NHL from the Swedish Elite League, Soderberg played only six regular-season and two playoff games. Now, getting a fresh start at camp, he believes it will help his chances at earning a roster spot.

"Of course it's pretty nice to be here at the beginning of training camp, but the 11 weeks I had here last season meant so much to me," Soderberg said. "I got to know the guys and the staff, the game in the NHL, too. I had a good workout summer and I came back in good shape."

When Bruins forward Gregory Campbell suffered a broken right leg in the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bruins coach Claude Julien was forced to tweak his lineup. At first, he inserted Kaspars Daugavins into the lineup, but in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Chicago Blackhawks, Soderberg made his NHL playoff debut.

"It was a great experience," he said. "I got to play games in the NHL and it means a lot to me. I'm new here but I don't feel that new."

A natural centerman, Soderberg can play the wing, too. Even though he's been working as a center in the first two days of camp, he'll play any position in order to stay in the lineup.

"It depends what [Julien] wants to do," Soderberg said. "I can play winger or I can play center, it doesn't matter."

Bruins newcomer Loui Eriksson played against Soderberg in the SEL.

"He's a pretty strong player. He's pretty big and he can use his size over here. He has a good shot and he's pretty dangerous," Eriksson said.

At the end of last season, Julien admitted he didn't see enough of Soderberg to give an honest evaluation, but he's been impressed in the early going of training camp.

"He's looking good," Julien said. "He's lost weight but he's also gained some muscle. He was already a strong player to start with. I think he's looking good. When you see him in those battle drills, he's pretty strong on the puck and we like that about him. He's got a good skill level, he can shoot the puck well and make plays so he'll get a great opportunity in those preseason games to showcase himself and show the improvement."

* Only two days into camp, newcomer Jarome Iginla already appears comfortable playing with David Krejci and Milan Lucic.

"I've enjoyed it the last couple of days getting to skate with them," Iginla said. "They are great players and have great chemistry together. I'd like to play with them and help them out. As far as building chemistry, it's just time together and getting used to tendencies."

Once the exhibition games begin, it will give the Bruins' top line a chance to showcase its complete skill and there's no reason not to think that trio will have a major impact this season.

* Julien isn't ready to single out any of the young players just yet as to which one has stood out in the first two days of camp. Both he and GM Peter Chiarelli told the group of prospects during rookie camp that there are a few roster spots available for the taking. When asked who has impressed him the most so far, Julien said he's pleased with what he's seeing from all of them.

"There's a lot of them. There's nobody that is kind of on his own but there are a lot of good players who are showing some good things here," Julien said. "I think those kind of answers to me get answered during those preseason games because you've got some players that, going out would look great in practice but get them in a game situation they're really good players. And then you get the opposite, guys that are fine in practice, look great and you think, 'Wow, I can't wait to see them in a game' and the game starts and he becomes invisible or nothing gets accomplished. So you get those kind of players so to me, I'm careful about assessing players before I see them in a real game or a game type situation."

One player who has been really impressive has been forward Reilly Smith. He was one of the three prospects acquired from the Dallas Stars as part of the Tyler Seguin trade.

"Getting traded was obviously mixed emotions," Smith said. "It pretty much came out of left field. I wasn't expecting it at all going into this summer to be traded. I found out on Twitter, actually, so that was kind of funny. But it's a big difference coming from Dallas to Boston. There are higher expectations here."

The first two days Smith has been on the line with Chris Kelly and Jordan Caron.

* Set your DVRs because the second episode of the new all-access "Behind the B" series will air on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. on NESN.

BOSTON -- It's only Day 1 of on-ice sessions for the Boston Bruins during training camp, but the new line combinations looked pretty darn sexy.

As expected, newcomers Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson were placed on the first and second line, respectively. Iginla was on the right wing with center David Krejci and left winger Milan Lucic. Eriksson was on the right side with center Patrice Bergeron and left winger Brad Marchand.

Iginla replaces Nathan Horton, who signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent during the summer.

"It was just the first practice, so it's kind of hard to say, but so far what I've seen, I really like it," Krejci said. "I hope we're going to have an even better day tomorrow, and when the first preseason game comes, if we stay together, [that] we're going to have a good game.

"He's a great player, so I'm excited," Krejci said of Iginla. "Hopefully he's going to put the puck in the net and make me a better player."

Iginla's presence gives Boston's top line two legit power forwards.

* Plenty of times leading into camp, Bruins assistant captain Patrice Bergeron said he was 95 percent healthy from his torn cartilage, broken rib, separated shoulder and collapsed lung that he suffered during Games 4, 5 and 6 of the Stanley Cup finals last June. He admitted he was feeling some tenderness around the rib area, but he participated in all drills on Thursday with no ill effects. He was working in the corners and had no issues with contact.

“It wasn’t bad,” he said. “I felt it a couple of times in one or two battles but it doesn’t seem to linger after it. It’s there. It stays for about 30 seconds or so and then it goes away. I think it’s good news. I’m going to have to go through that for a couple of weeks and it should be fine. The medical staff is not worried about it, so I’m not worried about it.”

If games were to start today, he wouldn't be cleared to play but he's hoping to get into exhibition games soon. The same is true for forward Gregory Campbell. He broke his right fibula during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on June 5, but he's already back on the ice.

Julien said he's pleased with Campbell's progress.

"I think he looked good," the coach said. "He’s skating well, and I don’t think that’s the issue right now with him as far as his skating and all that stuff. It’s more about the contact part of it. You have to make sure it’s healed well enough that it doesn’t fracture itself again. And you saw there was a little bit of bumping and it’s at that stage where it’s so close. But training camp is where you’re able to be a little bit more cautious. The regular season doesn’t start for almost a month, so it gives him time to recover properly and give our doctors a better feeling of saying ‘we feel confident that he can play now.’ "

* With the management and coaching staffs telling the younger players that there are a few spots to push for, Day 1 of on-ice sessions didn't disappoint. Thursday's DITR (diamond in the rough) goes to newcomer Reilly Smith. He was on the line with veteran Chris Kelly and Jordan Caron. Smith was acquired from Dallas as part of the Tyler Seguin trade. Smith, 22, has 40 games of NHL experience with the Stars. During line drills Thursday morning, he and Kelly seemed as if they've been linemates for more than just one day.

BOSTON -- Bruins coach Claude Julien didn’t waste any time putting together his potential lineup for the upcoming 2013-14 season.

On the first day of on-ice sessions, newcomers Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson found themselves where everyone expected they would be. In the morning session, Eriksson was on the right wing with center Patrice Bergeron and left winger Brad Marchand.

In the afternoon session, Iginla was on the top line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic.

After the morning session concluded, Bergeron and Marchand talked about the new dynamic of Boston’s second line.

“It felt pretty good,” Bergeron said. “You can tell, obviously, that Loui’s a great player and he’s got some great speed and some great skill. I’m very excited to have him with us. It’s only the first practice, so we’ve got some work to do on the chemistry, but still, I thought it was pretty good and it was fun to see those two guys on my side.”

In the previous few seasons, Bergeron and Marchand played with Tyler Seguin, who was traded this summer to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Eriksson. It may take a little time for the new trio to gain that chemistry, but Bergeron doesn’t think it will take too long.

“We’re all smart players and smart enough to realize where to be on the ice and read off each other,” he said. “It’ll take a little bit of time but not that much. Playing games will be the best indicator for where we stand and to help us work on that chemistry. So far it was pretty good.”

One of the differences is that Seguin was a right-handed shot and Eriksson is a left-handed shot, so Bergeron needs to get used to passing the puck to Eriksson’s backhand.

Marchand was pleased with the early progress alongside his new linemate.

"He’s a great player and he’s shown that in the past," said Marchand. "You can see that by just watching him on the ice. It’ll be a lot of fun playing with him.”

It’s no secret Marchand and Seguin were close teammates and that friendship extended off the ice, too. But it’s a business and Marchand realizes that.

“Definitely no disrespect to Seggs, he’s a phenomenal player and we clicked very well and had a couple of great years together, but Loui's a bit of a different player,” explained Marchand. “He’s a very good goal scorer, a very good playmaker and he plays hard in our end. I’m sure he’ll complement us very well and hopefully we can all play well together.”

BOSTON -- Bruins coach Claude Julien was pleased that all players passed their physicals, including forwards Patrice Bergeron and Gregory Campbell. Both suffered severe injuries during the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs and three months later, they’re prepared for training camp. Julien said both players are cleared for practice, but if games were to start Thursday, they wouldn’t be ready.

"When it comes time to play those exhibition games, it'll be a conversation again with our trainers in making sure if they're going to play that there's not a risk factor," Julien said. “Right now, I would tell you that they would not be cleared to play a game if we started today, but that might change in the upcoming days or in a week from now.”

Bergeron suffered torn rib cartilage, a broken rib on his left side, a separated right shoulder and a punctured lung that ended up collapsing and forced him to spend three days in the hospital after the Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals last June.

Campbell broke his right fibula in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh when he blocked a slap shot by the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin.

The Bruins have their first of seven exhibition games Monday at Montreal against the Canadiens.

• When the Bruins hit the ice for their first official practice Thursday morning at TD Garden, Julien will get his first look at what could be the team’s lineup when the season begins on Oct. 3. The Bruins’ top line of center David Krejci and left winger Milan Lucic will welcome new linemate Jarome Iginla. Second-line center Bergeron and left winger Brad Marchand will be working with new right wing Loui Eriksson.
  
  Julien admitted Wednesday he was pleased with the way forwards Daniel Paille and Chris Kelly meshed during the Stanley Cup finals, so it could be possible to see those two, along with a host of right-wing candidates, during training camp.
  
  “In the real perfect world, you’ve got your top two lines, and you’d like to see them score on a regular basis. Your third line should be able to give you some secondary scoring and then your third line should also be able to give you some secondary grit that the fourth line gives you,” Julien explained. “So they're kind of, to me, caught in the middle where they give you a little bit of both, and that is what we are looking for from that line. We need more than just two lines to score. We know our fourth line has given us that, but our third line needs to give us that as well, and, at the same time, defensively and on the gritty side of the game they got to be able to give us that, too.”
  
  That leaves the team’s energy line of Campbell and Shawn Thornton. If Paille makes the jump to the team’s third line, it will leave a spot open on the fourth line.
• Youth and depth will be a key factor for the Bruins during camp and into the season. GM Peter Chiarelli has made it known that in order for this team to win, it will need contributions from an influx of younger players. There are roster spots to be won on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ice. Julien reiterated that point on Wednesday, and his advice to the prospects was simple.
  
  “Take advantage of it,” he told them. “We’ve been clear, and it hasn’t just come from me. Peter is the one who has kind of came out and said, 'Listen, we’re going to bring some youth into our lineup, so if some guys want a spot on this hockey club, here is a good opportunity to do that right now.' And it’s open. I think we’ve got some guys on [Boston's AHL development team] Providence last year that deserve that look. We’ve got some guys who we got in some trades that are going to certainly be battling for those spots as well.”
  
  Forwards Anthony Camara, Craig Cunningham, Jordan Caron, Matt Fraser and Reilly Smith are all in the mix.
• With a few tweaks to their roster, the Bruins and coach Julien will focus on the team’s systems play during training camp. Julien believes the team can be a little “tighter” in that area.
  
  “Those are things we’re going to be working on and making sure that’s at the top of our list,” Julien said. “I thought that was one of the things that we could do better, and when we did it well, it gave us success but we didn’t do it on a consistent basis, so that’s one of the things we’re going to be tweaking. It’s a bunch of little things. It’s minor maybe to you guys, but to me, it’ll make some big difference in games, some of the things that we’re going to be working on.”
  
  Julien likes consistency and chemistry, so if he likes what he sees early in camp, then expect to see those lines and special-team units remain the same.
• Earlier this week, Julien said he believed his team was ready to make amends for the way last season ended with a Game 6 loss to the Blackhawks. When asked how long it would take in order to get a feel for his team’s motivation, Julien said he already knows.
  
  “I feel it right now,” he said. “I think our group is in the right place. I like the feeling of our hockey cub right now. These tests today just kind of solidified what I thought. Guys are in great shape, and it would have been easier for guys after finishing so late to just kind of shut it down for the summer, but they’ve kept themselves in great shape and they look excited to get off to a new start here.”
• With the disappointing ending to the 2012-13 season in the books, Julien and his players are looking forward to a fresh start. There are some new faces in the mix, and with the Stanley Cup-winning core from 2011 intact, this should be another successful season in Boston.
  
  “I think it's important every once and a while to get some fresh faces in and continue to create that excitement of being competitive and wanting to win every year,” Julien said. “Things can get stale after a while. That's a known fact. And I think what we've done right now is kept our core together; we got some great leaders, a great core group of guys, and we've added some quality people in there, too. But also we've left room for some guys to come in and win themselves a spot.”
  
  Now, it’s ice time as the first practice will be held Thursday at the Garden.

BOSTON -- After Bruins players spent Day 1 of training camp undergoing physicals and testing, assistant captain Patrice Bergeron said he feels good and is ready for the on-ice sessions to begin Thursday at TD Garden.

It’s been less than three months since he suffered torn rib cartilage, a broken rib on his left side, a separated right shoulder and a punctured lung that ended up collapsing and forced him to spend three days in the hospital after the Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals last June.

Bergeron admitted earlier this week that he’s still experiencing some “tenderness” in the rib area but said he doesn’t believe there will be any limitations once practices begin.

“I don’t think so,” Bergeron said. “I guess we’ll go with feel with what happens on the ice. So far I’m feeling good and I’m ready to start tomorrow.”

Despite feeling the effects of the broken rib, his lung has completely healed and he was able to complete his running test Wednesday without any issues. During the team’s recent captain’s practices, Bergeron was able to handle a little bit of physical play, but he’ll be tested in the coming days before a decision is made on whether he’ll play in the exhibition games.

“Honestly, if I feel fine in the first couple of practices and I feel I can bang around and play physical during the one-on-one and stuff like that on the ice, I’ll pretty much feel like I’ll be ready to get going and move forward," he said Wednesday. "I guess the next couple of days will really tell me where I stand with the lingering issues.”

For other players, especially the younger prospects, the first day of physicals can be a bit taxing.

“Oh man, the anxiety,” said Bruins defenseman Torey Krug. “You prepare all summer. I have so much confidence going into the testing that I’m going to do better than last year. I’m going to pass all the tests, but there’s just something about it with management and the coaching staff sitting there watching you test; it adds that element to it. Your heart’s racing and you spend a lot of energy. It’s a tough day, but everyone in here is prepared for it. It’s something you look forward to right when it was the last game of last season.”

There’s also a mental aspect to the testing.

“We do our best to put ourselves in great physical shape to come in and be successful during the testing, so that extra element of the management and coaching staff watching is something you have to overcome mentally and make sure you’re sharp and focused,” Krug said.

After the testing was complete, Bruins coach Claude Julien said that every player passed and there were no disappointments or surprises.

BOSTON -- Bruins training camp officially began Wednesday at TD Garden with players’ physicals, and the first on-ice session will be held Thursday.

After Wednesday’s off-ice testing, Bruins coach Claude Julien said every player passed their physicals and there were “no disappointments or surprises.”

For the on-ice sessions, the players will be split into two groups.
GROUP A:
Forwards: Patrice Bergeron, Scott Campbell, Carter Camper, Jordan Caron, Jack Downing, Loui Eriksson, Justin Florek, Seth Griffith, Chris Kelly, Alexander Khokhlachev, Jared Knight, Matt Lindblad, Brad Marchand, Bobby Robins, Reilly Smith.
Defensemen: Johnny Boychuk, Chris Casto, Dougie Hamilton, Mike Moore, Joe Morrow, Dennis Seidenberg, Steven Spinell, David Warsofsky.
Goaltenders: Tuukka Rask, Niklas Svedberg

GROUP B:
Forwards: Anthony Camara, Gregory Campbell, Craig Cunningham, Alex Fallstrom, Rob Flick, Matt Fraser, Jarome Iginla, Nick Johnson, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Daniel Paille, Tyler Randell, Carl Söderberg, Ryan Spooner, Shawn Thornton.
Defensemen: Matt Bartkowski, Zdeno Chara, Tommy Cross, Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Zach Trotman, Ben Youds.
Goaltenders: Chad Johnson, Adam Morrison, Malcolm Subban