Baby Bruin bounces back
Ferraro, MVP in Calder Cup, shoots for NHL By John Vellante, Globe Staff,
09/10/99
WILMINGTON - The last time we saw Peter Ferraro, he was sipping bubbly from the
Calder Cup after the Providence Bruins won the American Hockey League
championship.
Making the celebration even sweeter for Ferraro was the fact that he'd been
named Most Valuable Player after racking up nine goals and 21 points in 19
playoff games.
Neither scenario was expected.
The fast-skating wing, signed as a free agent by the Bruins in July 1998, broke
camp with the parent club and played in 46 games (6-8-14, 44 penalty minutes).
Ferraro missed 13 games with assorted injuries and did not dress for five
others, meaning he was around for the first 64 games of the Bruins' 82-game
regular season.
That's why he was shocked and disappointed when he was placed on waivers March 5
and, after going unclaimed, assigned to the Baby Bruins March 8. He thought he
had done everything the Bruins had asked of him.
But he took his shock and disappointment down I-95 and turned what he saw as a
negative into a positive. In 16 regular-season games with Providence, Ferraro
potted 15 goals and assisted on 10 others. He calls the demotion a ''blessing in
disguise.''
Now he's back in training camp, hoping once again to show Bruins coach Pat Burns
he belongs in the NHL. Ferraro enjoyed his time in Providence, but the NHL is
where he wants to be.
''Obviously you want to finish in the National Hockey League, and to have had a
chance to play in those playoffs would have been a big thrill,'' said Ferraro
after a brisk 90-minute workout yesterday morning at Ristuccia Arena. ''But I
took [being sent down] in a positive sense, played well, and won a championship.
I played with a great bunch of guys, and it was a very memorable season down
there. But I want to play in the NHL, and right now I'm just trying to fit into
any situation that I can. Whatever it takes.''
Even after his star-spangled stint in Providence, Ferraro still wasn't sure he
was wanted by the Bruins because he was left unprotected in the expansion draft
and selected by Atlanta. All that changed in a heartbeat, though, when the
Bruins turned around and traded Randy Robitaille to the Thrashers and reacquired
Ferraro.
''That [the Bruins wanted him] would be the assumption for sure,'' said Ferraro.
''I still don't know the extent of the whole situation, why I was traded back,
or why I was even left unprotected, but, hey, it's an assumption that they want
me. I'm certainly happy because I enjoy being in this organization.
''I feel I can fit in here and possibly contribute to whatever extent they want
me to. I have to play well and show that I'm capable of fitting into any line
they give me an opportunity to play on. There are a couple of loose holes now,
and whatever they ask of me, I'll try to prove capable of the task.''
One thing Ferraro has in his favor is that he is not an unknown quantity. The
question is whether he's what the Bruins are looking for.
''We know Peter Ferraro. He's not trying to leave an impression,'' said Burns.
''We know what he can do. But is he going to be able to beat out somebody we
might be looking at? Is he going to be able to beat out a bigger player? Those
are some things we'll have to see.''