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Spooner hopes to build on solid finish to ’14-15

Boston Bruins v Detroit Red Wings

Boston Bruins v Detroit Red Wings

NHLI via Getty Images

Once labeled a “liability defensively” by coach Claude Julien, Bruins center Ryan Spooner will head into the 2015-16 season with five pounds of additional weight, not to mention some well-earned confidence after finishing 2014-15 on a tear.

“When I was called up before, I was more focused on trying to score and getting shots on net, and all of that stuff,” said Spooner, per CSN New England. “I think at the end of last year I just decided I was going to try to play a little more on the defensive side of things. If I did get the puck then I would go down [the ice], and just sort of do my thing. That seemed to work out pretty well.”

Indeed it did. From late February on, he had 18 points in 24 games, mostly on a line with Milan Lucic and young David Pastrnak.

The B’s re-signed Spooner in the offseason, giving them two years of his services at a cap hit just below $1 million. That could turn out to be a great deal, provided he keeps progressing.