By Rich Thompson / Bruins Notebook
Tuesday, October 6, 2009

WILMINGTON - Bruins [team stats] defenseman Matt Hunwick drew an unusual assignment for yesterday’s practice session at Ristuccia Arena.

Left winger Milan Lucic was excused from practice for personal reasons, and that created a job opening on the first line.

Hunwick normally wears the standard defenseman’s black jersey and is paired with Mark Stuart. Instead, he donned Lucic’s white jersey and skated with center Marc Savard and right winger Marco Sturm. Hunwick’s promotion was a great leap forward for the youngster from Warren, Mich.

"I found out about a half-hour to 45 minutes before practice when I was in the gym,” Hunwick said. “When I’m playing with Savvy and Sturmie, I didn’t want to go out there and just go through the motions. I wanted to work on things that were pertinent just in case at some time in the season they do need me to play forward.

“I want to be ready and be available and be as sharp as possible. This was an opportunity to work on a different part of my game."

Hunwick is a hard-nosed defenseman with good feet and stick skills, but at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, he does not occupy the space or inspire the fear that the 6-3, 228-pound Lucic commands. Hunwick knows he can’t emulate Lucic’s physical style, volatile temperament or bare-knuckle beat-downs, but he did try to provide some of what was missing.

"We do those battle drills and you try to be strong to the puck," he said. “Obviously I’m not going to be Lucic out there, but if I do play forward that has to be part of my game where I can battle down low. You just don’t want to give up the puck easily. Forwards have to use their bodies really well.”

Hunwick played forward on a limited basis during his four years under Red Berenson at the University of Michigan. B’s coach Claude Julien used Hunwick at forward for six games last season on Savard’s flank, and he delivered a goal and an assist.

“Obviously in the salary cap era where teams can’t quite carry as many players, I think it’s important to have guys who can do multiple things,” Hunwick said.

As for Lucic, Julien said he would be back for this morning’s practice at Ristuccia.

“Very honestly, it’s not hockey-related,” Julien said of the absence. "It’s a personal issue here and he’ll be back to work."