One of the several Bruins [team stats] players who has raised his profile and stock within the organization with his play in the first-round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres is defenseman Matt Hunwick.

The second-year “offensive” defenseman struggled much of the season - like many of his teammates - with defensive-zone woes reducing his effectiveness as a puck-mover.

But Hunwick, given a far more important role late in the season when the Bruins lost three key blueliners, has seized the opportunity nicely and played very well against the Sabres.

Much sounder on the defensive side, he has also rediscovered his ability to make good

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

He’s newly signed and healthy again.

Most players pause for a breather upon concluding exit meetings and returning home. The day after Matt Hunwick returned to his offseason home in Michigan, he kicked off his training, figuring he had enough inactivity following his April 18 procedure to remove a ruptured spleen.


"I took my rest in the hospital," said Hunwick yesterday during a conference call."From that point, it’s been slowly coming back. By the middle of June, I felt 100 percent. I have my wind. My weight is starting to come back. I have absolutely no limitations right now. I’m training just as hard as I did last summer. The spleen’s

He returns to blue line and chips in with a goal

By Fluto Shinzawa

Globe Staff / March 20, 2009

It was only natural, since last night was the first time he'd dressed since March 7, that Matt Hunwick was amped up for his first shift. So, naturally, he was called for a penalty.

and almost had too much energy to start the game," said Hunwick, nabbed for hooking at 1:44 of the first period. "I think as the game went on, I found a little bit more comfort out there."

Hunwick settled down and popped in his sixth goal, one of the few bright spots of the Bruins' 3-2 overtime flameout to the Kings. The play started when partner Dennis

In February, Matt Hunwick appeared in only three NHL games. The rookie defenseman missed four games because of flu-like symptoms. He was a healthy scratch for six more. While the Bruins scored a 6-1 win over the Florida Panthers last Tuesday, Hunwick was in Providence for a one-game AHL tuneup.

Yesterday, the seldom-used Hunwick closed out the month in an unexpected position: riding shotgun on the first line with Marc Savard and Phil Kessel. Hunwick, playing his second game this season up front, responded with a 2-point performance.

On Jan. 27 against the Capitals, Hunwick skated on the fourth line. On Friday, Hunwick practiced as a forward.

"He was great,"