Playing for Julien, where the Dmen use an ultra-patient approach toward establishing puck control and discouraging a forecheck, should help Bart.
With all due respect to Torey Krug, Bart was by far Providence's best defenseman over the first half of the season. David Warsofsky's game was significantly elevated, and then Krug's more recently.
Bartkowski is not a silky player, and coach Bruce Cassidy said around the holidays that the Bruins don't see offense in his speed. Cassidy was using him in a shutdown role at the time, and he was excelling at it while gradually adding a little offense to his game.
Cassidy also noted that Bart is faster than Krug, that he can skate his way out of trouble in his own end with the puck, comparing his acceleration to Paul Coffey's. Coming from a coach who, as a player, was a first-round pick as an aspiring offensive defenseman, that is a stunning assessment.
I tend to see some Al Sims in Bartkowski, strong kid with decent size and with speed but without elite-level hockey sense. Watching him in the minors, it seems he has the potential to be a solid bottom-pairing guy in the NHL and is just taking a longer developmental track to getting there. Given his assets and liabilities, a fast track would make no sense (ie. Sims).
The Bruins could be showcasing Bart or just taking his temperature at the NHL level deep into a season in which he excelled (at least for a large chunk of it) at the AHL level. He's RFA after this season.
I'm looking forward to seeing how he plays if he gets in -- hope he does. Bart's an intriguing prospect, especially since he added some physicality to his game. If he can function with a cool head -- and the PBruins (according to Cassidy) made systematic changes to align with Julien -- then the Bruins may get some idea about what they've got with this kid.
Most of the harsh criticism I read on the board about Bart is from people who have only seen his 6-minute NHL games and have not seen him play for Providence this season.
I don't know where I'll land on Bart, but I like the way he's handled himself down there and hope he shows he can play that left side in the 6 hole.
If no 55 (already no 54), then Dougie Hamilton is the only right shot in the lineup. So, if it's a showcase game, then Bart would definitely take a left-side spot and Julien would need to get Seidenberg over to the right, even when he's not skating with Chara.
One way that might work out is ...
33 -- 27
21-- 44
43 -- 45
Another version demanding more balance in minutes ...
33 -- 27
43 -- 44
45 -- 21
The only right-shooting defense prospect is Zach Trotman.
Bart, Krug and Warsofsky all shoot left and play left side.