When Matt Keeter, Garnett Hathaway’s agent, told Tariq El-Bashir of The Washington Post that his client was made a ‘Bruin’ after Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov were traded to Boston for Craig Smith were not talking Draft picks on Thursday.
The Keytor hockey player knows a little about the types of Bruins fans. He represented Boston captain Zdeno Chara, who epitomized the concept.
It’s not just that Hathaway comes from Maine and played college hockey at Rhode Island, though, as he is from Kennebunkport and played at the Browns.
What Keeter said was not just about geography. Al-Bashir tweeted:
“Agent Matt Keator Ray: Hathaway to BOS:” He is disappointed to leave the boys but is excited to fulfill his childhood dream of playing for his hometown Bruins. He’s become a bit of a Bruin because he plays the style that fans love. #caps
Keeter is correct. Hathaway is likely to be popular among Boston fans. here’s why:
- The phrase Big Bad Bruins has historically been thrown around pretty liberally since its origins in the 1970s, but Hathaway makes Boston a little bigger and a little bad.
The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Hathaway is an intimidating wing who loves to hit. Bruins fans love guys who love to hit. According to the Daily Faceoff, “Of the 426 forwards with at least 200 minutes played at 5-on-5 this season, he ranks 12th in hits per 60.” Despite missing the first game with an injury.
- He once fought for a teammate in 2019 after he already had a broken nose. It wasn’t the broken beak from the previous game, which had already been treated. No, he broke it earlier in the game. But when Rangers forward Brendan Smith delivered a hit he didn’t like – coincidentally on Orlov – Hathaway went after him, broken nose and all.
Former Caps coach Todd Rearden told The Washington Post, “He’s a special guy in terms of his competitiveness, his fighting, his character.” “It’s really high-end.”
- He will score some big goals from time to time. Hathaway has a great heavy shot and got the hang of it for the game-winning goal, just before being drilled in by Connor Clifton in Washington’s 2-1 win earlier this month. Boston fans weren’t happy about it at the time, but looking back, it shows a new Bruin scoring a tough guy goal.
- New England fans love New England players. Hathaway grew up in Maine. His father John, who looks like a casting director’s Maine lobsterman with a full beard and long ocean-weather hair, owns Shakes Lobster, a company that shucks lobsters in coastal Maine. What’s more New England than that?