Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

You think you were shocked when you found out Bruins General Manager fired Dave Lewis, how do you think the players of the team felt? I had the opportunity to chat with goalie Tim Thomas and forward Mark Mowers about Claude Julien and other things Bruins.

"It was a surprise when Coach Lewis was fired, I don't think too many people knew that was going to happen," netmider Thomas said. "I got to see Claude Julien (Thursday) night and he seemed like a nice, genuine guy. Noone is happy when a coach gets fired but having said that, reality is we have another coach and hopefully we're successful under him."

Mowers was equally as shocked.

"Yeah, you could say that. I think because of the timing of the whole thing and I don't think I was the only one who felt that it was a shock," Mowers said. "It was disappointing because I know Dave and I know he means well. He was trying everything he could to turn things around last year. With that being said, it's part of the business, so we have to move on."

Mowers was the only player on the team last year to play previously for Lewis in Detroit and Mowers explained some of the differences.

"I know it's different, it's a completely different situation than what we had in Detroit," Mowers said. "You know a lot of veteran guys that have been there a while - he had a pretty good core there that he could coach. Here it was 12 or 13 new faces, it was new coaches, everything was new to him. Also, I'm sure it was pretty difficult for him trying to get things together, bringing the chemistry together. I think that was part of the reason we weren't successful."

Mowers also added, the team itself was dealing with trying to build the chemistry on and off the ice.

"That was one of the reasons we just couldn't get it together for long stretches last year," Mowers explained. "It's just tough. You don't know what guys bring to the table; we weren't consistent in what we were doing out there as individuals and definitely knowing each person's personality and how you get along with guys whether it's short periods of time or throughout the duration of the season."

With that said, Mowers thinks training camp this year and the season itself will be more affective because the guys know each other better.

"It's going to be huge for us," Mowers said. "I think Axelsson and Murray were the main veteran guys who came back (last year) and (Bergeron) had two years, but was a young kid so I think you'll see a difference. I think we'll see it as a team in the locker room more than people on the outside.

"It will be a little sense of relief (heading into camp this year) because you do know guys and you won't be walking on your toes and looking over your shoulder. You do have a new coach and a new staff and obviously things didn't go well last year so you are starting over and it's going to be a fresh start for all of us because we don't want to repeat what happened last season."

Mowers like Thomas had the chance to meet and talk with Julien and sees similarities between his new coach and Lewis.

"To be honest with you, talking with him he seems, his overall big picture seems similar to Dave some differences ou know, but he's not a guy that's going to slap you across your face if you're not doing your job," Mowers said. "I do think he brings some accountability to it. He's a laid back guy. He wants to have fun. He wants to bring an upbeat atmosphere in the locker room and during practices and guys not being stressed and worrying all the time. We'll see how it goes. I think it's just us coming together as a team and hopefully he can find a way to bring us together as a strong group."

Considered an adopted native because he played his four years of college hockey at UNH, Mowers said one of the things he was most excited about signing in Boston was having the opportunity to make hockey and the Bruins relative in the Hub again.

"The bottom line in sports, I think, is you have to win to attract the fans," Mowers said. "It's tougher these days than I think in the 70s and even in the 80s, when the ticket prices weren't as expensive. So I understand as a family and a hockey fan, why would I want to go and see a bunch of guys lose game? I think it's up to us as players to go out there and put out a good product, whether it be to be a much grittier team that's harder to play against or a team that's free wheeling, making pretty plays, putting more pucks in the back of the net.

"It was one of the things I was most excited about when I had the chance to sign in Boston was bringing it back, bringing that feeling back because I know there are so many hockey fans in this city. And for me, I'm getting older, I'm in my 30s now, to be a part of rejuvenating hockey in Boston would be an unbelievable feeling. Like I said it's up to us. Hopefully it can happen because I think it would be pretty exciting in this town if we even actually get into the playoffs and getting that feeling back again."

Thomas also puts it on the team to bring the fans back to the Garden.

"Wins is the biggest thing, play exciting hockey," Thomas said. "Play in your face hockey. Be aggressive all over the ice and don't back down to anybody."

Thomas said he knew of the rumors circulating that GM Peter Chiarelli was looking to trade for a top tier goalie and the current netminder said whether or not they are successful in trading for Manny Fernandez or Ilya Bryzgalov it doesn't change his mindset.

"I've never really competed against the other goalie on my team," Thomas said. "I've always kind of thought about it in the way is the team needs to win the most games no matter who's playing. Obviously, I'd be going into camp trying to do the best that I can to help the team out the best that I could when I get to play or even if the coach decides that I'm not playing that night. So it doesn't really change how I feel going into camp. My job is to show up in shape and be the best goalie that I can."

When asked if he were the GM of the Bruins, Mowers picked the fellow former Hockey East skater among the list of Scott Gomez, Daniel Briere and Chris Drury.

"If I was the GM, they're all great players, either one you're going to be alright, but I would probably take Drury," Mowers said. "I played against him four years in college and I've played against him in the pros now. He's a winner, he knows how to get it done and he does everything for the game. He's rugged, he gets his nose dirty and obviously he can score some goals, that's who'd I go for. I don't know if it's possible for us this year, but it would be nice."

I have to say I agree with Mowers, I would love for Chris Drury to sign in Boston when the free agency market opens on July,1. Who would you sign if you were Peter Chiarelli?