You’d be hard-pressed to find any NHL rookie forward who steps on the ice at 18 and makes an immediate impact. To do so in Claude Julien‘s defensive-oriented system, is near impossible.

However, Tyler Seguin is slowly but surely starting to do just that. The rookie is finally seeing his ice time increased as he becomes more comfortable with his surroundings and, more importantly, starts embracing Julien’s defensive mentality.

Seguin has been grouped on a line with Mark Recchi and Patrice Bergeron for much of the season. Seguin, a natural center, had been moved to the wing with Bergeron playing center. Lately, though, Julien is using Seguin more at center. That is something he should consider doing even more.

Seguin was centering Shawn Thornton and Daniel Paille on Jan. 1 in Buffalo. Despite playing with “limited” offensive threats, Seguin recorded the first two-point game of his career. A couple of nights later, he was back with Recchi and Bergeron, seeing more time at center.

In hindsight, it may have been the best thing to do from the beginning. While playing center comes with more responsibility, it is Seguin’s natural position. Sure, he’s comfortable at the wing — his success in doing so at his age is no small feat — but he may bring most to the Bruins at his natural position.

Bergeron, on the other hand, is no stranger to the wing position. Perhaps even more importantly, Bergeron, when compared to Seguin, is a grizzled 25-year-old veteran. The versatile forward can handle more time at the wing.