BOSTON - The Bruins have a new championship belt holder in the annual pull-up competition during off-ice testing day at training camp. Normally the domain of Zdeno Chara or Kevan Miller, Zach Trotman is the new champ with a jaw-dropping 41 pull-ups for the 25-year-old defenseman vying for a full-time NHL job this season. Torey Krug had set the bar early with an impressive 40 pull-ups that was only bettered by Trotman. Chara finished a few behind the youngsters with an extremely respectable 37 pull-ups for the Bruins captain.

“It wasn’t me, and it wasn’t Miller. It was impressive,” said Chara, who isn’t all that easily impressed when it comes to fitness. “I think he did 41 pull-ups, and Torey Krug as 40 [pull-ups]. So we had a lot of guys in the high 30’s. That was very impressive. It was good to see…great to see.

“I was trying for 38, but it just wasn’t going to happen. You might have thought that guys would have been easily satisfied by their results from previous years, but the opposite is true. They came into this camp in really great shape. I think this is the most fit team and group of guys that I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here. That’s what you want to see every year: guys pushing themselves to better results and better times. It just shows the commitment of the group we have.”

Clearly GM Don Sweeney was also happy at the off-the-charts testing from all of his established players, and said camp is now wide open for all of the 60 players to compete for roster spots.

“It was really positive today to watch our group come in, and be very eager. Our core group was very dialed and prepared today to lead that charge. The [training camp] message is about opportunity. The expectations are there for guys to step forward, and grab a hold of something," said Sweeney. "You’re not going to be given anything. I’ve said it many times…[young players] are going to have a hard time pushing veterans players out of their jobs at the National Hockey League level, particularly with the amount of tryout agreements through the league.

“Those guys want that job, and as a young player you have to recognize that, you have to prepare accordingly and go put your best foot forward. We have spots if [young] players are ready to take that step forward, grab them and help our team.”

Last year, Chara bested all challengers on off-ice testing day with 35 pull-ups and Miller finished just behind him with a solid 33.