A lot of people ask me what the best advice I ever got during my career was — and hands down, it was this:
“You don’t have to bring your A game every night. But you have to bring your B game.”
– Coach Bruce Cassidy
Let me explain why that stuck with me — and why it might just be the key to your dream.
I used to be all over the place with my game.
One night, I’d be on fire — throwing hits, scoring goals, dominating. The next? Average. Or worse, a liability.
That inconsistency haunted me. I knew I had talent. But talent isn’t enough — not in junior, not in college, and definitely not in pro hockey.
When I finally turned pro and started climbing the ranks, I made a decision:
I was going to be consistent. Every night. No excuses.
It didn’t happen overnight. But little by little, I became A Good Pro. I got dialed in. My off-ice habits got sharper. My preparation got cleaner. My mindset matured.
Eventually, I made it to the AHL — playing for the Providence Bruins under a coach you might know: Bruce Cassidy (yeah, the Stanley Cup champ from Vegas).
One day, I asked him about consistency — how to show up every single night over the grind of an 80-game season.
And that’s when he gave me that golden line:
“You don’t have to bring your A game every night. But you have to bring your B game.”
It hit me hard.
The truth is, you can’t control your A game.
Sometimes you wake up in the zone. Sometimes you feel untouchable. That’s great — ride it when it comes.
But more often than not? You’ll feel tired. You’ll be sore. You’ll be sick.
You’ll have off days. And guess what?
You still have to show up.
You still have to win battles.
Make smart plays.
Keep the energy up.
Be reliable.
Be trusted.
That’s your B game — and it better be rock solid.
If you want to climb the ranks in hockey (or in life), learn how to deliver your B game when your A game is nowhere to be found.
That lesson helped me get to the NHL.
And I believe it can take you wherever you're meant to go.
Let’s get after it this week.
— Bobby Robins
A Savage Shift
Wraparound Hockey
P.S.
Sometimes it's the simple habits that bring the consistency. Ten minutes of stickhandling with your Puckaround every day adds up fast. Don’t overthink it — just show up and put in the work. Your B game starts in the driveway.