BOSTON — Mike Sullivan has a voice that booms like a Long Range Acoustic Device 500X affixed atop an armored personnel carrier clearing out a gathering of protesters.

Just not as cheery.

No matter the venue, Sullivan’s words often can be loud and clear as he demands his players adhere to details of something as mundane as a neutral-zone faceoff or castigates officials for making a questionable ruling.

When Sullivan speaks, you hear him.

But the one thing rarely heard from Sullivan: public criticism of a player.

Even with odd pieces that didn’t fit his puzzle such as Sergei Plotnikov or Ryan Reaves, Sullivan rarely says a negative word about his players.

So when the coach offered a frank assessment of forward Nick Bjugstad’s play Saturday, it was notable.

“Obviously, we think Nick is capable of playing better than he is at this point,” Sullivan said. “To his defense, he hasn’t played a lot. He’s another guy that’s been out. When you jump back in the lineup, sometimes it takes a little bit of an adjustment process. But we do think he’s capable of more.”

It wouldn’t take a great deal to produce more for Bjugstad, considering he has no points through five games.

Even goaltender Matt Murray has a secondary assist this season.

Sullivan’s words to the media didn’t catch Bjugstad off-guard. He has been told the same by Sullivan, if not more.

“Yeah, we communicate,” Bjugstad said. “There’s transparency. There’s nothing I’m not aware of. I know what I’ve got to do. Just keep working. That’s part of the game sometimes, and you’ve got to fight through it.”

A first-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2010, Bjugstad has talent. That notion was confirmed when he scored a career-high 24 goals in 2014-15. By his own critique, Bjugstad’s struggles this season have been because of a lack of opportunities with the puck.

“I’ve got to find more ways to create more scoring chances for myself,” Bjugstad said. “But that starts in the (defensive) zone. There’s a few times where it’s the right intention, but I’m misreading the play. Sometimes when you’re coming back from an injury, you have to be more mentally aware. There’s been some lapses there. Obviously, I want to try to contribute offensively. Just getting shots, I feel like I haven’t generated as many opportunities as I’d like. But just keep plugging away.”

Sidelined for a nine-game stretch with an undisclosed injury suffered Oct. 5, Bjugstad is hesitant to tie his struggles to his ailment.

“You never want to get injured,” he said. “Getting injured early in the year stinks. But I’ve done it many times, coming back from injuries. I’ve been in the league long enough where I’m not getting surprised coming back in the lineup by things. It’s more just you’ve got to bear down a little more and be a little more aware obviously because you’re not going to have that extra step that you had before. It’s coming back. I’m feeling better physically I’d say the last couple of games. Just create more chances and play well defensively. That’s the big thing.”

Arguably Bjugstad’s most notable contribution this season came in a 3-0 road win against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 26. He won a faceoff, sparking a sequence that led to forward Bryan Rust scoring his first goal of the season.

Bjugstad’s salary-cap hit of $4.1 million ranks eighth on the team, according to Cap Friendly. He understands the high expectations surrounding him as the No. 3 center behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

“Those guys take a lot of the grunt work as far as the (opposing) defensive defensemen and the top lines,” said Bjugstad, whose only entries on a scoresheet this season have been two minor penalties. “So you feel like you should be generating. They produce night-in and night-out, so you want to help contribute wherever you are. Obviously, eyes are on them. So that opens up chances.

“I’ve been in the league long enough to know what it takes. It’s just a matter of digging deep and doing it.”

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