To say it’s been an eventful offseason for the Boston Bruins would be an understatement. With the extensions for Taylor Hall and Mike Reilly and the acquisitions of Linus Ullmark and Nick Foligno came some serious departures. Longtime Bruin David Krejci left the team to continue his career at home in the Czech Republic, while netminder Tuukka Rask remains unsigned amid injury uncertainty. While Krejci’s replacement as the second-line center isn’t entirely clear, the frontrunner in the eyes of most is Charlie Coyle. However, as The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa notes, Coyle’s participation could be limited at the start of training camp. While not ordinarily a huge cause for concern, the news comes after it was revealed Coyle suffered through injury for much of last season and underwent knee surgery in July. It was an inordinately rough season for Coyle last year, who scored just six goals and 16 points in 51 games. An elevated role playing with Hall will likely boost those point totals. The team will be relying on Coyle much more next season to produce, meaning his health as the start of the season approaches could be a real storyline in Boston.
More from the Bruins’ sphere today:
- General manager Don Sweeney, speaking after the Bruins’ development camp games concluded today, says that 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell will likely be playing in North American this season. Lysell signed his entry-level contract this summer after spending last season with Luleå HF in Sweden, but the signing offered little clarity over where he could take the ice in 2021-22. A loan back to Sweden was still possible, but it now appears he’ll be playing junior hockey this season with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. It’s important to note that due to his European status and lack of a junior contract, Lysell was indeed eligible to suit up with the Providence Bruins in the AHL this year.
- Shinzawa also notes that a trio of Bruins prospects — Victor Berglund, Josiah Didier, and J.D. Greenway — are all injured and unavailable for the beginning of training camp. The most exciting of these names to follow is undoubtedly Berglund’s. A seventh-round pick of the squad in 2017, he’s developed extremely well in his native Sweden. Loaned out to Luleå this year, sharing a team with Lysell, the 22-year-old impressed in his first season of SHL action with 21 points in 50 games. Likely a candidate to play serious minutes with Providence this year, Bruins fans may have to wait a little while to see him on the ice again.
Biggest dark horse for the Bruins could be the development of Jack Studnicka. A poor camp from Coyle could lead them to give Studnicka a chance at 2C especially with two way winger Smith and the dynamic Hall.
I agree. I actually think Studnicka taking the next step & being the second line center would be better for the Bruins. I just don’t see Coyle meshing with Hall. Studnicka’s game could work well with Hall and allow Coyle to play on the 3rd line with Haula & Foligno.
Haula? Sweeney said was a fourth line guy I’m hoping Curtis Lazar continues to improve he wasn’t that bad of get for a toss in player from the Hall trade
It’s amazing that every time a player has a horrible season it comes out they were injured most of the season if that’s “true” then don’t play because your not helping the team your hurting it more because now they can’t rely on you and costing the team wins and better options (prospects or outside players)
As we have seen so clearly with the Eichel situation, it is not just up to the player. The team has a HUGE influence on all injury decisions.
Pretty much agree about in season injuries. But, last year with covid most surgeries were delayed. On another note from writer of this post, losing Rask and Krejci are not serious departures. They were long awaited