Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery provided updates today on the injury status of key players Charlie McAvoy, David Krejci, and Taylor Hall ahead of the team’s upcoming weekend games. McAvoy and Krejci are listed as day-to-day, with Krejci being labeled as “doubtful” for their upcoming games while Hall remains a “possibility” to play.
The Bruins, who have already clinched the Presidents’ Trophy for the NHL’s best regular season record and recorded their 61st win last night, are the second-highest-scoring team in the league and have secured home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. While the availability of these players may not impact the team’s regular season standings, their contributions in the upcoming playoffs (or lack thereof) will undoubtedly be critical.
McAvoy left last night’s win against the Toronto Maple Leafs with an upper-body injury and did not return. After sustaining the injury in an accidental collision with teammate Patrice Bergeron, however, Montgomery said postgame that he was removed for precautionary reasons. In all likelihood, McAvoy’s playoff ability will not be impacted, and with nothing left to play for, Boston will hold him out of the lineup to ensure he’s as close to 100% as possible when the puck drops on Game 1 of their First Round series.
Krejci has been a critical contributor after his one-year absence from the team, scoring 56 points in 70 games this season, but his lingering absence from the lineup is becoming concerning. Krejci hasn’t suited up since April 1, sidelined for the past two games with a lower-body injury. It’s unclear whether Krejci’s designation for the weekend’s game is precautionary or if his injury is significant enough to truly keep him out of action.
Montgomery’s update on Hall comes after he practiced in a regular jersey for the first time two days ago since sustaining a lower-body injury over a month ago. With Pavel Zacha’s versatility allowing Boston to shift him to center on the second line, Hall’s impending return could quickly help replace any offense lost by Krejci’s absence.
Someone please help me understand how the Bruins can activate Hall off LTIR since they’re currently right at the max for salary. In the playoffs it doesn’t matter, but who do they ship out to find room for Hall before the season ends?
They can Put Foligno and Forbert onto LTIR at any time.
It might even work, I’d have to go look it ip if only Forbert goes onto it.
Right now both are only on IR.
Someone please help me understand how the Bruins can activate Hall from LTIR before the regular season ends. They are right up against the ceiling for salary now, so who gets shipped out in order to make room for Hall? I realize in the playoffs, salary cap doesn’t matter, but if they want him to play before the regular season is over, who has to be sent out??
From what I’ve read, shifting injured Forbert to LTIR for the remainder would be enough to activate Hall.
It won’t be, quite. But that and sending someone like Steen or Lauko — and, after all, they’re at the roster limit as it stands — down would.