The Bruins announced a flurry of transactions Tuesday prior to their final game of the regular season against the Senators. Forward Jayson Megna has been recalled from AHL Providence for the first time this season, while center John Beecher was returned to the minors. Defenseman Derek Forbort was also assigned to Providence on an LTI conditioning loan as he works his way back from an undisclosed injury that’s kept him out since the trade deadline.
Megna, 34, hasn’t suited up in an NHL game in over a year, last skating on April 9, 2023, as a member of the Ducks. He’s spent the entire season with Providence after signing a two-way deal with the Bruins over the summer and clearing waivers during training camp. The Fort Lauderdale native has again produced at a high-end level in the minors, ranking third on the P-Bruins in scoring with 51 points (18 goals, 33 assists) in 67 games.
The University of Nebraska-Omaha product has been a reliable tweener forward for more than a few organizations, suiting up in over 200 NHL games for the Avalanche, Canucks, Ducks, Penguins, and Rangers since making his debut in 2013. He hasn’t been able to convert his 0.63 career points per game rate in the AHL into major league success on the scoresheet, though, limited to 12 goals and 33 points while averaging less than 11 minutes per game.
Beecher, the Bruins’ 2019 first-round pick, heads back to Providence for the first time since a brief reassignment on March 24. He’s eligible to suit up with the farm club in the Calder Cup Playoffs, so he may remain there when the postseason begins instead of coming back to the NHL roster. The 23-year-old has made 52 appearances for Boston in his first NHL campaign, doing well in the faceoff dot with a 54.6 FO% while adding seven goals and 10 points in limited minutes.
Forbort has missed more than half the season with nagging injuries, ending his regular season with 35 appearances and four assists while averaging 17:48 per game. His possession numbers improved to a +1.7 expected rating after posting a -4.0 expected rating during last season’s record-breaking campaign for the Bruins. However, his third-pairing/penalty-kill role has largely been superseded by trade-deadline acquisition Andrew Peeke. Since he’s been out of action for so long, it’s unlikely he’ll draw back into the playoff lineup when his six-day, three-game conditioning loan to Providence ends.