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Jakub Lauko

Bruins Sign Kyle Keyser To One Year Contract

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Ty Anderson of NBC Sports Boston tweeted that the Boston Bruins have signed goaltender Kyle Keyser to a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775K at the NHL level and $90,000 while Keyser plays in the AHL. The 24-year-old was a restricted free agent after spending the bulk of last season in the AHL with the Providence Bruins. Anderson also added the team has signed forward Jakub Lauko to a two-year contract carrying a cap hit of $787.5K. It’s a partial two-way/one-way deal, breaking down as follows, per CapFriendly:

2023-24: $775K NHL salary, $200K AHL salary, $300K guaranteed salary
2024-25: $800K NHL salary

The native of Coral Springs, Florida, went undrafted after coming out of the OHL, where he played a single season with the Flint Firebirds before spending three years with the Oshawa Generals. He posted solid numbers in his last two years in Oshawa and caught the attention of the Bruins, who signed him to an entry-level contract in 2019.

Since signing his original deal, Keyser has spent the past four seasons in Providence but has shuffled back to the ECHL on several occasions. His best ECHL season came with the Jacksonville Icemen in 2020-21, where he went 9-9-2 with a 2.46 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. Last season in the AHL with Providence, Keyser posted a .900 save percentage with a 2.72 goals-against average as he went 13-6-2. He was called up to Boston at one point during the year but never dressed for an NHL game.

At 24 years old, it’s hard to call Keyser a prospect anymore, and his play hasn’t exactly warranted a call-up, particularly with how stacked the Bruins’ goaltending depth is at the NHL level. His numbers in the AHL have been pedestrian thus far, as last season, he finished 44th in AHL save percentage out of 74 goaltenders. Given his track record, it seems likely that Keyser will continue to be a depth AHL goaltender in the Bruins system.

Lauko appeared in 23 games for the Bruins, his first set of action in the NHL. Recording four goals and seven points, he didn’t look out of place and will certainly warrant additional call-ups in the coming season – if he doesn’t make the team out of camp. Most would have him penciled in for a fourth-line role ahead of other depth signings like Jayson Megna, and he’s outperformed other Bruins prospects like Oskar Steen when given NHL minutes.

East Injury Notes: Lindgren, Lauko, Bastian

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New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant gave an update on the status of defenseman Ryan Lindgren on Wednesday, stating he believes Lindgren’s return is at least two weeks away, but emphasized that he does not want to rush him back too soon. The New York Post’s Mollie Walker also speculated that the team is hopeful for Lindgren’s return before the playoffs start on April 17.

Lindgren has been sidelined with an upper-body injury for the most part since February 26, playing in one game on March 21 before exiting the lineup again. He’s missed 14 of the team’s past 15 games as a result. He’s been an important player again for the Rangers this season, recording 18 points in 58 games played, along with a +28 rating in a top-pairing role. Having already clinched a playoff spot and practically locked into a divisional playoff matchup with the New Jersey Devils, the team won’t rush his return back to the lineup.

  • Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters Wednesday that forward Jakub Lauko is a possibility to play in tomorrow’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lauko missed yesterday’s game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. The 23-year-old Czech winger has four goals in 18 games for Boston this season.
  • New Jersey Devils forward Nathan Bastian is again on the shelf, and NJ.com’s Ryan Novozinsky reports it’s the same upper-body injury that kept Bastian out for nearly two months earlier this season. Despite the setback, Bastian stated that he’s feeling better and hoping to return to the ice before the end of the season. It’s noted that Bastian wasn’t completely healthy when originally returning from the injury, explaining what some viewed as a dip in his play.

Minor Moves: Red Wings, Bruins, Kraken, Coyotes, Panthers

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This morning, the Detroit Red Wings assigned Matt Luff and Austin Czarnik to the AHL, as they await a game later this week. The Red Wings don’t play again until Saturday afternoon against the Colorado Avalanche, giving them a chance to save some money in the meantime.

Here are some other minor moves from around the league today:

  • The Boston Bruins have recalled Jakub Lauko under emergency conditions, after sending him down yesterday. Lauko hasn’t played since March 2 and has just 12 appearances this season, but has been bounced back and forth between leagues whenever the team is dealing with injuries. Through those 12 matches, he has five points in his first taste of NHL action.
  • The Seattle Kraken have recalled John Hayden from the AHL, as they hit the road for a game in San Jose tomorrow night. The Kraken are coming off consecutive losses to the Dallas Stars and have now slipped below the Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division playoff race. Hayden, 28, has just two points in five NHL games this year.
  • The Arizona Coyotes have reassigned forward Bokondji Imama to their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. The 26-year-old is an alternate captain for the Coyotes’ farm team, where he has provided hard-working physical play and 12 points of offense at that level. He’s played the last two games for the Coyotes, seeing time in both of the team’s consecutive overtime wins.
  • The Florida Panthers have swapped goalies on their NHL roster, sending down 2022 Calder Cup Champion Alex Lyon in favor of rookie Mack Guzda. The move allows the team’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, to get the more experienced goaltender as they look to clinch a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs.

Bruins Recall Jakub Lauko On Emergency Basis

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March 13: Lauko was recalled on an emergency basis by the Bruins per a team release. The Bruins are travelling to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks tomorrow night.

March 12: Lauko was returned to Providence shortly after the Bruins game against the Detroit Red Wings began per a team release. He had been recalled on an emergency basis, but was not dresses for the game so needed to be sent down.

The Boston Bruins have called up Jakub Lauko according to a team release. The Bruins defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 earlier today, becoming the fastest team in NHL history to 50 wins, doing it in their 64th game of the season. The two teams are set for a rematch tomorrow afternoon in Detroit, and it appears the Bruins will need reinforcements with Lauko being called up.

The 22-year-old winger has already played 12 games with the Bruins this season, scoring three goals and five points. In 35 AHL games with the Providence Bruins, he has put up ten goals and 17 points. The native of Czechia is joining a team with a strong contingent from his home country with David Pastrnak, David Krejci, Pavel Zacha, Tomas NosekandJakub Zboril already on the roster.

The question now is why do the Bruins need an emergency recall? Typically, these types of transactions are used when a team does not have enough healthy players to fill out a roster. The Bruins finished a game today with 12 forwards in the lineup and there has been no announcement of an injury or illness that will keep one of those players out of tomorrow’s game.

Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno Placed On Injured Reserve

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It’s not all roses for the Boston Bruins today. After acquiring Tyler Bertuzzi and signing David Pastrnak to a long-term extension, the team has announced some injury news. Taylor Hall has been placed on long-term injured reserve, and Nick Foligno on regular injured reserve. With the extra roster spot, Jakub Lauko has been recalled.

Hall’s placement on LTIR explains how the team was able to fit Bertuzzi under the cap, but also means the winger will miss at least ten games with the lower-body injury he suffered a few days ago.

Darren Dreger of TSN reported earlier today that he is getting a second opinion, though it seems he’ll be out for a while either way.

Hall hadn’t scored in his last five games and has been rather pedestrian this season compared to his previous lofty performances, though with so much talent in Boston, it’s hard to really stand out. His 16 goals and 36 points in 58 games represent a solid secondary contributor, one that will now effectively be replaced by Bertuzzi in the lineup.

Foligno, 35, has slowed down tremendously from his fast start, with only 13 points coming since the beginning of December (38 games). The veteran forward is still capable defensively and can fill in up the lineup in a pinch, but is more of a depth player for the Bruins at this point in his career. Even before the injury, he had averaged less than 13 minutes in his ten previous games.

The Bruins can afford some injuries, but these are still things to monitor as the postseason approaches. Boston is built to win the Stanley Cup this season and has poured assets into the trade deadline to chase it.

Boston Bruins Reassign Jakub Lauko

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As the Boston Bruins prepare for the imminent return of forward Jake DeBrusk from injury, the team has reassigned forward Jakub Lauko to their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins. Lauko last played in the AHL on February 4th, when he scored a goal in Providence’s 4-1 win over the Utica Comets.

Lauko, 22, is a speedy, forceful forward who has earned eleven games with the Bruins this season thanks largely to his off-puck play. A 2018 third-round pick, Lauko has scored moderately well at the AHL level this year, with nine goals and 15 points in 30 games.

In the NHL, Lauko is averaging a shade under nine and a half minutes of ice time per game, and has registered three points, 22 hits, and two blocked shots.

He’s gotten a few looks on the Bruins’ penalty kill during his time on their roster, and has begun to establish himself as an energetic, cheap depth piece for coach Jim Montgomery. Lauko will be eligible for restricted free agency in the offseason, although The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa has speculated that Lauko could be one of the Bruins’ trade chips as they chase upgrades to their team at the deadline. (subscription link)

Now back in the AHL, the best thing Lauko can do is continue being a difference-maker at that level as he bides his time waiting to return to the NHL roster.

Snapshots: Makar, Lauko, Cicek, Berni

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The Colorado Avalanche won’t have Cale Makar for at least the next two games, as he deals with a head injury. Peter Baugh of The Athletic confirms that it is from the collision with Jeff Carter, and notes that while the star defenseman passed the initial concussion protocol, he woke up feeling unwell the next day. So far, he has only been ruled out through the rest of this road trip, which ends on Saturday against the Florida Panthers.

Makar has 45 points in 45 games so far this season and is playing an incredible 27 minutes a night for the Avalanche. The 24-year-old has maintained a point-per-game pace through his first four seasons in the league and will likely once again receive Norris Trophy votes. Here are some more minor notes from around the league:

  • The Boston Bruins have recalled Jakub Lauko, and had him skating on the fourth line as the team awaits the return of Jake DeBrusk. The latter’s flight was canceled, meaning he missed practice today, and head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters, including Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic that DeBrusk isn’t expected to play against Washington on Saturday night.
  • Nick Cicek is back up with the San Jose Sharks after spending the All-Star break in the AHL. The young defenseman has played 14 games this season for the Sharks, last appearing on January 24 and playing just under 15 minutes. Still looking for his first NHL goal, he’ll join San Jose as they continue this road trip in Florida today and Washington on Sunday afternoon.
  • Similarly, the Columbus Blue Jackets have brought Tim Berni back up, ahead of their back-to-back against the Maple Leafs that starts tomorrow night. The 22-year-old defenseman has played 28 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring his first NHL goal and racking up 18 penalty minutes.

Boston Bruins Recall Jakub Lauko, Vinni Lettieri

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11:05am: Head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters including Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now that Lettieri suffered a lower-body injury and won’t be traveling to Toronto for tomorrow’s game after all.

9:15am: The Boston Bruins have added a couple of new faces to the mix just before the break, recalling Jakub Lauko and Vinni Lettieri from the minor leagues. The moves come after they sent Marc McLaughlin and Joona Koppanen down yesterday.

Lauko, 22, was a third-round pick of the Bruins back in 2018 but has barely touched NHL ice in the years since. This season he made his debut and played seven games, still spending most of his time in the minor leagues with Providence. The young forward had two points during his previous stint.

Lettieri, meanwhile, has been right on the fringe of the NHL since signing with the New York Rangers out of the University of Minnesota in 2017. With 82 career games under his belt – including 31 last season – he brings a little more experience to the bottom of the roster.

Through 41 games this season for Providence, Lettieri has 16 goals and 37 points, once again proving he can be a high-level player in the minor leagues. Whether he can translate any of that production to the NHL remains to be seen.

Boston Bruins Assign Jakub Lauko To AHL

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With the Boston Bruins now at home for two games, they’ve returned extra forward Jakub Lauko to the AHL. The Providence Bruins don’t actually play until Friday, meaning Lauko will be available for an immediate recall if needed.

Lauko, 22, scored his first NHL goal earlier this month and should get another chance to get into the Boston lineup before long. The third-round pick hasn’t been used much but has two points and 14 hits in seven contests. Should he stay down long enough to play for Providence it would be his first of the season, after scoring just three goals in 54 games a year ago.

While he isn’t expected to be a huge offensive performer, Lauko will be quality depth for the bottom six throughout the year. Still waiver-exempt, he can bounce up and down whenever necessary. He’s already been involved in seven transactions since the beginning of the year.

Boston Bruins Return Jakub Lauko To AHL

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Forward Jakub Lauko, who the Boston Bruins sent down to the Providence Bruins on Tuesday, and was recalled yesterday afternoon back to Boston, has been reassigned from his loan back to Providence.

It’s been a hectic few days for the young forward, at least on paper, but not necessarily surprising, given the 22-year-old does not need waivers to go to the AHL. With superstar winger Brad Marchand returning to the lineup Thursday evening, Boston made clear he would not play back-to-back games, which was exactly the situation yesterday evening. Now down a man (of their own volition), Boston brought Lauko up for last night’s game in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. Lauko is yet to play a game for Providence this season but has recorded one assist in five games for Boston thus far.

Boston’s 77th overall selection in 2018, Lauko blow the doors off his expectations in camp after a rough 2021-22 season in Providence. He hasn’t looked entirely out-of-place in the NHL either, especially for a player who has a remarkably low 5.9% offensive zone start rate in all situations.

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