Bruins Camp Journal: Krug Playing It Safe, Lauko To Providence

Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug was set to make his preseason debut Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden in his team’s penultimate preseason game. Jaroslav Halak was set to get his first start and only two days after lighting the lamp in a 4-3 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers, 19-year-old forward Jakub Lauko was assigned to Providence, along with defenseman Josiah Diddier.

Here’s your Bruins Camp Journal for September 25, 2019:

Krug Extra Careful This Preseason

While most veterans do wait until at least three to four games into the preseason to get into game action, Krug was especially careful this time around and not just because he’s still recovering from the Bruins run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Krug has been injured in two of the last three preseasons. Last year, Krug suffered an ankle injury in the final preseason game and as a result, he missed the first eleven regular season games. In 2017, Krug took a puck off the face in the second preseason game and ended up with a non-displaced jaw fracture that forced him to miss the regular season opener.

“Preseason hasn’t always been my friend,” said Krug Wednesday after the morning skate. “The last two years in preseason games I’ve found myself sidelined. Years before that I was always still competing for spots and ice time and trying to make an impression on people within this locker room and upstairs. It’s a little bit different now, it’s kind of just fine-tuning for the regular season while making sure that you’re sharpening things up.”

With Krug playing Wednesday and then likely in the preseason finale, he’s hoping just playing in the two final exhibitions will keep him safe from injury.

“I hope so,” said Krug. “Still not out of the woods yet, there’s a couple games left. I would really hope that coming into the year fully healthy – although with a little fog from last year – I would hope that would lead to a fast start not just for myself individually but for the team as well.”

Lauko Needs More Seasoning

Lauko didn’t make the Boston Bruins roster but the crafty Czech winger still could make the Providence Bruins roster in the AHL. Lauko was assigned to Providence Wednesday and will remain their training camp for a bit, before Bruins general manager and his staff decide whether or not to send him back to juniors with the Rouyn-Noranda in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

“He’s gonna start [in Providence], at least for now,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told the media on Wednesday. “I think they’re gonna see how it plays out over the next little bit. I think it’s trending that way, but that will be [Bruins general manager Don Sweeney’s] call when the roster has to come to in a couple weeks.

We thought he competed fine here with men. But you’re talking six, seven months – not one month. I liked what I saw from my standpoint, but Donny will probably talk to [Director of Player Development] Jamie Langenbrunner, who followed him closer last year, to figure out what’s best.”

Lauko performed well for Rouyn-Noranda last season as he scored 21 goals and had 20 assists in 44 games helping the Huskies to a Memorial Cup Championship.

Cehlarik Will Miss Next Two To Three Days

Forward Peter Cehlarik (lower-body) missed practice Wednesday and according to Cassidy will be off the ice for the next two to three days. Cehlarik scored in the Bruins preseason opener at Philly last week and hasn’t played since.

Here’s what the lineup was supposed to look like Wednesday night:

Bjork-Lindholm-Backes

Heinen-Frederic-Kuhlman

Carey-Studnicka-Steen

Fitzgerald-Shen-Senyshyn

Grzelcyk-McAvoy

Krug-Carlo

Lauzon-Kampfer

Halak

Lagace