Jack Studnicka Passes Test In ‘Return to Play’ Exhibition

Jack Studnicka skated with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk on Thursday night as the Boston Bruins took on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL’s Toronto hub. It was the lone exhibition game for both teams. The Bruins, who will play the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, are still looking for answers on the wing in their middle-six.

Studnicka got the first chance to impress in game action on Thursday. According to coach Bruce Cassidy, and in his own words, he passed the first test.

“He was good,” Cassidy began when asked postgame about the young winger. “You know, he got a couple of looks, he was on pucks, tried to make plays, tried to recover pucks.”

One of Studnicka’s looks came early. Instead of shooting, however, he elected to pass. It’s something he’ll need to work on at the NHL level, that decision-making.

“The shooting versus passing, I mean we’re gonna have to live with that for a while. Until he learns the league, what he can get away with,” Cassidy said about the moment. “I liked his initiative. A couple of back, soft backhand plays, again a lot of young guys, those aren’t gonna happen in this league. Sticks are too good. Certainly had some of our better chances, unfortunately didn’t finish but I thought he played well.”

Studnicka agreed with his coach’s assessment.

“I thought it was pretty good pace,” Jack Studnicka said when BHN’s Jimmy Murphy asked him his thoughts on the night. “As to be expected, guys were hungry to be in some competition, you know, we’ve been off for a long time. It was fun. I know personally it was something I’ve been looking forward to for months now, so to get the first one over with feels good and I had fun.”