BHN Puck Links: Bruins Vaccinated, Chara And Isles Poised For Cup Run

Boston Bruins players won’t have to worry about being suspended without pay should they contract COVID during the 2021-22 regular season. 

Boston Bruins superstar winger David Pastrnak is supporting another budding New England sports star.

Will the New York Islanders finally get over the hump next spring?

Montreal Canadiens winger Jonathan Drouin opens up about his leave of absence he took last spring.

That and more in the latest BHN Puck Links:

Boston Bruins

Thanks to all Boston Bruins players and staff being fully vaccinated, the Bruins will not have to suffer any of the strict COVID protocol for the unvaccinated this season. (BHN)

The Boston Bruins locked up their final RFA on Monday. (BHN)

Boston Bruins superstar winger David Pastrnak is an avid soccer fan and he recently attended a New England Revolution game in Foxboro sporting a Tajon Buchanan Rev’s jersey. Why did he choose to rep Buchanan? (NESN)

The family of the late Jimmy Hayes posted a letter thanking the Dorchester and hockey communities for their support following Hayes passing last month. (Boston.com)

National Hockey Now

Speaking of the Hayes family, as if the last month wasn’t brutal enough for Jimmy’s brother and Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin Hayes, he will now miss 6-8 weeks after abdominal surgery. 

Flyers announce rather significant injury updates prior to Training Camp:

Kevin Hayes out 6-8 weeks (abdominal surgery)
Sam Morin out 6-8 weeks (right knee surgery)
Wade Allison out indefinitely (right ankle sprain) https://t.co/6Zn3HuFxBj

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) September 21, 2021

Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara left an impression on former Bruins forward Dave Scatchard when both were playing for the Islanders together from 1999-2001. As Scatchrd pointed out recently, thankfully that impression didn’t come in the form of a Chara slapshot imprint on his body. (NYI Hockey Now) 

Hingham, MA native, and former Boston College star Brian Boyle is hoping to play another NHL season in Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Washington Capitals have added renowned sports psychologist, Dr. Aimee Kimball, to their staff. (Washington Hockey Now)

2020 first round pick Anton Lundell is settling in nicely with the Florida Panthers. (Florida Hockey Now)

Bobby Ryan is back in Detroit on a PTO. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Who’s the beast of the Pacific this season? (Vancouver Hockey Now)

NHL

I highly suggest you subscribe to my colleague, Joe Haggerty’s new column with Facebook Bulletin. This week, Haggs wonders if this may finally be the year for the Islanders after coming heartbreakingly close to the Stanley Cup Final the last two seasons? (Facebook Bulletin)

As someone who suffers greatly from anxiety, depression, and insomnia, it’s going to be hard not to root for Jonathan Drouin to have a bounceback season and compete for the Masterton Trophy. (Sportsnet)

Can Pierre-Luc Dubois be the player the Winnipeg Jets thought they were acquiring last season and help the revamped Jets to the promised land? FOBHN (friend of Boston Hockey Now), Ken Wiebe, looks at the 2021-22 Jets in depth. (Sportsnet)

New York Rangers superstar winger Artemi Panarin is getting some flack for openly admitting why he doesn’t want to be the next captain of the Blueshirts but I respect his honesty. If only Joe Thornton did the same when the Bruins wanted to slap the C on him prior to the 2002-03 season. (NHL)

Finally, another big stick tap to ESPN for their jab at the racist ‘Stick To Basketball’ crowd in hockey.

All for Hockey 🏒

ESPN releases new creative for the @NHL's return to The @WaltDisneyCo with 100+ exclusive games on ESPN, @ESPNPlus, @hulu & @ABCNetworkhttps://t.co/sy7QBtWdYE pic.twitter.com/209FDu6jWy

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 21, 2021