BHN Puck Links: Marchand Blasts NHL, Bruins Planning For Rask Return

Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand sounded off on the NHL again for their decision to execute the CBA cluse and not allow NHL players to go to the Winter Olympics.

The Bruins are planning for a Tuukka Rask return and it could begin In Providence.

Will the Bruins get a head start on the NHL Trade market?

That and more in the latest BHN Puck Links:

Boston Bruins 

Boston Bruins star winger Brad Marchand once again let it be known how ticked off he is that NHLers won’t be participating in the Winter Olympics except for this time, he took his frustrations to social media on Instagram and Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Bmarch63/status/1475886886799515657

My partner-in-scribe Joe Haggerty has the story on Marchand calling out the NHL for their ‘bulls!?t’ but just my two cents:

The NHLPA and NHL both agreed as part of the CBA that if there was “material disruption” to the schedule due to COVID and the potential of more increased with them going to China and possibly being stuck there away from their teams that they would forgo the Olympics. I get Marchand’s frustration and he’s right, the league is about money and not the players, and fucks them all the time, but shouldn’t he direct that frustration at Donald Fehr and the PA Exec. Board who agreed to this clause? 

Fehr’s robbing these players blind and it’s like Alan Eagleson all over again! (BHN)

With a Tuukka Rask return to the Boston Bruins seeming all but a certainty now, the initial planning stages for easing the winningest goalie in franchise history back into game action have begun. (BHN)

The NHL Holiday Roster Freeze ended Tuesday and if the Boston Bruins want to get a head start on teams months before the March 21 NHL trade deadline, there are some interesting names on the trade market. (BHN)

With their game against the Senators, originally scheduled for Wednesday, being postponed, the Boston Bruins are now not scheduled to return to play until Saturday afternoon (1 PM), against the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden. Head coach Bruce Cassidy plans to use the time off wisely. (BHN)

As part of the return to play from the Holidays and the COVID surge that ripped and continues to rip through the NHL, the NHL and NHLPA amended the CBA to allow a COVID taxi squad once again. That means each team can carry a squad of six players and Boston Bruins defenseman John Moore has been recalled and become th4e first Bruins to be placed on the team taxi squad. (AHL)

National Hockey Now

The injury and COVID-riddled Pittsburgh Penguins are starting to get bodies back. Evgeni Malkin returned to practice in a contact jersey Sunday and now forward Jake Guentzel has come back as well. The Pens have also added some players to their taxi squad. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson is back in COVID protocol. (NYI Hockey Now)

Washington Capitals 2018 Stanley Cup Final hero Devante Smith-Pelly is one step closer to returning to the NHL and he may make that return with one of his other former teams, the Montreal Canadiens. (Washington Hockey Now)

Florida Panthers captain Sasha Barkov is set to return to game action. (Florida Hockey Now)

Colorado Avalanche rookie defenseman Bo Byram is also closing in on a return. (Colorado Hockey Now)

The San Jose Sharks and Arizona Coyotes are part of a three-game return-to-play slate for the NHL on Tuesday night. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The Vancouver Canucks are working with electric forward Nils Hoglander to improve his defensive game. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

The Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew will have to wait to follow in their Dad’s footsteps and suit up for Team USA at the Winter Olympics. (Calgary Hockey Now)

It will be a battle of third-string goalies when the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Montreal Canadiens Tuesday night. (Montreal Hockey Now)

NHL And World Juniors

With the NHL not going to the Beijing Winter Olympics, former Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien has been promoted to head coach for Hockey Canada. Jon Cooper was the original head coach and Bruce Cassidy was slated to be an assistant but both need to remain with their NHL clubs now. Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney was also going to be Assistant GM for Canada if NHLers went to Beijing.  (Sportsnet)

Team USA also made changes to their coaching and management staff naming John Van Biesbrouck GM and former Boston University bench boss head coach. (USA Hockey)

Speaking of USA Hockey, the World Juniors team had to go into quarantine and forfeit their game against Switzerland on Tuesday. 

Statement regarding cancellation of today’s World Junior Championship game against Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/FLseWVfLcH

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 28, 2021

Here’s a COVID Protocol tracker in case you’re losing track of who’s in there. (Sportsnet)

Rask’s likely return to the Bruins is one of many intriguing stories as the season turns to a new calendar year. (NHL)