Studnicka Gets Call for Depleted Boston Bruins Team

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Boston Bruins have begun to put together a lineup that’s going to be missing quite a few key pieces against the Carolina Hurricanes.

For just the second time this season, the Boston Bruins will be without any members of the 2011 Stanley Cup team with Patrice Bergeron injured, Brad Marchand suspended and goaltender Tuukka Rask announcing his retirement this week. It means that rookie Jack Studnicka will be back up with the Boston Bruins and suiting up against Carolina while centering Trent Frederic and Nick Foligno in a bit of a bottom-6 role.

The 22-year-old Studnicka has six goals and 19 points in 27 games for the P-Bruins, but also has a minus-9 rating amidst some issues with two-way play at times. At the NHL level, Studnicka has an assist in five games but hasn’t been able to truly carve out a niche for himself after enjoying a strong training camp prior to the season.

“[Studnicka] has got to play to who the people are around him, but still be true to himself,” said Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “Obviously playing with Frederic and Foligno is a little more straight-line hockey. You play behind the ‘D’ when the situation dictates and make a play when you have time and space. Be good defensively when you’re a center. Do your job and help the team win, essentially. Nobody is going to replace [Bergeron] and nobody is going to replace [Marchand]. Win your share of puck battles; that’s always been a challenge for him because it’s a heavier league and we’re playing against a fast, heavy team [in Carolina]. He’s been better in Providence as of late, so hopefully he’s coming up here in a good frame of mind.”

Otherwise, the Boston Bruins also called up defenseman Tyler Lewington from Providence while sending Oskar Steen down to Providence to make room on the NHL roster. Patrice Bergeron remains out with a laceration to the back of his head and potentially a concussion with no timetable for his return following Tuesday night’s collision with Sidney Crosby.

Patrice Bergeron down the tunnel pic.twitter.com/KEjm1uDvSO

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) February 9, 2022

Here are the projected Boston Bruins line combos and D-pairings based on Tuesday’s optional skate at TD Garden:

Hall-Haula-Pastrnak

DeBrusk-Coyle-Smith

Frederic-Studnicka-Foligno

Blidh-Nosek-Lazar

Grzelcyk-McAvoy

Reilly-Carlo

Forbort-Clifton

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