Bruins Prospects Knocking On Door; Main Roster Injuries Could Open It

The Boston Bruins are already off to a bad enough start to their five-game road trip, and the path ahead could soon get even more difficult.

In the midst of losing their second straight game last night to Seattle Kraken, the Bruins also lost two key components of their top six as both centers Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha exited the game early with injuries.

Lindholm played just 6:56 before exiting in the middle of the second period and being ruled out with an upper-body injury. Zacha, meanwhile, was unable to skate his final few shifts of the game after taking a shot off his foot in the third period.

Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco did not have an update on either player following the game, and with today being a scheduled off day for the team, news of Lindholm’s and Zacha’s status won’t come until tomorrow.

Neither Lindholm nor Zacha have played particularly well lately. But even still, if either isn’t available to play tomorrow or any amount of time for that matter, it’d be a huge blow for a Boston team that’s already short on offensive firepower.

The Bruins were already one of the league’s lowest-scoring teams at the start of their road trip, and they’re yet to find any more goals in their travels abroad, as they’ve been outscored 13-2 in their last two games.

But while the Bruins themselves have struggled to generate offense, a few players down in AHL Providence are having no problem doing so.

These prospects were already knocking on the door of the NHL to begin with, and Lindholm and Zahca’s injuries could finally open it for them.

Matthew Poitras:

After an underwhelming start to the season in Boston, Matthew Poitras was sent down to the AHL to iron out the finer details of his game. It took him a short while to settle in with Providence, but he has begun to flourish in recent weeks.

Poitras has tallied eight points in his last five games, including a goal in each of his last four.

Given his play lately, his familiarity with the players already on the Bruins roster, not to mention his ability to play both down the middle and on the wing, Poitras is perhaps the player most deserving of a call-up.

Georgii Merkulov:

Georgii Merkulov has been one of Providence’s best players from the outset of the season, posting 19 points in 21 games.

He earned a brief call-up with the Bruins a few weeks back, during which he was serviceable in three games and recorded his first NHL point.

Even after getting sent back down to the AHL, Mekrulov has remained consistent. He’s currently in the midst of a five-game stretch in which he’s scored six points with two goals.

Fabian Lysell:

Of any prospect in the Bruins system, Fabian Lysell is the one that fans are clamoring for most of all.

The former first-round pick in 2021 has taken a while to marinate in the minors and is yet to officially make his NHL debut.

Lysell seemed to have a clear path to making the Bruins’ opening night roster but was instead among some of the first cuts made after an inconsistent performance in three preseason games.

Back in the AHL for the third straight year, Lysell is stuck on just 10 points through the 20 games in what has been an injury-filled start to the season for him.

Those aren’t necessarily the kind of stats that warrant call-up, but that potential remains oh-so alluring.

The Other Options:

As much as the moment may call for any combination of Poitras, Merkulov, or Lysell to be called up, the Bruins may be hesitant to place that sort of pressure on the young prospects by asking them to fill such a massive void on a struggling team.

The last time the Bruins needed reinforcements from Providence, they didn’t call on either of the three and instead turned to a veteran option in Patrick Brown.

A high-IQ player with experience playing in depth roles for multiple teams, Brown could very well be asked to join the Bruins again if Lindholm and or Zacha are forced to miss time, as could Vinni Lettieri, Riley Tufter, or Max Jones.

Are any of them as exciting as Poitras, Merkulov, or Lysell?

Not even close.

But what exactly do the Bruins need right now? Is it excitement or dependability?

They’ll let us know themselves tomorrow.

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