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Bruins Practice Report: Lettieri Called-Up; Injury Updates on Kastelic and Lindholm

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Photo courtesy of the Providence Bruins/ @AHLBruins on 𝕏 

BRIGHTON, Mass. — A new face from Providence joined the Boston Bruins at practice on Monday at Warrior Ice Arena. Just not one of the ones fans were hoping for.



No, it wasn’t Matthew Poitras, Fabian Lysell, or Georgii Merkulov, but forward Vinni Lettieri, who the Bruins called up from the Providence Bruins.

“I’m very honored to be here with this group,” said Lettieri. “I think everything that I’ve done so far has been just a testament to how good the coaching staff and the players are down in Providence. We work so hard every day to become better, and it’s because we’re winning more games down there. But I mean, any success I’ve had, from the beginning to now, is all because of them. I’m grateful for this opportunity and just trying to win games here.” 

Lettieri, 29, is in his second stint with the Bruins after being acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Wild over the summer. Between playing for the Bruins, Wild, Anaheim Ducks, and New York Rangers, Lettieri has recorded 27 points in 129 career NHL games.

That’s not exactly the infusion of offense that fans were hoping the Bruins would call up from the AHL, which is why Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco was quick to point out Lettieri’s scoring production this season. Operating at a point-per-game pace with 14 goals and 21 assists, Lettieir is Providence’s leading scorer through 35 games.

“His confidence level right now is pretty high, so we’re hoping that carries over here with our group,” Sacco said. “That’s not to say that other guys, at some point, won’t be getting an opportunity as well. We’ll see. But he was the guy right now. He’s deserving of the opportunity, basically based on merit.”

Lettieri took line rushes on the third line during practice next to Trent Frederic and Oliver Wahlstrom, while Justin Brazeau moved down to the fourth line.

After calling up Lettieri, the Bruins placed forward Marc McLaughlin on waivers and assigned him to AHL Providence.

Mark Kastelic Out Against Bolts:

Mark Kastelic was not on the ice at practice on Monday.

The forward is still considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury and will miss his second straight game when the Bruins host the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow, according to Sacco.

Kastelic left the Bruins’ game against the Lightning last Thursday in Tampa early and appeared dazed after taking a cross-check to the face and fighting Bolts defenseman Emil Lilleberg.

Hampus Lindholm Continues To Rehab:

Defenseman Hampus Lindholm continues to progress toward a return from a lower-body injury, as he was once again skating on his own prior to the start of practice.

There is still no timetable for Lindholm’s return to the lineup, which the Bruins have eagerly awaited for two months.

“He’s a guy that plays against top lines,” Sacco said. “He takes top matchups. He plays over 20 minutes a night for us on a consistent basis. He’s on the penalty kill and is probably a guy who can see some second power play unit time as well. It’s another guy that knows how to play the game. He’s battle-tested. When you have a guy like that out for that long, you miss him, but he will be an added bonus when he does return for us.”

Lindholm has missed the last 27 games after blocking a shot off his left leg against the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 12. He posted seven points and three goals in 17 games prior to getting hurt.

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