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Bruins make cuts, but questions remain

The Bruins continued to pare down their coaching camp roster, however some key roster battles are nonetheless to be formally decided.

The B’s positioned Jayson Megna on waivers for the aim of task whereas Trevor Kuntar, Marc McLaughlin and Georgii Merkulov had been assigned to Providence.

But there are nonetheless so many questions.

Matt Poitras, 19, continues to be with the large membership, which isn’t a shock given his efficiency up to now, which included the game-tying objective within the B’s 5-4 preseason loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. If he doesn’t make the large membership, {the teenager} must be despatched again to his junior membership in Guelph. But as of now it might be a stunner if the B’s didn’t at the least make the most of the nine-game window earlier than they need to make a closing determination on him.

If the extremely expert Poitras can show that he’s prepared for the bodily grind of the NHL, that would create a reasonably main ripple impact up and down the lineup. It would appear ineffective to not pair the younger playmaker with somebody who can fill the online at an honest clip. Perhaps you let Pavel Zacha play with David Pastrnak, Charlie Coyle play with Brad Marchand and provides Poitras both Jake DeBrusk or James van Riemsdyk, then fill in the remainder of the holes.

Also sticking round for now’s defenseman Mason Lohrei. The Ohio State product, who scored his first objective on Tuesday, has demonstrated he’s acquired loads of room for development, however he has additionally proven flashes that he might be an impression NHL participant in some unspecified time in the future. We ought to know by the weekend if the B’s imagine that point is now. And if the left-shot Lohrei sticks round, who will get nudged out of the lineup? Derek Forbort? Kevin Shattenkirk? Would Lohrei’s doable ascension set off a commerce? Those are questions nonetheless to be answered.

And it looks like the underside six continues to be very a lot undetermined. The fourth line of Milan Lucic-John Beecher-Jakub Lauko had good sport in opposition to the Caps and would appear to have the within observe on that responsibility. But nonetheless in camp are AJ Greer, who together with Lauko got here out of nowhere to earn a Boston job final yr, and Oskar Steen, who has had an honest camp however most likely not fairly adequate to bounce anybody from the opening night time lineup. And the place precisely does Jesper Boqvist, properly regarded by the teaching workers, slot in? Patrick Brown, who signed a two-year deal price $800,000 a season, can be nonetheless right here however has not but been capable of distinguish himself. Greer, Steen, Brown and Boqvist all require waivers to be despatched all the way down to Providence.

And don’t count on Morgan Geekie to be going anyplace after signing a two-year cope with a $2 million AAV. But if the B’s hold Poitras and Beecher, the place precisely does he play?

Also, Danton Heinen continues to be in camp on a tryout settlement. The B’s launched Alex Chiasson from his tryout pretty early in camp partly to permit him to hunt different employment. The reality Heinen continues to be right here tells you that they’re severely contemplating hiring him.

The B’s administration and training staffs have yet another preseason sport on Thursday to assist inform their choices. Then they’ll have to tug the set off and supply solutions to those questions….

The B’s additionally introduced the signing of protection prospect Frederic Brunet to a three-year entry stage contract with an NHL cap hit of $860,000. The offensive-minded defenseman, the B’s fifth spherical decide in 2022, was despatched to Providence on Tuesday.

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