Depending on how he adjusts upon his return, Pastrnak could be playing with either of the top two lines, per Cassidy. Boston's bench boss would like to get a more extensive look at Pastrnak with David Krejci - with whom he was playing in the two games before he got hurt - but acknowledged that Pastrnak's familiarity with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand could benefit him as he works his way back up to speed.
"If he has a little bit of time to develop chemistry with Krejci…he has chemistry, but he hasn't played a lot with him this year," said Cassidy. "I think it's just easier for him to go back with Bergy and March if it's a real tight window to when the playoffs start. That will have something to do with it as well."
Either way, Cassidy will need to do some shuffling when Pastrnak gets back into the lineup.
If Pastrnak plays with Krejci, "that would allow [Marcus] Johansson to maybe play with [Charlie] Coyle which balances lines a little bit," said Cassidy. "If Pasta goes up with Bergy and March, then Danton [Heinen] could go down, back with Coyle as well.
"You don't want to go into the playoffs - and this is assuming we keep playing well - and have a whole bunch of new lines either. Have to be careful, but it is the hand we're dealt with Pasta.
"That will have something to do with it, how much chemistry do they have, how much time do they have to develop chemistry. We're gonna have to make a quick decision on that."
With Pastrnak out of the lineup for the last nine games, the Bruins have scored 31 goals - an average of 3.4, up from the 2.9 they were averaging in the 56 games with their leading scorer. Cassidy hopes that uptick continues when Pastrnak is back in the fold.
"I would think he's just gonna add more of that, more primary scoring with him," said Cassidy. "But assuming we keep it going…we're in a good stretch, but it doesn't mean it can't go the other way. We have to work hard to get our goals and get us now to where we feel we're a consistent threat to get a good number of goals."
In Pastrnak's absence, Boston has received a boost from second-year winger Jake DeBrusk, who leads the Bruins with 13 points and seven goals in those nine games.
"Some of it's coming rom Jake getting hot, hopefully a few other guys get a on roll," said Cassidy. "Pasta should add offense. He's done it consistently in the league. He did it last year in the playoffs. We're hoping that when he comes back he finds it quickly. But again, that's not an automatic either."
