Scrimmages Will Be Key in Bruins' Evaluations

Boston Bruins 2021 Training Camp is presented by Plymouth Rock Assurance
BOSTON - Among the many challenges that come along with this year's training camp is the lack of any exhibition games. With just 10 days to ramp up for a 56-game slate, preseason contests were left off the calendar, leaving little opportunity for coaches and management to evaluate their talent.
While camp rosters are smaller than usual, that will make things far more difficult for coach Bruce Cassidy and general manager Don Sweeney as they try to finalize the 2020-21 version of the Boston Bruins.

That's why the intrasquad scrimmages that the Bruins will hold later this week will become critical in paring down the roster ahead of the team's Jan. 14 opener against New Jersey.
"How are guys progressing this week? How do they do in the scrimmages because that's the evaluator for us a little bit, the scrimmages," said Cassidy. "We don't have exhibitions. They're just taking the place of exhibition games. Some of these young guys get pushed up and if so, we keep them in the main group. We've got a lot of capable players, lots of depth.
"We'll pare down and make some tough decisions. That's why guys that are missing time now, it's unfortunate for them. But that's kind of the hand we're dealt this year with the short camp."
In normal circumstances, it can take a couple of weeks before the team makes any significant cuts, but Cassidy expects his group could begin to take shape by this weekend with a scheduled day off for the players likely coming on Saturday.
"I would suspect Sunday we would start getting to look more like the Bruins and the second group will look more like a potential taxi squad and Providence, however that plays out down the road," said Cassidy. "We'll sit down Saturday…then look at where everyone is at. For example, how is Brad [Marchand] progressing? We feel that he'll be on time for the start of the year.
"No matter what, he's gonna get that opportunity, but that might affect some other decisions. We know [David Pastrnak] is not gonna be there, so who has the best opportunity to play in that spot?"

Currently Unavailable

Cassidy said that three players - Anton Blidh, Karson Kuhlman, and Oskar Steen - are currently "unavailable to participate" after all of them missed the opening two days of training camp. According to the B's bench boss, Kuhlman is dealing with a "testing issue" that the team is currently trying to rectify.
"He was here ahead of time and cleared and did his quarantine," said Cassidy. "A little bit unfortunate for him. Hopefully we'll see him back out there soon."
Cassidy added that Steen could get on the ice in some capacity on Wednesday, while Blidh "will be a little bit down the road."
Also missing from the full team sessions has been Pastrnak, who is rehabbing from offseason hip surgery that will force him to miss the beginning of the season. Cassidy said that the Rocket Richard winner is "skating on his own schedule" but appears to be "a little bit ahead of" the projected four-month recovery that originally had him out until mid-February.
"How much [is ahead]? We've still got a ways to go," said Cassidy. "Let's get through January and see where he's at. I don't like to speculate on the medical part. I'm just repeating what I hear from our guys…up to this point, which is approximately four months now, his rehab has gone very well, no setbacks.
"I think because of his natural conditioning and work ethic, that pushes him ahead a little bit. How much? It's too early for me to speculate. I just know that he won't be ready when we head to New Jersey."

More Than Half

Cassidy speculated that Tuukka Rask would likely get the majority of playing time during the shortened 56-game campaign, estimating that his No. 1 backstop would be between the pipes for around 33-34 games. He added that the limited travel will help goalies during the abbreviated season, allowing them the potential for a larger workload.
"It's always play driven," said Cassidy. "We have a script at the start of the year. Now that we've got the [game] times finalized, [goalie coach Bob Essensa] and I will go through that and see where [Jaroslav Halak is] at.
"He wasn't here as long [during the offseason] so we want to see where his fitness level is after maybe the scrimmage this week and early next week and chart out a course."
Per Cassidy, Rask has been working out at the facility for an "extended period of time" and believes the netminder is in a good spot heading into the season.
"We're not gonna go back in time every time we discuss things…he feels good," Cassidy said when asked about Rask's departure from the bubble in August to tend to a family emergency. "[He's] practicing well…he's ready to go in that regard…we're gonna need good goaltending. We've talked about a little bit of the change on defense where we're gonna give some younger players an opportunity.
"Typically, when that happens, you need goaltending to help you out when you go through your hiccups early on. You need good team structure…the goaltending can help in a lot of areas that way."

Looking Strong

Among the standouts so far in camp has been Trent Frederic, the 22-year-old former first-round pick with 17 NHL games on his resume. Frederic skated on the left wing alongside Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner during Tuesday's practice session and displayed a blistering shot that clearly has some extra zip since last season.
The St. Louis native - who was listed as 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds last season - also appears to have come into camp stronger and leaner.
"We're gonna give Freddy an opportunity if he creates it for himself," said Cassidy. "At this point - it's only two days in - he looks better and more comfortable than he has in the past. Some of that is holding on to the puck, some of that is probably being a pro for two years, being up here a little bit, joining us in the playoffs.
"He's shooting the puck a ton right now. His shot has improved a ton over the summer…or he's just creating more space right now to get it off."

Like fellow youngster Jack Studnicka, Frederic is a natural centerman who may need to take advantage of time on the wing if he wants an opportunity with the big club.
"It's tough for these guys coming in - and I'll put Jack Studnicka in that - to crack the lineup in the middle of the ice," said Cassidy. "[Patrice Bergeron], [David Krejci], [Charlie] Coyle, Kuraly - we feel great about our center icemen. Now, could Kuraly bump over and play the wing and make room for say a Frederic on the fourth line? Absolutely.
"It looks like those two guys have to earn their spots on the wing so they're competing with wingers to get in the lineup. That's why we've put him on the wing to start training camp. He'll see some time in the middle eventually. He's a good face-off guy, but he can still take draws as a winger, for example, if he played with Kuraly.
"If he can get to the net, get to the inside ice, get his opportunities, give us some physical hockey when it's there - not chase it but just be hard to play against then he could help our team."

Tuesday's Practice Groups

GROUP A
FORWARDS
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Ondrej Kase
Nick Ritchie - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Brad Marchand - Greg McKegg - Robert Lantosi/Cameron Hughes
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Grzelcyk/John Moore - Brandon Carlo
Urho Vaakanainen/Nick Wolff - Connor Clifton
GOALIES
Jaroslav Halak
Jeremy Swayman
Callum Booth
GROUP B
FORWARDS
Anders Bjork - Patrice Bergeron - Jack Studnicka
Trent Frederic - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
Matt Filipe/Paul Carey - Par Lindholm - Zach Senyshyn
DEFENSEMEN
Jeremy Lauzon/Jakub Zboril - Charlie McAvoy
Kevan Miller/Jack Ahcan - Steven Kampfer
GOALIES
Tuukka Rask
Daniel Vladar
Callum Booth