LOCKOUT: Day 64 – #55 makes it 11.

Feb 19, 2012; St. Paul, MN, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55) against the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Bruins 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

When the Bruins needing cheering up from the early departure from the 2012 Stanley Cup Championships, they called upon their trusty mascot ‘Blades’. Blades told the team that sometimes they just need to get back to their roots.  Take some time, hang out by the river, and grab themselves a salmon or two. Blades also hinted that some of the waters to the east might be relaxing(and the salmon might be a tad slower.) The Bruins loved Blades, but were a little skeptical about these ‘eastern rivers’

Then Bettman and the lockout came. The Bruins realized that while they still loved the rivers on this side of the ocean, at least there were salmon in the East. The Bruins decided to test the waters and began to make the move to Europe. Seguin went to Switzerland, where he is just having an amazing season. Ference went to the Czech Republic, where he offered to buy beer for the Bruins faithful who stopped by. Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is in Russia, having a tough time being saddled to a rough club. Rich Peverley is having a great time in Tim Thomas’ old stomping grounds in the Finnish league. It appeared the Bruins were liking the foreign food.

Well, the latest of the Boston Bruins has decided to head over and test the waters for themselves. Johnny Boychuk, all around nice guy and ferocious beast on the ice is heading to Austria. Boychuk has decided to play for EC Red Bull Salzberg in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga of Austria, the country’s highest tiered league. Boychuk playing for a team sponsored by Red Bull. Oh mama! That’s going to make for an interesting combination. Bruins #55 will be the fourth player in the NHL to be playing for Red Bull.

All things considered, no Bruins player has sustained any serious injury in Europe, and if we have a season, we’re going to having a team of hardened and experienced players out to rescue the Cup back from Los Angeles.