Apr 13, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; Boston Bruins center
Alexander Khokhlachev(76) skates during the first period of his NHL debut against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins have once again dug into their AHL Providence roster to fill holes in the depleted squad. This afternoon, the Bruins organization announced that center Alexander Khokhlachev has once again be recalled from the Providence Bruins on an emergency basis. He headed up with the Boston team to Columbus for its Friday night game against the Blue Jackets. The young Russian center also was recalled for last week’s game against the Canadiens up in Canada, but at the last minute was a healthy scratch for the game.
(That whole Khokhlachev scratch in Montreal was poorly done by the Bruins organization. Khokhlachev had contacted his family, and they went up to see him play in his first NHL game of the season (and the second NHL game in his career.) I’m not sure what happened, but hopefully the Bruins won’t repeat that mistake again with Koko.)
Khokhlachev wasn’t the only player called up by Boston. Providence defenseman Zach Trotman was sent back to Providence only to get called back to Boston today. Trotman will likely be filling in the hole left by Adam McQuaid due to his broken thumb.
Khokhlachev is capable of playing wing or center, and it’s likely he’ll be filling in for top-six forward Brad Marchand for the game against Columbus. Marchand did not make the trip with the Bruins, but he did skate in today’s practice. Currently, Khoklachev is tied for the lead in scoring with sixteen points (five goals) in the fifteen games he’s played in Providence.
Khokhlachev bring a finesse game to the Boston. He’s extremely fast and agile with the puck. He has solid situational awareness and works very well with his Providence teammates. He should be able to find some instant chemistry with Patrice Bergeron and Reilly Smith.
Hopefully Marchand will be one hundred percent on Saturday night when the B’s come home to find their ancient nemesis, the Montreal Canadiens waiting for them.