Causeway Crowd
Fansided

Boston Bruins: B’s Call Up Frank Vatrano For Match Against Habs

By Andrew Thompson

facebooktwitterreddit

The Boston Bruins are changes things up a bit as the head towards Montreal for yet another clash with their oldest rivals, the Canadiens. The Bruins have decided to send Alexander Khokhlachev back down to Providence, and call up forward Frank Vatrano to the NHL team.

More from Bruins News

The Bruins seem to be sending out a few messages with this call.

Khokhlachev had the skill set to be the Bruins thirteenth forward this season, but it would have been an utter shame to have those skills guarding the popcorn machine on the TD Garden’s ninth level. So the B’s put him in Providence. Clearly, Khokhlachev thought that was a waste of his talents, and he lamented that he wouldn’t be content to play in the AHL forever. (I suspect he had his KHL contract rights moved to help force the issue with the Bruins.)

For all of Khokhlachev’s talk about wanting to be a NHL level player, he’s hasn’t really shown that to the fans (or the Bruins) on the ice. The 22-year old Russian has appeared in six games for Boston. While he did score a game-winning goal in a shootout, his overall contribution has been limited to just two penalty minutes in the NHL. He hasn’t made the impact he thought (or the Bruins thought) he could, and that’s why he’ll be back wearing the spoked ‘P’.

Maybe the Bruins were trying to shop him around. They know they’ll likely lose him to free agency, and they could package him as part of deal to get someone. Who knows? They B’s have tried to move Koko before.

Vatrano is completely untested in the NHL. Maybe that’s not the best thing to have when taking on Les Habitants, but it does give him a certain advantage. He has no fear. Every once in a while an untested rookie player will come out of the woodwork and totally surprise someone. Once upon a time, a young rookie named Torey Krug took ownership of the New York Rangers. Maybe the B’s are hoping lightning strikes twice.

Live Feed

2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup /

Puck Prose

  • Former NY Islanders earn spots on 'Historic 100' list of Boston Bruins players Eyes On Isles
  • The Boston Bruins announced an incredible All-Centennial teamPuck Prose
  • Former NY Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara finds a new way to push himselfEyes On Isles
  • The Boston Bruins are bringing back another old friendPuck Prose
  • The new faces on the Bruins heading into the 2023-24 seasonPuck Prose

    • If the Boston Bruins didn’t chose to bring on Zac Rinaldo (who in ten games has yet to put up a point, is a -3 and has 25 minutes in penalties), the B’s would have likely promoted Vatrano to Boston. He was one of the young players that had a very strong training camp. He also took those lessons and applied them in the AHL. Vatrano has been on a tear for Providence, putting in ten goals for the baby B’s. Vatrano could be a strong player for the Boston club. He’s got the work ethic and the desire to succeed. Hopefully, this will be the start of good things for the Massachusetts native.

    The Bruins take on the Canadiens tomorrow night at the Bell Centre. Hopefully, the bears will be able to beard the lion in his own bleu, blanc, et rouge den.

    Home/Bruins News