Boston Bruins: Peter Cehlarik extension means one more chance

The Boston Bruins continue their offseason with rather quietly, as expected. The main focus right now for them is to sign all of their restricted free agents. One, who got his new deal signed, is Peter Cehlarik.

Peter Cehlarik‘s contract extension certainly looks like a ‘prove yourself’ kind of a contract. Is that the case; are the Boston Bruins giving him one last chance?

Peter Cehlarik extending seems like a nice deal for the Boston Bruins. As per reports, the Bruins have re-signed their pending restricted free agent Peter Cehlarik to a one-year deal worth $700,000 per season. It’s a two-way deal, though they would have to sneak him through waivers. That’s encouraging after the Danton Heinen news as Cehlarik was eligible for the arbitration as well.

The 23-year-old Slovak native was selected at 90th overall in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Ever since then, he has made it to the Boston Bruins lineup for just 37 games. Unfortunately for him, every one of his first two campaigns ended up with injuries and setbacks.

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In the past season, Cehlarik played in 20 NHL games, which was his career high. He definitely looked to impress in his first few games following his call-up from the Providence Bruins in the AHL. On his NHL debut, Peter Cehlarik registered two assists in a 4-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens. That was a sweet NHL debut in the colours of the Boston Bruins for sure.

After that debut in February 2017, Cehlarik has played only 16 more games in the NHL until January 2019. In those 16 games, Cehlarik has combined for only one goal and one assist for two points.

In his 20-game spell with the Boston Bruins in the past season, Cehlarik, once again, shone in his season debut. That night, he scored two goals against the Philadelphia Flyers and the other night, he collected an assist versus the St. Louis Blues. But ever since those two impressive games, just three points were recorded in his next 18 outings.

That’s why players like Karson Kuhlman were able to take his place in the Boston Bruins lineup. One thing not helping Peter Cehlarik is that he is a left winger. During first few games for him the past season, Cehlarik skated on the second line with David Krejci centering him. For Krejci, he needs more of a right winger with Jake Debrusk playing his best hockey on the left side, obviously.

There have been many rumblings around, that after the last season, the 23 year-old forward has failed the trial and the Bruins are going to let him go. Surprisingly, the Boston Bruins were able to keep him on the two-way deal, which might be a case of one more chance for the Slovak.

On the flip side, now the Bruins retain his rights; they may include him in the trade in the near future. After the initial reports of the Boston Bruins not tendering him a qualifying offer, Peter Cehlarik eventually extending appears like a pretty cheap, low-risk and nice deal.