Boston Bruins: Ondrej Kase will be the perfect second-line fit
By Luke Ryan
The Boston Bruins have managed to add Ondrej Kase prior to the trade deadline and he should be a perfect fit on the second line.
Ondrej Kase with the Anaheim Ducks, lined up alongside Adam Henrique and Nick Ritchie in his best point-scoring season back in the 2017-18 season. Luckily for the Boston Bruins, Jake Debrusk and David Krejci compare to them in a positive way.
Krejci is a stronger face-off man, a stronger driver of play at least based on his Corsi and Fenwick scores and in general should benefit Ondrej Kase. Both players have a lot of similarities; Henrique and Krejci are both strong two-way guys, though the Boston Bruins center plays a little slower.
The fact that Krejci shares an upbringing and heritage with Kase can only benefit him. In terms of fitting in with the team, it’s going to be down to his fellow Czech players to help him fit in; Krejci and David Pastrnak will no doubt lead that charge.
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As for Nick Ritchie; Jake Debrusk is easily a better version of him. Ritchie played a much more physical game on the opposite wing to Kase in 2017-18; his highest points year.
Debrusk tends to give the puck away more often, though he also takes it away far more often than Ritchie might’ve done that year. This may lead Kase to a little more puck-battling and work along the walls, but this isn’t the worst thing.
All in all, Ondrej Kase is going to see a slightly changed role, but there’s absolutely no reason for him not to be the perfect fit on the Boston Bruins’ second line.
Look at the likes of Karson Kuhlman, David Backes, Anders Bjork and countless other names that the Boston Bruins have tried to slot in on that position and Kase is likely the most skilled and ready to take it on and claim it as his own.
This past season, his most consistent line mates have been Max Jones and Sam Steel and while they’re great young guys, they’re nowhere near the calibre of Krejci and DeBrusk.
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Kase is understandably excited to get going with us, no doubt having seen us go all the way to the Stanley Cup Final and hoping to get a chance for himself. If he can build fast chemistry, the Boston Bruins are laughing – they’ve claimed a steal of a contract.