Boston Bruins: A huge oppurtunity for fringe players
By Luke Ryan
There is huge potential for the players of the fringe of the Boston Bruins line-up to make their case this summer.
With news of small group training recommencing this week and the Boston Bruins likely to have a full training camp in the next month or so, there’s a lot of oppurtunity for guys on the edge of the roster.
The likes of Karson Kuhlman, Zach Senyshyn and Brett Ritchie will be itching to get back out there ans proving their worth. One name that won’t be joining them though is Peter Cehlarik, who has given up on his NHL dream for now.
For these three players in particular, they had their chances with the Boston Bruins this season and just, for whatever reason, weren’t able to make it stick.
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With expanded rosters likely as the Boston Bruins head into the Stanley Cup Playoffs; there is the chance to at least be on the roster, if not on the ice. The round-robin tournament between the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lighting, Washington Capitals and Boston is the ideal time to make their cases.
All three of these players were given the chance this season; in the case of Kuhlman and Senyshyn – they were rather unlucky to suffer ill-timed injuries and find guys like Anders Bjork stepping up to steal their spot in the meantime.
When it comes to Brett Ritchie, he arrived last summer with a point to prove and unfortunately by the midway point of this season found himself demoted to Providence. Younger players overtook him and won Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy‘s favor.
The tournament for the top-four teams in the Eastern Conference offers the perfect oppurtunity for a bit of line juggling and experimentation; it’s going to be up to the players themselves to take the bull by the horns and claim their place though.
You’d have to imagine all three guys have been working hard in this season pause to ensure they’re in peak condition at the season restart; for them, there’s far more on the line than guys like Chris Wagner or Matt Gryzelyck. Those guys know they’re guaranteed a spot, at least on a 23-man roster.
For Kuhlman, Senyshyn and Brett Ritchie; it’s a case of making the expanded roster or likely having to spend another year in Providence when the new regular season eventually gets sorted out.
Now would be the right time for them to take some risks in regards to making themselves known. Big risk offers big reward after all, though it can also lead to big failure.