Boston Bruins’ Head Coach Bruce Cassidy Gives Updates on Injured Players

This morning, Saturday, Feb. 6, Boston Bruins‘ head coach Bruce Cassidy gave updates on where the four B’s players that are injured currently are in their recovery and their status for next game.

These four players include forwards Jake DeBrusk, Jack Studnicka, and Ondrej Kase, and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. All four of them have missed at least the last four games.

Matt Grzelcyk and Jake DeBrusk could be back for the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.

Jake DeBrusk – Left Wing/Right Wing

Coach Cassidy stated today that DeBrusk is expected to practice with the team on Monday and could be ready for Wednesday’s game against the New York Rangers.

DeBrusk has missed the last five games due to a lower-body injury. Before suffering the injury he was playing on the first line in what is usually David Pastrnak’s spot as Pasta was still recovering from offseason surgeries. Now with Pastrnak back, DeBrusk should go back to his normal spot on the second line on the left of center David Krejci when he returns.

Matt Grzelcyk – Left Defenseman

Just like DeBrusk, Cassidy said that Grzelcyk is expected to practice with the team on Monday and could possibly play on Wednesday against the Rangers.

However, unlike DeBrusk, Grizz could be held out of the lineup even if he’s ready to come back because of the solid play by Connor Clifton and Charlie McAvoy in his spots.

Before suffering a lower-body injury in B’s most recent matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Grzelcyk was playing on the second defensive pairing with Brandon Carlo and manning the point on the first powerplay unit.

The issue for Grizz is that neither the second D-pair nor the first powerplay unit has floundered without him. One could argue that both have been actually better without him. Because of this, Cassidy also stated that Clifton could remain in the lineup even if Grizz is ready to play.

Jack Studnicka and Ondrej Kase are still a bit away from returning for the Boston Bruins.

Jack Studnicka – Right Wing/Center

Before suffering an undisclosed injury in the Black and Gold’s most recent game against the Penguins, Studnicka was being moved up and down the lineup. He had played on the first line, the second line, the third line, and was even a healthy scratch for a game. However, he was playing well and was rewarded with his first NHL goal in his second game of the season.

Cassidy’s update for Studnicka is that he will be skating in an optional practice today. However, he didn’t say if he’ll be practicing with the team on Monday, but because he’s on the ice, there’s a chance.

It’s unclear if Studnicka will be back in the lineup when he’s healthy. If DeBrusk is back before Studnicka, there isn’t really a spot for him in the lineup.

Ondrej Kase – Right Wing

Kase suffered an upper-body injury in just the second game of the season and still doesn’t seem even close to returning or getting on the ice. Cassidy said today that he thinks Kase has been on the bike, but isn’t 100% sure, and knows he hasn’t been skating.

This isn’t a good sign for Kase. Many speculate that Kase has a concussion as he has a long history of concussions and he suffered this injury after a bump up high. If Kase does in fact have a concussion, it could still be quite a while before we seem him back.

Even when he is healthy, I think Kase shouldn’t be guaranteed a spot in the lineup. He was slotted at the second line right wing, but wasn’t doing much. He has good possession metrics and advanced stats, but still only has one assist in eight regular-season games with the B’s. I would rather see Studnicka in that spot over Kase.

DeBrusk and Studnicka I think are the two most important players on this list. The Black and Gold have struggled with their secondary scoring recently, heavily relying on the first line — especially Pasta — and the powerplay to score. DeBrusk and Studnicka should create balance and some much-needed additional scoring options to the lineup.