Boston Bruins: Jack Studnicka needs to remain at center when David Krejci returns

Since being called back up by the Boston Bruins on Feb. 19, Jack Studnicka has finally been able to play his natural position of center instead of right wing. So far he has shown that he should remain at center and never play wing again.

Although Studnicka has been playing mainly right wing in the NHL he is a natural center and was drafted as such. However, with the B’s logjam at center, Studnicka had to move over to right wing to be able to play in the NHL.

But with David Krejci going down with a lower-body injury, Studnicka has finally been given the opportunity to show what he can do at center in the NHL, and we haven’t been disappointed yet.

While Studnicka looked a bit lost during his time at right wing, he looks free and natural at center — which makes sense as it’s his natural position. Yes, Studnicka did start to create opportunities and was able to score his first NHL goal at right wing, but he wasn’t playing nearly this well as he is now at center.

Studnicka hasn’t been able to bury a goal yet while at center, but he’s been either creating chances for himself or being involved in chances with his linemates. The last two goals have Studnicka nearly scoring a goal in each, but just getting unlucky with bounces as he wasn’t unable to handle a bouncing puck against the Islanders and hit the crossbar against the Rangers.

The Boston Bruins need to keep Jack Studnicka at center when David Krejci returns.

With Studnicka playing so well, I don’t think the Black and Gold can send him back down to the AHL or move him over to right wing when Krejci returns. Instead, Studnicka needs to remain at center and either Charlie Coyle or Krejci needs to move over.

This means Studnicka would remain 3C while either Coyle or Krejci plays 2C or 2RW. I think this would balance out the lineup nicely. Coyle has also been playing much better since moving up to 2C, so this will benefit both Studnicka and Coyle.

With that, I think Coyle would be the better option at 2C. I don’t necessarily mean have him take faceoffs as Krejci has been by far the better of the two at faceoffs this season, but have him take on the responsibilities that centers take during play.

This would have the B’s lineup look like this:

Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Ritchie – Coyle – Krejci
DeBrusk – Studnicka – Smith
Frederic – Kuraly – Wagner/Bjork

I think this lineup looks much better than a lineup with Studnicka at RW and Coyle at 3C. Furthermore, I think that third line of DeBrusk, Studnicka, and Smith could prove deadly. Studnicka’s playmaking ability, Smith shooting tendencies, and DeBrusk’s net-front presence could put up a lot of goals together.

I know Studnicka has only registered one assist since being called back up, but he has just been playing so well and creating and involved in so many great chances that you have to think the points will come sooner rather than later.