Boston Bruins: Why you probably won’t see Zach Senyshyn in NHL in 2021
By Matt Hawkins
The last of three consecutive first-round picks for the Boston Bruins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, right wing Zach Senyshyn has been tearing it up in the AHL for Providence so far this season.
This past offseason, Senyshyn worked day and night to improve his overall game, especially his shot, and it shows in his drastic improvement from last season to this season.
Senyshyn looks to be a much more complete player and has been producing at a much higher pace offensively than he has ever before in the AHL. Through seven games this season, Senyshyn is producing a point per game with four goals and three assists for seven points.
With Senyshyn finally producing in the AHL and him re-signing with the B’s on a one-year, $700,000 deal this past October, many fans and reporters, including myself, think Senyshyn is deserving of a call up — especially with the injuries and lack of secondary scoring the Black and Gold have been suffering from this season.
However, this may be very unlikely to happen due to one large factor when it comes to Senyshyn.
The Boston Bruins calling up Zach Senyshyn is very unlikely because of what could happen to him if they go to send him back down to the AHL.
With David Krejci and Ondrej Kase both on injured reserve, there is arguably a spot for Senyshyn on the B’s main roster at the moment. With Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork struggling to produce, the argument is there for him to play over one of them.
However, what happens when Krejci and/or Kase comes back or Boston just wants to send Senyshyn back down to the AHL or to the taxi squad because he’s struggling to produce?
The answer is he goes through waivers.
This is a huge issue for the B’s as, although Senyshyn has taken longer than liked to develop, he is still one of their top prospects, and at just 23 years old and a former first-round pick, another team is sure to pick him up and give him a chance.
The fact is the Black and Gold probably won’t call up Senyshyn unless there is a sure spot on the roster for him because of a season-ending injury. With him still being a restricted free agent (RFA) after this one-year deal expires, he’s too valuable to lose for nothing.
Even if Senyshyn isn’t seen as a part of the B’s future plans, he can be used as trade bait for an asset that is sure to help the team — someone like defenseman Mattias Ekholm on the Nashville Predators.
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So while Senyshyn may be deserving and ready for a call up to the NHL, this just isn’t the issue. The issue arises if or when the Bruins have to send him back down. The odds are you probably won’t see Senyshyn in the NHL in 2021 unless he’s with a team other than the Boston Bruins.