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Jakub Lauko Making Most Of His Ice Time

By Tommy Bennett

Nov 1, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Bruins center Jakub Lauko (94) celebrates with the Bruins bench after scoring the first NHL goal of his career against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Bruins center Jakub Lauko (94) celebrates with the Bruins bench after scoring the first NHL goal of his career against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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When everyone talks about the Boston Bruins, the big names come to mind. David Pastrnak is close to hitting 50 goals. Linus Ullmark is having a Vezina caliber season. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand made history yesterday. But in any given season there are unsung heroes. Players that may fly under the radar, but impact the game. One player that deserves all the attention is Boston Bruins winger Jakub Lauko.

Boston Bruins Winger Jakub Lauko Making His Case To Stay

For the majority of this season, Boston Bruins winger Jakub Lauko has been an emergency call-up. Spending most of the year in Providence, he has seen his share of time with the big club. It is an honor to have your name called, and Lauko has made the most of it. However, with his most recent stint with the club he has made his case to end that trend. Boston Bruins winger Jakub Lauko has made his case to stick around and be an everyday player.

The Year He’s Having

Lauko has spent his year in the minors and the big club. In Providence, he is having a career year and suited up in 35 games. Lauko has set a career high in goals (10), and is two points shy of his career-high (19). However, he has seen time with the big club. It is his first true season with the Boston Bruins. In addition, it may not seem like a lot but in 15 games he has three goals and five points. However, his impact goes beyond just the stats sheet.

Lauko And His Underlying Impact

March 2 was a great day if you were Jakub Lauko. In his first game as a Bruin in a month or so, he lit the lamp. Went to the dirty area and sniped a shot off a rebound shot by Brandon Carlo. Just electric stuff and simply a guy that comes in and makes the most of his ice time. Let’s fast forward a few weeks.

Lauko still remains with the club. He has become a mainstay on the fourth line with Tomas Nosek and Garnet Hathaway. And given the way he has been playing, there is a reason for that. Lauko and his most recent performance against the Winnipeg Jets has turned heads. Here is a prime example of his great shift in that game.

In that shift, you can just see how hungry he is. His hustle and firing off three shots and throwing hits is perfect for an everyday player. Despite playing the least amount of minutes at 5v5 against the Jets, he did good things out there. He led the Bruins in Individual scoring chances with five. In addition, there is one aspect of his game that has been noticeable.

Lauko drew two penalties in the game against the Jets. Among qualified players, he leads the league in drawn penalties averaging 2.93 per 60 minutes. For a player that plays fourth-line minutes, that’s a testament to his hustle and impact. He forechecks hard, is physical (23 hits), and has the ability to produce.

He Should Stay

Given the constructed roster, there may not be room for Boston Bruins winger Jakub Lauko. Taylor Hall is on the verge of returning, but Nick Foligno does remain out. The acquisition of Tyler Bertuzzi does not help his cause. But until that day comes where Hall returns and lineup changes need to be made, Lauko deserves to stay. Whether he is switching in and out with AJ Greer, Lauko belongs in the lineup. In addition, this is a great showcase for next season as he has shown he is capable of being an everyday Boston Bruin. This is great stuff for the Bruins depth and for the young forward.

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