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Matt Grzelcyk’s may clear way for Mason Lohrei’s NHL debut

By Zander Manning

Sep 26, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) looks for the puck during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) looks for the puck during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Late in the first period of Monday night’s victory over the Florida Panthers, the Boston Bruins did suffer a loss in defenseman Matt Grzelcyk who exited with an upper-body injury late in the opening frame, and is expected to miss a few weeks according to head coach Jim Montgomery.

Through nine games so far this season, Grzelcyk  has contributed one goal and a +2 plus/minus rating on the ice. Grzelcyk has also been a fixture on the penalty kill, and has averaged just above 16 minutes of ice time per game.

While the injury paints a dark cloud on the Bruins’ d-core moving forward, the silver lining out of all of it is it may very well clear a spot for Mason Lohrei. Lohrei was impressive in the preseason and ate up significant minutes on the ice before ultimately being one of the last ones cut and sent to AHL Providence to start the year.

Since being demoted, he has played in seven games and racked up four assists in that time frame. While, unlike Grzelcyk, he has yet to crack the scoreboard, he has – like Grzelcyk – tallied a +2 plus/minus rating and has also racked up 12 shots on goal.

Its not as if Lohrei has not been trying to score, it’s just that he hasn’t been able to find twine just yet.

At 6’4″ and 210 LBS, he would add some significant size and weight if he were to be promoted to the NHL, among being another left-handed shot. In fact, given how poorly top-line defenseman Hampus Lindolm has played this season (nine games, 0 points, -2 rating), he may even slot in near the top of the lineup.

Now while it is possible that Boston decides to go in another direction entirely when it comes to reinforcements for Grzelcyk, promoting a guy who truly proved it throughout the preseason would be the smarter thing to do.

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