When the final round of roster cuts was made by the Boston Bruins, veteran forward Mikey Eyssimont was kept as the extra forward. However, second-year head coach Marco Sturm made it clear that once Matthew Poitras, who was on injured reserve, was cleared to return, he was going to get a shot.
That's exactly what happened, and Boston ended up putting Eyssimont on waivers for assignment to the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL). He cleared waivers and reported to the P-Bruins. As for Poitras, he took Sean Kuraly's roster spot and hasn't given it up.
However, Eyssimont has been tearing it up in the AHL and is tied for the league lead in goals with nine. That hasn't gone unnoticed by Sturm on Monday after practice at Warrior Ice Arena.
“We recognize it as a coaching staff and also management,'' said Sturm, per Jack Studley of Boston Hockey Now. "Mikey came in and he had a great preseason. Now he’s playing great again. Unfortunately, it was just a roster spot and all that kind of things happened, and unfortunately, he was the odd man out. But I do believe he will get his chance again with one injury, and he’s right back at it.''
Marco Sturm acknowledges Mikey Eyssimont's start with the Providence Bruins
You figured that Eyssimont is just an injury away from being recalled; however, nobody wishes any injury. The thing about Eyssimont at Sturm is the professional attitude he has brought with him to Providence.
"I’m just happy that he didn’t drop his head [about] playing in the minors,'' said Sturm. "No, he’s been a really good pro. Like I said, he came in ready to go this camp, and now he’s proving it. So I’m very happy for him.”
It would be easy for a veteran to sulk after getting sent down, but not Eyssimont. However, you have to think that something that is driving him down there is the fact that he turns enough heads; he might be someone that general manager Don Sweeney could end up trading to give him a shot with another club.
The writing was on the wall a bit for Eyssimont toward the end of last season that something like this might be coming. He was a healthy scratch at the end of the season and for most of the first-round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres. It'll be interesting to see how things play out this season for Eyssimont and the Bruins.
Add us as a preferred source on Google