McGrattan
WILMINGTON, Mass. — The Bruins returned to practice today at Ristuccia Arena, after taking Sunday off, without winger Brian McGrattan and, of course, center David Krejci.
Krejci, as announced Sunday, is out at least a week with a concussion. McGrattan was placed on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to Providence (AHL). As of now, the Bruins have not recalled anyone to replace Krejci.
“I felt it was time for him to go down there,” said Chiarelli about McGrattan, who is on waivers until noon Tuesday or until he’s claimed. “We put him on conditioning assignment last week, and frankly it was just something that I thought we might’ve needed to start the year. I’m not saying we still won’t need him, because I spoke with him, and there’s a good chance he’ll be back. It was time to put him down and get him off the cap for one thing, and we’ll see where it goes from here.”
So in Krejci’s absence, Patrice Bergeron skated between Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton. Blake Wheeler shifted from wing to center on a line flanked by Mark Recchi and Jordan Caron. Daniel Paille, a healthy scratch the last 10 games, skated on a line with Tyler Seguin and Michael Ryder.
More later.
@Stain I agree. Marchand deserves a shot at the third line and upping his offense, while keeping stone-hands-Paille on the fourth-line.
With Krejci out, these lines do not look as daunting.
I am almost inclined to move Machand up, he has been playing very good.
S0me may say not to mess with the 4th line, but I say why not….the other 3 lines have been tweeked. Get the best players on the ice.
@PCL when I first read your comment I thought the same thing as MacGyver…but what about as a PP line? Then move Bergy to center the second unit.
MacGyver, I agree with you there and that’s why I premised my comment the way I did, but you have to admit the offensive possibilities are intriguing, no? I think the Phoenix Foundation “think-tank” might agree with me there =D
I veto that idea. He would get shredded in the defensive zone.
This might be a very irresponsible thing to say, but I hope that Seguin sees some time between Looch & Horts with Krejci out. I’m not calling for a permanent line assignment, just some shifts to see if there’s any chemistry.