Category — vladimir sobotka

Sobotka/By S. Bradley

This season was supposed to be all about earning a permanent home  in Boston and establishing himself as an NHL regular for Vladimir Sobotka.

Well, one out of two isn’t bad.

[Read more →]

Sobotka

WILMINGTON, Mass. – As a 22-year-old in his first NHL season, Vladimir Sobotka didn’t want to ruffle any feathers.

After spending all but 25 games in the American League with Providence in 2008-09, and even starting this season down with the farm club, Sobotka was just appreciative to be skating in the NHL early on when the Bruins kept switching him from center to wing and then back again.

Obviously Boston’s injury troubles forced head coach Claude Julien’s hand, and even clinched Sobotka’s permanent residence at center, but Sobotka’s comfort was also a factor in the decision to play Sobotka at pivot. [Read more →]

Sobotka

BOSTON — Center Vladimir Sobotka says he’s playing against the Calgary Flames today at TD Garden.

Sobotka missed Thursday night’s game with what was deemed a “minor concussion.” He returned to practice Friday.

Asked about any previous concussions, Sobotka said he also had a minor one when playing in his native Czech Republic. But earlier in the season he said that he suffered a concussion at the end of last season with Providence of the AHL. So maybe there’s something lost in translation there.

As per the Twitter feed of NESN reporter Naoko Funayama, Bruins center Vladimir Sobotka skated during practice today at Ristuccia Arena. Sobotka, it was revealed, suffered a “slight concussion” against Atlanta Tuesday night. He did not play Thursday against Tampa Bay.

Defenseman Andrew Ference, however, did not practice. He told reporters that he will probably take days off between games to make sure his balky groin holds up for the rest of the season.

The Bruins host Calgary in a matinee Saturday.

Sobotka

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed during his conference call about Andrew Ference’s contract extension that center Vladimir Sobotka has a sore neck and will be re-evaluated today and tomorrow. Chiarelli said Sobotak is doubtful to play against Tampa Bay Thursday night. [Read more →]

Sobotka

A rough 1-2-0 week for the Bruins, who scored just three goals in the three games and were shutout in New York Sunday, doesn’t provide one with a long list of candidates for Bruin of the Week.

So I had to dig a little bit and I determined that center Vladimir Sobotka was deserving, not just for his two-point effort in the lone win against Edmonton Saturday. Sobotka, who should sue the TD Garden stats keepers that didn’t credit him with a single hit against the Oilers, was awarded six against New Jersey Thursday and three against the Rangers. [Read more →]

Sobotka

He already got the best reward a player can receive for playing well when he and Brad Marchand were summoned to Boston by the Bruins yesterday and practiced with the team today.

But forward Vladimir Sobotka received even more recognition today when the AHL announced he was their player of the week because he scored three goals, notched three assists and posted a plus-4 rating in two Providence wins over the weekend.

What a week it was for Sobotka, who today played on a line with David Krejci and Blake Wheeler during Boston’s practice.

Sobotka

A regular in the Boston Bruins’ lineup for the ’08 playoff series with Montreal, Vladimir Sobotka was relegated to skating for Providence (AHL) for all but 25 games he played in the NHL during the 2008-09 season.

Sobotka, who returned to town this week to skate in informal captains’ practices, helped the P-Bruins reach their conference finals but wasn’t around to aid Boston against Carolina in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Sobotka intends this season to be completely different. [Read more →]

Sobotka

BOSTON — As I already mentioned, Vladimir Sobotka was recalled from Providence (AHL) on an emergency basis today.

Although the forward didn’t know as of a half hour ago whether he’d be in the lineup against Montreal tonight at 7 p.m., it’s widely believed he was brought here to fill in for the injured Chuck Kobasew.

Sobotka has been skating on left wing next to center Zach Hamill and right winger Brad Marchand of late with the P-Bruins.

“Every call up is nice. So I’m going to see if I’m going to play and I’m going to enjoy,” Sobotka said in the TD Banknorth Garden hallway.

Sobotka, who has registered 20 goals and 24 assists for the P-Bruins this season, last skated in an NHL game Feb. 21 at Florida. As for whether he’s improved this season, he was modest about the strides he’s taken.

“Right now, I scored some goals, got some points. Maybe (I’m better). Maybe I have confidence a little bit more than before,” he said.

Sobotka

In a sign of how doubtful it is that the Boston Bruins will have either center Marc Savard or winger Milan Lucic available for tomorrow’s game against Washington, the club this evening recalled Vladimir Sobotka from Providence (AHL).

Sobotka has skated in 23 games this season for Boston — posting just 1-3-4 totals. With Providence this season, he has 13 goals and 15 assists in 26 games.

Savard and Lucic were both injured Thursday night and classified today as questionable by Bruins head coach Claude Julien.

Sobotka

BOSTON — Forward Vladimir Sobotka’s most recent stint with Boston last four games and included one assist and a plus-2 rating in around 11 minutes of ice time per game.

Unlike previous call-ups when he was cast in a fourth-line role, he had to skate higher up on the depth chart, mostly with center David Krejci and winger Blake Wheeler.

Although Sobotka’s stay ended with a healthy scratch Sunday in Tampa and a demotion back to Providence (AHL) today, Boston head coach Claude Julien said the former fourth-round draft pick held his own.

“I thought when he played, he played pretty well. And again, it’s just trying to maintain that level of play. … I think when you looked at Vladi, he was put in a different role than he’s been put in in the past, as far as moving up with Krejci and then … showing a more offensive side to his game. And I thought he did pretty well,” the coach said.

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins just announced that forwards Martin St. Pierre and Vladimir Sobotka have both been assigned to Providence (AHL).

Theses demotions, combined with the return of emergency-recall winger Martins Karsums, leave the Bruins with just 11 forwards on their current roster.

St. Pierre was impressive in his nine-game stint with Boston, as he totaled one goal and three points from the fourth line. Sobotka has been up and down a couple times this year and last. In 15 games this season, he’s posted 1-1-2 totals.

UPDATE: Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed this morning that two different forwards will be recalled from Providence later today or tomorrow before the club’s matinee with Carolina.