Bruins will have all new defensive pairings
The Bruins announced that they have placed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (upper body) on long-time injured reserve and forward Jakub Lauko (facial fracture) on the injured reserve. Grzelcyk will not be eligible to return until November 25th.
They have also recalled defensemen Mason Lohrei, Ian Mitchell, and Parker Wotherspoon from Providence.
Lohrei is the biggest name to be recalled. The 22-year-old, was originally drafted in the second round (58th overall) in 2020. He has four assists in seven games with Providence. The top Bruins prospect will bring size to the lineup at 6-foot-5, 211 pounds.
Mitchell continues to serve as the seventh defenseman for Boston after clearing waivers earlier this season. He has skated in 84 career NHL games between the Bruins and the Blackhawks. The 24-year-old was originally acquired when Boston traded forward Taylor Hall to Chicago.
Wotherspoon will be making his first stint on the roster. In the offseason he signed a one year, two-way deal with the Bruins. Previously, he has only appeared in 12 NHL games, all with the Islanders, but mainly skated with their AHL team.
In 299 AHL career games he has totaled 22 goals and 88 assists.
Derek Forbort was not at practice this morning. With Charlie McAvoy also out due to his four game suspension the Bruins could end up deploying all three defenseman for at least Thursday against the Maple Leafs. It remains to be seen what head coach Jim Montgomery decides for pairings.
It’s possible that Hampus Lindholm and Brandon Carlo will go from the second pairing to the top line. Lohrei should slide on to the second pairing with either Kevin Shattenkirk or Mitchell. The reinforcements will help provide much needed depth.
With losing Grzelcyk and McAvoy during Monday’s game against the Panthers, Shattenkirk played over 21 minutes, Carlo and Forbort played just over 23 minutes, and Lindholm had an unbelievable 28 minutes of ice time.
“It was a big character win. You’re down to four D. Just tremendous character by our four defenseman that gutted it out,” said Montgomery
Boston is off to a tremendous 8-0-1 start thanks to allowing an NHL low 14 goals against due to their strong goaltending and defense. For a team that has only cracked four goals in a game twice, this group will be tested. They have three games in five days as they take on divisional rivals. First, Toronto at home and have away games against the Red Wings and then the 5-0-1 Stars.
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