Training camp is arriving fast in Boston, and Marco Sturm already has a pile of decisions waiting for him.
The Bruins open the season against the New York Rangers on Sept. 29, and their second-year head coach won’t have much runway to sort out the roster, the line combinations, or the power-play units before the games start counting. One of the more intriguing pieces he’ll be trying to slot in is JJ Peterka, the forward acquired from the Utah Mammoth in June.
Peterka is expected to be a natural fit in the lineup because Boston needs his offense. Sturm told Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe that he’s open to using Peterka on either wing.
“But we’ve talked, and he’ll play either side, he doesn’t care,” said Sturm. “And the power play, we’ll see. I do know he hits it a ton when coming downhill.”
That could matter for a Bruins power play that lost its edge last season after the Olympic Break, when opponents started keying more heavily on David Pastrnak. Adding Peterka into the mix should give Boston another threat and, in theory, help the unit produce more this year.
There was also some recognition for Charlie McAvoy on the league-wide ranking front. The NHL Network has been unveiling its top 50 players in the NHL ahead of the regular season, and TSN joined in by releasing spots 41 through 50.
McAvoy landed at No. 46.
With more of the list still to come, Pastrnak figures to show up somewhere as well.
In Other News...
James Hagens Is Already Forcing A Bigger Bruins Conversation
James Hagens wasted little time making his presence felt at the Prospect Showcase, leading Bostons rookies to a pair of wins over Buffalos prospects and giving the Bruins a reminder that the conversation around him may arrive sooner than expected. The young forward was a clear driver in both games, drawing praise from Providence Bruins head coach Trent Whitfield for his offensive ability, competitiveness and coachability, while Hagens pointed to the Bruins skills coaches for helping him sharpen his game.
The performance has only added to the intrigue around what comes next, especially with NHL camp approaching and Hagens sounding confident about the work he has put in. Boston has reason to be encouraged by how quickly he translated that into results against other top prospects, but the bigger question now is where he fits when the real roster decisions begin. [Read more 🡒]
James Hagens Is Forcing A Bigger Bruins Conversation Before Camp
James Hagens spent much of the offseason training in Boston, working on his shot and sharpening the rest of his game with help from Bruins coaches, and that summer investment is already showing up in a meaningful way. The top prospect stood out in the Prospects Showcase in Buffalo, giving the Bruins a reminder that his development is moving in the right direction as training camp approaches.
Hagens performance has only added to the sense that Boston has a legitimate talent to watch closely once camp opens. He came out of the showcase with six goals over the two games, the kind of production that can turn a prospect from a name on a list into a real part of the conversation around the clubs next wave. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Young Core Is Taking Shape Ahead Of Bruins Matchups
Buffalos annual prospect challenge against the Bruins offered an early look at a Sabres organization trying to sort out its next wave of contributors, even if Boston came away with wins in both games. The weekend also came with a significant piece of business off the ice, as the Sabres locked up prospect Noah Ostlund on a long-term extension, another sign they are trying to build around young talent while camp inches closer.
Now the focus shifts to the more immediate lineup questions, and there are still a couple of important ones hanging over the roster. The first-line winger job is still open, with Zach Benson viewed as the favorite to step in for Alex Tuch, while the goaltending battle between Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen remains one of the more intriguing decisions left for Buffalo to settle. [Read more 🡒]