The Bruins got their first look at some of their young talent in Buffalo on Sunday, and one of the more notable updates from the weekend centered on Riley Duran. After Duran played in Boston’s 6-2 win over Sabres prospects in the Prospect Showcase opener, Providence Bruins coach Trent Whitfield said the forward will not take part in Monday’s second game at the LECOM Harborcenter.
Whitfield, who is stepping in as head coach of the P-Bruins this season after Ryan Mougenel left in the summer for an assistant coaching role with the Vancouver Canucks, explained the plan when asked by Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe. According to Jake Ferraro of Black N' Gold Productions LLC, Whitfield said, "To be determined right now; I don't know exactly what we're going to do,'' said Whitfield, per Jake Ferraro of Black N' Gold Productions LLC.
"Duran's only playing one (game); that's all I can really tell you. We had talked to (Duran) before the tournament started and encouraged him to come play one.
He's more than willing to play two, but he played one, and he's ready to go (for training camp).''
That leaves Duran, a sixth-round pick in the 2020 Entry Draft, with one game in Buffalo and a clearer path to focus on training camp. The 24-year-old Massachusetts native has appeared in two NHL games so far, but a real push for a roster spot this season looks like a long shot. He’s part of a crowded group of centers, and he sits well behind the players projected to handle the NHL pivots for Marco Sturm this year.
Duran’s latest season in Providence produced seven goals and 12 assists in 72 games. The year before, he posted 12 goals and four assists. He should see preseason action in the coming weeks, but the expectation remains that he’ll start the season back with Providence.
Meanwhile, the Prospect Showcase is also giving other Bruins hopefuls a chance to make an early impression. Dans Locmelis and James Hagens both turned in solid openers as they continue to push for a place on Sturm’s Opening Night roster on Sept. 29 against the New York Rangers.
In Other News...
Bruins Camp Opens With One Immediate Offensive Decision To Make
Training camp opens this week with Marco Sturm still sorting out the Bruins roster and line combinations for the season opener against the Rangers, and one of the clearest early decisions centers on how to deploy a player who gives the lineup some much-needed flexibility. Boston brought in JJ Peterka in June, and his arrival adds another variable to the top-six mix as the staff begins mapping out who fits where, and for how long.
Peterkas versatility is part of what makes the choice interesting, since he can be slotted on either wing and could also factor into the power play if the Bruins decide his shot belongs in that mix. It is the kind of early camp puzzle that can shape everything else around it, from even-strength chemistry to special-teams balance, especially with Charlie McAvoy also drawing league-wide attention after being ranked 46th in TSNs top 50 NHL players list ahead of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Camp Opens With A Top Six Decision Hanging Over Everything
The Bruins open camp with a 42-man roster to sort through, but the biggest question is already clear enough: how they want their top six to look when the season starts. Before the club gets down to a 23-man roster for opening night, Boston has to use training camp and preseason games to figure out which combinations make the most sense, and whether the current mix can hold up once the real games begin.
Pavel Zacha sits right in the middle of that conversation, with his contract situation still hanging over the roster picture as the organization weighs short-term fit against longer-term flexibility. Add in Casey Mittelstadt, who is also in the final year of his deal, and the Bruins have a top-six puzzle that touches everything from the salary cap to the development path for younger forwards like James Hagens and Dans Locmelis. The decisions made over the next few weeks could shape not just this fall, but how Boston approaches the future. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Are Letting One Early Camp Frustration Grow Fast
Training camp has opened with one obvious piece missing from the Bruins usual dress code. Since Brad Marchand was traded in March, Boston has gone into the new season without naming a captain, and a recent preseason photo shoot only underlined the point as the leadership group seemed to spread more broadly across the room.
Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak and Hampus Lindholm all were shown wearing alternate captain patches, a sign of how the team is leaning on several voices at once. Still, no Bruins player wore the captains C, and with other NHL teams already setting their leadership for the year ahead, Bostons answer to that vacancy remains one of camps most noticeable unresolved issues. [Read more 🡒]