The Boston Bruins have nothing to play for on paper after clinching home ice for their first-round matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Some veterans, like Zdeno Chara and David Krejci, will get some needed rest over the last two games of the regular season.
In turn, Bruce Cassidy, Don Sweeney and the rest of the Bruins brass get to evaluate some of their younger prospects beginning Thursday night in Minnesota. One intriguing player, in particular, finally gets to showcase his potential.
After spending his first two professional seasons in Providence, forward Zach Senyshyn will finally make his Boston debut for the 8 p.m. puck drop at Xcel Energy Center.
“It was honestly a great call, and I was really excited to get here and join the team,” Senyshyn told reporters following his first promotion with the big club on Wednesday. “Obviously, it’s a great group of guys and I’m obviously excited to get started.”
Senyshyn will likely make the trek back down I-95 when the Bruins begin their playoff prep next week. But he’ll finally realize his dream once he touches the ice alongside fellow linemates Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson.
His roller-coaster tenure in Providence — 51 points (26 goals, 25 assists) in 132 AHL games — brought skepticism to some Bruins fans. A handful of those supporters already label the 2015 first rounder as a bust.
Senyshyn’s game isn’t trending upward over his first two years. Other future Bruins, like Jack Studnicka and Oskar Steen, surpassed Senyshyn on the Bruins’ prospect rankings. But the former Sault St. Marie Greyhound is slowly finding his footing as a three-zone player in the professional ranks.
“I hope he just goes out and plays a solid 200-foot game. He’s a great skater. So put some pressure on the D, make them uncomfortable, attack off the wing,” Cassidy told the press. “Whatever falls into place from there, we’ll wait and see.”
Senyshyn and fellow call-up Trent Frederic — making his third stint with Boston — get a chance to showcase their skills to the Bruins’ brass. Chara, Krejci, Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy and Chris Wagner will get some needed rest.
It’s a win-win for all parties. And it’s a day to cap off that 2015 first round class as Senyshyn finally joins Jake DeBrusk and Jakub Zboril with at least one NHL game under his belt.
Bruins’ projected lineup vs. Wild
Jake DeBrusk-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak
Marcus Johansson-Charlie Coyle-Zach Senyshyn
Joakim Nordstrom-Noel Acciari-David Backes
Danton Heinen-Trent Frederic-Karson Kuhlman
Torey Krug-Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk-Kevan Miller
Connor Clifton-Steven Kampfer
Jaroslav Halak
Tuukka Rask
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