Remember that Pastrnak kid? (he's skating again)

[The Napkin]

Amalie's article in the Globe

The right wing returned to the ice with his teammates on Monday, taking part in the team’s morning skate before the Bruins played the Edmonton Oilers. Morning skates are short and noncontact, which provides a way for a player to ease in as he comes back.
“Just trying to go day-by-day and get back into shape and work hard,” Pastrnak said. “It’s been awhile, so it’s great to be back on the ice with the team.”
Coach Claude Julien said there was not yet a timeline for Pastrnak. He said that whether Pastrnak ultimately needs a conditioning stint in Providence will be up to management.
Pastrnak, for his part, said he would not object to heading down to the AHL to get his legs back before returning to the Bruins.

 

[kenneycb]

Too bad Clode won't play him when he gets healthy. Or something like that. I can't follow which young guys he likes/hates each week.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Too bad Clode won't play him when he gets healthy. Or something like that. I can't follow which young guys he likes/hates each week.

All of them?

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Well, he liked Ferraro and Spooner the other night.

 

[Jordu]

And he seems quite fond if Vatrano. When young Mr. Pastrnak is ready to play, who goes to the ninth floor -- or Providence. Randall? Talbot?

 

[Red Right Ankle]

One would hope Talbot.

 

[cshea]

Sounds like the WJC's are a possibility for Pastrnak. Sweeney days they haven't ruled it out.

 

[lexrageorge]

Sounds like the WJC's are a possibility for Pastrnak. Sweeney days they haven't ruled it out.

I think I would be good with that, assuming he's fully healed. He's going to need some time to get back into game condition, and the fact that there are some other young players taking his minutes right now is definitely a positive for this team. As an aside the team is only 5 points behind Montreal with 3 games in hand, so they're doing something right.

 

[McDrew]

This team's problems are not on offense. I want Pastrnak getting the best experience possible, and if he'd be otherwise riding the pine here, I'd totally endorse him going.

 

[timlinin8th]

I don't think there's even an "if" in my mind. He's been on the shelf for a while, he's still young, and one of his weaknesses even when he's in game shape has been getting outmuscled by the bigger players. I don't want to risk him trying to just jump back into NHL-level games and get creamed. The timing of the WJCs is perfect for him to get some game time in without it being on NHL ice.

 

[jk333]

On the other hand, the AHL is closer in style to the NHL. He could be more prepared for this season by playing in Providence. If the Bruins had Pastrnak under control for a long time, a slower development may make sense but they've already started his contract and he will want a nice deal next offseason.

They have a lot of depth right now but Julien will work their best players in and I'd think Pastrnak is part of that group.

The juniors would help his long term development but he will be expected to carry the team. Could be a great learning experience, could be a setup for failure with his injury and play this year. I'm fine with either decision. Definitely positives from the AHL or WJCs

 

[cshea]

Pastrnak will play for Providence tonight, then they'll decide on WJC's.

Personally don't see what the WJC's offer that the AHL doesn't.

Could have a full complement of players soon...lineup could be

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Beleskey - Krejci - Eriksson
Vatrano - Spooner - Hayes
Kemppainen - Ferraro - Connolly

Not too shabby.

 

[cshea]

No decision yet. Pastrnak will play for Providence again on Tuesday.

 

[TFP]

 

[cshea]

Don't really understand sending him to Finland to play some games. We have a lovely farm team in Providence, Rhode Island where he can continue to get in game shape and develop against pro competition.

 

[veritas]

He was their best offensive player last season, I don't understand why he's not playing NHL games once he takes a game or two in Providence to get in game shape.

 

[jercra]

He was their best offensive player last season, I don't understand why he's not playing NHL games once he takes a game or two in Providence to get in game shape.

They're winning. Offense hasn't been an issue. Last year he was getting pushed around and looked to run out of gas at the end of the season. This doesn't answer why he shouldn't be in Providence against adult competition but there are plausible reasons for him to not be in the NHL for a bit.

 

[BigMike]

Don't really understand sending him to Finland to play some games. We have a lovely farm team in Providence, Rhode Island where he can continue to get in game shape and develop against pro competition.

It gives him a chance to go off and play with players his own age, and really lead the other kids there, and hopefully dominate. Plus it means something to the player. Let him go play, if he was currently helping Boston I wouldn't let him go, but it is better for him there than in Providence.

 

[cshea]

Assist and 10 SOG today in the Czech's 5-3 win over Belarus.

 

[j44thor]

Assist and 10 SOG today in the Czech's 5-3 win over Belarus.

So he won't be returning till after WJC at the earliest I assume.
So much for the reported recall with Krej out.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

So he won't be returning till after WJC at the earliest I assume.
So much for the reported recall with Krej out.

I'm sure the front office had the "what if someone gets hurt" discussion before loaning him. I think the plan was to keep him there no matter what.

 

[veritas]

I'm sure the front office had the "what if someone gets hurt" discussion before loaning him. I think the plan was to keep him there no matter what.

Agreed, but I still hate the decision. He has nothing left to prove or learn vs a bunch of teenagers from Belarus.

He's proven himself to be a top 6 NHL forward offensively. There shouldn't be a question of whether or not he should be playing in the NHL. Yeah he has a lot of room to get better defensively and physically, but he's not going to improve those parts of his game playing on a bigger ice surface vs a bunch of teenagers. If he's not in game shape yet, he should be playing in Providence.

Unless he really wanted to go and/or they had a handshake agreement with him that they'd let him play, I don't get it.

 

[timlinin8th]

Unless he really wanted to go and/or they had a handshake agreement with him that they'd let him play, I don't get it.

This is pretty much it right gere though - he's not going to improve his game all that much with a couple weeks in Providence before coming back to the big club. He's a young kid still, why not let him have the opportunity to play the WJC's while he still can if he's not going to be on the big club? The FO is filled with hockey guys who probably recognize that a life experience is just as important as hockey experiences are.

Also, just coming back from injury the goal is for him to get his legs back and not risk injury again, which is more easily achieved on the bigger ice surface.

 

[cshea]

Pastrnak is back!!

....but assigned to Providence. Argh.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Do they really need him right now, though? They have the 3rd best G/G in the league, so they don't really need his offense and he could use some time in the minors to work on his defense and gain some lower body strength.

I have no problem with this.

 

[kenneycb]

With Krejci out for a while and Marchand gone for two more, I'd argue they need him more now than before.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Depends how ready he is.

 

[lexrageorge]

He hasn't played at the NHL level in over 2 months, and I can't imagine why anyone would want to just throw him to the wolves immediately upon his return from Finland. 1 or 2 games in Providence will not kill his development, nor should it kill the team's playoff hopes.

 

[cshea]

Seems like a paper transaction. According to Sweeney, Pastrnak got in late yesterday and there was no chance of him playing tonight. They needed a roster spot open in order to activate Kemppainen, thus Pastrnak goes down. He is going to skate today with Providence and then they'll make another decision on what to do.

 

[cshea]

He's back. McQuaid to IR.

 

[Reardon's Beard]

Who's he going to skate with? That's my Q.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Who's he going to skate with? That's my Q.

To start, Bergeron and Erikson.

 

[veritas]

Pastrnak assigned to Providence:

http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=799943

I'm assuming/hoping this is just for a conditioning game during the all star break. Providence plays once, Friday, before the bruins next game next Tuesday

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

I'd assume that's all it is. The kid missed 2 months of the season already.