The Boston Bruins are getting healthier, and because of it they needed to make room on their NHL roster. With that, they’ve sent both Austin Czarnik and Danton Heinen back to Providence of the AHL. The Bruins don’t play again until Thursday, but had both Patrice Bergeron and David Backes back on the ice at this morning’s practice according to Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe.
While it is certainly possible that the team could bring one of them back up for Thursday, it doesn’t seem probable right now. The P-Bruins don’t play until Friday, meaning this isn’t just to get them into the lineup in the time being. Instead, it likely means that Frank Vatrano has earned a spot on the fourth line for now. Ryan Spooner also wasn’t at practice today after suffering a lower-body injury against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Heinen in particular had been impressive in the early going, recording three points in three games. The 22-year old had a solid season as an AHL rookie last year, and is looking to follow that up with a jump to the NHL. He’ll have to wait for now, but if the rest of the Bruins bottom-six don’t start performing it may not be for long.