The Bruins announced that they have recalled left-winger Jeffrey Viel from AHL Providence under emergency conditions. The move indicates that not only will Patrick Brown and Vinni Lettieri likely remain on Boston’s roster for tomorrow’s game against the Capitals after hitting waivers yesterday, but that an undisclosed forward is questionable for the contest in addition to Mark Kastelic staying sidelined with his upper-body injury.
Viel, 28, signed a two-year, partial two-way deal in free agency last offseason. An undrafted free agent signing by the Sharks in 2019 out of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, he’s also since spent time in the Jets organization before landing with Boston. A heavy-hitting minor-league depth piece, he’s gotten into four games of NHL action with the Bruins this year on three previous recalls, marking his first appearances at the top level since April 2023 with San Jose.
He’s still spent most of the year in Providence. Over 62 games, he’s scored 12-22–34 with 136 PIMs and a +15 rating, the former of which ranks third in the AHL. A willing fighter, he’s demonstrated a decent scoring tough at the minor-league level and has arguably been the P-Bruins’ best two-way winger this season.
He may get a fifth look in the lineup as a disappointing season in Boston draws to a close. He didn’t record a point in his earlier appearances, logging nine PIMs while averaging just 7:44 per game. In 53 career NHL showings, the majority of which came in 2021-22 with the Sharks, Viel has 3-2–5 with a -10 rating and a whopping 148 PIMs, on pace for a full-season total of 229.
Kastelic is set to remain out of the lineup for a fifth straight game. The 26-year-old sustained an upper-body injury on March 20 against the Golden Knights and will have only seven more chances to return to Boston’s lineup this season after the Washington game. He has a career-high 5-9–14 scoring line in 61 games for the Bruins, who signed him to a three-year, $4.7MM extension in January.