With many injured Bruins nearing return, decisions looming for Cassidy

For the first time since the final weeks of the preseason, attendance at Warrior Ice Arena was close to perfect for Bruins' practice.

After missing over a month due to a rib/sternoclavicular injury and MCL injury, both Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara were back out on the ice with the rest of the club — with Kevan Miller joining the pair just three weeks removed from taking a puck to the throat.

While both Bergeron and Miller were cleared for full contact, Chara was not — with the 6-foot-9 defenseman only practicing without a red, non-contact sweater because the Bruins did not have a spare that fit him.

Joining Chara in the non-contact category were Jake DeBrusk and Urho Vaakanainen — with both skaters still on the shelf while recovering from concussions.

Even though Bergeron and Miller were able to get through the whole gauntlet of contact drills on Wednesday, no set timeline has been established for their return, although it seems like both veterans will be back in the fold sooner rather than later.

“Bergy skated in a full contact (sweater). Feeling better,” Bruce Cassidy said. Don’t have a definitive timeline, but I don’t think he’ll play (Thursday). He’s progressed well. Z didn’t have a red (jersey) on but should have. .... So he’s not playing tomorrow but again, felt good. Vaak was in red, obviously. DeBrusk, so they are progressing through their concussion protocol. Kevan Miller, as you know, cleared for contact but not cleared to play until next week. His is a little more definitive because of the type of injury. “

Since Chara and Bergeron went down with injuries in consecutive matchups on Nov. 14 and 16, the Bruins have managed to stay afloat with a record of 8-6-1 over the next month. But there’s no questioning the impact that key cogs like No. 37 and No. 33 will bring to a club that has not been at full strength for the entire season.

"I don’t necessarily have the last word or the last decision on that, but I’m definitely going to speak with doctors and their medical staff and coaches to talk about it, Bergeron said of his expected return. "But you know, like I said, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. I’m hoping it’s sooner rather than later.”

As for how the rest of the roster shuffles to accommodate the eventual return of a pair of top-six forwards and two starting defensemen? Well, that’s the next thing for Cassidy and his staff to tackle.



While Bergeron was an extra forward with DeBrusk during Wednesday’s practice, he did join up during rushes at times with both Danton Heinen and DeBrusk — with Boston’s new-look top line of David Krejci, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand remaining intact.

Given the way in which Krejci and his new linemates have produced as of late, is there a chance that Bergeron might start at the pivot on a revamped second line once he’s cleared to return?

"I’m just going to try to be myself,” Bergeron said. “That’s the bottom line. I don’t care. I’ve said that before. We’re a team and I want to contribute. Wherever you throw me back in, you try to make the most of it. We have great players, whether it’s with Marchy and Pasta or whoever is after that. Whether it’s Heino or JD or (Joakim Nordstrom). Whoever it is. It’s okay by me. I’m not going to be the guy complaining.”

For Cassidy, it seems unlikely that Bergeron will start anywhere but Boston’s top line once he’s back. However, Boston’s bench boss entertained the thought of spreading out some of the team’s scoring through its top-six corps, ideally by placing Marchand and Pastrnak on separate lines.

“I mean, let’s face it,” Cassidy said. “Bergy is going to the top of the lineup. It’s just a matter of, is the whole line staying together? Some of that is incumbent on Jake’s health. Is he ready? They came in together. Now you’re talking about Krech’s old wingers as well.

On the blue line, Cassidy noted that Chara will likely team up with Charlie McAvoy on Boston’s top D pairing, but Miller’s place in the lineup is a bit murkier. Given the bumps and bruises that defensemen deal with on a regular basis, there’s the likelihood that Boston won’t have to deal with the issue of juggling seven defensemen for playing time.

But with Miller about a week from returning, the challenge — or perhaps, luxury — of having seven capable starting blueliners on the same roster is quickly approaching. After missing over a month earlier this season due to a broken hand, Miller impressed upon getting back in the lineup in late November, logging 24:14 ATOI through three games before suffering his throat injury.

“Miller, it’s a little different,” Cassidy said of his veteran defenseman’s status. “Because we have seven healthy, we haven’t had to deal with that all year. I know it was a big discussion in August. Remember August? We talked about that a lot.”