As many lineup regulars inch closer to return, Colby Cave isn’t looking over his shoulder

He’s been up in the NHL ranks for close to a month now, but even the most minute moments still feel surreal at times for Colby Cave.

An undrafted free agent that has spent the last four seasons primarily with the Providence Bruins, Cave is making the most out of his stint up with Boston — both in terms of contributing on the ice and soaking up as much information as he can off of it.

An alternate captain over the last three seasons down in the AHL, the dynamic has certainly changed for Cave up in Boston’s locker room — where he’s just a few stalls away from Patrice Bergeron.

“It’s just about taking it all in,” Cave said Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena. “These guys are superstars for a reason. You’ve got to take in how professional they are and how they handle themselves off the ice. It’s one of those things where you are so consistent that you’re the best player on the ice every night. … It's just one of those things where I need to take it all in.”

For Cave, who also skates on a line with another veteran in David Backes, the last month has presented him the opportunity to hone his craft among some of most respected players in the game.

But in some respects, it can be a bit of a double-edged sword — at least in terms of playing time for the 23-year-old center.

Veterans like Bergeron are always willing to impart their wisdom, but more than anything — they want to play. And with Bergeron inching closer and closer to a return after missing over a month due to a rib/sternoclavicular injury, Cave’s current tenure in Boston could be in jeopardy.



Cave has been solid in his latest stint with the Bruins, notching four points (one goal, three assists) over 13 games while winning 51.6 percent of his chances during faceoffs. The pivot has found some success as of late on Boston’s de-facto second line alongside Backes and Joakim Nordstrom — with the trio combining for a pair of goals and generating a suffocating forecheck during Monday’s win over Montreal.

And while contributors like Cave and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson are starting to settle in a bit after getting thrust into starting roles, the return of top-six players like Bergeron and Jake DeBrusk will necessitate some major lineup shuffles, to the surprise of few.

“I hope they don’t overthink it, to be honest with you,” Bruce Cassidy said of how Boston’s younger players view the return of lineup regulars. “Just do your job and do it well. Everyone knows the players that are out — Bergy, Z, Miller, DeBrusk — those guys are automatics when they come back in. These are guys we rely on and play heavy minutes, a lot of responsibilities.

“They’ve just got to take care of their own business and see how it all plays out. I’m sure that maybe in the back of their minds, they could be thinking, ‘Well, I’ve got a couple more games to do my stuff.’ Most of the guys who have been in the lineup — talking about Cave and JFK — they’ve been there for a while now. Hopefully, they’re comfortable with that and do their job and control their own environment. That’s usually the message we give those guys anyway. Worry about yourself and what you can control. If you get pushed out because better players are there, that’s the business.”

Echoing Cassidy’s sentiments, Cave doesn’t want to think too far ahead in terms of his status with the team once more established players are cleared to return to the lineup.

The writing might be on the wall in terms of Cave’s next stop once a player like Bergeron rejoins the club, but Cave is only dwelling on his own game and what he can do to stay in the B’s locker room.

“Every day, I’m just trying to work hard,” Cave said. “Every time I step on the ice, just keep working on my game, keep playing consistent. That’s the biggest thing. I’ve got to control what I can control. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity and if I get that opportunity, then take it. You know, no one can replace Patrice Bergeron. I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully stick around for a while.”