Bruins notebook: David Backes next man up on Krejci’s line, Cassidy downplays news of McAvoy’s tardiness

It’s been an eventful season so far for David Krejci — with the pivot still looking to find some footing on his line with a vacant spot still festering on the wing.

While Jake DeBrusk has been a constant alongside Krejci in a top-six role this season, the veteran has seen numerous players come and go to his right. So far this season, Krejci has centered nine different line combinations (not including his first-line promotion following Patrice Bergeron’s injury) that have logged over 10 minutes of 5v5 ice time this year.

Candidates have included Danton Heinen (132 minutes of 5v5 TOI with Krejci), Joakim Nordstrom (107 minutes) and Ryan Donato (41 minutes) — with the latest option coming in the form of David Backes.

Given Krejci’s track record of producing at a high rate when surrounded by top talent, Bruce Cassidy has made it a bit of a collaborative process with his center when it comes to finding a new linemate within Boston’s roster.

In an ideal situation, Krejci would have a dynamic forward like David Pastrnak to work with.

In 207 minutes of 5v5 ice time as part of a trio with Pastrnak, Krejci’s lines have generated 10 goals (five goals against) and have posted a plus-23 shot differential and a 219-150 edge in attempts.

“He would like to play with Pasta,” Cassidy said of Krejci. “Absolutely, he would. So would (Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson), so would Noel (Acciari). All kidding aside, of course he’d love to have Pasta on his wing."

As of right now, however, Pastrnak will remain up in his usual spot with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand — while Krejci will look to generate some chemistry with Backes. Saturday’s win over the Sabres was a nice start, with Backes going bar down on Linus Ullmark for his fourth goal of the season in what was a 2-1 win.

“He’s played with (Backes) in the past,” Cassidy said of Krejci. “I’ve talked to David — usually if we make a major switch, why? And what he can do to help and get his feeling on certain players. I’ve definitely sat down with him, gone over certain wingers he’s liked and why. I can’t divulge all that but with (Backes), it just happened. Because he played there in the past. We just decided — add him for a stretch here. We’ve got a few bigger opponents coming up, we’ll take a look at it with Backes.”

As a whole, the DeBrusk-Krejci-Backes line has produced a plus-1 goal differential in six games together, although their Corsi For Percentage (51.85) is a tad lower than Krejci’s season average of 55.16. But given the current makeup of the B’s roster — Backes might be the best option available for No. 46, given how the latest incarnation of Boston’s bottom six fared against Buffalo.

The reunited fourth line of Sean Kuraly, Noel Acciari and Chris Wagner was tabbed as Boston’s “best line” by Cassidy on Saturday, while the "kid line" of JFK, Donato and Heinen generated a 57.89 Corsi For Percentage and a 5-3 edge in shots on goal in over 11 minutes of ice time together.

“Second half of the year, we’ve tried a lot of other guys,” Cassidy said. “I do like the young line together, when we can control some of the matchup there. I thought they were very good the other day. I kind of put Backes up there with him, not going to say by accident, because he can compliment that group. He can finish when he gets chances in the slot. Hopefully a little more in the second half.”

He may not be the ideal partner for Krejci, but a top-six promotion might be just what Backes needs to get going after a slow start to the season (no goals, one assist over 17 games).

“He knows if he goes up in the lineup that that’s more of an opportunity to score, and he wants to score,” Cassidy said of Backes on Saturday. “He’s scored in this league. He’s not Pastrnak, but he’s a fifteen to twenty (goals) – whatever you want to paint him as in – and fifteen to twenty-five, somewhere in there, throughout his career.

“What was it last year? Seventeen? So, he’s behind the pace, but if he gets the chance to play a little more, their power play comes around a little more, then maybe he can butt up against that number this year if he gets hot and stays in that role. But that remains to be seen, but I’m sure he’s excited about it, to see a few more pucks in that scoring area.”

Cassidy downplays McAvoy’s tardiness

One storyline that has popped up over the last week involves Charlie McAvoy’s apparent issues with tardiness for certain team events.

In an interview with NBC Sports Boston last month, Brad Marchand joked that he was going to get McAvoy a clock or a watch for Christmas due to his occasional late arrivals.

While McAvoy told the Boston Globe that he had been late to a bus on a road trip and one special-teams meeting, Cassidy joined the contingent within the Bruins organization to downplay any issue regarding McAvoy and his tardiness.

“I think a lot of young kids go through that,” Cassidy said. “It kind of surprised me this morning, because Charlie, like in team functions — I don’t know if he’s ever been late to our stuff. I asked (Zdeno Chara) that. Sometimes they have organized workouts on the road if they have a day off. So maybe he came in late to one of those once? I don’t know. … I don’t know of Charlie ever being late on my watch here.

“The only beef I’ve ever had with him was starting practice a little quicker. I thought he, like a lot of young guys, they’re used to practicing for an hour and a half. ‘It’s like, ‘Hey, we’re out here for 35 minutes. Let’s go right away.’ Talked to him once or twice about it last year. Not even this year. So I’m not sure where that comes from. I don’t see it."

Looking ahead

Monday was a step in the right direction for McAvoy, who has not played since Dec. 23 while recovering from a lower-body injury. The 21-year-old defenseman was out on the ice at Warrior Ice Arena ahead of Monday’s practice, but is not cleared to return to practice just yet.

“(There’s) not really a timeline because he was out there skating today, felt good,” Cassidy said of McAvoy. “I’ll get with the trainers tomorrow morning to see if they’re going to move him into our group. See how he responds in the morning. That would be the next step. I would think tomorrow morning, no setbacks, then he’d come practice with us and go from there. He will not play tomorrow (against Minnesota). But as soon as he starts practicing with us, then he’s a lot closer. If that has to be tomorrow or Wednesday, then Thursday and Saturday are probably on the radar.”

Elsewhere, Tuukka Rask will get the nod in net once again after stopping 31 of the 32 shots that came his way in Saturday’s win. Since relinquishing five goals against Carolina on Dec. 23, Rask is sporting a .949 save percentage in his next three appearances.