Taking stock of Bruins in-house candidates for starting spots at top-6 wing, 3rd-line center

The seasons may change, but the Bruins have once again found themselves stuck in a bit of a conundrum when it comes to two crucial spots in their lineup. 

While Charlie Coyle was expected to be penciled in as the club’s third-line center this year, another vacancy to David Krejci’s right in the top six has once again forced Bruce Cassidy to bump the Weymouth native up to the wing in an effort to get the B’s playmaking second line rolling. 

The domino effect of Coyle’s promotion has already taken effect in the bottom six, with Sean Kuraly currently tabbed as the team’s third-line center, while Chris Wagner has been slotted over to the fourth-line pivot for the time being. 

It remains to be seen how sustainable this current lineup is, but it was the group that Cassidy rolled out on Saturday in Boston’s 4-2 victory over the Panthers, and seems to be the same unit that the B’s will opt for on Tuesday against the Kings. 

And while outside help could stand as an option for the B’s in order to shore up one of those holes in the lineup, there are a number of intriguing in-house candidates —  on the roster, on the shelf and down in Providence — that Boston will likely turn to first. 

Charlie Coyle: We touched on this quite a bit over the weekend, but it’s hard to see Coyle playing anywhere other than that 2RW spot, at least for the time being. 

Even if some of the 27-year-old forward’s strengths are negated a bit if he’s slotted out of his familiar position down the middle, it’s tough to ignore the level of production that second line has been able to generate when Krejci and Coyle have been out on the ice together.

As I noted in the piece above, the numbers aren’t particularly close when you compared Krejci + Coyle’s stats with, let’s say, Brett Ritchie. 



It remains to be seen how viable Boston's chances of a deep playoff push are if the B's are once again left rudderless on that third line, but for now, the club's priority should be to give that second line a shot in the arm. So far, Coyle has answered the call.

"I like that he’s a proven NHL player that can put up points," Cassidy said of Coyle's fit on that second line. "He goes into that second-line role, playing with guys that are used to manufacturing offense. You put (Karson) Kuhlman in there, he’s still learning the ropes, Ritchie has not been up in the lineup a lot in his career. It’s more down. He certainly was in Dallas at times. (Danton) Heinen we’ve typically played down, more third and fourth line. … The one thing Coyle does is give you a little more experience at that position.

"He knows the expectation of a top-six player should we need it. So that’s one of the reasons why he goes up. I think it forces him to shoot a little more, when Charlie gets to a point where he’s not attacking the net.  I think on that line, at least, the other night, he didn’t end up on the score sheet but I thought he did a great job with that part."

Jack Studnicka: Yes, he's still in the midst of his first full season of pro hockey. Yes, he's only 20 years old. Yes, he needs to bulk up (171 pounds) if he wants to stay up in the NHL ranks.

But the prospect of Jack Studnicka taking the reins of that third-line center spot is a much more tangible scenario that many would have expected going into this season, including Cassidy.



It's been a fantastic start for Studnicka so far this season down in Providence, with the center ranking second among all AHL rookies with 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) over 28 games. Studnicka, tied for the team lead for scoring in Providence, has put his impressive speed and finish to good use in Jay Leach's PK unit — already tallying five shorthanded goals on the year.

Even though Studnicka's stint up in the NHL last month was brief, both Cassidy and many players were impressed by the "will" that the rookie showcased over a two-game stretch, with his willingness to bring the puck into Grade-A areas giving Boston a 9-1 edge in high-danger scoring chances during his 22:10 of 5v5 ice time. Even if Studnicka projects as a top-six pivot down the road, Cassidy believes that easing Studnicka in at 3C (against easier matchups) does make such a scenario much more viable if the youngster continues to tear it up down in Providence.

If Coyle continues to help drive that second line and Kuraly labors at 3C, we could see a call-up from the AHL in the near future.

"We want him to be a top-six," Cassidy said of Studnicka's long-term projection. "Listen, he’s the next wave, after — again, I’m getting in trouble here — Krech and Bergy if and when they slow down. Jack, he might push through sooner. And that would allow us to move Coyle up ... He’s ahead of schedule in Providence. He’s having a real good year. I thought he did some good things when he was here as well. We moved him to the wing one night, which, like I said, is not ideal. But he could make our job interesting in terms of pushing his way up.

"And as a third-line center, coming into the NHL, you’re playing against third lines, that’s what we tried to do with (Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson) and then a couple other guys over the years. (Trent Frederic) had that a little bit when he was here. So that’s not a bad place to start. We’re not precluding him from doing that. We just see him more down the road as top-six. But could he start as a third-line center? Playing with a Bjork and a Heinen, still some skilled guys but responsible guys. That could happen. I don't know if that’s in our future right now. We’ll leave Sean Kuraly there and Wags and we have (Par Lindholm) as well. … But if he keeps going and he keeps pushing and he’s the best guy and that’s what we decide to do because we’re not happy with our roster or an injury, then he could absolutely get back in as a third-line center."

Karson Kuhlman and Zach Senyshyn: The Bruins could have some much-needed reinforcements back with the team within the next couple of weeks, as Karson Kuhlman skated ahead of practice Monday at Warrior Ice Arena and could join the club for certain drills shortly. Zach Senyshyn was also expected to skate Monday, but he held out due to illness.

“They’re progressing well," Cassidy said. "(Anton Blidh) was with us in a red shirt. Senyshyn would have been here, but was sick. So we didn’t want him around the team, to be honest with you. So he should be here tomorrow as well — Like Blidh and Kuhly. Might join part of our practice. Obviously I can’t predict when they’ll be ready, still on IR, clearly not available now. But progressing well. … Next thing will be with the team and then we have to evaluate, once they’re ready for contact. Will they be here or will they go to Providence to get sharp? All that stuff will be decisions we make down the road."

While Kuhlman (out since Oct. 19 due to a fractured tibia) and Senyshyn (out since Nov. 12 with a lower-body injury) may not fix that 3C vacancy, both skaters could find themselves back in the lineup, potentially giving Boston a chance to slot Coyle back down to that third line if one of them meshes with Krejci.

After generating an absurd goals-for per 60 minute (GF/60) rate of 7.00 last season when skating with Krejci + DeBrusk, Kuhlman had a bit of a rougher go of it this year, scoreless through eight games before going down with his injury. Still, given his trademark speed and his stretch of strong play this season, it wouldn't come as much of a surprise if Kuhlman earned another look with that second line once cleared to return.

Senyshyn's injury came at a brutal time, as the 2015 first-round pick was playing the best hockey of his NHL career when he went down with an injury just minutes into a game against the Panthers last month. In his four-game stretch, Senyshyn recorded a pair of helpers while primarily skating in a bottom-six role, with Boston holding a 16-10 edge in shot attempts and a 2-0 edge in goals during the 16:22 of 5v5 ice time that both he and Coyle skated together.

Even if both Kuhlman and Senyshyn don't snag a top-six spot, their ability to slot down and contribute on a third-line unit could prompt a promotion for Danton Heinen or Anders Bjork, as well. Regardless of where they end up in the lineup, the return of Kuhlman and Senyshyn is a major plus for this B's club, even if it could spell some bad news for a player like Ritchie.

Sean Kuraly: For now, it looks as though Kuraly will skate as Boston's de-facto 3C, a role he earned at the start of last season following a strong training camp.

While Boston has been out-attempted, 33-22, during the 29:52 of 5v5 TOI that a line of Bjork-Kuraly-Heinen has logged, the Bruins have still managed to capitalize despite the lack of sustained puck possession, holding a 2-0 edge in goals scored and a 14-9 cushion in scoring chances during that stretch. For the time being, Kuraly should be a suitable solution if Coyle remains up in the top-six, while Par Lindholm also stands as some added insurance.

"What we lose is a guy that can drive the third line with younger guys on his wing," Cassidy said of the cons of Coyle's promotion. "So we’ve asked Sean to do a bit of that. But Sean doesn’t have his resume. So that’s what you lose. But hopefully Sean can grab that line and go. Where all three of them, they’re similar in age and can hold their own."