Training-camp battles: Can a Providence player actually push themselves into Bruins' lineup this postseason?

Bruce Cassidy still doesn’t have the full list of names in front of him quite yet.

What he does have, however, is a rough estimate in terms of a number — 28. 

As more and more Bruins players make their ways back to the Commonwealth with training camp right around the corner, Boston’s top brass have some decisions to make when it comes to rounding out what will be an expanded roster for the revamped 2019-20 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The parameters of these bolstered rosters, as reported by the NY Post last month, will include 28 skaters once Phase 4 (return to play) is implemented, with teams allowed to bring an extra two skaters (30 in total) during training camp later this month. In addition, teams will be allowed to bring an unlimited number of goalies within the system — a safety net in case injury or sickness befalls any club with a small grouping of capable netminders. 

Speaking via Zoom earlier this week, Cassidy already confirmed Boston was already likely set on their backup goalies — with the Providence duo of Dan Vladar and Max Legace serving as insurance behind Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak.

As for the promising players up front and on the blue line, we can infer that the usual suspects will get the call, headlined by the likes of Jack Studnicka and Trent Frederic — a pair of forwards who have already made a jump up to the NHL ranks already, and possess a number of skills that could prove to be helpful once the playoffs resume later this summer.

Studnicka, while naturally a center, could be an offensive conduit if placed on the wing next to either Charlie Coyle or David Krejci. Even though his time up with Boston only consisted of two games, the dynamic prospect had a knack for generating quality looks from Grade-A ice, with the Bruins holding an edge in goals scored (2-0) and high-danger scoring chances (9-1) during Studnicka's 22:10 of 5v5 ice time.

Frederic may not have top-six potential, but very well could develop into a heat-seeking missile if properly deployed further down the lineup — with the Wisconsin product ready and willing to inflict punishment against the opposition every time he hops over the boards.

Both Studnicka and Frederic will likely draw the most buzz among the group of "Black Aces" — a group that, even without the guarantee of playing time, should benefit immensely from hopping aboard another promising playoff push.

"I think it's a positive experience," Cassidy said of the merits of joining the NHL club for this run. "I was in charge a lot of the extra guys over the years when I was in Providence and I always thought they took something from it — if nothing else, being around a winning environment, a competitive environment, a pressurized environment. It will only help them going forward."

But could the situation arise, even on a roster as deep as Cassidy's, that a blue-chip piece like Studnicka, Frederic or another young gun is drawn into the lineup once playoff returns?

For Cassidy, the two biggest determinants in whether or not such a scenario takes shape are pretty clear-cut: Health and conditioning.

When a 19-year-old Charlie McAvoy skated onto the scene and impressed during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was more an unfortunate case of circumstances for Boston, rather than a way for the Original Six franchise to showcase the future of its D corps.

Given that Boston was looking to avoid burning a year of McAvoy's entry-level contract ahead of that postseason, the decision to sign the former BU Terrier was only made after Boston's hand was already forced, with the club losing both Brandon Carlo and Torey Krug to injury just ahead of playoff action.

Boston is not in such dire straights in regards to the injury bug this summer — with over three months of inaction allowing Boston's regulars to lick their wounds from the first 70 games of the 2019-20 campaign.

As such, younger players like Studnicka and Frederic will have to contend with this depth chart: fully healthy and motivated to get back on the ice and make good on their efforts to absolve last year's Cup Final defeat.



(For the record: These are NOT my official lineup predictions for when Phase 4 begins. We've got a long, long way to go. However, these are all the forwards Boston was already rotating through at the time of the pause.)

One scenario that unfortunately is very tangible in 2020 is one in which an NHL club could lose a key contributor, if not more, due to testing positive for COVID-19. While the NHL is adamant that a couple of positive results in the midst of Phase 4 won't be enough to shutter the playoff tournament, we could very well be in a spot in which a team will be without an integral cog for two weeks, if not more.

If such an unfortunate fate would happen to befall the Bruins, suddenly the door for a player like Studnicka to get his shot is swung wide open. However, Boston will be crossing its fingers that a doomsday predicament like that is one that it will not need to face once playoff games begin.

"The obvious scenario is necessity — which is injury or if there's a positive test within the group," Cassidy said of how younger players could get into the lineup. "Otherwise, we have confidence in our guys. Obviously, we had a strong regular season. We use different players, we had depth. Realistically, 15 forwards, eight defenseman all played. So in that regard, they would have to excel to push someone out that's done a good job for us to this point."

However, the new complexities that come with Phase 3 (full training camp) could open the door for these "Black Aces" to make a push beyond their usual role as contributors during practice or intrasquad scrimmages.

Even though this extended time off helped players nurse injuries — both major and nagging — the lack of on-ice work during this hibernation from the game could cause a few players to stumble out the gate, especially when it comes to conditioning.

Granted, plenty of these younger players are likely in the same boat as everyone else in terms of not being gifted plenty of reps on a clean sheet during the NHL's pause. But if Cassidy and his staff view a regular as being not up to par beyond what should be a few grueling days of conditioning work, it might prompt the club to see what a younger, hungrier prospect could showcase in that spot.

"The other the other area could be if a player comes in and conditioning-wise, he's not there yet," Cassidy said of an avenue for a young player to crack the lineup. "We should have enough time to get him where he needs to be. But if that's not the case, and if one of these younger guys has a little more to give, then we'll certainly consider it. That's the facts of it. I mean, it's a short window to get it right. So there'll be some tough calls to make if players aren't up to speed in a hurry. But I'd like to think with the group we have will be fine in that regard."

So yes, there stands a chance that you could see a top prospect like Studnicka erupt onto the big stage once playoff hockey ramps back up later this summer. But beyond an absurd showing from said player during training camp, the situation that prompted such a lineup re-shuffling (whether it be health or ineffectiveness of an NHL regular) could be viewed as a double-edged sword for the B's.

Regardless of which way the lineup is ultimately assembled, the presence of these top prospects — hungry to make their mark — should make for some riveting competition at Warrior Ice Arena in the coming weeks.