For a team that was considered to be the powerhouse of the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins haven’t seemed to run out of bad luck this summer.
First, the team lost veteran winger Jarome Iginla, who skated off to Colorado in hopes of winning a Stanley Cup in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
Causeway Crowd
Then, thanks to Iginla’s exorbitant signing bonuses last season, the team suffered a five million dollar bonus overage penalty, tacked onto their cap space for this season. The team’s two biggest up-and-comers, defenseman Torey Krug and right wing Reilly Smith, are watching the preseason begin from the bench, due to a lack of sufficient cap space to sign the two restricted free agents.
Now, the team’s first round draft pick- Czech superstar David Pastrnak– is out with a shoulder injury.
During training camp this past week, the eighteen-year-old prospect tweaked his shoulder when he crashed into the boards after colliding with fellow teammate Matt Bartkowski.
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has suggested that Pastrnak will be cleared for play in time to skate out for at least a few preseason games, but hasn’t given any indication as to how far away that is. For the time being, veteran training camp invitee Ville Leino and last year’s third line winger Loui Eriksson have been skating in Pastrnak’s place, filling in the third spot on a line with center David Krejci and Matt Fraser.
While it wasn’t highly likely that Pastrnak was going to find himself donning the spoked “B” this season, it’s still a huge letdown to have the winger miss so much of the preseason- particularly for a team that can’t even afford their current incomplete roster. Boston needs to, ah, how can I put it? Get their lives sorted, and fast.
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