The Boston Bruins knew they’d have a big hole to fill entering this season as Riley Nash’s departure left a hole at third line center. Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Jack Studnicka and Trent Frederic were all linked to the job and battled the entire preseason.
The process has taken its time. Through the first 49 games, Boston hasn’t filled the vacancy that Nash left on the third line. This forced Don Sweeney’s hand coming out of the bye week as the Bruins GM made a slew of roster moves following the team’s eight-day layoff.
The Bruins swapped a pair of youngsters with Providence and sent Ryan Donato and Forsbacka Karlsson down to the AHL while Frederic and Peter Cehlarik, who returned to Providence following an impressive three-game stint on the second line with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk prior to the week off, earned the promotion to the big club.