Zdeno Chara already revealed last week it's going to take five to six weeks for him to be recovered from multiple jaw fractures the Bruins defenseman suffered in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Turns out he'll be recuperating from some other surgery as well over that span.
"Zdeno is having a small procedure done on his elbow to take out some loose fragments and such," general manager Don Sweeney said during his year-end press conference at TD Garden on Monday. "So he's going to have that done this week and move forward, allowing that to recover along with the obvious one, his jaw."
In addition to revealing Chara needs more work done, Sweeney confirmed that defenseman John Moore will need surgery for his fractured humerus.
Forwards Noel Acciari (heel) and David Backes (undisclosed) are awaiting the results of testing before it's determined whether they need surgeries.
Sweeney said a fracture in forward Joakim Nordstrom's foot just needs rest to heal up.
Here are a few more highlights from Sweeney and coach Bruce Cassidy's meeting with the media:
Sweeney on Backes' situation after he was a healthy scratch for the last three games of the Final:
"I don't think any our seasons ended the way we would've liked, to be honest with you. You think that we had a tremendous run, he was a big part of that, reinserted in Game 2 against Toronto where we elevated our physical play. You know he was a big part of our hockey club on and off the ice. So where it fits going forward, he's a part of our hockey club. I have discussions on different players, he may or may not be part of that, but for the most part he's a part of our hockey club. Where his impact is, is again up to Bruce and again up to David in terms of a production standpoint if you're referencing that. Or from a leadership standpoint, we know what he brings. And I think there's value there."
Cassidy on Backes' role with the Bruins if he's back:
"Well I've always said he's best, without knowing what our roster's going to look like going into September, I have a good idea obviously … I thought he best fit in with Kuraly/Acciari, Nordstrom in that type of role. At the end of the day when Wagner, Acciari and him were all healthy, there's obviously competition for those spots, so sometimes he was in there, sometimes he wasn't. So that's where I see his best contribution with the team. At times he can go up in the lineup and give you some grit, a net-front presence, but in general that's where he played his best hockey for us. So we'll have to see how it shakes out, who else is in there in that role that he'll have to beat out for minutes."
Sweeney on forward Marcus Johansson, the Bruins' most prominent unrestricted free agent:
"Well we met at exit meetings. … We have some things we need to clarify internally before I can definitively tell him. We found that Marcus was a really good fit for our hockey club. Was proud of how he had gotten injured and came back and elevated his play, was really invested. Thought he fit in really well with Charlie [Coyle] and [Danton] Heinen and gave us some options on the power play, was a real good fit. Good person, great teammate, got us to a certain point, wish we could've finished it off."
Sweeney on defenseman Torey Krug, who is signed for one more year and is eligible for a contract extension July 1:
"Well Torey's a part of our hockey club. Was really proud of his effort, took to heart being in a top four role this year in the playoffs in particular, where he was going to face [tough] matchups on the road, and handled them really well. The power play, the points, those things speak for themselves and have been throughout his time here. He's a big part of our club. Have the opportunity starting July 1 to open up talks. Again the RFA market and some our internal things will dictate the timing of those conversations. If somebody blew us away, every player has to be looked at in that way when your organization, you just have to, you're doing a disservice if you don't. But it would take a pretty unique opportunity to part with Torey. I think he's a big part of the fabric of our group, he's kind of that next wave of leadership that we talk about in behind some of the guys that have carried that mantle for a long period of time. But he's an important part of our club."
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