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Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said on NHL trade deadline day that at least one forward playing for Providence in the American Hockey League will get a chance, regardless of whether there’s an injury, to contribute up in Boston during the stretch run.
Right away everyone assumed that meant center Jack Studnicka or forward Trent Frederic.
Based on production, Studnicka seems to have earned another call-up, as he leads the P-Bruins in scoring with 46 points (22 goals, 24 assists) in 56 games.
This week The Skate Podcast co-hosts Ken Laird and Matt Kalman were joined by prospects expert Mark Divver (@MarkDivver on Twitter) to talk about Studnicka, Frederic and a whole host of Bruins prospects.
“Well I think he could hold his own up there,” Divver said about Studnicka, who had one assist in two NHL games earlier this season. “The thing is, though, he’s thriving down here as a center, not as a wing. So unless somebody gets hurt up there, I’m guessing he slots in at winger not center. Could he do it, well I wouldn’t put it past him. But ideally he’d be a center up there, the position he’s been playing his whole life and I think he would be most comfortable at.
“So yeah, I think he could hold his own up there. If a center got hurt, plug him in, see what happens.”
As far as 2020-21, Divver said he thinks Studnicka will be ready to take over as at least the third-line center if the Bruins decide to go that route. Back in the current season, Frederic might be a better option if the Bruins want to add a prospect on the wing.
Frederic has 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists) and 141 penalty minutes in 55 games this season.
“Again he’s been playing center. He might be more comfortable on the wing, his game might translate more to that, than Studnicka’s would,” Divver said. “He’s not going to put up points for you there at this point, but you got to love the physicality, the way he plays, he steps in. Every time there’s a hit on one of his teammates he’s right there. … He’s a very tough kid. I would put my money on him if they were to go that route and look for a guy on the wing as opposed to center.”
Divver also offered his thoughts on Jakub Zboril, Urho Vaakanainen, Cooper Zech, Dan Vladar and University of Maine goalie Jeremy Swayman.
Plus, Laird and Kalman talked about potential postseason matchups for the Bruins, how Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie have fit since they were traded from Anaheim, and talk about the Bruins’ need to practice load management with their stars in final weeks of the regular season.
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