David Pastrnak still hasn't joined the Bruins on the ice as he's under quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, and it doesn't appear he will until the team gets in Toronto for the NHL's restart.
Speaking to reporters on a Zoom call Wednesday, Neely said his "best guess" is Pastrnak will return to the team in Toronto, but added it is "hard to say."
Neely also said the same goes for Ondrej Kase.
"It's hard to says. My best guess would be Toronto," Neely said. "There's hopes for before we leave, but my best guess would be Toronto."
Neely also acknowledged that, in retrospect, there are some regrets in terms of the timing of Pastrnak and Kase's returns to Boston.
"Of course. When we had the date for when camp was starting, and you knew some players may need to quarantine once they get here, you kind of hoped that they would get here a little earlier," Neely said. "But we didn't really have much say in that. That was really left up to the players. So obviously with what's played out and what's transpired, you would've hoped there had been some different decisions made."
That said, Neely still didn't sound too concerned about their absences thus far having too much of an effect on the Bruins' postseason chances.
"In the long run, I don't know if it's going to really affect us once we get into Toronto," he said. "I think we'll be fine."
The Bruins are scheduled to depart for Toronto on Sunday.
Last week, Pastrnak missed Monday and Tuesday's practices while wrapping up his international quarantine protocols, but was cleared to return to Warrior Ice Arena for a small group practice on Wednesday. He was expected to join the rest of his teammates for a full-team practice on Thursday, but hasn't practiced since.
The Bruins' first exhibition game in Toronto is scheduled for next Thursday against Columbus.
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