There's encouraging news on both of the Bruins' star wingers who are returning from offseason surgery. On Monday, Brad Marchand said he feels good after surgery to repair a sports hernia and is aiming to play opening night next Thursday.
David Pastrnak, who underwent a right hip arthroscopy and labral repair in September, isn't as close to returning as Marchand, but coach Bruce Cassidy said on Tuesday that he is a little bit ahead of the initial five-month timetable, which would have put his return in mid-February.
"The original prognosis was mid-February. We feel he's a little bit ahead of that," Cassidy said. "How much? We have still a ways to go. Let's get through, like, January and then see where he's at. I don't like to speculate on the medical part. I'm just repeating what I hear from our guys. It was originally mid-February coming out of the surgery. Up to this point, which is approximately four months now, his rehab has gone very well, no setbacks. And I think because of his natural conditioning and his work ethic, that pushes him ahead a little bit."
Pastrnak has started skating on his own a little bit, but isn't ready to join the team even in a limited capacity at practice just yet. He has already been ruled out for the season opener and almost certainly won't join the team at any point during their season-opening three-game road trip, but Cassidy at least left the door open to the possibility of him starting to practice with the team at some point when they're back home for the final two weeks of January.
Given the "a little bit ahead of" mid-February timeline, that would seemingly put perhaps the first week of February in play for Pastrnak's first game action, but Cassidy said there's still a ways to go before they start drilling down to a specific date.
"It's too early for me to speculate," Cassidy said. "I just know he won't be ready when we head to New Jersey. After that, a little bit ahead of mid-February. Could that be Feb. 1? Feb. 4? I don't know. I guess getting back from the road trip and having him in our regular lineup in practice is always the best indicator for me, and he's not there yet, so I don't want to guess."
