As predicted here this past week, the Boston Bruins have waived forwards Patrick Brown and A.J. Greer for the purpose of assignment to the Providence Bruins.
Defenseman Jakub Zboril and forwards Oskar Steen and Jesper Boqvist, who were also put on waivers yesterday, have all cleared and will report to Providence.
With those moves, and as of halftime of the New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints game on Sunday afternoon, the Boston Bruins are now down to 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goalies on their roster.
Forwards: John Beecher, Charlie Coyle, Jake DeBrusk, Trent Frederic, Morgan Geekie, Danton Heinen, Jakub Lauko, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Matt Poitras, James van Riemsdyk, Pavel Zacha
Defensemen: Brandon Carlo, Derek Forbort, Matt Grzelyck, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Charlie McAvoy, Ian Mitchell, Kevin Shattenkirk
Goaltenders: Linus Ullmark, Jeremy Swayman
Of those 23 players, only the statuses of Beecher, Heinen, Mitchell, and Lohrei really remain up in the air. At this point, it appears the rookie Beecher has made the opening night roster, as has the veteran Heinen, who will likely be signed to a one-year, $750,000 (league minimum) contract off of a professional tryout.
The read here remains that unless the Boston Bruins can make a cap-clearing trade – involving Matt Grzelcyk ( or Derek Forbort – before Monday, highly-touted, 22-year-old rookie defenseman Mason Lohrei will be assigned to Providence. That will make Mitchell the seventh defenseman on a roster that looks like this:
Forwards
James van Riemsdyk-Pavel Zacha-David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand-Charlie Coyle-Jake DeBrusk
Trent Frederic-Matt Poitras-Morgan Geekie
Milan Lucic-John Beecher-Jakub Lauko
Extra: Danton Heinen
Defensemen
Matt Grzelcyk-Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm-Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort-Kevin Shattenkirk
Extra: Ian Mitchell
Goalies
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
The Bruins open their 2023-24 regular season against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night at TD Garden (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
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