On Thursday, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters that after returning to practice Wednesday for the first time since the team started summer camp, David Pastrnak was out again.
Pastrnak, along with Czech winger Ondrej Kase, were out of practice after they were initially expected to participate.
“That was the plan,” Cassidy said of her initial belief that the two would skate. “Regarding the league [designation] is ‘not eligible to participate’ at this time. Hopefully that will change in the near future, and yes, every time players miss a session where we wait for them again at full speed, until he is out there it is a concern for us as a team. But we are just going to keep going. ”
Under current league policy, teams can only identify player problems as “unfit to play” or “unable to practice.” As a result, it is unclear what exactly is keeping Pastrnak and Kase out. The problem could be related to COVID-19, but it could also be a more standard injury or condition.
Both Pastrnak and Kase are believed to have missed the team’s first two practices because the quarantine protocol returned from the Czech Republic (where they spent part of the season suspension).
Cassidy added that it would be “speculative” at this point to say if either player is likely to miss any part of the season when he returns.
“I’m not thinking too much about the future, except if it becomes a long-term thing who is the best fit,” Cassidy said of possible replacements.
Pastrnak, 24, was tied with Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals with 48 league-leading goals when the season stopped in March.
Boston will face the Philadelphia Flyers on August 2 as the first round-robin game intended to determine the best playoff seeds.
Coach #NHLBruins coach Bruce Cassidy confirms that David Pastrnak and Ondrej Kase were “unfit to participate” in today’s practice: “Hopefully that will change in the near future.” pic.twitter.com/6lhViFh9mq
– Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) July 16, 2020
