By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
Wednesday’s practice started and finished without Ondrej Kase.
As you would expect, the Bruins have already ruled Kase out for Thursday’s home opener against the Flyers.
It sounds like that’ll be the case for a while, too. At least according to the somewhat ominous update provided by Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy following Wednesday’s session at TD Garden.
“I don’t know how long it will be [until he’s back], to be honest with you,” Cassidy admitted. “With those things, once he’s back on the ice I can give you a better idea.”
Absent from Monday’s loss to the Islanders, Kase was last seen on Saturday when he was knocked out of action after just 4:40 of ice-time thanks to a high hit from the Devils’ Miles Wood. Kase finished his shift, but was visibly struggling on the Boston bench, and made his way down the tunnel for the remainder of the game and hasn’t been on the ice since.
Looks like Kase took a hit up high from Miles Wood. Not great. pic.twitter.com/kkGMbYa0TO
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 16, 2021
That’s not exactly comforting when considering Kase’s injury situation, with the 25-year-old entering the 2021 season having missed 65 games due to injury since the start of the 2018 season, and with at least one documented concussion over that span.
And Cassidy’s comments did little to reassure you of anything when it comes to a potential return.
With Kase out, and based on Wednesday’s practice lines, the Bruins will likely stick with Jack Studnicka in Kase’s spot as David Krejci’s right wing opposite Nick Ritchie.
Acquired from the Ducks last deadline in exchange for David Backes, Axel Andersson, and a 2020 first-round pick, Kase has totaled five assists and 38 shots on goal in 19 games with the Bruins.
