Those looking for any sort of concrete update on Bruins winger Ondrej Kase, who skated on his own on Tuesday but was last seen with the team in their second game of the regular season, were delivered some bad news by B’s coach Bruce Cassidy.
“I don’t have an answer to [his potential timeline], sorry,” Cassidy said after his team’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena. “I’m glad he was out [on the ice]. It’s good to see him back out there, but I have not been told when he’ll join the group, no.”
Out of action since taking a high hit (and stick?) from the Devils’ Miles Wood on Jan. 16, Kase’s recovery has come with almost nothing in terms of updates or timelines. Kase’s extensive concussion history likely has a lot to do with that, with the 25-year-old arriving to the Bruins in 2020 with at least documented four concussions to his name, including one that kept him out of action for 18 games in 2018.
And our last image of Kase, with him noticeably struggling to get down the tunnel and back to the locker room, was certainly concerning.
Looks like Kase took a hit up high from Miles Wood. Not great. pic.twitter.com/kkGMbYa0TO
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 16, 2021
Acquired from the Ducks in exchange for David Backes, prospect Axel Andersson, and a 2020 first-round pick, Kase’s Boston run has been marred by bad luck, with Kase dealing with a four-month stoppage due to the coronavirus pandemic and a late start to the season restart due to his own COVID issues.
Overall, Kase has totaled zero goals and five assists, along with 39 shots, in 19 total games with the Bruins.
With Kase still on the shelf for the foreseeable future, the hot-and-cold Jake DeBrusk will move back to the right side of the Bruins’ second line with David Krejci and Nick Ritchie.
