The Bruins have a clear favorite for vacant fourth-line spot

Author Ty Anderson

October 11th, 2021 6:09 AM

Projected fourth-line right winger Curtis Lazar’s week-to-week injury and the waiving of veteran banger Chris Wagner has opened up a golden opportunity for someone. Now, that may sound like hyperbole, especially when it relates to fourth-line duty on this year’s Bruins team, but for someone on the roster, it’s a legitimate opportunity to jump out of the press box — or a potential trip to the waiver wire — and into an Opening Night (at least) role riding with Trent Frederic and Tomas Nosek.

And right now, the clear favorite seems to be Karson Kuhlman.

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  In addition to being the most experienced NHLer of the bubble group still with the B's main camp — Kuhlman is competing for minutes with Anton Blidh and camp standout Jack Studnicka — the 5-foot-10 wing checks off a lot of boxes in regards to what the Bruins lost with Lazar's injury. Perhaps easiest of all, he's a right shot. And like Lazar, his game is predicated on playing with pace, and using that pace to bring a high-intensity forecheck to force defensive pairings into bobbles and fumbles.
  
  "[Kuhlman]'s tried to attack the net and create some stuff offensively with his speed," Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said. "His exits are good out of the D-zone, he’s got speed, he can track down people on the forecheck with a good stick and pace.
  
  "He’s played well. Not dominant, not poor. But he’s as advertised. He’s a guy we’re looking at right there because of his pace."
  
  This is something you've heard about this line a lot in camp. After icing a fourth line that was more heavy defensive-zone mucking, the Bruins want to shift this new line centered by Nosek towards more of an offensive-minded, puck-possession grouping that can take advantage of their matchups and wear the opposition down.
  
  And with Frederic expected to bring the line's brute force, the opposite wing is where a guy with Kuhlman's motor can thrive.

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  But on a line that appeared hellbent on outright crushing goaltenders throughout the preseason (I'm pretty sure Nosek alone had three close calls with goalies on net-front drives), Kuhlman needs to bring a little nastiness of his own, too.
  
  "I think with Kuhly, in that type of role, you want a little more greasiness," Cassidy admitted. "We don’t expect him to go out and be our hits leader by any means, but he does have to be a little more assertive in that area of play. And maybe that translates into a few mote hits."
  
  Kuhlman, for what it's worth, has averaged 6.64 hits per 60 minutes of even-strength play over the last three seasons, which ranks as the seventh-most among Bruins forwards (minimum 600 minutes) over that spell. And all six players ahead of him in there (Joakim Nordstrom, Nick Ritchie, David Backes, Sean Kuraly, Chris Wagner, and Noel Acciari) are no longer in Boston or on the active roster. So yes, some added pop — even if it's not a thunderous one — is a definite need in the bottom six. 
  
  Hits are only a minor part of the Kuhlman package the Bruins are hoping to get out of his latest chance. 
  
  The 'fancy' metrics also show that Kuhlman is dependable with the puck, that he loves to shoot pucks on net, and that he's not afraid to drive to the high-danger areas of the ice when shooting. It hasn't played out to the dazzling results the Bruins had previously hoped for when plugging him into middle-six roles in the past (Kuhlman has six goals and 13 points in 56 career games), but it's enough to give the B's hope that he could reach a level everybody in Boston would love to see. 
  
  "You see guys that survive in the league, like a [Carl] Hagelin for example, that’s an undersized guy that plays in that role," said Cassidy. "[Kuhlman]'s got a good hockey IQ, he’s willing to go the net, [and has] a decent shot. What I’ve always said about him is he can sit for stretches and still give you good energy. That’s important in that role."

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  It also sounds like he's the Bruins' best (or maybe only for now) bet at that spot, too. 
  
  The 26-year-old Blidh is coming off his best training camp run to date with the Bruins, and he truly maximized his ice-time to some seriously favorable results (and against legit NHL competition each time.
  
  But he has only pretty significant thing working against him, as noted by Cassidy. 
  
  “Right wing is not something he’s played," Cassidy said. "That’s the tough part about Anton’s situation right now.
  
  "If it was a left-side [opening], probably have a little more of that antagonistic guy that will finish checks and get there. But we have Freddy there right now [and] the other three left-wing spots are solidified. We’ve made a commitment to make [Frederic] a better player and he does his part, so that’s what Anton is up against."
  
  The Bruins still have Studnicka in camp, too, but Cassidy has seemed reluctant to play the 22-year-old in a fourth-line role. 
  
  “You look at the bottom of the lineup, is that the best spot for Jack? Is that going to be the best for his development and best for the team?" Cassidy said last week. "We’re going to do what’s best for the Bruins and what’s best for Jack, and if we decide that he has to be a top-nine guy, then we’ll have to make that decision.”
  
  Wagner cleared waivers and could be recalled for the next 30 days (or 10 games) without being subjected to the waiver process, but the Bruins placed him on waivers in the first place due to concerns regarding his pace playing with Frederic and Nosek. 
  
  None of these concerns exist with someone like Kuhlman. 
  
  Which, at this point, is all you need to know to make him an undeniable favorite with Opening Night less than a week away. 

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Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.

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Author Ty Anderson

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2021-22 Bruins Training Camp,Anton Blidh,boston bruins,Chris Wagner,Jack Studnicka,Karson Kuhlman,tomas nosek