Following a tough 2-1 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, the Boston Bruins extended their losing streak to eight games. After finishing their five-game road trip without a single victory (0-5-0), they returned home with their confidence shaken and their postseason hopes dwindling. For those in full support of the team embracing a rebuilding phase, the past 10 days of struggles on the road may have actually been viewed as a positive development.
When a team endures a losing streak of this magnitude, regardless of the time of year, roster adjustments often follow—and that seems to be the case for the Bruins. After returning to Boston early Sunday morning from Detroit, the front office wasted no time in making a couple of personnel moves.
Bruins Place Patrick Brown and Vinni Lettieri on Waivers Amid Offensive Struggles
The Bruins’ bottom-six forward group has been largely composed of AHL-level players, a situation exacerbated by trade deadline sell-offs and injuries. As a result, roster depth has been stretched thin, forcing the team to rely on players who would typically be suiting up for the Providence Bruins in the AHL.
On Sunday, Boston made a move to address this by placing two struggling forwards—Patrick Brown and Vinni Lettieri—on waivers. The likelihood of either player being claimed by another team is slim, but even if they are, the loss would be negligible. The primary reason for this waiver placement is to facilitate their assignment to the Providence Bruins, which is where both veterans seem better suited at this stage.
Brown has had a minimal impact in his 13 games with Boston this season, recording just a single assist. Lettieri, in slightly more action (19 games), has contributed two goals and three total points. Their limited production made them expendable as the Bruins look to make changes in their lineup.
What’s Next for the Bruins? Potential Call-Ups Loom
Now that Brown and Lettieri are poised to be sent to the AHL, the pressing question is: what comes next? Providence has a game scheduled for Sunday afternoon, but once that concludes, the possibility of Boston making a few call-ups remains on the table.
If reinforcements are brought up, fans may have mixed reactions depending on who gets the nod. Some might be disappointed if the team opts to promote players like Riley Tufte or Oliver Wahlstrom, but there is growing excitement around the potential of prospects such as Georgii Merkulov, Trevor Kuntar, or Riley Duran getting their shot at the NHL level.
At this point, considering the lackluster performances from Brown and Lettieri, giving a few more Providence Bruins players a chance over the final eight games of the season seems like a logical next step. If nothing else, fresh faces in the lineup might inject some energy into a team that desperately needs a spark.
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