Having lost six consecutive games, the Boston Bruins are nearing the end of their 2024-25 season, which will conclude on April 15 against the New Jersey Devils. During their five-game road trip, they have been outscored 15-4 by the Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings. In the middle game, a 3-1 loss, head coach Joe Sacco opted not to challenge what appeared to be an obvious offside on the game-winning goal in the third period with under four minutes remaining.
With just three weeks left in the season, attention will soon shift to the Providence Bruins and the Calder Cup Playoffs in the American Hockey League (AHL). This postseason run will provide Boston’s young prospects with more playing time and development opportunities as the spring progresses.
Providence boasts a talented roster, which could become even stronger with potential additions from Boston once the regular season concludes. However, one player who could greatly benefit from postseason experience may not be available to participate.
Bruins face tough decision with Marat Khusnutdinov
According to Scott McLaughlin of WEEI, newly acquired forward Marat Khusnutdinov would need to clear waivers if the Bruins intend to send him down for the AHL postseason due to the number of games he has played.
Khusnutdinov joined Boston in a trade with the Minnesota Wild on March 6, along with Jakub Lauko, in exchange for Justin Brazeau. Since the trade, he has appeared in eight games for the Bruins, scoring two goals. Despite the team’s struggles, his speed and offensive presence have made him a noticeable asset on the ice.
Selected 37th overall in the second round of the 2020 Entry Draft by the Wild, Khusnutdinov is set to become a restricted free agent after the season and is expected to be part of Boston’s future plans. However, sending him to Providence comes with risk, as he would need to clear waivers—where there’s a strong chance another team could claim him. Losing him that way would be a significant setback.
How general manager Don Sweeney and the Bruins’ front office handle Khusnutdinov’s situation will be intriguing to watch. Given his potential impact on Boston’s lineup moving forward, the decision won’t be an easy one.
