The Boston Bruins’ season was halted almost a month ago, just days after the Bruins swept the Florida trip and started to eye a Presidents’ Trophy for only the third time in their history. The NHL’s suspension and uncertain future is not only a tremendous blow for the Bruins. It’s also tough to bear for the promising Bruins team in Providence.
The Providence Bruins have been the best team in the Eastern Conference of the AHL. Many of the Bruins’ promising prospects have experienced an excellent season. Jack Studnicka had 49 points in 60 games. Trent Frederic had 32 points. Goaltender Daniel Vladar had a save percentage of .936.
One of the most influential players for the P-Bruins team has been Peter Cehlarik. The Slovak winger had 37 points in 48 games. Cehlarik also spent three contests playing in the NHL this season, collecting one assist. A couple of years ago, Cehlarik was regarded as one of the most promising Bruins prospects. In his NHL debut in February 2017, he recorded two assists and impressed with his two-way play.
After almost two seasons of waiting and preparing, Cehlarik received the nod in January 2019. In his first game, Cehlarik had two goals in Philadelphia. Then he recorded an assist in a following matchup vs. the Blues. In the remaining 18 games played, Cehlarik had the same input: two goals and one assist, as in his first couple of games.
Last summer, the Bruins did re-sign Cehlarik to a one-year deal. The 24-year-old left-shot winger had to clear waivers in October last fall, but nobody picked him up.
Now, Cehlarik feels it is the best time for him to move on and leave Boston.
“It’s not ideal for me as of now. The Bruins had an incredibly strong team this year. In Providence, we were on a winning streak and had a great team, as well,” confessed Cehlarik in an interview in his home Slovakia.
“I hear I’m an NHL caliber of a player. Yet, I think my time has come, and I’m ready for a change. We talked about it with my agent last summer, but nothing panned out, as the Bruins hold my rights still,” revealed Cehlarik, who was a restricted free agent last year.
“For four years now, I’m working with the same type of coaches and people, but I feel I cannot convince Bruce Cassidy to give me a proper chance. I had a feeling that Cassidy is just waiting for my very first mistake or error to send me down,” he said.
The 24-year-old Slovak winger admitted that he would not rule out a return to Europe. There are options for him in Switzerland, Sweden, or KHL.
