The Boston Bruins placed centerman Colby Cave on waivers for re-assignment to the Providence Bruins on Jan. 15, but the Edmonton Oilers stepped in and claimed the 24-year-old before he could clear to the AHL.
Cave played with the Bruins for nearly four years, though he went undrafted in the 2014 NHL Draft. In April of 2015, the Bruins signed the left-handed shot to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Cave was called up from Providence this season in late November and became a consistent player in the lineup after playing in the Bruins’ Black Friday matinee match-up against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 23. Cave went on to play 20 games with the Bruins for the season, scoring 5 points, until Edmonton claimed him off waivers on Jan. 15.
Though it’s now a plain and simple loss for the Bruins, it’s bittersweet for Cave—he grew up an Oilers fan, even though he hails from the next province over.
Oilers’ general manager Peter Chiarelli, formerly of the Bruins, has had less than a stellar season at the helm of the club, with a record barely above .500. Though Connor McDavid has had 28 goals and 41 assists, putting him in the running for a second Hart Trophy as the league MVP, the rest of his lineup is hurting and nearly helpless. With the acquisition of Cave, Chiarelli is now able to add a centerman at absolutely no cost to him, which comes as a zero-gain situation for Boston.
