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Steven Kampfer opts out as Bruins release training camp roster |
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Phase 3 of the NHL’s return-to-play plan begins Monday as teams are allowed to return to the ice in full capacity, before jetting to either Toronto or Edmonton as their hub cities for the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.
The Bruins will be heading to Toronto to play their round-robin games, before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on August 11.
In their first of three round-robin games, the Bruins take on the Philadelphia Flyers who they shutout on March 10, the last game the Bruins skated in prior to the league’s shutdown.
Following their contest with the Flyers on August 2nd, the Bruins will play the Lightning on August 5th, and conclude round-robin play on August 8th against the Capitals.
On Saturday, the Bruins revealed their training camp roster, one that includes 19 forwards, 10 defensemen and four goalies.
It's a solid group of depth for the Bruins, including players such as Trent Frederic, Jack Studnicka and Karson Kuhlman, all of whom spent limited time with the Bruins this season.
“Every one of those players has played games with us during the season," general manager Don Sweeney said Sunday morning in a zoom call with reporters. "I think we're all comfortable that they can contribute at any point in time if they get the opportunity to jump into our lineup.”
One veteran name missing from the list is defenseman Steven Kampfer who on Saturday announced his decision to opt out of the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
Both Kampfer’s wife and son have a congenital heart defect that can cause complications with COVID-19.
Players have until 5:00 pm EST Monday to opt out of the 2019-20 season, but as of Sunday morning, Sweeney has not been told any other Bruins player plans on following Kampfer’s footsteps.
“Everyone’s aware that Stephen Kampfer has opted out for obvious reasons which we are in full support of, and at this time, we haven’t heard from anybody else," Sweeney said.
Although no other Bruin has yet opted out, Sweeney says they may be without a player or two on Monday when training camp begins at 9:30 a.m.
“We may have one or two players that are still facing international quarantine rules per recommendations of our staff,” Sweeney said. “Within a day or so, we should be fully up and going.”
Obviously this training camp is like no other, as the Bruins will have nearly three weeks and one exhibition game to get themselves ready for Philadelphia.
Although a July training camp is not the norm, Sweeney expects workouts and practice routines to be similar to what the players are more accustomed to.
"We're not gonna hit the ice for three hours on Monday. We're gonna go back and get into our normal routines and incrementally move the pace of practice and physicality of practice along accordingly and make sure we're in full concert with our players as to how they're feeling,” said Sweeney. "We have the benefit of a strong leadership group that can hopefully lead us in some of those areas."
The Bruins have as good a shot as anyone else at winning a Stanley Cup this season and Sweeney is aware of that. But like anyone else involved in the game, or anyone that has at least a rooting interest, no one really knows what’s ahead in these next few weeks, into months.
For now, it’s about staying healthy, getting back into game shape and getting everyone safely to their respective hub cities.
"We're all excited about playing hockey again. Is there apprehension or nervousness? Well, we always want what's best for the players and health of the players. Whether or not we stub our toe here along the way is to be seen,” said Sweeney who will join the Bruins in Toronto for the remainder of their 2019-20 season.
"We're gonna have positive cases throughout this Phase 3, Phase 4, we have to avoid that outbreak. The league has done a really good job of lining things up accordingly in the Hub Cities. Toronto and Edmonton are well-prepared and we're gonna give it our best effort. Hopefully we're able to carry it on."
With the NHL and the NHLPA agreeing to a deal to extend the CBA through the 2025-26 season, and the revenue issues surrounding COVID-19’s impact on the NHL, the league’s salary cap will remain at $81.5 million for at least the next two seasons.
That doesn’t spell good news for the Bruins.
"We have some decisions to make. We may have to make some hard ones, no different than any other team, now that we have an understanding of what the parameters of the cap and mechanisms of the new CBA will be going forward,” said Sweeney.
“We've had to run those simulations. We tried operating in a situation where we're treating every player fairly from a compensation standpoint. Obviously around the league, you're facing players with arbitration, try to do as much forecasting as possible and where the pieces of the puzzle fit together.”
The Bruins have key UFA’s such as Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara to decide on, while players like Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork are both RFA’s upon completion of the 2019-20 season.
With Phase 3 beginning on Monday, and a new CBA ironed out, Sweeney wouldn’t rule out picking up conversations with both his UFA’s and RFA’s as soon as this week.
"Ultimately, I think we'll have to take it case by case. I'm not gonna be overly aggressive as we go through this training camp, Phase 3, getting to Phase 4 and ultimately playing in playoffs. If something makes sense, we'll do it. Some players are very particular about not having those conversations until we're done and we respect that as well. We'd be in position to have those conversations,” said Sweeney.
"I think I'll touch base with each and every one of them, and that includes RFAs that need to know where they're gonna be when we start up next year."
Hopefully it lasts for as long as the league and it’s players hope it does, but it’s certainly going to be nice to see hockey players back on the ice in full force on Monday.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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