Kuhlman To Start Season On Second Line

The Bruins are slated to start their 2019-20 season tomorrow and they came in questioning who would take over their second line RW spot. Last season we saw multiple players go in and out of the role during the course of the year and Krejci and DeBrusk seemed to find success with almost anybody. Now they’re looking for consistency and who better to start their this year than the guy who finished their last season, Karson Kuhlman.

Kuhlman is 24 years old and signed with the Bruins after he graduated college as an undrafted free agent. Kuhlman is preparing for his first full NHL season and he has a great opportunity ahead of him receiving top six minutes. Last season Kuhlman played in 19 games including the playoffs and finished with 8 points. Kuhlman has the ability to to score and has shown a strong shot this preseason. Kuhlman wrestled the job away from David Backes at the end of last season and he’ll have to perform in order to keep his spot safe. The Bruins still have guys that will contend for that role but if Kuhlman can quickly establish chemistry with Krejci and DeBrusk and find the net he’ll lock that role down.

However, we do know that Cassidy has no problem switching the lines up so nothing is set in stone. We often saw guys bounce in and out of the top six including Pastrnak getting moved up and down from the first and second lines. If we were to see that again we could see Kuhlman in a top line role. The Bruins are hoping that Kuhlman plays with a fire under his ass and that he will produce early and often for them. With guys like Ritchie, Backes, Bjork and Heinen champing at the bit for those minutes, Kuhlman will be pressed to perform.

The Bruins open their season tomorrow against the Dallas Stars in Dallas. Puck drop is set for 8:30. The Bruins will look to make their way back to the Stanley Cup and hope for a different result.

-Tyler Smith (@TylerSmith4386)