Jim Montgomery Makes A Statement Following Bruins Recent Transaction

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Austin Sabourin
December 13, 2023 (1:24 PM)

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Boston Bruins forward Jesper Boqvist is poised to face his former team on Wednesday night, presenting a significant opportunity for the skilled player.

With injuries sidelining Pavel Zacha and Charlie McAvoy for the upcoming road game against the New Jersey Devils, the Bruins made the decision to recall Boqvist on Tuesday.

Boqvist showcased his prowess in 24 games with Boston's AHL affiliate in Providence this season, amassing five goals and nine assists, catching the attention of Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery.

Montgomery highlighted Boqvist's recent strong performances as a contributing factor to his call-up. However, the coach acknowledged an additional motivating factor�the 25-year-old forward's history with the Devils.

Boqvist spent his first four NHL seasons with the Devils before signing with Boston in the offseason as a free agent.

Montgomery expressed,

«There's a lot of players playing well right now down in Providence. A little bit is how well he's playing, and also it's New Jersey, and that's where he played. I always find that guys dig in and want to show the other team why they could have kept them.»

Boqvist boasts an impressive career with the Devils, playing 189 games and recording 28 goals and 27 assists during his tenure.

While it's not guaranteed that Boqvist will hit the ice against the Devils, he faces competition from Johnny Beecher, Jakub Lauko, and Oskar Steen for minutes on Boston's fourth line. With Boqvist now in the mix, Montgomery is faced with a decision, but the versatile forward, who already had a brief stint with the Bruins in late October, offers a compelling case for another opportunity.

«He's very versatile,» Montgomery noted. «So, he can play anywhere. That's another reason.»

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