Nick Holden, acquired by the Bruins from the Rangers to add depth on defense, gives the Bruins options with rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy sidelined.
BOSTON – They gave up assets to get it. Now they’re using it.
The Bruins, whose additions in the week leading to the NHL’s Feb. 26 trade deadline included three players who fell under the heading of “depth acquisitions,” have already deployed the support players, and will continue to do so.
While wingers Brian Gionta and Tommy Wingels gave the B’s proven players to plug in when Patrice Bergeron’s fractured foot forced David Backes to shift from wing to center, now defenseman Nick Holden gives them options on the blue line for as long as Charlie McAvoy can’t play.
McAvoy, who played only one shift in Saturday’s overtime victory over the Canadiens, has been ruled out of Tuesday night’s game against the Red Wings (7:05, NESN, WBZ-FM/98.5) with a left leg injury that was still being evaluated on Monday. Among the replacement options is Holden, even though the B’s gave the Rangers prospect Rob O’Gara and a third-round pick in the 2018 draft to add Holden’s left-hand shot.
“I’ve played pretty much the last two years on the right side,” said Holden, who has played left defense with Brandon Carlo for the past two games after watching three games from the press box after he was acquired. “I’ve played it pretty much throughout my career, due to the necessities of the teams I played for (Rangers, Avalanche, Blue Jackets).
“Luckily, I feel comfortable over there, if that’s a need to be filled.”
The Bruins don’t necessarily need Holden to move into McAvoy’s top pairing position next to captain Zdeno Chara. That job will likely fall to Carlo, who was paired with Chara all of last season. Veteran Adam McQuaid, who has sat out three straight games and four of five since the blue line population swelled to eight, can move back into the lineup on a lower pairing.
“We can go different directions,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. “We have good replacements.”
While Cassidy, who also has left-shot rookie Matt Grzelcyk available, said he’d set his defensive rotation on Tuesday morning. He also said Holden would be among the six who play against the Red Wings. Holden, who scored three goals and 12 points for the Rangers over 55 games, has picked up a power-play assist in each of the two games he has played for the Bruins.
“I think it’s just been in-game reading,” said Holden, who gives the B’s a viable option at the point on the second power play group that McAvoy skates with. “We’re working hard for each other, making sure we get in the right spots so we can snap the puck around fast.”
Holden, 30 and in his fifth full NHL season, is happy to have jumped into what he considers the high-speed lane in Boston – on the ice, and in the dressing room.
“It’s a pretty exciting, energetic team,” he said. “We like to play fast, transition fast. … It’s fun to watch our forwards work.
“I just love the energy in this room. … It’s nice to have that.”
Around the boards: McAvoy walked at TD Garden on Monday with his leg in a brace. He put on enough equipment to be present for the team photo, walking onto and off the ice in shower shoes. … Goalie Tuukka Rask, who had been scheduled to start against the Red Wings, also didn’t practice after suiting up for the team photo. “Tuukka is nursing a minor injury … so we’ll keep an eye on that one,” Cassidy said. “It’s one of those ones that’s day to day. We didn’t know it would linger, and it has, a little bit.” Cassidy said he wouldn’t know until Tuesday morning if Rask would back up Anton Khudobin, which was Saturday’s scenario against the Canadiens. … Bergeron, one week into a minimum two-week absence, also suited up for the team photo. Carlo pushed Bergeron, seated in a chair, into position; David Backes pushed him back off the ice after the photo shoot.