Boston Bruins Call Up Enforcer Jeffrey Viel From AHL Amid Rough Patch
The Boston Bruins organization decided to call up the enforcer Jeffrey Viel from the AHL amid a rough start to the 2024-25 NHL season.
The Bruins are currently at the fourth rank in the Atlantic Division, tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning at 19 points.
However, despite being in the playoff landscape, no one is satisfied with the results in Boston.
With an 8-8-3 record, players haven't been meeting expectations so far, forcing management to consider making changes to the lineup.
While the Bruins are rumored to be looking for a top-six forward on the market, it seems they decided to get reinforcements elsewhere.
In breaking news, the organization announced that they've called up Jeffrey Viel from the Providence Bruins in the AHL.
They shared the update in a post on X Monday morning:
Viel, 27, is a 6-foot-2 forward who already took part in 49 NHL games despite being undrafted. Since the 2020-21 season, he scored three goals and two assists with the San Jose Sharks but tallied an impressive total of 139 penalty minutes.
This season, Viel scored four points, including two goals, in 19 AHL games.
The Bruins will be back on the ice tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets. It'll be interesting to see if Viel makes his Bruins debut, and if he does, where he'll play on the lineup.
It wouldn't be surprising to see head coach Jim Montgomery decide to put him on the fourth line, with John Beecher and Andrew Peeke.
Viel would add a lot of grit and physicality to that line, possibly turning it into a real energy booster for the bench.
We should get the confirmation of Viel's status for tonight's game in the next few hours. The player will likely make sure to leave a strong impression on the team to earn a full-time spot in the NHL.
