GETTY IMAGES Making a Kase for top six
New Bruins winger excited to be playing for contender
VANCOUVER — Ondrej Kase can’t wait for the playoffs.
The newest Bruins skater expressed excitement to join a playoff contending team on his conference call Saturday, the day after he was traded to Boston from Anaheim for David Backes, Axel Andersson and a first round draft pick.
It’s likely he will get an opportunity in the top six skating to the right of David Krejci, which he sounded ready to take on.
“I think (Krejci) is an unbelievable player, and I think anyone would want to play with him,” said Kase, who is Czech, like Krejci. “He can pass the puck very well, great passer. Unbelievable at passing. It’ll be very good to play with him.”
Kase, 24, said he will wear number 2. He’s spent his entire career with the Ducks, where he scored a careerhigh 20 goals in 2017-18.
Given where the Ducks are in the standings and the promise he’s shown over the past couple of seasons, being moved before the deadline didn’t come as a shock.
“I spoke about it with my agent,” said Kase. “He told me it could be this way. I was getting ready for the trade, and I’m very happy it’s with Boston.”
He has just seven goals and 23 assists this year, and comes to Boston on the injured reserve after not playing since Feb. 9 with flu symptoms. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said on Saturday they expect him to join the group on Monday and they’ll see where he’s at. He said he’s been skating with the Ducks and feels close to ready to play.
The next thing would be seeing if he can live up to his potential and get a boost in the goal scoring department playing with Krejci.
“I don’t know why my shooting percentage is so low this year,” said Kase. “I feel like I try to shoot the puck everywhere and I really want the shooting percentage to be up again.”
The Bruins have sought someone to play on the right of Krejci for years now, and while some of their internal options have done an admirable job, Kase has the upside to be a scorer and put their top six over the edge, and the depth trickles down to the rest of their lines.
Kase has shown flashes of being a strong scorer, but with a winning team that already has the ability to put the puck in the net, he could thrive.
He certainly seems motivated.
“I think I’m a pretty good skater and I can score goals,” Kase said. “I’m very excited to be part of the Boston Bruins. I’ve talked a little bit with (David Pastrnak) on this, so I can’t wait to meet the guys.
“I am very, very excited to be part of the Boston Bruins and I can’t wait for the playoffs. I hope we win the Stanley Cup; that’s why I’m going to Boston.”