The Bruins will have a new look on Saturday against Philadelphia as forward Chris Bourque will be replaced on the active roster by Jordan Caron.
Bourque cleared waivers on Friday and was assigned to AHL Providence, allowing the B’s to recall Caron.
Caron, 22, was Boston’s first-round selection (25th overall) at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He’s spent the last two seasons going up and down between Boston and Providence, setting NHL career highs last season in games (48), goals (seven), assists (eight) and points (15).
It looks as though Caron will soon make his regular-season debut, possibly replacing Bourque on Boston’s third line alongside Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley.
The line has struggled mightily this year -- especially Kelly, who has one goal in 21 games with a minus-7 rating -- and the hope is that a Caron-for-Bourque switch will spark the unit.
“Obviously Bourque is a great player. Rich and I want to succeed,” Kelly told CSNNE. “We wanted to succeed with Bourque and we want to succeed with every player on our line.
“For some reason the bounces weren’t going in, and when it rains it pours.”
CSNNE’s Joe Haggerty reports from B’s practice that it’ll either be Caron or veteran Jay Pandolfo on the third line with Peverley and Kelly.