Shane Hnidy Returns to Bruins on Tryout Basis

The Bruins may have already made their big splash in the trade market, but that doesn't mean they're done tinkering with the team.

The B's welcomed back Shane Hnidy on a tryout basis on Wednesday, according to NESN's Naoko Funayama.

"Hnidy is also back wearing his old [jersey number] 34 … on the ice now for B's practice in Vancouver," Naoko tweeted.

Hnidy, 35, is a free agent. He played 70 games for the Minnesota Wild last year, compiling 2-12-14 totals and a minus-6 rating. He was a member of the Bruins from January 2008 until the end of the 2008-09 season, a period in which he registered 4-13-17 totals and a plus-2 rating in 108 games. He also had two goals and an assist in 14 playoff games for Boston.

The team currently has seven active defensemen, but injuries have plagued the group for much of the past two seasons. If the Bruins were to sign Hnidy, it would add the veteran presence that many teams want at the trading deadline, and it wouldn't cost the Bruins any assets.

Photo: Naoko Funayama's yfrog