With the Bruins finally nearing full strength following a rash of injuries, the team cleared space on its roster Tuesday, sending defenseman David Warsofsky and winger Nick Johnson back down to Providence.
Neither Warsofsky — a Boston University product and Marshfield, Mass., native — nor Johnson registered a point in 10 combined games with the big club. Warsofsky made his NHL debut last Thursday.
The reassignment of Johnson and Warsofsky likely means that Daniel Paille and Dougie Hamilton are close to returning to the ice. Both players have been out since Dec. 8, Paille with a concussion and Hamilton with a lower-body injury.
Adam McQuaid, who had not played since Nov. 30, returned to the lineup Monday night in Nashville. The defenseman logged 19:22 of ice time — his second-highest total of the season — and dropped the gloves with Predators forward Eric Nystrom just minutes into the first period.
The Bruins do not play again until Friday, when they host the Senators.
