The competition for the Boston Bruins’ fourth line and backup goaltender positions were intense during training camp and the preseason, and they took another turn Monday.
The Bruins have put veteran forward Max Talbot and goaltender Jeremy Smith on waivers, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie and TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie.
Talbot was acquired by the Bruins at last season’s trade deadline from the Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old center tallied 18 points in 81 games between the Avalanche and Bruins during the 2014-15 campaign. This move could signal that the B’s have decided to keep Tyler Randell, Zac Rinaldo and Joonas Kemppainen for the open fourth-line spots.
Smith was the No. 1 goalie for the Providence Bruins for a good portion of last season. He went 22-11-5 with a .933 save percentage. Smith was one of the four goalies to compete for the Bruins backup job in camp, but it appears he’s lost out to Jonas Gustavsson, who signed a one-year contract with Boston on Sunday after going through camp on a professional tryout (PTO).
NHL teams must submit their final regular-season rosters to the league by 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
