BOSTON — The Bruins picked up two new players ahead of Monday’s NHL trade deadline. On Tuesday, they added another, promoting forward Noel Acciari from the American Hockey League ahead of their matchup with the Calgary Flames at TD Garden.
It’s the first NHL call-up for Acciari, who spent training camp with the Bruins before being assigned to Providence.
“I liked what I saw (from Acciari) from training camp,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said Tuesday morning. “A real strong, gritty guy, good hockey sense. Skates, forechecks hard, will go to dirty areas and so on and so forth. We’re going to have a real good look at him here.
“It’s a great opportunity for him, but it’s certainly — coming in at this time of the season — for him to have that opportunity is pretty special.”
Acciari, who hails from Johnston, R.I., and played three seasons at Providence College before turning pro last spring, has played in 42 games for the P-Bruins this season, tallying seven goals and 12 assists. The 24-year-old also has developed a reputation for delivering big hits, and he hopes to bring that type of physicality to the big club.
“I think I can bring just a heavy body,” said Acciari, who captained the PC team that won the 2015 NCAA national championship in the Bruins’ home arena. “I like to throw my body around and get pucks to the net — be strong in the net, be strong on the puck. And I think other than that, good D-zone presence, and anything else I can do to help the team, I’m going to try to do.”
Acciari, who will wear No. 55 with the Bruins, is expected to make his NHL debut against the Flames.
“We’ll have a good look at him (Tuesday night),” Julien said. “We’ll see how he does. I suspect he’ll do well. From what I hear, I’ve had nothing but great reports on him. So we’ll see what he is when it comes to playing at this level.”
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
