Joona Koppanen will make his NHL debut Thursday night when the Bruins host the Seattle Kraken.
Koppanen will slot into the fourth line center role for Boston as Tomas Nosek — who will remain in the lineup — deals with an injury that’s prevented him from taking faceoffs.
The Kraken, who have won six straight coming into Thursday’s contest, have the second-best five-on-five goal-differential, trailing only the Bruins, so it will be a good test for Koppanen. But head coach Jim Montgomery just wants the 2016 fifth-round draft pick to have fun.
“Just go out and enjoy yourself,” Montgomery told reporters after Thursday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena. “He’s earned it. He’s done a great job down in Providence. You’ve earned the right to be here. It’s your first game in the NHL. Enjoy every second of it.”
The 24-year-old Koppanen has played well in Providence this year with five goals and 14 assists, but his 6-foot-5, 216-pound frame will provide the Bruins some size and physicality on the forward front.
The Bruins drop the puck at 7 p.m. ET and you can catch all the action beginning at 6 p.m. on NESN.
