The Bruins made some roster moves on Saturday to make sure they’re ready for whatever comes their way prior to Monday afternoon’s trade deadline. Veteran fourth liner Max Talbot was placed on waivers for the third time this season after serving as a healthy scratch in the last couple of games for the and tough guy Tyler Randell was sent to Providence on a conditioning assignment after receiving sporadic playing time
Randell has played two games in the last 11 days, and last played more than 10 minutes in a game when he scored a goal and dropped the gloves with Kyle Clifford in the Feb. 9 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Talbot has two goals and six points in 36 games for the Bruins, but also a minus-10 while experiencing some rough performances in the D-zone this season manning the fourth line for Boston.
Talbot was acquired nearly a year ago in a trade deadline deal that sent Jordan Caron to the Colorado Avalanche, and has skated in 10 games with Providence this season, registering four goals and six assists for 10 points with a plus-three rating.
The concurrent moves drop the Bruins to 21 players on their active roster, and clear a marginal amount of money off the salary cap books. But the transactions also ostensibly open up a pair of NHL roster spots for the Bruins should they acquire new players prior to the Feb. 29 trade deadline. Now won’t have to scramble to clear the proper space.
The Bruins now have the minimum 12 forwards on their NHL provided they send Talbot to Providence once he's cleared waivers.