BOSTON — The Bruins will try if Anthony Richard can bring his AHL scoring prowess to the NHL.
Boston called up the 27-year-old from Providence on Thursday, after Matt Poitras underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.
Richard, a 5-foot-10, 186-pound forward, has averaged more than a point per game in the AHL for the past two seasons. Last season, he produced 30 goals and 37 points in 60 games for the Montreal Canadiens’ top affiliate, the AHL’s Laval Rocket.
This season, Richard has 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists) in 41 games with the Providence Bruins. Richard, a former Nashville fourth-round draft pick, has three goals and two assists in 15 NHL games with Montreal. He went scoreless in three preseason games with Boston.
Richard signed a one-year $775,000 contract with the Bruins over the offseason after Montreal declined to re-sign him.
He is unlikely to be in the lineup against Vancouver on Thursday night, as he did not attend the morning skate.
The Bruins chose Richard above Georgii Merkulov, who struggled in his previous call-up, and Fabian Lysell. Following a sluggish start, the former first-round choice has put up impressive figures – 13 goals, 25 points in 42 games.
