I hope this doesnt happen, and wheres this Donato u were talking about?

He's still playing for Havard, so he wont be available until they are eliminated from the playoffs/tournament

Who knows, maybe Frederic or JFK makes a splash and they can take over the number 1 center spot until Bergeron comes back.

JFK is injured (hasn't played 2/25)
Frederic hasn't even played a pro game yet and I doubt Boston burns a year of his ELC

Frederic will start in the AHL for a few games. He could play the last 9 and not burn a year. I didn't know JFK was injured though.

IIRC, Frederic is in a similar situation as McAvoy and JFK were last year. If he plays a single game in the NHL I believe it burns a year of his ELC.

**Update**

From what I've re-read, because Frederic signed his ELC when he was 20yr old then the 9 games do not apply to him. Per business of hockey...

When management makes the decision to audition a player at the next level, the only remaining hurdle is finalizing the prospect’s entry level contract (this issue is usually more prevalent for college hockey players as they can’t sign a professional contract while maintaining their amateurism where junior players have no restrictions). An entry level contract is limited by term (dependent on the prospect’s age at the date they sign the contract) and compensation but includes a provision for prospects aged 18 and 19 (as long as they don’t turn 20 before December 31 in the year they sign their first contract) that allows teams to slide the contract one year into the future if the player does not skate in a minimum of 10 NHL games (NHL CBA Article 9.1D).

I would much rather prefer Zboril up in that place of Postma at this point. It wouldn't hurt to give him a look. Also, I would prefer to give Cehlarik another look if JDB is out for a bit. Keep the 4th line together.

Fair enough, I was thinking more about if a playoff series started today - but it would make more sense to give Zboril some run for the rest of the reg. season to see if he is more capable than Postma (not difficult). Although he has also been hurt recently too, so I expect Post gets the callup if someone has to miss serious time.

To address the forward situation, there is no way the Bs burn a year of someone's ELC for a handful of games during the regular season. Donato in the playoffs is a possible albeit unlikely exception. Cehlarik, Czarnik, Szwarz can all come from Providence and play a middle six role if necessary.