( Photo Credits – Jerome Miron – Imagn Images )

By: Ryan Jainchill | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jainchill_Ryan

The Boston Bruins have placed forwards Patrick Brown and Vinni Lettieri on waivers, General Manager Don Sweeney announced today. Elliotte Friedman said in a post about today’s waivers that if either player were to be claimed by another team, they would be unable to play for their new teams due to post-deadline rules. If both players were to clear, they would be essential in the Providence Bruins’ Calder Cup push.

Brown, 32, has appeared in 13 games for the Bruins this season, posting a stat line of 0-1-1 in a fourth-line role. In his second season of a two-year contract, Brown has appeared in 24 regular season games and one playoff game, scoring 0-2-2. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native has played in 162 career NHL games with five teams, spending time in Carolina, Vegas, Philadelphia and Ottawa before signing with Boston on July 1, 2023.

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In 52 games with Providence this season, Brown has 16-28-44 as the team’s captain. Brown has set career-highs in assists and points with the P-Bruins and is third on the team in points. The former Boston College Eagle will be a key cog in the lineup for Providence in the playoffs, as the 6’1” center was a member of the Charlotte Checkers when they took home the 2019 Calder Cup Trophy. In that postseason, Brown had 5-5-10 in 11 games.

Lettieri, 30, has appeared in 19 games for Boston this season, recording 2-1-3 in his second tour of duty with the organization. He appeared in one game in the 2022-23 season with the Bruins and did not record a point. Lettieri has scored 14-16-30 in 148 games with the New York Rangers, Anaheim, Minnesota and Boston. The Excelsior, Minnesota, native was reacquired by the team at the 2024 NHL Draft.

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In 46 games for Providence this season, Lettieri has 20-28-48 and is second on the team in points, trailing Georgii Merkulov by four points despite appearing in 11 fewer games. In his first stint with Providence in the 2022-23 season, he had 49 points in 48 games. Lettieri has a stat line of 140-145-285 in 323 career AHL games across four franchises.

These moves came after Boston’s five-game road trip, which saw them go winless and extend their losing streak to eight games. With Providence gearing up for a playoff push after clinching a playoff spot last night, the reinsertion of veteran players allows them to make a run for their first Calder Cup since the 1998-99 season.