Even with Torey Krug’s ankle injury, Urho Vaakaninen impressed the Bruins brass enough to earn a spot on Boston’s opening night roster. Yet, the 19-year-old saw himself as a healthy scratch during the Black and Gold’s two-game road trip to open the 2018-19 season.
Rather than slow his development from the get-go, the Bruins sent Vaakaninen down to Providence in time for its season-opening tilt in Hartford on Oct. 5. The 2017 first round pick wasted little time making an impact as he tallied a secondary assist on Mark McNeill’s late third-period goal during the team’s 3-2 loss to the Wolfpack.