What's Up With The Bruins' Never-Ending PTO of Danton Heinen?

The Boston Bruins signed their old friend Danton Heinen to a professional tryout this fall, but now that training camp is over and the season has begun, Heinen is still hanging around the team, though with no contract in hand. 

Insider Chris Johnston explains just what is happening with the Bruins' former 47-point man.

Heinen is effectively enduring a prolonged training camp...

The club asked him to remain patient while it worked through salary cap-related challenges at the beginning of the regular season, and patient the former Bruin remains.

Heinen has been skating with the team, and even traveling with them on the road. Effectively a member of the team but without actual employment. 

"He won’t be eligible for game action until the Bruins either create space or find themselves with an injury that would allow him to be signed to the roster," added Johnston. 

“The fact he’s on the trip and still practicing with them is a pretty good indication a signing is coming, I’d think," an NHL executive told Boston Hockey Now. "Like almost every team, though, the Bruins need to clear cap space to make a move like that.”

Heinen, 28, posted 34 goals and 103 points in his 220 games with the Bruins in his first go-round with the team (2016-2019). They know what he can do, and both sides seem to want to work this out. But, as Johnston says, "It may just require a little more patience."

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