WILMINGTON, Mass. -- Top-line Boston Bruins center David Krejci will not travel on the team's upcoming four-game road trip to the West Coast. He has missed the past four games and 13 overall this season because of an undisclosed lower-body injury.
"He's staying behind," Bruins coach Claude Julien said Saturday. "He's going to do the same thing as Zdeno."
Bruins captain Zdeno Chara (knee) continues to progress in his rehab, but following Friday's 2-1 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets at TD Garden, Julien said Chara will not travel on the road trip.
"He's going to stay here, skate, and continue to work on his rehab," Julien said.
Prior to the team's Saturday practice at Ristuccia Arena, Chara skated again with strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides.
If Chara continues to progress, he could possibly return to the lineup when the Bruins host the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 11 at TD Garden. The defenseman has been sidelined since suffering a torn PCL in his left knee on Oct. 23.
Even though there's optimism with Chara's pending return, Julien remains cautious.
"It's hard. We're gone for eight days now, so I can't predict what's going to happen after eight days," Julien said. "You'd like to hope so, but I don't know. They're at a stage where they didn't feel it was an advantage to bring him with us on the trip. He's better served staying behind and rehabbing with those guys, and skating here with Krejci. Until they tell me [Chara] is close, I can't answer that."
Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller did not practice with the team Saturday. Julien said Miller is only "dinged up" and will accompany the team on the West Coast trip.
The Bruins recalled defenseman Zach Trotman from Providence of the AHL. He will travel on the road trip and provide depth on Boston's banged-up blue line.
