Bruins' Khokhlachev: 'If they don't give me the chance to play, why am I here?'
Alexander Khokhlachev is growing impatient with the Boston Bruins.
"Boston should make a decision with me," he told reporters at training camp Saturday. "I've waited for my chance already. Two years. I'm just still waiting. We'll see. They should make a decision. Give me a chance, or I don't know. We’'ll see (what) they'll do.”
Khokhlachev has appeared in only four NHL games over the last two seasons after being selected by the Bruins in the second round of the 2011 draft.
"This is my last year of my contract," he said. "I'm 22 already. If they don't give me the chance to play, why am I here? I will not play in (the AHL with the) Providence (Bruins) all my life. They told me, 'Just wait for your chance.' I'm still waiting for it."
The Russian center scored 15 goals and added 28 assists in 61 games for Providence last season. He notched 21 goals and 36 assists with the AHL club in 2013-14.
Khokhlachev was asked if he believes he's done all that he should have done to prove he deserves more time in the NHL.
"Yeah, why not?" he said. "I played in Providence two years and I led them in scoring two years. I think I'm playing good. I'm not a young guy anymore. I'm 22. I think I'm ready for the chance."
Khokhlachev failed to secure the Bruins' fourth-line center job in 2014-15. He appeared in three games last season, logging fewer than three minutes of ice time in his third game.
"I played two games and the third game I played two minutes," he said. "I don't think that's really a chance. I played fourth line. It doesn't really matter what line I play, but I don't think it's really a chance to be played two games."
The frustration voiced by Khokhlachev came on quite the tangent.
The question, by the way, was if 4th-line competition is more difficult this year than last year. His answer was *slightly* off-topic
— DJ Bean (@DJ_Bean) September 19, 2015