Boston Bruins place Karson Kuhlman in COVID protocol

The Boston Bruins announced Saturday night that forward Karson Kuhlman entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. In a corresponding move, they recalled forward Oskar Steen from the AHL’s Providence Bruins to the taxi squad.

Kuhlman, a 26-year-old native of Esko, Minnesota, has a goal and an assist in 18 games with Boston this season, his fourth campaign in the NHL after graduating from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. So far, it’s his first year in the organization during which he hasn’t played any games with Providence.

He’s in the final year of a two-year, $1.45 million contract and is a pending restricted free agent. Kuhlman has largely been the Bruins' 13th forward this season, often serving as a healthy scratch. He’s averaged 10:12 of ice time in the 18 games he’s played.

Steen comes back up the taxi squad with the chance of cracking the Bruins lineup for the fourth time this season. Through three games this season, he’s posted two assists. It adds on to what’s been a successful season for him in Providence, with him scoring 10 goals and 10 assists through just 16 games.