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Blue Jackets' Tommy Cross: Placed on waivers Monday

This is not a surprise after the 28-year-old signed a two-way deal with the Jackets in the offseason. Cross scored eight goals and 36 points in 73 games for AHL Providence last season, but he's seen only three games in the NHL since being drafted in the second round by the Bruins in 2007.

Blue Jackets' Tommy Cross: Pens deal with Columbus

Cross has just three career NHL games under his belt, and he hasn't played in one since the 2015-16 season. The 28-year-old blueliner has 71 points in the last two seasons for AHL Providence, though. He'll likely remain in the minors again with Columbus expressing its faith in Dean Kukan and Markus Nutivaara.

Bruins' Tommy Cross: Sent to AHL

Cross didn't suit up for the big club during his latest recall, but was on hand Thursday night in the event that Matt Grzelcyk (upper body) wasn't able to play. With the Boston blue line poised to welcome back Zdeno Chara (upper body and Charlie McAvoy (knee), Cross will revert to his accustomed role of anchoring Providence's back line. The 28-year-old has logged eight goals and 32 points in 66 AHL games to date, to go along with 79 PIM and a plus-25 rating.

Bruins' Tommy Cross: Recalled by Boston

In a corresponding move, the team assigned fellow defenseman Paul Postma to Providence. With Matt Grzelcyk dealing with an upper-body injury, Cross has a chance to make his season debut with the big club Thursday night against the Lightning. The 28-year-old has been having a strong campaign at the AHL level, having notched eight goals and 32 points in 66 games to date, to go along with 79 PIM and a plus-25 rating. While we don't expect the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder to provide the B's with much offense, he'll add some size and grit to the team's back line in advance of Thursday's Atlantic Division showdown.

Bruins' Tommy Cross: Shipped south to AHL Providence

The 28-year-old blueliner was briefly recalled in order to suit up for Boston's final preseason tilt Saturday. Now that Cross is back in Providence, he's likely to spend the entirety of 2017-18 with the AHL squad that he captains.