While there is still plenty of time for Marc Savard to recover from postconcussion syndrome, it is possible that the center could start 2010-11 on long-term injured reserve. A player must be deemed unfit to play for at least 10 games and 24 calendar days to qualify for LTIR. Considering how much training time Savard has missed and the undetermined length of his absence, it is a scenario the Bruins are considering.

"It could happen," GM Peter Chiarelli said during a conference call. "It is a little early to tell. Based on what he's been going through with the postconcussion symptoms, the time he's been experiencing it, and the time he hasn't been doing anything, it's tracking that way."

If Savard starts the season on LTIR, the Bruins could go over the ceiling by his $4.007 million salary, further ensuring that no moves (trade or waivers) will be required for the Bruins to be cap compliant.

Savard is with his teammates in Brattleboro, Vt., and participating in teambuilding activities.

* To these eyes, Jordan Caron is the rookie who's placed himself in the best position to break camp with the big club. "He's making a good argument right now to make the team," Chiarelli said. If Caron survives, one trickledown effect could be Mark Recchi moving to left wing, a position he has no trouble playing. Caron has only played the right side in juniors. Other players exclusive to the right side are Nathan Horton and Michael Ryder. Caron's game is not suited ideally for the fourth line, so he'd be among the top three right wings.