The Bruins are slip-sliding away down the Atlantic Division standings with six straight losses and it's beginning to elicit narratives. Speculation is swirling that there is tension in the Bruins' locker room between star forwards Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.

Hampus Lindholm has been out of action with a lower-body injury since mid-November. Since then, whenever Boston Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco has been asked about the defenseman’s status, he’s said that Lindholm is still “weeks” away from returning.

WEEI’s Rich Keefe is doubling down on his take that there's a problem between Bruins captain Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.

The Boston Bruins announced a series of transactions Tuesday, placing defenseman Charlie McAvoy and forward Mark Kastelic on Injured Reserve (IR), defenseman Hampus Lindholm on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) and recalling forward Matt Poitras and defender Michael Callahan from the AHL’s Providence Bruins.

The players’ comments came after WEEI’s Rich Keefe said on air, without citing a source, that Pastrnak told the team he did not want to play on a line with Marchand.

“David Pastrnak has told the team he doesn’t want to be on a line with Brad ... Hampus Lindholm’s injury. This report of a rift, however, was immediately refuted by both Marchand and Pastrnak.