BOSTON -- For a bruiser like Noel Acciari, spending a couple of days on the shelf seems to be an annual tradition, especially during the long haul of a NHL season.

But the 2017-18 campaign saw Acciari saddled with more than just the regular bumps and bruises.

The 26-year-old forward missed most of the first month of the regular season after fracturing his finger during Boston's season opener against the Nashville Predators -- but it didn't get much better from there.

Even though he was able to suit up in 60 games last year, Acciari was hampered with a hernia from the start of December -- just shortly after he returned from his finger injury.

"It was tough just trying to get going at times," Acciari said. "Like, from a standstill. But I tried not to think too much about it during a game. The training staff did a great job with me in getting me ready for every game as best as I could be ready. We did what we had to to get through. I was good to get it fixed at the end of the year."

While an offseason procedure fixed Acciari's ailment, it sidetracked the Rhode Island native for an extended stretch of the summer, with Monday standing as the first time that the physical forward was able to take part in team skating sessions during training camp.

"Right now, I'm on track now to maybe get a game in for the preseason, but definitely be ready for the start of the season," Acciari noted.

A slow start to the preseason aside, Acciari is looking for a stronger season in 2018-19 following the procedure, which should help increase his mobility out on the ice.

"It's night and day of how I felt last year and how I feel now," Acciari said. "I'm excited for the season right now, getting back with these guys and jumping back into that practice for a little bit. Felt really good."

While the Bruins lost a key cog in their fourth line with Tim Schaller departing in free agency for the Vancouver Canucks, Acciari still believes the Bruins have the pieces in place to roll out a strong trio -- especially with the addition of Chris Wagner and Joakim Nordstrom.

"I want to continue how our line last year had a good stretch, just being a tough line to play against," Acciari said. "Just getting matched up against those top lines and being able to shut them down and give our top two lines a chance to rest a little bit here and there. Just chip in when we can and I just want to continue off of that."