Bruins training camp: Top candidates for second-line right wing spot initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The No. 1 roster battle in Boston Bruins training camp doubtless would be the second-line proper wing spot alongside left wing Brad Marchand and middle Charlie Coyle.
After dropping wingers Jake van Riemsdyk, Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk to free company over the offseason, the Bruins are somewhat skinny on the wing, particularly the correct facet. Van Riemsdyk, Heinen and DeBrusk weren’t essentially the most constant offensive producers a 12 months in the past, however they did rating 11 targets, 17 targets, and 19 targets, respectively. That is slightly below 18 p.c of the Bruins’ 264 targets scored within the 2023-24 common season.
The Bruins selected to make their big-ticket ahead acquisition Elias Lindholm. The highest-six middle signed a seven-year, $54.25 million contract on Day 1 of free company. It was a great move for the Bruins, however it additionally meant the group would doubtless should fill the second-line proper wing spot from inside.
DeBrusk performed with Coyle and Marchand greater than every other winger final season. He logged 306 minutes at 5-on-5 with that veteran tandem, per Natural Stat Trick, and the B’s outscored opponents 13-7 throughout these minutes. Despite the fact that DeBrusk was vulnerable to going lengthy stretches of video games with out scoring a objective, he was sturdy sufficient defensively to play with Marchand and Coyle, who usually face the opponent’s top-six forwards each shift.
Whereas the Bruins need somebody who can contribute offensively on this second-line proper wing spot, it is also necessary that this participant can deal with the defensive tasks of the position. These aren’t simple minutes, to say the least.
Listed below are the very best choices for the Bruins at second-line proper wing (in no explicit order).
It is time for the Bruins to see what they’ve in Lysell. He was the No. 21 total decide within the first spherical of the 2021 NHL Draft. He’s essentially the most offensively expert participant in Boston’s prospect pool. He has a wonderful shot, he is a proficient playmaker, he performs with velocity and he is harmful on the ability play.
What does head coach Jim Montgomery wish to see from Lysell in camp?
“I simply wish to see him immerse himself in one-on-one battles, developing with unfastened pucks,” Montgomery told reporters last week. “He’s a gifted offensive participant, and for presented offensive gamers to have success, they want the puck on their stick, and that’s why I say he must win extra one-on-one battles — no more, however that’s received to be a spotlight, being actually intent on getting the puck in your stick so you are able to do the belongings you do properly.”
Positive, the defensive a part of his sport wants work, however that is fairly frequent for a talented 21-year-old ahead with zero NHL expertise. For Lysell to thrive, he must be taking part in with different gifted offensive gamers, ideally in a top-six position. He isn’t the form of participant you placed on the fourth line simply to get him expertise.
The Bruins ought to give Lysell an prolonged take a look at the NHL stage and see how he responds. If we get to early or mid-December and he is struggling to attain and making errors defensively, then perhaps it is time to assess whether or not he is a match. Giving him an actual alternative shouldn’t be going to sink the Bruins’ season if it does not go properly. So why not see what you’ve gotten on this participant? The Bruins desperately want somebody along with his scoring capability and velocity at proper wing.
Lysell making the roster additionally can be nice for the Bruins’ wage cap state of affairs. He nonetheless has this season and subsequent season on his entry-level contract, which carries a tiny $863,333 cap hit.
Geekie is a pure middle, however he did play some wing final season. And with the Bruins including Elias Lindholm and Mark Kastelic over the offseason, the almost certainly position for Geekie might be someplace on the wing.
Geekie undoubtedly has the toughness and defensive acumen to play with Coyle and Marchand. He is a hard-nosed participant who may be trusted to play exhausting minutes in opposition to the opponent’s top-six forwards. Geekie scored a career-high 17 targets final season and performed a bunch with Coyle. He is most likely one of many prime candidates for this spot going into camp.
Poitras is finest suited at middle, the place he performed throughout most of his rookie marketing campaign till a shoulder injury forced him to miss the remainder of the season after simply 33 video games. However the Bruins have a whole lot of facilities on their roster, and a few of them might need to play on the wing at totally different factors this season.
Poitras’ offensive talent set was spectacular as a rookie. He is a robust playmaker and has the flexibility to attain targets in quite a lot of methods. Tallying 15 factors (5 targets, 10 assists) in 33 video games as a 19-year-old is fairly good.
Poitras is without doubt one of the most fascinating gamers at Bruins camp. The place does he match? Who does he play with? Can he construct on the momentum of surprisingly making the Opening Evening roster final season? The Bruins want to verify Poitras is put in the very best place to succeed as a result of he is essential to the group’s future.
What are Montgomery’s expectations for Poitras getting into camp?
“Properly, first, let’s examine how he is doing getting acclimated once more,” Montgomery instructed reporters at a press convention Wednesday. “You already know, we will give him some runway right here to get acclimated to training on the tempo that we do, competing, second and third effort. You already know, all these issues he will should undergo to get the rustiness off in the beginning.
“So anticipate to see him in a good quantity of exhibition video games. And , we will use him on proper wing, we will use him at middle. The place is he going to finest have the ability to assist and make him most comfy and provides him the very best alternative to shine.”
Frederic is a pure middle however has largely performed on the wing in Boston because of the group’s spectacular depth down the center all through his profession.
Frederic has benefitted lots from taking part in underneath Montgomery. The 26-year-old ahead set profession highs with 17 targets and 14 assists throughout Montgomery’s first season in 2022-23, after which he set new private bests final 12 months with 18 targets and 22 assists.
Frederic has played 912:35 of ice time with Coyle during the last two seasons, with the majority of that coming within the 2022-23 marketing campaign once they have been usually collectively on the third line. So there’s already chemistry and familiarity between them.
Frederic may not have the offensive talent set of a Poitras or Lysell, however he does convey the form of physicality that Marchand and Coyle exhibit in defensive conditions. And in equity to Frederic, he has come a great distance as a scorer since making his debut in 2018-19. He most likely nonetheless has one other stage or two to achieve offensively, and taking part in a top-six position with two proficient veterans might assist unlock that potential.
“Trent Frederic has change into a really invaluable member, and I assumed his playoffs have been glorious final 12 months,” Montgomery stated Wednesday. “I assumed he took… his development within the playoffs, he form of did the identical factor he did within the common season. He was essential to our group. I believe one 12 months he had 17, final 12 months he had 18 targets, or it may be vice versa. Nonetheless, he began to penalty kill extra final 12 months. We’d like him to proceed to develop that… whether or not he performs middle, proper wing or left… you are going to see him at middle throughout camp.
“That is going to occur as a result of he was so good down low within the playoffs final 12 months defensively, he is a giant physique that may deal with a whole lot of minutes as a result of he is in nice form, he is extremely match. So , we will transfer him round to see the place he will assist the Bruins essentially the most. We all know he will assist us on the wing and at middle, it is simply what gels collectively along with his linemen.”
Merkulov has led the Windfall Bruins in scoring every of the final two seasons. He went scoreless in a quick four-game callup to the NHL final season.
The previous Ohio State ahead has virtually solely performed middle within the AHL, and as a left shot, it may be unfair to ask him to play proper wing, particularly in a top-six position. He has the offensive expertise wanted to be a viable participant on the NHL stage, which is why I’ve included him on this record, however taking part in proper wing is not the very best positional match for the 23-year-old.
Tyler Johnson
The Bruins signed Johnson to a PTO (skilled tryout settlement) deal for camp. The 2-time Stanley Cup champion spent the final two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. He tallied 31 factors (17 targets, 14 assists) in 67 video games final 12 months. Numerous that manufacturing got here on the ability play.
Johnson at second-line proper wing is not essentially the most perfect state of affairs for the Bruins, however he’ll most likely be within the combine as a result of he is able to taking part in middle or wing.
What’s Sweeney hoping the Bruins get from Johnson?
“Versatility, expertise, profitable pedigree, manufacturing, skating element remains to be there,” Sweeney instructed reporters “Wednesday. So we recognized early on, and wasn’t attempting to be disrespectful to Tyler and his representatives in the truth that we weren’t ready to supply a contract, however we might be excited to have him as a part of our group, and he simply felt that the chance was there in a bona fide method, and the way it’s introduced, and we’re excited to assist.”
