Bruins prospects who might compete for Opening Night time roster spot

Bruins prospects who could compete for Opening Night roster spot initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins did an excellent job integrating a number of rookies to their NHL roster final season, together with middle Matt Poitras, middle Johnny Beecher and defenseman Mason Lohrei.

May the B’s do one thing related with a number of prospects forward of the 2024-25 marketing campaign?

The Bruins would not have an elite prospect pool. In truth, most consultants rank the group near the bottom of the league. However that does not imply the system is with none actual NHL-caliber expertise.

Bruins rookie camp begins Wednesday, and it is an enormous alternative for a few of these prospects to showcase their expertise and make the case they belong in Boston sooner somewhat than later.

Which prospects might compete for a roster spot in coaching camp and the preseason? Let’s break down 4 choices.

Place: Proper wing

2023-24 Group: Windfall Bruins (AHL)

2023-24 Stats: 15G, 35A in 56 GP

It is time for Lysell to point out he can take the following step and never solely play nicely sufficient to earn an NHL roster spot, but in addition be a contributor offensively.

He is probably the most gifted offensive participant in Boston’s prospect pool. The 2021 first-round decide has an awesome shot, he performs with great pace and his playmaking talent is spectacular. He is the kind of participant who can put defensemen on their heels as he flies by way of the impartial zone towards the opponent’s internet. His talent set would even be useful on the facility play. The offseason departures of Jake DeBrusk and James van Riemsdyk might lead to some new faces on the second power-play unit.

Lysell has handled some accidents throughout his AHL profession. When wholesome, he has the potential to be a dynamic offensive participant, and that’s one thing the Bruins are very a lot missing. It additionally helps that Lysell’s pure place is correct wing, which is a place of weak point for Boston.

Essentially the most ideally suited state of affairs for the Bruins is Lysell enjoying nice in camp and the preseason and exhibiting he deserves to start out the season because the second-line proper wing. However he has to earn it first. He isn’t going to be thrown into that position simply because he is a first-round decide.

Everyone knows Lysell can contribute offensively, however is he in a position to deal with the defensive duties requested of NHL gamers? The Bruins pleasure themselves on enjoying a wise, accountable two-way sport. Lysell wants to point out he is made progress defensively throughout camp and the preseason. That mentioned, the Bruins ought to give him a little bit of leeway right here. There are going to be errors. He is solely 21 years previous.

Lysell has performed 110 video games over two seasons in Windfall. Sooner or later, the B’s have to offer this child an opportunity to show himself on the subsequent degree.

Place: Middle

2023-24 Group: Windfall Bruins (AHL)

2023-24 Stats: 30G, 35A in 67 GP

Merkulov has proven the power to be an excellent offensive participant on the AHL degree. He led the P-Bruins in scoring every of the final two seasons, tallying 55 factors (24 targets, 31 assists) in 2022-23 and 65 factors (30 targets, 35 assists) in 2023-24. There’s not likely a ton left for Merkulov to show in Windfall.

The query is the place does he slot in on the NHL degree? He hasn’t performed a lot proper wing within the AHL, so it would not make a ton of sense to throw him into that place in camp. He is a pure middle, the place his aim scoring and playmaking talent has been essential to Windfall’s current success.

The issue is the Bruins have so many facilities within the combine. Elias Lindholm and Charlie Coyle are the top-six facilities. Different gamers on the roster who can play middle embody Pavel Zacha, Trent Frederic, Morgan Geekie, Mark Kastelic and Matt Poitras. Prospects similar to Riley Duran and Marc McLaughlin can play down the center, too.

Possibly, as a left shot, Merkulov might compete for a bottom-six left wing spot. Both method, the Bruins could be sensible to offer him an opportunity. The four-game callup he obtained final season wasn’t sufficient of a pattern dimension to find out whether or not he might be an efficient NHL participant.

Riley Duran

Place: Middle/proper wing

2023-24 Group: Windfall Faculty (NCAA)

2023-24 Stats 9G, 7A in 35 GP

There’s all the time an opportunity one prospect surprises and forces the Bruins’ entrance workplace and training workers to make powerful selections. Final yr, Matt Poitras performed so nicely that sending him again to the OHL simply did not make sense. And Poitras rewarded the Bruins’ religion in him with a powerful rookie season that was sadly lower brief early as a result of damage.

May Duran make an analogous ascent over the following month? The previous Windfall Faculty standout performs with pace and has an excellent two-way talent set. His offensive skill is a bit underrated, too, as evidenced throughout this aim with the P-Bruins again in April.

Duran might be finest suited to start out the season in Windfall, but it surely would not be stunning if he is one of many higher rookies in camp.

Place: Goaltender

2023-24 Group: Windfall Bruins (AHL)

2023-24 Stats: 23-10-5, .913 SV%, 2.67 GAA

Jeremy Swayman is the undisputed No. 1 goalie in Boston proper now — assuming he indicators a brand new contract sooner or later. The actual debate is which netminder will likely be his backup?

The Bruins acquired Joonas Korpisalo within the Linus Ullmark trade with the Ottawa Senators again in July. Korpisalo is coming off an terrible 2023-24 marketing campaign throughout which he posted a 21-26-4 document with a .890 save proportion and a 3.27 GAA. If there’s anybody who can repair Korpisalo, it is legendary Bruins goalie coach Bob Essensa, however what if the Finnish goaltender does not have an awesome camp and/or preseason?

Brandon Bussi could have an opportunity to show himself over the approaching weeks. He has performed very nicely in Windfall during the last two seasons, tallying a .917 save proportion because the starter. There is no cause to hurry Bussi to the NHL, however he is a younger participant able to making a case to be on the Opening Night time roster if he has an excellent camp and preseason efficiency.