With Bruins development camp almost a month ago, there’s been plenty of time to update opinions and evaluations about the prospects that took the ice and showed what they could do for the B’s brass while also learning up close about the Black and Gold culture. That’s really what development camp is about as NHL teams are starting to get away from the on-ice parts of the camp, and instead focusing on chemistry building with young players that could be pro teammates a few years down the line.
The part of the message was that the Bruins will make room on the NHL roster if a young player shows that they are ready. They did it last season while watching Matt Poitras, Mason Lohrei and Johnny Beecher graduate to the NHL level in Boston, and they’ll certainly do it again this upcoming season if anybody flashes in training camp.
“I think we’ve made some hard decisions with players,” said Don Sweeney. “I think this year, (Matt) Poitras and (John) Beecher were good examples of that. That they played well enough, they earned their opportunity, and I would say to (Georgii Merkulov) or Fabian (Lysell) or Riley Duran or keep going down the list, just pin your ears back, train your ass off this summer and come with the intent that there’ll be an opportunity here. If you’re the best player, then we find a way to get you in the lineup.”
With that in mind, we’ve got an up-to-date list of the Bruins’ top-10 prospects that have consistently been a bit better than the prospect wasteland that draftniks and prospect gurus have pegged them as over the last few offseasons:
1. Fabian Lysell (right wing, 21st overall in the 2021 NHL Draft) – The 21-year-old speedy, skilled winger had 15 goals and 50 points in 56 games for the P-Bruins last season and made strides in his second AHL season. The talent is there, and the Bruins have a need for a top-6 right wing at the NHL level, so Lysell will get a long look in training camp to be the next guy in the line of Matt Poitras, Johnny Beecher and Mason Lohrei to go from prospect to bona fide, proven NHL talent.
Bruins are banking on him to be a productive top 6 RW but can Fabian Lysell crack the Bruins opening night roster?
21 years old
5’11”
176 Lbs29 Goals, 58 Assists, 87 points in 110 games with Providence…
🎥: HSD Prospects / YouTube 📺#NHLBruins | @BruinSomethin pic.twitter.com/JmhZkJ4c07
— Michael Sullivan (@_MikeSullivan) July 29, 2024
2. Georgii Merkulov (Undrafted free agent) – the 23-year-old Merkulov finished with 30 goals and 65 points in 67 games last season for the P-Bruins and also earned four games in Boston as a result. He’s a proven offensive commodity at the AHL level and has a ton of offensive talent that should get a longer look this season if the opportunity presents itself. The question is whether he could stick at a right-wing position where the B’s need help after playing exclusively at center and left wing over the last couple of seasons in Providence. At his age and production levels at the AHL level, the time is now for Merkulov to break through if he’s going to do it.
3. Brandon Bussi (Undrafted free agent) – the 26-year-old Bussi has had a couple of very strong AHL seasons and put himself in a position to be a late-blooming NHL goalie. Unfortunately, he’s now behind Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo unless Bussi completely dominates, or unless Korpisalo totally falls on his face as the veteran tandem partner. But the 6-foot-4 Bussi has done everything necessary at the AHL level and he plays a position where players can develop a little bit later given the longevity that goalies can have at the NHL level.
4. Oskar Jellvik (center, 149th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft) – The 5-foot-11, 181-pound Swedish forward was the flashiest player at Bruins development camp after putting together a really strong sophomore season at Boston College amidst some serious talent on that Eagles roster. He’s shifty and skilled and shows equal talent in scoring and playmaking. The real question Is whether he’s going to be big enough and strong enough to really make an impact at the NHL level while being shiftier and more elusive than a burner on the ice.
5. Dean Letourneau (center, 25th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft) – The 6-foot-7 center clearly has very good offensive tools and he’s a bright forward prospect headed for an excellent program with Boston College. The shot was quick and heavy, and he already does a good job of protecting the puck with his big frame. But he also looked every bit the teenager he is at development camp and wasn’t always noticeable during drills despite being the kind of big-bodied player that one would expect to flash a lot in that kind of scenario. He’s got a big frame where he can add more size and he’s going to a great place to develop at the Heights, but he looked like he was at least a few years away from being a factor at the NHL level.
6. John Farinacci – The 23-year-old Farinacci had a solid first season in Providence and showed he can do a lot of different things that could make him a versatile forward at the NHL level. The 12 goals and 38 goals in 71 games wasn’t a huge level of offensive production, so it will be interesting to see if he can build on that at the AHL level while waiting for his shot in Boston.
7. Brett Harrison (center, 85th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft) – Good shot, good size and he’s still young as a 21-year-old at the AHL level, but the five goals and 14 points in 47 games wasn’t all that impressive. He flashed a lot at Bruins development camp, but then again he probably should be doing that given his age and experience level at this point. Harrison needs to start showing more offensively if he’s going to get shots at the NHL level.
8. Frederic Brunet (defenseman, 132nd overall in the 2022 NHL Draft) – The 6-foot-3 defenseman finished with two goals and 12 points in 48 games for the P-Bruins and had a successful opening season at the AHL level as a 20-year-old that very young for the American League. He’s got veteran guys like Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula blocking him at the AHL level, but that’s okay because he’s got development steps to make before he’s ready to potentially play at the NHL level.
9. Riley Duran (center, 182nd overall in 2020 NHL Draft) – The 22-year-old Duran didn’t enjoy his best season at the collegiate level this past season with the Friars, but the 6-foot-2, 185-pound forward was good for the P-Bruins with two goals and four points in 11 games. He may be a smart, physical player that’s better built for the pro game than he was for college hockey, and he could surprise a lot of people by being strongly in the mix for an NHL spot during training camp. Not too shabby for a good Woburn kid.
10. Elliott Groenewold (defenseman, 110th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft) – the 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman was very noticeable during Bruins development camp as a strong, skilled and steady D-man and looks like he’s going to be a very good player at Quinnipiac. Even better, he grew up as a huge Bruins fan in Vermont so he’s got a ton of pride when it comes to representing the Black and Gold.
Honorable Mention: Andre Gasseau, Philip Svedeback, Jackson Edward
