2023-24 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Boston Bruins

Credit: (Photo by Steven Ellis)

Let’s be frank: Boston has one of the worst prospect pools in the NHL.

That’s the price you pay to stay competitive, and the Bruins have been among the NHL’s best teams for well over a decade. Not many teams can start and end a decade playing in the Stanley Cup final, but that’s exactly what the Bruins did in 2011 and 2019.

That sustained level of competitive play meant moving draft picks and selecting low when they didn’t. That’s why the Bruins have one of the worst prospect pools. That’ll change once the team starts to drop off, but if the Bruins have their way, that won’t be for a few years.

Fabian Lysell and John Beecher are the only first-rounders on this list, with the team moving most of their first-round picks in recent years. In fact, they’ve only had four picks total in the top 85 over the past four years. This is a team that understands what it takes to remain competitive, and that often means depleting resources. Lysell is still the top prospect in the system, even if the past year wasn’t a huge success.

The 2022-23 season saw Matthew Poitras and Brett Harrison post tremendous major junior seasons, while Mason Lohrei finished off a tremendous two-year run at Ohio State. And then there are the two undrafted free-agent signings, Brandon Bussi and Georgii Merkulov, who took huge strides this year. The emergence of both in Providence was an excellent sign.

Biggest Strength

What this group lacks in skill, they gain back in hard-working, energetic skaters. And you need guys like that – you can’t win with 12 shoot-first, worry-later scoring options out there. The Bruins have an abundance of players that bring skill, grit and speed in depth positions, including some who aren’t far away from stepping into full-time roles.

Biggest Weakness

There isn’t a real game-breaker in the pool. Nobody appears to be a high-impact first-liner, top-pairing defender or a top-flight goaltender. I had mixed opinions on Lysell’s high-end potential – he didn’t have a great year, but I still think he’s a capable middle-six player. After that, Lohrei looks solid, but I don’t think we’re going to see him play 18-plus minutes at the next level.

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Fabian Lysell (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Grade: D–

1. Fabian Lysell, RW, 20 (Providence, AHL)

Drafted: No. 21, first round in 2021

Lysell was a divisive prospect during his draft year, with many wondering what his NHL future would look like. He played his first season in the AHL with Providence but didn’t light things on fire with just 14 goals and 37 points in 54 games. Mix in an awful world junior performance and Lysell definitely didn’t do himself many favors. The skill is still there, but he’ll need to take a big step forward with Providence in 2023-24. That being said, he’s still young, so it’s all about putting everything together.

2. Mason Lohrei, D, 22 (Providence, AHL)

Drafted: No. 58, second round in 2020

There’s an argument to be made that Lohrei is the best prospect in the system right now. The 22-year-old was a bit of a surprise to go at No. 58 at the 2020 draft, especially since the NHL’s Central Scouting Service had him as the 132nd-ranked North American skater. But ever since, Lohrei has looked like an absolute gem, putting up fantastic numbers during his two-year tenure at Ohio State before turning pro late last season. Lohrei got his first taste of professional hockey to close out the year, and now he’s ready to take his career up another step.

3. Matthew Poitras, C, 19 (Guelph, OHL)

Drafted: No. 54, second round in 2022

Poitras was a bit of a revelation last season, recording 79 assists (second in the OHL) and 95 points to lead Guelph in scoring. Poitras is among the most effective passers in major junior, and all he’s missing is a few extra goals himself. Poitras projects to be a solid middle-six playmaker in the NHL, which would be an excellent value find after the team selected Poitras later in the second round in 2022.

4. Georgii Merkulov, C, 22 (Providence, AHL)

Undrafted free agent signing, 2022

What a find Merkulov was. Undrafted to the NHL, Merkulov had 24 goals and 55 points in his first season of pro hockey. The 22-year-old has done nothing but excel since coming over to North America in 2019-20, but nobody could have expected the offensive explosion this past season in Providence. It was interesting that Merkulov wasn’t part of the call-up group this year, but that should change in 2023-24 and beyond as the team looks to the post-Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci era.

5. Dans Locmelis, C, 19 (Univ. of Massachusetts, NCAA)

Drafted: No. 119, fourth round in 2022

Locmelis is another great value find, coming off a fantastic season for the 119th pick from 2022. The Latvian-born center had 59 points in 44 games with Lulea’s U-20 squad, but it was his play at the IIHF World Championship in May that really caught everyone’s attention. He had just three points, but they came in the final three games, including a goal that helped lead Latvia to its first-ever appearance in the final four. The NCAA will be a significant change for Locmelis, but he’s ready for the challenge.

*Jakub Lauko (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

6. Jakub Lauko, LW, 23 (Boston Bruins)

Drafted: No. 77, third round in 2018

If Lauko is going to the NHL, it has to be soon. He finally got into his first NHL action this year with seven points in 23 games, giving the team a decent, hard-working depth piece with good straight-line speed. Offensively, that’s where Lauko falls flat. He’s a strong forward that can land hits, but he isn’t more than a 15-point player in the NHL. Still, you need guys that work their tail off like Lauko.

7. John Beecher, C/LW, 22 (Providence, AHL)

Drafted: No. 30, first-round in 2019

A big, 6-foot-3 forward, Beecher turned pro last year and put up a respectable 23 points in 61 games. When it comes to Beecher, though, it’s not the offense you’re looking for. He’s a good skater, tough to take the puck off of and reads the ice well, while also being defensively responsible. If the team is looking to have more of a youth presence, Beecher could be a solid bottom-six option.

*Brandon Bussi (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

8. Brandon Bussi, G, 25 (Providence, AHL)

Undrafted free agent signing, 2022

It’s hard to classify Bussi as a prospect given his age. But the 25-year-old was one of the best goaltenders in his first year of pro hockey, going 22-5-4 with a .924 save percentage in 32 games. An undrafted free agent signing last year, Bussi was named to the AHL’s all-rookie team, beating out some younger competition. The Bruins have a busy pipeline with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, but Bussi is ready for a call-up if needed.

9. Frederic Brunet, D, 19 (Victoriaville, QMJHL)

Drafted: No. 132, fifth round in 2022

A fifth-round pick in 2022, Brunet had one heck of a campaign with 73 points this year between Rimouski and Victoriaville. Brunet was an overage prospect when he was taken, but his development over the past two years alone looks promising. Brunet very well could be one of the better steals, but his defensive zone play still needs improvement.

10. Brett Harrison, C, 20 (Providence, AHL)

Drafted: No. 85, third round in 2021

Harrison is ready to go pro in 2023-24 after finishing off his OHL career with the Windsor Spitfires. Harrison never exploded offensively in major junior, but he brings a solid mix of hockey sense and physicality that’ll allow him to play some NHL games. Harrison could be a solid complementary scorer one day, but adjusting to life in the AHL is the next stop in his journey.

Other notables: Riley Duran, 20 (C/RW), Jonathan Myrenberg, D (20), Kyle Keyser, G (23), Reid Dyck, G (19), Christopher Pelosi, C (18), Beckett Hendrickson, LW (18), Trevor Kuntar, C (22)

Discover Betano.ca – a premium Sports Betting and Online Casino experience. Offering numerous unique and dynamic betting options along with diverse digital and live casino games, Betano is where The Game Starts Now. 19+. Please play responsibly.