Many hockey experts have the Boston Bruins as the 32nd-ranked prospect pool in the NHL. That is dead last, and the Bruins have been at or around that mark for a few years. Former prospects Matt Poitras and Mason Lohrei have NHL experience under their belts and should become solid players in the league; however, the next group of young players seems to be several years away from making any impact in Boston. Here is a look at the 2023 Bruins’ draftees and how they are progressing this season. The Bruins were without first and second-round picks that year:
Christopher Pelosi: 19-year-old center, third round, 92nd overall – Quinnipiac University (NCAA)
11 goals, eight assists, and a plus-12 in 30 games
Pelosi has shown some promise and was one of the last cuts with the Team USA roster ahead of the World Junior Championships in December. The Sewell, New Jersey native has performed well in his first season in NCAA hockey and has three game-winning goals. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound forward shows good speed and awareness around the net. Pelosi should play a bigger role at Quinnipiac next season.
Beckett Hendrickson: 19-year-old center, fourth round, 124th overall – University of Minnesota (NCAA)
Three goals, six assists, and a plus-1 in 31 games
Hendrickson was Pelosi’s teammate for half of last season in the USHL and has been adjusting to the NCAA game. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound left-shot forward has 48 shots on goal on the season and should have a bigger impact next season. Hendrickson has good vision and offensive ability and is still working on his explosiveness.
Ryan Walsh: 21-year-old center, sixth round, 188th overall – Cornell University (NCAA)
13 goals, 10 assists, and a plus-5 in 25 games
Walsh is having a solid sophomore season at Cornell and has scored on 20 percent of his shots this season. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward has already surpassed his goal-scoring total from last season. Walsh has three power-play goals and two game-winning tallies.
Casper Nassen: 20-year-old forward, seventh round, 214th overall – Miami of Ohio University (NCAA)
Five goals, three assists, and a minus-19 in 28 games
It has been a tough year for Nassen and the Redhawks, who are 3-23-2 on the season. Nassen is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound forward with four power-play goals. It is hard to tell just how much Nassen has developed on a team that hasn’t won a game since October 26th.
Kristian Kostadinski: 19-year-old defenseman, seventh round, 220th overall – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Three goals, six assists, and a plus-13 in 45 games
Kostadinski is a huge 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman who has 61 penalty minutes and 42 shots on goal. Kostadinski is big and physical and is headed to Boston College to play with fellow Bruins draft pick Dean Letourneau next season.
The 2023 draft class for the Boston Bruins is still coming along, and hopefully, a player or two will emerge with Boston not having early picks that season. There is some promise there, but time will tell.
Season 4. Episode 39. The Off Season – Bruins Benders Podcast
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