The Boston Bruins began rookie camp on Wednesday at Warrior Arena, and the list of players participating did not include some of the top prospects in the organization. The top two young stars on the Bruins Benders Podcast Top 30 were not present. Forwards Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell will both be fighting for a spot on the Bruins roster this season but will not be on the Bruins rookie roster for the upcoming Prospect Challenge in Buffalo.
Recent draft picks Dean Letourneau, Jonathan Morello, and Elliott Groenewold are also not at camp. Letourneau, who was the Bruins’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, will begin his freshman season at Boston College. Morello, who has committed to Boston University for the 2025-26 season, will play in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Groenewold participated in development camp in July but will join the Quinnipiac University hockey club this season. Sixth-round selection Loke Johansson will participate before the big defenseman plays for the Moncton Wildcats in the OHL this season.
Matt Poitras was rumored to play with the rookies but is not on the list. The 20-year-old center had shoulder surgery in the offseason and appears to be ready to go when the veterans join camp on September 18. Riley Duran is number three on the Bruins Benders Podcast Top 30 and will be one of the players to watch at Rookie Camp. The Woburn native has progressed extremely well after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
The roster has a good mix of Providence Bruins and camp invites. Forwards John Farinacci and Trevor Kuntar had solid seasons in the AHL last season and will look to make an impression in training camp. Defensemen Jackson Edward and Frederic Brunet are solid prospects with bright futures who could find themselves on the NHL roster as early as next season.
Some other notables are college free agents Jaxon Nelson and Drew Bavaro and Bavaro’s former Notre Dame teammate goaltender Ryan Bischel. The Bruins will open the three-game Prospect Challenge Friday at noon against the Pittsburgh Penguins rookies. Games will be streamed live on Sabres.com.
Season 4. Episode 37. Gimme a J. Gimme a G. – Bruins Benders Podcast
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With the exception of Merkulov very of these names will ever appear with the big club. I’ve watched Lysell his last year with Vancouver, not impressed. Extremely not impressed when he was with Providence, there were at least five players ahead of him on the talent chart. First of all he’s not as fast as everybody says he is, Beecher is faster. He’s always trying stickhandle around every player on the other team without success he either loses the puck or gets knocked off it. Been watching too many Bobby Orr highlights. Bussi should be able to easily beat Red light Korpisalo.