The Boston Bruins began retooling their roster ahead of the 2023-24 season as they announced that they have signed defenseman Mason Lohrei to an entry-level contract. The deal is for two years and will have an annual cap hit of $925,000 and is a two-way contract.
Lohrei spent most of the season playing for Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to the NCAA Quarterfinals. He scored four goals and 28 assists for 32 points in 40 games before signing an ATO with the Providence Bruins. Lohrei played five games in the AHL and tallied an assist.
Prior to his collegiate career, Lohrei played in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers. His breakout year came during the 2020-21 season when he led all USHL defensemen in scoring with 19 goals and 40 assists in 48 games.
Lohrei was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has the chance to make the jump to the NHL roster, with the likes of Dmitry Orlov and Connor Clifton entering unrestricted free agency this offseason.
The defenseman isn’t the only young Bruin to earn an ELC in recent days. Boston signed Matthew Poitras to a three-year entry-level contract with an annual cap hit of $875,000.
