The Boston Bruins announced Friday the signing of Ohio State University freshman forward Georgi Merkulov to a three-year entry-level contract with a cap hit of $925,000 annually. The 21-year-old Russian just finished a season with the Buckeyes, in which he scored 20 goals in 36 games.
The 5’11, 180-pound left-shot forward was teammates this past season with defenseman Mason Lohrei, who was the Bruin’s second-round draft pick in 2019. Prior to playing at Ohio State, Merkulov spent two seasons with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League totaling 73 points in 76 games.
Merkulov’s strength is his blistering shot, and he brings a dynamic skill set to the Boston organization, who does not have a first-round pick in the upcoming 2022 NHL Draft. Merkulov joins Buckeyes teammate Grant Gabriele who was signed in late March by the Bruins.
