The Boston Bruins are attempting to rebuild a thin prospect pool and have several young players who have made strides this season. Included in that group, are some later-round draft picks from recent years. Fifth-round pick from 2021 Oscar Jellvik had a promising freshman season at Boston College, his teammate, Andre Gasseau, also came on strong with a solid offensive season. Providence College forward Riley Duran has improved after being selected in the sixth round in 2020. Those players remain unsigned and will decide on their futures soon.
One former sixth-round draft pick from 2019 will have his status determined by June 1st to see if he will sign with Boston or continue playing in the Finnish League. Center Matias Mantykivi was drafted four years ago (185th overall), and the Bruins’ rights to the 21-year-old expire on June 1st. Matias has been at every Bruins Rookie Development Camp and clearly would like to join the organization, it seems. Whether the Bruins sign him or not is the question. The Bruins only have two available contracts remaining unless moves are made within the organization.
Mantykivi has had his best season for Tampereen Ilves of the Liiga Champions League in Finland, with 12 goals and 21 assists in 60 games. Last season, the left-shot pivot totaled 31 points in 51 games. Mantykivi is having a particularly strong finish to the year with four goals and eight assists in his last ten games. Three of those games have been in the postseason, where the 5-foot-11, 165-pound center has four points in leading Ilves to a 2-1 series lead.
Last season, Ilves won the Bronze Medal, and Mantykivi played for Finland in the World Junior Championships in 2020-21. Before being drafted, dobberprospects.com had Mantykivi as a skilled center with good hands and playmaking ability. He needs to improve his skating and physical game. At his size, a move to professional hockey in the States might be a challenge.
It is now up to Boston to see if they want to tender Mantykivi a two-year entry-level deal to remain Bruins property or let the young center become a free agent.
Season 4. Episode 31. The Draft Lottery – Bruins Benders Podcast
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