The Boston Bruins hope some of their prospects will be ready to fill roster spots in the next couple of years after some of their core veterans retire. The center position is an area of concern after Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci depart. Georgii Merkulov is a promising pivot playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. 2022 first-round pick Matthew Poitras might have some potential to play in Boston in a few years. Brett Harrison is progressing with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League and showing some strong goal-scoring ability.
Besides that, the position gets thin quickly in the minor leagues and amateur hockey for Boston. One player who might be turning a bit of a corner is Maine Mariners’ forward Curtis Hall. Hall is a 6’4”, 220-pound center who played in Providence the last two seasons, scoring three goals with three assists in 73 total games. The 2018 fourth-round pick has now joined the Mariners in the East Coast Hockey League and has produced right away with four goals in his first six games.
On the Bruins Benders podcast recently, Mariners Head Coach Terrence Wallin talked about how Hall might get his chance in pro hockey in the future. “You can’t teach 6-foot-4, 220 (pounds). And he’s a smooth-skating 6-4, 220. He’s long, he’s physical, and he’s what I consider a play driver. He needs to find that hard-play style to go with it.” The former Yale University star is hoping that more development in the ECHL will create another opportunity to get back to the AHL and beyond.
Hall played two seasons with Youngstown of the United States Hockey League before committing to Yale in 2018-19. Hall scored 17 goals in his sophomore season and was All-Ivy League Second Team and ECAC Second Team All-Star. The right-shot center signed a three-year entry-level contract with Boston on March 1, 2021. The annual salary cap hit for the Chagrin Falls, Ohio native is $925,000. Next season will be the last of that deal, and Hall will look to prove that he has NHL potential with either Boston or another team in the league.
Before the NHL Draft in 2018, Kirk Luedeke had Hall as a “very good skater who shows off impressive burst and agility for his size; has a powerful, fluid stride that allows him to separate in open ice, but he can also make quick turns and cuts to adjust his angles and instantly change routes. His shot is a strength with a sneaky release.” Hall will need to show more tenacity on the forecheck and willingness to be hard on the puck and get to the “dirty areas” to score goals. The Bruins are hopeful that the best is yet to come for Hall and that the big forward will take a significant leap this season in Maine. Until then, Curtis Hall will see plenty of ice time on the Mariners with an eye on getting back to Providence and beyond.
