Now that World Juniors is over and the NHL season opener is 50 days away with training camp starting soon, rosters will begin to shape up as lines become more evident. The Bruins re-signed Patrice Bergeron and brought back David Krejci but require youth and speed to balance out the roster. That’s where Boston’s top prospect comes into play. Fabian Lysell showcased his skill set to the world while playing for Team Sweden.
Boston drafted the 19-year-old Lysell with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. While he may be undersized at 5-foot-10 and 173 pounds, the right winger has blazing speed and a strong scoring touch. He was able to show during World Juniors just how valuable his speed is as he constantly was the one bringing the puck into the zone.
Lysell was a key factor for Team Sweden in taking home the Bronze medal as he looked to be the fastest player in the tournament. It was Lysell’s highlight reel goals and playmaking ability that stood out, along with his elite speed. He showed he was hard to trap on the perimeter because of how slippery he is losing guys with cut-backs. Lysell shined through the tournament, all while being the focal point of Sweden’s offense and being the player defense’s keyed on.
Before World Juniors, Lysell enjoyed a strong season in the WHL playing for the Vancouver Giants. He tallied 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points in 53 games. The question that many have been asking is will Lysell be able to make the jump? He certainly has the skills to play in the NHL, but some wonder about his slender size. The Bruins must also determine if it would be more beneficial to allow the young winger to bulk up and continue to develop back in the WHL or the AHL with the Providence Bruins.
Training camp will play an extremely important role in deciding where Lysell starts his season, as general manager Don Sweeney has left the door open for an NHL appearance this season.
“There’s always a chance that a younger player can make the team,” Sweeney told reporters during a press conference. “I referenced David Pastrnak a number of years ago and spent some time in Providence and came back from the World Juniors and went in and played and played well. And it was hard to keep him off whether or not he’s physically ready to play at that level, and maybe Fabian will be the exact same way.”
If Lysell makes an impact in training camp, the option to promote him is there. With the injury to Brad Marchand keeping him sidelined to begin the season, the Bruins organization could be tempted to get their first look at Lysell in the NHL.
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