This particular training camp seems to be as good a time as any for Boston Bruins prospects Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell to show the organization that they are ready for the rigors of the National Hockey League. The Bruins have what seems to be a void at second-line right wing, and both Head Coach Jim Montgomery and General Manager Don Sweeney would like either of these young guns to seize the opportunity and be on the opening night roster on October 8. Sunday night, the two forwards had a chance to make an impression out of the gate. And both fell a little short.
Lysell was a first-round draft pick in 2021 with great offensive ability that pairs with a gift for exploding by defenders with great speed. In the preseason opener against many of the New York Rangers AHL players from last season, Lysell was able to gain the zone on the attack. However, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound winger would lose the puck on occasion and seemed to try to play too much one-on-one, which is something his head coach with the Providence Bruins, Ryan Mougenel, mentioned last season.
“Sometimes he (Lysell) needs to recognize when there is not a play to be made,” Mougenel said last season when Lysell scored 15 goals for the Baby Bruins. In Sunday night’s game, Lysell seemed to revert to that very thing and often lost the puck or had his shot blocked, which led to transition. When the latter happened, it led to the Rangers’ eventual game-winning goal in the third period. This is a part of the 21-year-old’s game that he will have to learn. There is more to hockey than having the puck. In just less than 15 minutes of ice time, Lysell went shotless.
Merkulov had an assist Sunday but also went without a shot on net in 15:37 of ice time. The 24-year-old Russian played four NHL games last season and struggled for ice time. However, Merkulov scored 30 goals with Providence and is most likely the leading candidate to make the jump from AHL to NHL. But like Lysell, winning puck battles and getting to “dirty” areas on the ice are what will make or break Merkulov’s chances. The former Ohio State Buckeye has the best opportunity among all the young players and could even take a center spot and bump Pavel Zacha and Matt Poitras to the wing. Defensively, Merkulov made strides last season, but producing in the NHL is different, and consistency will be important for both players.
Without a solid training camp, veteran Tyler Johnson is lurking on a Professional Tryout deal and could be signed to play second-line right wing. Johnson has won two Stanley Cups and scored 17 goals last season and provides useful insurance if one of the young bucks still isn’t ready for prime time. Early reports show that Johnson just might stay in Boston a little longer.
