Updates On The Bruins Pool of Prospects

Photo: Hannah Carpenter | Inside The Rink

With the NHL callups of John Beecher, Matt Poitras, and Mason Lohrei, the focus is now on finding the next group of prospects that can progress to a career with the Boston Bruins. The Bruins’ prospect rankings have been at or near the bottom of the league for a while now. This latest trio of young stars certainly brings some promise, which is a blessing for a late first-round draft pick and two second-rounders in the mid-fifties on the draft board. But this is where the pool gets a little dry for Boston. The next batch of young players will need to develop fairly soon to provide what the Bruins will need at the NHL level.

The next two to most logically make the jump to the parent club are forwards Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell. Merkulov got his first taste of NHL play with four games as the calendar turned to 2024. The former Ohio State center went pointless in his debut with an average ice time of 10:35. Merkulov struggled at the faceoff dot by winning only seven of 28 draws and played just 6:23 in his last game before being sent down. His AHL season has been far different, as the 23-year-old has registered 25 goals and 30 assists in 54 games for the Providence Bruins.

Brandon Bussi and Trevor Kuntar – Photo: Hannah Carpenter | Inside The Rink

Lysell has come on this season with improved consistency and defensive play. The first-round pick in 2021 has also had a stellar offensive season after a slow start, with 15 goals and 34 assists in 55 games. In his last 10 games, Lysell has 11 points and has asserted himself as the top prospect that scouts projected he would be when drafted. The 21-year-old skilled winger has yet to see time in Boston but should have his chance out of training camp next season.

From there, it is slim pickings quickly for the Bruins organization. Boston has done an excellent job in recent years of scouting, identifying, and developing goaltenders. This might be the best crop of them all, with Providence goaltenders Brandon Bussi and Michael DiPietro leading the way. Bussi was an undrafted free agent signing out of Western Michigan and has had two solid seasons in Providence. DiPietro has climbed the ranks from the ECHL’s Maine Mariners to Providence and has blossomed with a 2.52 goals against average and a .917 save percentage this season. Providence College goalie Philip Svedeback, Reid Dyck of the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League, and newly acquired Ryan Bischel out of Notre Dame are also part of a solid group of netminders.

Brandon Bussi – Photo: Hannah Carpenter | Inside The Rink

There are some intriguing prospects in the system, including Providence forward Trevor Kuntar, UMass forward Dans Locmelis, and Boston College Eagles forwards Oskar Jellvik and Andre Gasseau. But the next good pairing could be from the most recent draft with the likes of forwards Chris Pelosi and Beckett Hendrickson, who were chosen in the third and fourth rounds, respectively. Pelosi has reached the 50-point mark in the USHL, and Hendrickson is just two points away.

The Bruins have either drafted down the first round because of playoff runs or traded first round picks to strength the parent club. As a result, the Bruins are seeing the effects of this willingness to trade draft capital and lacking some true top end young talent. Hopefully, the next batch will be available to the Bruins sooner rather than never.

Season 4. Episode 28. A Major Announcement Bruins Benders Podcast

 Join the Bruins Benders Podcast as they cover the HOTTEST topics in the Boston Bruins market, along with…- A Major Announcement- Mitch Marner Rumors?- End of Season Award Predictions- Are the Kids Alright?& Much More!Bruins Benders Premium Hoodies $55https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/get-bent-premium-hoodieBruins Benders Long Sleeve Tee $40https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-long-sleeve-tee-1Bruins Benders Tee $30https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-t-shirt-1For more from us, visit: insidetherink.com/bruins-bendersBoston Bruins Trade Rumors, Boston Bruins News, Boston Bruins, Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, Trent Frederic, Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Oliver Wahlstrom, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Joe Sacco, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, Brandon Carlo Trade#nhl #nhlbruins #hockey #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruins #nhlhockey #nhlmemes #boston #nhlallstar #nhldiscussion #nhlnews #nhledits #nhldraft #bruinsnation #nhlawards #nhltrade #hockeylife #tdgarden #nhlhighlights #bostonsports #bruinshockey #bruinsfan #nhlblackhawks #nhlglobalseries #nhlfi #nhlleafs #nhltrades #nhltradedeadline #nhlcanadiens #nhl #nhlnews #hockey #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs #nhledits #nhldiscussion #nhlmemes #nhldraft #nhlallstar #hockeylife #hockeynews #hockeymemes #nhlhighlights #icehockey #sports #hockeyislife #nhlbruins #hockeyplayers #hockeyfan #hockeyplayer #hockeyedits #stanleycup #nhlawards #hockeygame #hockeyboys #hockeygram #hockeyfights #nhltrade #nhltrades 
  1. Season 4. Episode 28. A Major Announcement
  2. Season 4. Episode 27. Losing, It's Called Bruins.
  3. Season 4. Episode 26. Is Swayman a Diva?
  4. Season 4. Episode 25. It's Not a Retool
  5. Season 4. Episode 24. Franchise Altering Deadline


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

PHOTOS: Cleveland Monsters vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – 04/19/2025

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Saturday night, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins went up against the Cleveland Monsters. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins took a 3-0 victory in the final regular season game for both teams, with Taylor Gauthier getting a shutout in his first game for the Penguins this season, turning away all 32 shots faced. Check out this photo […]

Read More

Winnipeg Jets Keys to Success for Game Two (04/20/2025)

The Winnipeg Jets battled adversity against the St. Louis Blues, beating them 5-3 after a gutsy third-period effort to gain the 1-0 series edge. Minimize Penalties Taken The St. Louis Blues scored two power-play goals on the three chances they had throughout the game. While most of the calls were questionable for both teams, it […]

Read More
Linus Ullmark #35 in net for the Ottawa Senators

NHL Game Preview: Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs with Line Combinations 4/20/2025

Game 1 Ottawa Senators (0-0) at Toronto Maple Leafs (0-0)Venue: Scotiabank ArenaDate: Tonight – Sunday, April 20Time: 7:00 pm EST TV: ESPN2, CBC, SportsnetRadio:Ottawa – TSN 1200Toronto – TSN 1050 DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:Ottawa +1.5 ML +136Toronto -1.5 ML -162O/U 5.5 Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster Ottawa Senators News & Notes: The Senators defeated the Maple […]

Read More