BRIGHTON, Mass. — It was only the first day of Boston Bruins rookie camp Wednesday, but Jakub Lauko was ahead of the pack with his skating, execution, and hustle.
“I’m trying to use what I do best, which is skating hard, playing hard and just being an uncomfortable player to play against,” Lauko said. “My expectation for the weekend is just to get two games in before the main camp, just to get the right tempo and hopefully it’s going to help for main camp.”
The third-year pro was drafted in the third round in 2018 after falling a bit in some projections. Given his explosive, world-class speed and upside as a winger, his drop to the B’s, who lacked a first-round pick that year, potentially represents top-32 value if he continues his development.
That’s not bad for a player taken with the 77th selection.
Three years ago, the independent scouting service Red Line Report had Lauko ranked as the 15th overall player in his entire draft class out of the Chomutov Pirati club in his native Czech Republic. “Uses his great speed to win tons of races to loose pucks and to put defencemen under severe pressure on the forecheck,” Lauko’s 2018 draft guide profile reads. “Dynamic player wheels out from the corner into the slot and snaps off dangerous shots in heavy traffic.”
It's early on in the selection process for the 2021-22 B’s NHL roster, and Lauko has yet to play a full 80-plus-game schedule in the pros, but the 21-year-old’s progress is noticeable. If his showing on day one impressed onlookers, count Providence Bruins head coach Ryan Mougenel among them.
“Sometimes when we’re talking about players, one description I use is ‘Does he get you excited?’ and I think every time he steps on the ice, something happens,” Mougenel said. “He’s had a ton of growth, first as a person. He was a young pro coming into a men’s league and he’s definitely put the time in and with his growth as a player and a person, he’s really going to push.”
Mougenel was named head coach in Providence after he spent the previous two years as an assistant under Jay Leach. He is building an impressive reputation as a top player developer with his ability to relate to younger prospects and provide the tools and instruction they need to take the next step. He likes to use the term “vertical assimilation” to describe the process to inculcate Boston prospects into what they must know to go up to the big club and be prepared and effective if called upon.
“I think he’s the type of player that (Bruins coach Bruce) Cassidy likes,” said Mougenel. “He’s got some abrasiveness that really showed off last year and along with his skill package. He’s the real deal, we’re very happy with how he’s come along. A special kid, tons of energy. He’s just an exciting kid to be around.”
Lauko appears to be the next player who stands a better than average chance of getting a look in Boston if injuries take a toll. Even the player himself seems to understand where he is on the depth chart going in, as he made the following observation after practice:
“Obviously, everyone knows the Bruins’ roster is pretty backed up with a lot of good players on offense. I’m just trying to fight for my opportunity and do my best to stay here as long as possible.”
Lauko may not be skilled on the same level as other top prospects around the NHL, but he can create offense on his own. He showed that promise on one practice play in a 3-on-2 drill when he used his wheels to back the defenders up and gain a clean zone entry. When the defender closest to him tried to step up with a poke check, Lauko zipped around him while pulling the puck through the defender’s feet, then sauced a perfect backhand pass to his winger driving the far post for the easy backdoor tap-in.
While that play may or may not work at the NHL level, it showed just how much of a game-breaker Lauko can be when he uses his explosive skating to put defenders on their heels.
His biggest area for improvement remains with building up functional strength in his slight, wiry frame. He mentioned in his post-practice availability that he put in the time lifting and improving his off-ice conditioning.
The AHL remains in all likelihood the best available option to keep him on the path to one day establish himself as a NHL regular with the B’s. Mougenel took time to praise Lauko for his patience and willingness to commit to the club that drafted him. He’s embracing the opportunities in front of him.
“We have the ability to wait on some kids and make sure the best version of themselves (comes out). And I think Jakub Lauko is a prime example of that,” he said. “I think he could probably go somewhere else and be pushed into duty and not be ready. I think the one thing he’s done, he’s worked on his game. He feels good about his game, he understands some of those things about being a pro. It’s a testament to the organization and what we have here.”
If that leads to a job in Boston sooner rather than later, great. But if not, Lauko is fine with playing the longer game and if Mougenel’s observations are any indication, he’ll have that critical role on the B’s top farm team.
Coyotes nab Providence GM
In other team news, the Arizona Coyotes announced the hiring of former Bruins director of player personnel and Providence Bruins general manager John Ferguson Jr. as their new assistant GM Wednesday.
Ferguson, who spent the last seven seasons in the Boston organization, was previously with the San Jose Sharks as their pro scouting director. He was the Toronto Maple Leafs GM who was well known for trading prospect Tuukka Rask to the Bruins for Andrew Raycroft in 2006. He has also been in the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators organizations.
He was a trusted member of the B's front office during his time here and built consistently competitive and successful rosters in Providence, no easy feat in the AHL. Ferguson will be missed.
