The final feature in the Boston Bruins prospects series focuses on the amateur/unsigned defensemen and goalie in the organization’s system.
Listing criteria is any player drafted between the 2018-21 NHL Entry Drafts. The players are ranked subjectively based on long-term NHL potential.
Mason Lohrei is Boston’s top prospect on defense in the organization and is primed to play a significant role at Ohio State this season. He has a higher ceiling than any defender, including the players who are signed and playing pro hockey in 2021-22.
What follows is the analysis of his game and NHL potential, along with the others in the system.
Defensemen
1. Mason Lohrei, D; 1/17/01, shoots left, 6-4/205
The team’s first choice (second round) in 2020 had a tremendous season in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers. He earned the league’s top defenseman award with 19 goals and 59 points in 48 games to lead all blueliners while making strides in his positional development. He’s big, can really move, has terrific offensive instincts and puck skills/shot. His defensive game is improving but is an area of emphasis going forward, along with continuing to build up his lean body. He can quarterback the power play and his size/mobility makes him an asset on the PK as well.
2021-22 team: Ohio State University Buckeyes (NCAA)
Projection: Lohrei will have the opportunity to play a lot in Big Ten, one of the top college conferences this season, and will have his hands full when playing the Michigan Wolverines. Don’t be surprised if the B’s move to sign him after his season ends and get his pro career started. We’ll see how it goes but returning for a sophomore season wouldn’t be a bad thing either. As a left shot, he could be a future partner for Charlie McAvoy in Boston, second pairing guy at worst.
2. Ryan Mast, D; 1/14/03, shoots right, 6-4/215
On the surface, there isn’t a lot of excitement behind the club’s sixth-round selection, 181st overall in July’s draft. The Michigan native playing major junior in Ontario is a big defender who scored one goal and 11 points two years ago as a rookie and lost out on hockey last year when the OHL season never materialized. Still, he’s a mobile, Brandon Carlo-lite in terms of his playing style. He does everything but does not have high-end ability in any one area.
2021-22 team: Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Projection: It will take some time for Mast to get himself in position to make a run at a spot in Boston, but as late in the draft as they got him, he’s a good investment. He’ll likely be a third-pair/depth type, but the tools are there for him to develop into something more.
3. Ty Gallagher, D; 3/6/03, shoots right, 6-0/190
Another value pick in 2021, Gallagher was one of two seventh-rounders along with fellow U.S. National Team member Andre Gasseau. With his average size, Gallagher’s strengths are in his puck skills and a blistering shot. Defensively, he’s got a lot of room for improvement, but the assertions that he’s a liability in his own end are a stretch. He’s a young, raw talent who has plenty of time to develop and grow in a top program with the Terriers.
2021-22 team: Boston University Terriers (NCAA)
Projection: The Michigan native was originally committed to Notre Dame, but when that school wanted him to play another year of junior hockey in the USHL, he switched over to BU. He’s going to take some time to adjust, but the prediction here is that he’ll end up being a productive collegiate defenseman and will then need some time in the minors. He may have to break into the NHL as more of a depth/specialist type initially, but he could become a solid 4/5/6 with his offensive dimension and ability to play on the second PP unit.
4. Mason Langenbrunner, D; 9/14/02, shoots right, 6-2/190
Born just one day before the 2020 draft cutoff, the B’s took the son of their player development director, Jamie Langenbrunner, in the fifth round. A versatile smooth skater with plus-vision and an active stick, he helped lead the Eden Prairie Eagles to the 2021 Minnesota State Championship. Committed to Harvard, there’s some upside as he continues to hone his skills. Langenbrunner will play this season with Gasseau in North Dakota before both head to Boston for school in 2022.
2021-22 team: Fargo Force (USHL)
Projection: Should the younger Langenbrunner follow in his father’s footsteps and establish himself in the NHL, it will likely be as a defense-first player who is positionally sound, but smart enough to move pucks up the ice and activate at the right times. He looked good at Bruins development camp in Aug. as a player who holds his gaps and exhibits agile footwork and the ability to contain outside speed. He’ll take a while, but there’s probably room for him as a support/role player down the road.
5. Dustyn McFaul, D; 8/4/00, shoots left, 6-2/195
The sixth-round pick in 2018 has always been a shutdown, defensively sound player capable of playing a lot of minutes because of his reliability going back to his days with the Pickering Panthers of the OJHL (Jr. A). He’s a big, rangy skater who uses his reach and wingspan to keep opponents to the outside. There is room for him to employ more jam in his game and be tougher to play against. There’s not much offense to him, but he’s a good soldier who knows what he is. The biggest challenge for McFaul is to be more assertive defensively to take that next step in his progression.
2021-22 team: Clarkson University Golden Knights (NCAA)
Projection: In two years with Clarkson University, he’s been more of a complementary presence, and this will be an important year for him to establish himself there. He may need to use all four years of his NCAA eligibility and have to pay his dues in the minors before his NHL potential comes into focus.
6. Roman Bychkov, D; 2/10/01, shoots left, 5-11/183
Undersized, skilled Russian is in his first pro season. As a fifth-round pick in 2019, he had shown some flashy ability to distribute pucks and join the rush as more of an offensive contributor. His defensive game has always been suspect, and not much has changed since he was drafted.
2021-22 team: Amur Khabarovsk (KHL)
Projection: Not a great fit for the way the B’s like to do things with his risk-reward game. There appears to be a similar development path to that of Yuri Alexandrov and Maxim Chudinov, which never came close to panning out. The team took a shot, but if Bychkov turns into a viable NHL prospect, the surprise will be ours.
Goaltenders
Philip Svedeback, G; 5/28/02, catches left, 6-2/192
After being passed over in 2020, the B’s grabbed the draft unknown in the fourth round at 117th overall. While not big by NHL standards, he has enough size to effectively play the position at the highest level. He’s athletic and patient, getting good marks for his character from his USHL team. A battler, he played on a club that gave up a lot of shots. Watch for Svedeback to secure a commitment to a top NCAA program once he is able to settle into play in North America this season.
2021-22 team: Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Projection: Let’s just say this: Svedeback is a long way off and first things first, starting with the 2021-22 season. Sometimes, it does no good to try and project someone with such a small sample size. However, the feedback thus far has been mostly positive and we’ll track him closely this year.
