With the 2021-22 NHL, AHL and other pro hockey league seasons in North America rapidly approaching, this is the right time to assess the prospects in the Boston Bruins system, starting with the pro hockey forwards.
Listing criteria is that the player must be signed with Boston on an NHL contract and eligible for the 2016-21 NHL Entry Drafts, with fewer than 50 career NHL games played. They are ranked subjectively based on long-term NHL potential, not how close they are to reaching that level.
The B’s have the rare opportunity this season to develop Fabian Lysell at age 18, the youngest and most talented player in the Boston stable.
After him, there are a lot of AHL-experienced forwards on the farm, bringing similar attributes. Unlike other teams around the league who have stockpiled top-end forward talent with volume draft picks over the past 3-4 years, the Bruins have had to be more creative in their player acquisition process.
This is how we rank and project the pro/AHL forwards in Boston’s system.
1. Fabian Lysell, RW; 1/19/03, shoots right, 5-11/172
One of the most skilled and talented players in the entire 2021 draft class, the B’s signed Lysell to a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) last month to bring him over and get him into the system immediately. His first couple of steps and top speed are elite and he is a world-class skater. He has fine puck skills but can improve shot power and accuracy. Still physically maturing and has to round out his game, make no mistake- he’s an electric winger who will bring fans out of their seats the first time he takes off on a rush.
2021-22 team: Providence (AHL)
Projection: At age 18, Lysell is a bit of a wildcard, but having played in his country’s top pro league a year ago, he’ll be better prepared for the AHL than many players coming out of juniors or college hockey. Don’t expect him to be NHL-ready, but the B’s have the option to call him up to Boston at any point if they think he can help. As long as he plays less than 10 games including regular season and playoffs, his ELC slides a year and does not toll in 2021-22. Longer-term, Lysell has second-line and second-unit power-play potential in the NHL, squarely behind David Pastrnak.
2. Jack Studnicka, C; 2/18/99, shoots right, 6-1/190
After entering last season with high hopes, he struggled to adjust to the demands of a full-time role and was sent back to Providence. He can skate, pass and score, but Studnicka’s best attributes are his hockey sense and defensive acumen.
2021-22 team: Boston (NHL); will need to hit the ground running to ensure he earns a spot out of camp and keeps it.
Projection: Studnicka has reportedly added solid mass to his frame and that will be key to him not shuttling back and forth from Providence. He could start out on the bottom line with Tomas Nosek and Curtis Lazar but has the skills and three-zone game to work his way higher in the lineup. At worst, he should be a solid third-line center but has enough offensive upside to be a capable second-line guy further down the road.
3. Jakub Lauko, LW; 3/28/00, shoots left, 6-0/170
Like Lysell, the Czech Republic product and 2018 third-rounder is an elite skater. He goes from 0-60 in just a couple of hard, slashing strides and can beat defenders wide with speed or back them up with his combination of quickness and agility when he goes right at them. His hands and hockey sense are what prevented him from being a first-round pick, but he does have the skating and body to be an effective pro.
2021-22 team: Providence (AHL)
Projection: Lauko is more of a mid-tier contributor than a top-six forward candidate if he reaches the NHL full-time one day. He needs a full AHL season after seeing just 45 games in his first two years in Providence, but with his pure speed, he’ll be considered for NHL spot duty in a pinch.
4. Oskar Steen, RW; 3/9/98, shoots right, 5-9/192
Although short, the 2016 draft’s sixth-rounder is built like a bowling ball with tree trunk legs. He gets up and down the ice with speed and power. He has a deceptive release on an accurate shot. Steen isn’t elite in any one area, but he’s got a sneaky offensive dimension as shown in Sweden if it emerges in the AHL this season.
2021-22 team: Providence (AHL); could break out with 50+ points and that would lead to more time in Boston if they need more offense.
Projection: It’s tough to project Steen in Boston in the short term with the recent free-agent signings up front, but he could emerge as a top forward in Providence this year. Longer-term, he’s a good middle-of-the-roster type who could top out at 30-40 points at the NHL level. Whether that is with Boston or somewhere else is up for debate.
5. Curtis Hall, C; 4/26/00, shoots right, 6-3/215
The 119th overall pick three years ago is looking to stay healthy and take the next step after a limited pro debut out of Yale. With his frame and straight-line speed, he looks the part and can fire the puck, too. He’s still a little gangly going east-west and needs minor pro experience. He has the smarts to be on the ice in key situations and chip in with some timely offense.
2021-22 team: Providence (AHL)
Projection: Don’t expect Hall to develop into a top-six forward option in the NHL, but he could end up being the ideal kind of fourth-line center down the road with third-line upside. His heavy style translates well to the pro game, but he’s a project who, if not for COVID, would have gotten another key year in college for his development.
6. Matt Filipe, LW/C; 12/31/97, shoots left, 6-2/200
A concussion knocked him out of the final games in his rookie AHL season just as the Lynnfield, Mass. native and former Malden Catholic and Northeastern University standout was starting to get into a rhythm. The third-round pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016 is a big and rugged two-way forward. He won’t put up big offensive numbers at any level, but he’s heavy on pucks and is an instinctive all-zone guy.
2021-22 team: Providence (AHL)
Projection: Patience will be the word for Filipe. He’s a little further down the depth chart and will have to continue to get pro experience and a little heavier, but with his IQ and work ethic, he adds to any culture he’s a part of. He’s a fourth-line, Swiss Army Knife-type of forward if he can establish himself in the NHL.
7. Samuel Asselin, C;Â 7/1/98, shoots left, 5-10/190
High energy, high pace, highly disruptive pivot. The undrafted depth player in the QMJHL earned his NHL contract with the Bruins in July after two solid seasons on a minor league deal. He plays with jam and is a relentless forechecker, but also has an offensive element to his game. Asselin may not be the flashiest player, but he gets it done through sheer effort and abrasiveness.
2021-22 team: Providence (AHL)
Projection: Asselin is a longshot for the NHL as anything more than a spare part, but with his pugnacious style and ability to play up or down in a lineup, don’t write him off. He’ll continue to be a fan favorite in Providence for his passion and grit.
8. Joona Koppanen, LW/C; 2/25/98, shoots left, 6-3/198
Back for another year in Providence, the big-bodied Finn is a solid defensive forward who plays a north-south, no-frills game.
2021-22 team: Providence (AHL)
Projection: Minor league depth player’s clock is running out. He brings reliability and experience for the AHL, but there is no discernible path to Boston for him.
Overall assessment: Even with the addition of Lysell to the mix, Boston’s pro forwards is a pretty thin group overall.
There are a lot of similar types- players who project to the middle and lower part of the NHL roster, but the top-end/star-caliber players are lacking. The B’s have done a good job of collecting solid pros who do the little things well, but there are only so many spots for guys like that if you want to have a championship contender.
Filling the void left by David Krejci’s departure is the most pressing area of concern heading into the season, and no one on this list realistically addresses that.
