With Billerica, Mass., native Marc McLaughlin already in the fold and making positive contributions to the Boston Bruins’ fortunes, it is a good time to take a deeper dive into the team’s recent signings out of the NCAA ranks.
The B’s have been struggling of late with injuries hitting some key players in David Pastrnak and Hampus Lindholm, but McLaughlin has been able to make the most of his opportunities in a short amount of time. He was in the lineup for Boston's 2-1 home win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. That victory clinched a playoff berth for the B's, and allows them to focus on getting healthier and ready for the postseason.
Here, we look at the recent college players who have turned pro and are playing games in Boston and Providence.
Local player makes NHL dream come true
Marc McLaughlin, C
It has been a whirlwind month for the former Boston College captain, who signed with the B’s March 15 after his season ended. The 22-year-old has been opportunistic, scoring three goals in seven games as an emergency recall to fill the injured Pastrnak’s roster spot.
As a rookie, it will be a process as he adjusts to the increased demands of the pro game. He played reduced shifts in Boston’s Saturday win, hardly seeing the ice in the third period with the team clinging to a one-goal lead. The early returns have been promising, but the 6-foot, 210-pound right-shooting center will have to go back down to the AHL once Pastrnak is healthy. Even so, the team has gotten a good look at what he’s capable of providing, and won’t hesitate to use him if the need arises.
He signed with Boston before the NHL trade deadline, so he is eligible to be on the B’s playoff roster.
Projection: With the thick frame and hard shot, he’s already made some waves with Boston. He’s improved his puck skills and has demonstrated a knack for being at the right place, right time around the net, however. He has the look of a solid and dependable third-line NHL presence. He might need some minors seasoning before he’s ready for full-time duty, but he’s shown himself to be a fine acquisition by the team he always dreamed of playing for.
A pair of Boston prospects turn pro
Johnny Beecher, C/LW
The B’s first-round selection (30th overall) in 2019 gave up his final year of college eligibility at Michigan to turn pro this week. However, in an interesting wrinkle, he has not yet signed an entry-level contract with the Bruins, instead joining Providence on an amateur tryout (ATO) basis.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound native of Elmira, N.Y., completed his junior season with the Wolverines when eventual champion Denver University took a 3-2 overtime win April 7 in Boston. Beecher’s six goals and 15 points in 34 games, with 19 goals and 39 points in 81 career college games, are an indicator that he isn’t likely to be a significant offensive presence at the pro level. However, with his size and outstanding skating ability, he should be able to bring value as an effective two-way pivot and bring a heavy element to any lineup.
Projection: There isn’t much offense, but a winning team needs solid pieces on every line, and Beecher could eventually provide that. He saw his first AHL action against Lehigh April 16, skating on a line with Eduards Tralmaks and Justin Brazeau, all weighing 670 pounds among them. Watch for Boston to sign Beecher to a three-year, two-way contract after the season, and don’t be surprised to see him get some NHL games in 2022-23.
Mike Callahan, D
After acquiring the Providence College captain from the Arizona Coyotes for a 2024 seventh-round selection, Boston came to terms with the Franklin, Mass., native on a two-year deal on March 14. Since then, he’s gone down to Providence and played in nine games (one assist).
The 6-foot-2, 197-pound left shot defenseman was a fifth-round pick (142nd) overall by Arizona in 2018. In four seasons with the Friars, he played 138 games, scoring 13 goals and 66 points.
He’s long, strong and brings the will to shut down opponents with a tenacious approach in his own end. Though not a higher-end skater, he uses his stick effectively to break up rushes and moves pucks out of his own end smartly.
Projection: He’s an efficient, middle-of-the-roster type with high marks for character. He’ll need to spend some time in the minors, but was one of Providence coach Nate Leaman’s most trusted players and should be able to earn some NHL looks sooner rather than later.
Two more undrafted free agents playing in Providence
Georgii Merkulov, C
General manager Don Sweeney and his staff might have gotten ahead of the market by identifying and signing the 5-foot-10, 165-pound forward who played just one year of college hockey at Ohio State.
From Ryazan, about 120 miles southeast of Moscow, the 21-year-old spent two seasons in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms before joining the Buckeyes. He’s a gifted natural scorer with the vision and offensive instincts to see the ice and be where the puck is. A quick set of hands and instant release on a heavy shot helped him to score 20 goals. Had he returned to school for another season, he likely would have been a prime free agent target a year from now.
Merkulov made an instant splash in his AHL debut Saturday, assisting on Chris Wagner and Justin Brazeau goals against Lehigh Valley. He also scored a skilled shootout goal in the winning effort.
Projection: The B’s have not had a Russian roster regular since Stanislav Chistov in 2006-07. That’s right. It has been more than 15 years since the B’s have been able to get any kind of a real contributions out of that top hockey nation. In Merkulov, Boston is bringing in a low-risk, high-reward type of player who could one day develop into a top-two line NHLer if he capitalizes on his potential.
Brandon Bussi, G
After Minnesota eliminated Western Michigan from the NCAA regionals in Worcester, the B’s stepped up to sign the Sound Beach, N.Y., native to a one-year NHL contract.
A veteran of multiple junior leagues before college, the 6-foot-4, 213-pound right-catching Bussi led the USHL in wins with 33 in 2018-19 playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
He plays big in his net, moves well laterally, and is able to locate pucks through heavy traffic and screens. Because he’s tall and thick, he can handle contact with forwards who try to crash his crease, and is the kind of player who can steal games with his battling mentality.
He posted a 3-2 shootout win in his  first professional start against Lehigh Valley on April 16.
Projection: The B’s could only secure him for one year due to his entry-level contract signing age (24), but watch for him to get a lot of action in the AHL with Providence next season, with the opportunity to extend him as a restricted free agent after the 2022-23 campaign. With the kind of success the Bruins are seeing with Jeremy Swayman, it doesn’t hurt to have another young, if raw, developmental project in the system.
