The 2021-22 regular season has begun for all pro and amateur leagues where Boston Bruins prospects are currently competing.
The Providence Bruins most recently opened up their AHL campaign, with several higher-profile players showing some promising early returns. European pro and junior leagues have been ongoing since early Sep., with North American junior leagues have been competing for about a month as well. Most NCAA conferences fired up their seasons in Oct. with the Ivy Leagues set to play their first regular-season games since spring 2020 within days.
On the pro side, center Jack Studnicka, though expected to begin the season in the NHL with the Bruins, is instead making the most of his assignment to Providence on the top line. In college, Ohio State freshman Mason Lohrei is currently second on his team in scoring after four games. Kyle Keyser is proving that he’s capable of carrying the mail in the AHL, and will have to, with Troy Grosenick suffering an injury on opening night against Bridgeport that will keep him out of action for a while. Keyser and Callum Booth will hold down the fort in net until the veteran returns.
This all-impact team focuses on B’s prospects at both pro and amateur levels who have been productive in the early going.
Forwards
Jack Studnicka, C;Â Providence Bruins (AHL) 2gp 1-1-2; Draft: 2/53- 2017
As one of Boston’s top prospects since being drafted in 2017, the former OHL captain with Oshawa and Niagara made a strong case to be a full-time NHLer in the exhibition season. As an intelligent two-way pivot, the offense is primed to come into full bloom in the AHL given his role. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy talked about how receptive Studnicka was to going back down to the farm to continue his development. The added bulk without sacrificing any of his speed paid off, and now it’s just about him growing in a key role as head coach Ryan Mougenel’s go-to forward.
Outlook: Should the B’s need help up front, they won’t hesitate to summon Studnicka. He’s benefiting from being a top minute, all situations center in Providence. With his production and confidence up, expect his next stint in Boston to be far more impactful than it was a year ago.
Andre Gasseau, LW;Â Fargo Force (USHL) 5gp 5-2-7; Draft: 7/213- 2021
The big value pick award early on goes to the Boston College commit, who at 6-foot-4, 209 pounds has been scoring a goal a game at an excellent level by going to the net or not passing on opportunities to shoot from anywhere. The left-shot natural center has been playing on the left wing with former Bruin Mike Knuble’s son, Cole, and the two complement each other nicely with contrasting styles. His heavy style and ability in the possession game is a nice fit for Boston’s system and style, even if he is pretty far away from being ready to compete for a spot.
Outlook:Â So far, so good. It will be tough to sustain the production at his current pace, but for a seventh-rounder, the Los Angeles native is showing that his time on the U.S. National Team prepared him well for another year in the USHL before heading to the Heights next year.
Gasseau with the nifty wrister to extend the lead! pic.twitter.com/4pmqEEc7n5
— Fargo Force (@FargoForce) October 17, 2021
Oskar Jellvik, LW;Â Djurgardens Jr. (SuperElite U20) 10gp 4-4-8; Draft: 5/149- 2021
Playing in Sweden’s top junior (under-20) league, Jellvik has gotten off to a solid start and is scoring at a similar clip to what he did a year ago. He’s shifty, quick and smart, looking to work pucks to the middle of the ice and has shown a willingness to shoot. For full context, the leading scorer on his team (Jonathan Lekkerimaki) is a year younger and has 12 goals and 18 points in 10 games.
Outlook:Â As a fifth-round selection, Jellvik is a project and a long shot to be a front-line NHL forward. If he can develop a strong 200-foot game and add some bulk to his lean 5-foot-10, 181-pound frame, he could work his way into an eventual role in the supporting cast.
Defensemen
Mason Lohrei, LD;Â Ohio State University (Big 10) 4gp 1-3-4; Draft: 2/58- 2020
Boston’s top pick near the end of the 2020 draft’s second round is looking the part of a top-32 selection after being the USHL Defenseman of the Year and following it up with his hot start with the Buckeyes. He scored his first collegiate goal in Boston against Bentley in a loss and has continued to boost his team’s transition game with his vision and decisive puck movement. The 6-foot-4, 204-pound left-shot from Wisconsin is a powerful and fluid skater whose tools have allowed him to make a seamless transition to college hockey.
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Game one ... goal one for Buckeye rookie blueliner Mason Lohrei.#GoBucks @Mason_lohrei20 @NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/QTJgX3MQTT
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 9, 2021
Outlook: With his natural offensive instincts and puck skills, Lohrei will put up the points, but will most benefit from growing his defensive acumen. Give Lohrei and the Bruins credit- even if he wasn’t projected on public lists to be drafted where Boston got him, Lohrei’s progress since then has been impressive.
Jack Ahcan, LD;Â Providence Bruins (AHL) 2gp 0-1-1; Undrafted free agent, 2020
Like Torey Krug, Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.) and even Don Sweeney before him, the former St. Cloud State captain is proving that there is room for the little (5-8/178) big man on the back end in today’s NHL. The swift-skating, smart and highly competitive second-year pro looks faster and more confident, so watch for an uptick in his offensive numbers this year.
Outlook: In Providence’s 1-0-1 start, it hasn’t been difficult to spot Ahcan and see that he has the coaches’ trust. For him, it’s a similar situation to that of Studnicka: play a lot of minutes in key situations to build the confidence and be ready if/when Boston calls his number.
Goaltender
Kyle Keyser, Providence Bruins (AHL) 2gp 110 min 1-0-1, 1.64 GAA, .932 spct; Undrafted free agent, 2018
Native Floridian left the Sunshine state for Michigan, then played in the OHL mostly for Oshawa and battled injuries (concussion-related) early in his pro career. The wait appears to have been well worth it, as he came into the home opener in relief of an injured Grosenick and stopped all 19 shots he faced to secure the win. He stopped 22 more to help get his club to overtime against Hartford before falling in a shootout but made some athletic saves to nearly steal that one too.
Outlook:Â Boston has a lot of depth at the goaltender position, but if Keyser can stay healthy, build on his early success and be patient with his opportunities, he looks to have the tools to become a serviceable pro. He worked hard in the offseason to prepare, and it has shown. His playing style reminds of John Grahame, and his path might be a similar one as well.
Honorable Mention
Jake Schmaltz, LW
Jakub Lauko, LW
Trevor Kuntar, RW
Urho Vaakanainen, D
Philip Svedeback, G
