BRIGHTON, Mass. — The 2021 Boston Bruins Development Camp kicked off Aug. 2 at Warrior Ice Center, with 28 prospects in attendance and working with members of the B’s player development and Providence Bruins coaching staffs.
It was a relatively tame first day on the ice after physical testing, with the players being put through various skating, passing, shooting, 2-on-1 drills and more. There was not a great deal of pace or intensity, just a chance to get the players moving their feet and getting comfortable.
The breakdown of attendees by the level they played in 2020-21 are as follows: 4 professional prospects (AHL and ECHL); 16 NCAA players, including five players whose rights are held by Boston; 6 junior/USHL players (all six are B’s draft picks); 2 major junior/OHL players (both drafted in 2021).
The oldest player in attendance is James “J.D.” Greenway, a 23-year-old 2016 third-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs whose rights were recently acquired by the B’s for future considerations, but is currently without a contract. The team has until mid-August to sign him or he becomes a free agent and can agree to terms anywhere. The 6-foot-5, 212-pound left-shot defenseman out of the University of Maine has a legitimate NHL skill set.
The youngest player here this week is center Andre Gasseau, who turned 18 on July 7. The B’s chose the Boston College recruit with one of two seventh-round picks in 2021.
New England is well represented, with inbound Providence College freshman center Riley Duran (Woburn, Mass.), drafted by the B's in 2020, present. Local college players Parker Ford, Providence College (Wakefield, R.I.), Marc McLaughlin, Boston College (North Billerica, Mass.) and Keith Petruzzelli, Quinnipiac University (Wilbraham, Mass.) are all in attendance on an invitational basis. Numerous other players with ties to area colleges are here as well.
New England Hockey Journal was on hand to witness the first day, and here are five key questions for the week. Check back for ongoing coverage of the development camp and further assessments and analysis of the attendees.
1. Where will John Beecher play in 2021-22?
Boston’s first-round pick in 2019 took the ice wearing a merlot non-contact jersey after having spring surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. He brought his requisite top-end skating, moving around the ice with an effortless, powerful stride and generating impressive small-area quickness from a standstill.
After the first session, Beecher conducted a Zoom call with media and announced he will return to the University of Michigan for his junior season.
“I’m a little over five months out of labrum surgery,” Beecher said of the injury that was accidental and happened in a practice early in 2021. “So, in the next couple of weeks hopefully, I’ll go back to Ann Arbor and see my doc and hopefully get cleared to be full contact and be a full go for the start of the season.”
Although there was talk that Beecher might sign with Boston and turn pro this season, the 20-year-old dispelled that notion.
“Not really, no,” he said when asked about whether the surgery changed his timeline for turning pro. “Our biggest thought with that is that if we did it when we did I’d be back to 100 percent mid-August. That’s basically the timeline when we get back to school, and I wanted to hit the ground running as soon as I got on campus and have a couple of months to get reacclimated to the contact and get ready for the season.”
Beecher will be a Wolverine for at least one more season and watch for him to sign with Boston when his season ends.
“I want to be a huge leader for this team especially for the younger guys that are just getting on campus and trying to get their footing,” Beecher said looking ahead for the season. “My role on the team, I think it will just kind of play out throughout the year and I’ll hopefully be in a shutdown role, top minutes, PK/PP and just do whatever I can to help the team win.”
2. Is there anyone from this group who could make the 2021-22 Boston Bruins roster?
While you can’t really put a lot of stock into the first day of camp to answer a question like this one, it is what many fans are wondering.
Undrafted free agent defenseman Brady Lyle looked like a man among boys yesterday. He’s gotten bigger and stronger in the offseason (now listed at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds), reportedly working out with Jack Studnicka, and it showed. He hasn’t sacrificed any mobility, and was firing pucks with authority. He looked like a solid top-3-round NHL draft pick yesterday, albeit in limited circumstances to evaluate his chances to make the jump.
Having said that, he’s got the size, skating, and shot to play at the highest level sooner rather than later. As a right-shot defender has the tools to be able to step in and play for Boston if the team’s depth is tested by injuries.
3. Who could have the biggest breakout season(s) this year?
At forward, we’re going with two players, Boston College sophomore Trevor Kuntar, who has the speed and skill to elevate his offensive production with an expanded role with the Eagles. The other is Oshawa Generals center Brett Harrison, who demonstrated some real offensive production as a 16-year-old before last year’s canceled OHL season. He should be one of the Gennies’ top threats up front and will have a chance to round out his overall game.
On defense, we like Lyle’s chances to build on his AHL rookie numbers in a condensed schedule, which saw him post 7-7-14 totals in 27 games. Seven goals over an entire year would be pretty good for a rookie defenseman, so assuming he plays a full season, he’s a threat for 20 or more.
In net, Kyle Keyser is the only goaltender here who is Boston property, but he has the potential to develop into a capable pro in what could be his first full year in the AHL with Providence, sharing the goaltending duties with veteran Troy Grosenick.
4. What are the Bruins going to do to round out their coaching staffs?
On the player development side, Jamie Langenbrunner and Chris Kelly were there to put the prospects through the paces. Mike Dunham worked with the goaltenders, and the event had extra help on the ice from 2011 Stanley Cup-winning defenseman and fan favorite Adam McQuaid. Providence assistants Ryan Mougenel and Trent Whitfield, one of the 2011 championship squad’s black aces, were prominently involved.
While the departure of the two Jays- Pandolfo and Leach- have yet to be officially filled by the Bruins organization, the general feeling here is that one of the active participants in the development camp this week could be elevated to the Boston coaching staff. The Providence Bruins don’t have a head coach yet, but instead of going outside the organization for help, Mougenel or Whitfield could get the call.
McQuaid would be a good bet to join the B's on the player development side, especially should someone like Kelly move up to fill Pandolfo's vacancy as assistant NHL coach.
5. Who made strong first impressions on Day 1?
You can’t put much stock into the first day given that the staff eased the players into it, but the following players stood out in a good way for how well they skated, handled and shot pucks, competed and made athletic saves.
Bruins prospects
Brady Lyle, RD
John Beecher, C/LW
Mason Lohrei, LD
Trevor Kuntar, C/LW
Brett Harrison, C
Curtis Hall, C
Camp invites
Parker Ford (Wakefield, R.I.), C/RW
Brandon Scanlin, LD
Travis Mitchell, LD
Matt Kopperud, LW
Keith Petruzzelli (Wilbraham, Mass.), G
