Boston Bruins Prospect Brandon Carlo To Join Providence Bruins

Sep 24, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (73) carries the puck during the second period against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (73) carries the puck during the second period against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Bruins Prospect Brandon Carlo To Join Providence Bruins On Thursday After Missing WHL Playoffs With Tri-City Americans

One of the Boston Bruins 2015 NHL Draft picks will be joining the Bruins system on Thursday. After making three straight selections in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft, the Boston Bruins made a sneakily good pick by drafting 19-year-old Brandon Carlo with the 37th overall draft pick.

Brandon Carlo is a big, stay-at-home defenseman who has made a name for himself in the WHL as a member of the Tri-City Americans. In 52 games this season with the Tri-City Americans, whose season just ended with a missed-playoff bid, Carlo scored five goals and added 22 assists for 27 points. While his offense is clearly nothing to be excited about, his defensive ability speaks for itself.

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Brandon Carlo has found himself a spot on the United States World Junior Championship roster in two consecutive years and even played top pairing minutes in the 2016 tournament. Carlo stands at an imposing six-foot-five and weighs 196 pounds. Bruins’ strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides will surely have a field day with Brandon Carlo as he tries to increase Carlo’s weight to better reflect his size.

Brandon Carlo will turn 20 before December 31st 2016, and as a result, he will be eligible to play all of next season in the AHL. The Boston Bruins will likely jump on that opportunity as it will give them a chance to develop Carlo into a legitimate NHL defenseman sooner rather than later. It’s no secret that the Boston Bruins are looking to solve their issues on defense as quickly as possible and Brandon Carlo has the potential to eventually become a top-tier defender for the Bruins.

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It isn’t clear when Brandon Carlo will get his first game opportunity with the Providence Bruins, but he has been slated to practice with the Providence Bruins on Thursday which is a step in the right direction to say the least. The Bruins are in a transitional phase on defense right now and Brandon Carlo could be a potential pillar for years to come if he plays his cards right and lets the Bruins mold him into the defenseman they believe he can be.