Boston Bruins: Updates on prospects playing overseas

How are the prospects of the Boston Bruins that are playing overseas doing?

With the announcement that the AHL won’t be starting until February, I figured this would be a good time to give updates on how the Boston Bruins‘ prospects that are playing on loan (and not on loan) overseas are doing.

The Bruins currently have eight prospects playing overseas. Of these eight prospects, two are playing in the Czech league, two are playing in the SHL, one is playing in the Mestis, one is playing in the HockeyAllsvenskan, one is playing in the Liiga, and one is playing in the Slovakian league.

Additionally, none of these prospects are of the age 25 or older. I draw a line at an age of when a player should really be considered a prospect and is worth my attention, this age is 25 years old.

Furthermore, I’ll be breaking this piece up into five slides: this slide, a slide with the two players in the Czech league, a slide with the two players in the SHL, and then two slides for the four that are in four different leagues.

Boston Bruins’ prospects playing in the Czech league:

Jakub Zboril, Defenseman

While North America has been shut down, the Bruins’ 2015 13th-overall pick has been playing for HC Kometa Brno on loan.

So far, the 23-year-old defenseman has only played in two games for his Czech club. In these two games, Zboril has yet to put up any points, commit any penalties, and has a plus/minus (+/-) of -1.

This past season, Zboril played 58 games in the AHL putting up 19 points (three goals and 16 assists), 46 penalty minutes, and a +20 +/-. In 2018-19, Zboril played in two games for the Bruins and had zeros throughout the board.

After receiving a new two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $725,000 earlier this month, Zboril will be looking to fill an open spot on the left side of the Bruins’ defense.

Jakub Lauko, Forward

So far, the 20-year-old hasn’t done much in his four games with HC Energie Karlovy Vary. He has yet to register a point, has four penalty minutes, and is a -2.

Lauko was drafted in the third round (77th-overall) by the Bruins back in 2018. In 2019-20, Lauko played in 22 AHL games, scoring nine points (five goals and four assists), while also committing 24 penalty minutes and being a +3.

In 2020-21, Lauko will be looking to have a bigger role with the Providence Bruins and improve on his lackluster 2019-20.

Boston Bruins’ prospects playing in the SHL:

Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Forward

Drafted by the Bruins in the second round (45th-overall) in 2015, Forsbacka Karlsson played in 29 NHL games between 2016-17 and 2018-19, and in 86 AHL games between 2017-18 and 2018-19.

During this time he scored nine points (three goals and six assists, with two penalty minutes and a +/- of +1 in the NHL. In the AHL he registered 48 points (22 goals and 26 assists), 32 penalty minutes, and +3 +/-.

In the AHL, Forsbacka Karlsson also suited up for eight playoff games, recording just one goal, two penalty minutes, and a -4 rating.

However, since the end of 2018-19, the now 23-year-old has been playing in the SHL and has been on the Bruins’ reserve list. So far this year in the SHL, the young forward has played in 11 games for Växjö Lakers HC, registering just two assists, two penalty minutes, and a +2 rating.

Last season, in 40 games, the Stockholm native scored 13 points (five goals and eight assists, with two penalty minutes and a -2 rating.

Victor Berglund, Defenseman

Drafted in the seventh round (195th-overall) by the Bruins in 2017, Berglund hasn’t played in many hockey games in North America — four games in the AHL to be exact. In these four games, Berglund has scored two points (one goal and one assist), has no penalty minutes, and has an even +/-.

Since then, the now 21-year-old has been suiting up overseas. This year in the SHL for Luleå HF on loan and last year in the HockeyAllsvenskan for MODO Hockey.

So far this season, Berglund has played in 10 games and recorded eight points (two goals and six assists), with no penalty minutes and a +2 rating.

Last season, Berglund played in 52 games and recorded 22 points (10 goals and 12 assists), 28 penalty minutes, and a +18 rating.

I’m sure once the AHL gets up and running for the 2020-21 season, Berglund will be back over here in North America and earning a spot on the P-Bruins roster.

Boston Bruins’ prospects playing in the Mestis and HockeyAllsvenskan:

Joona Koppanen, Forward

Koppanen was drafted by the Bruins in 2016 in the fifth round (135th-overall). He has been on loan with KOOVEE of the Mestis.

So far with KOOVEE, the 22-year-old has played in 10 games, recording 17 points (six goals and 11 assists), 10 penalty minutes, and a +4 rating. Additionally, he is currently listed on the Ilves roster of the Liiga, but has yet to play a game for them.

In 2019-20, Koppanen suited up for 43 AHL games and five ECHL games with the Atlanta Gladiators. During his time in the AHL, the young forward produced 18 points (nine goals and nine assists), 14 penalty minutes, and a rating of +7.

In the ECHL, Koppanen scored five points (one goal and four assists), with two penalty minutes and a +/- of +1.

Oskar Steen, Center

Drafted by the Bruins in the sixth round (165th-overall) in 2016, Steen is currently on loan with IF Björklöven of the HockeyAllsvenskan.

Through nine games with IF Björklöven this year, the 22-year-old has recorded five goals, eight penalty minutes, and a +7 +/-.

In 2019-20, Steen played in 60 games for the P-Bruins, scoring 23 points (seven goals and 16 assists, with 48 penalty minutes, and a +6 rating.