Boston Bruins: Ranking the teams Top 5 prospects heading into 2021

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Ranking the Bruins top five prospects going into 2021.

If there is to be an addition to the Boston Bruins roster heading into the 2020-21 season, it can come a couple of ways. They can sign a free agent as they did with signing Craig Smith away from the Nashville Predators. Another option that general manager Don Sweeney has is that he can make a trade for a player, most likely having to part ways with a prospect or two.

If the Bruins are going to send a prospect to another team to fill a need, then so be it. With that said, here are who I think are the five top prospects in the organization heading into an uncertain 2021 season.

5. Jeremy Swayman – Goalie

Following his junior season at the University of Maine in March, Swayman signed his entry-level contract with the Bruins. This past season, he was 18-11-5 for the Black Bears with three shutouts and a 2.07 goals-against average (GAA) and a .939 save percentage (SV%).

His sophomore season at Maine saw his goals-against average hit 2.77, before drastically lowering it in 2020. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, he was voted Hockey East Goaltender of the Year and was voted Hockey East Player of the Year.

Drafted 111th overall in the fourth round of the 2017 Entry Draft, he will battle with Daniel Vladar in Providence for time this coming season. With questions surrounding the future of Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak following the 2021 season, there is too much of an upside to Swayman and holding onto him to see how things go in the AHL is a wise decision.

4. Jakub Zboril – Defense

The first of two defensemen on this list, Jakub Zboril could find himself in Boston in the not too distant future after Torey Krug left to go to the St. Louis Blues in free agency and questions as to whether or not Zdeno Chara returns for a 15th season with the Black and Gold.

He was the first of three straight first-round picks Sweeney made in the 2015 Entry Draft. He was selected 13th overall and has impressed in his three seasons with the Providence Bruins in Amerian Hockey League.

In his first season in 2017-18, he had four goals and 15 assists with a plus-19. One year later, the 6-foot-0, 200-pound 23-year old had four goals and 15 assists again and last season, he had three goals and 16 assists with an impressive plus-20.

Last month, the Bruins signed Zboril to a two-year, one-way contract for $700,000. He had a mini two-game call-up during the 2018-19 season, but with Krug leaving and Chara undecided on his future, it would not surprise anyone if the fleetfooted and positionally sound defensemen have a good training camp and win a spot in the Bruins top-six for next season.

3. Trent Frederic – Forward

Selected 29th overall in the first round in 2016, forward Trent Frederic was the second Bruins player selected in the opening round. At No. 14, Sweeney chose defensemen Charlie McAvoy, who is now a foundation piece of the defense in Boston.

The Bruins saw something in Frederic to choose him ahead well ahead of his projected late second/early third-round draft spot. Frederic brings a unique game that the Bruins have not seen recently. He is projected as a bottom-six forward that is not afraid to drop the gloves, as evident as his 148 penalty minutes in Providence last season, and he can also add offense.

In his three seasons in the AHL, he has 27 goals and 38 assists. This season, he finished with a plus-10 in 59 games. He has played in 17 regular-season games over the span of the last two seasons in Boston and even recorded his first career fight in the NHL.

The selection at the time four years ago was a bit of a head-scratcher by Sweeney, but he has an opportunity to make the Bruins Opening Night roster if he is able to have a good training camp, whenever it begins.

The 6-foot-2, 203-pound 22-year old would be a nice addition to the fourth line that can provide toughness and supply offensive production. It’s too early to call, but could he fill a spot that Gregory Campbell filled for many years for the Bruins.

2. Urho Vaakanainen – Defense

Defensemen Urho Vaakanainen was a first-round selection at No. 18 in 2017 and the Finnish blueliner is on the verge of cracking the Bruins top-six unit on a full-time basis as the organization’s top defensive prospect..

In two seasons with the P-Bruins, he has nine goals and 19 assists with a plus-20. Impressively, he had a plus-18 last season in 54 games. He has improved his 200-foot game in his two years in the minors and has become a better skater and more of an offensive defenseman.

Another left-handed shot like Zboril, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Vaakaninen has played in seven games in the NHL over the last two seasons. In 2019-20, he skated in five games when the defensive unit was hit with injuries and averaged just over 16 minutes of ice time a night. He did not register a point, but he did not make any glaring mistakes and showed he is NHL-ready.

The Bruins are undergoing a bit of a passing of the torch on defense to a younger core. Barring any trades or free-agent signings, there could be a roster spot or two open when training camp starts. Don’t be surprised to see Vaakanainen grab one of the spots that may open up.

1. Jack Studnicka – Forward

Hard to believe that Jack Studnicka lasted until the second round of the 2017 draft, but everyone else’s loss is the Bruins gain.

He made his NHL debut this past season playing in two games with Boston and registering an assist. He also was part of the Bruins playoffs over the summer in the Toronto bubble and found himself in the lineup for five of the Bruins 13 games North of the Border. He failed to get on the stats sheet, but he took 81 shifts and took 10 shots on net.

Those were big steps and experiences for the Studnicka to make. A natural center, he spent his time in Toronto on the right-wing. With the Bruins having veteran experience up the middle with Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Charlie Coyle, playing the wing is the way for him to make an impact in the NHL right now.

The 6-foot-1, 171-pounder from Windsor, Ontario had a breakout 2019-20 season in Providence. He scored 23 goals and dished out 26 assists with a plus-9. He made the AHL all-rookie team and set a rookie record for seven shorthanded goals.

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There is the chance that Studnicka makes the roster out of training camp, but it will have to be as a wing. If not, the 21-year old will begin the season in the AHL and get plenty of shifts at center. With Bergeron and Krejci not getting any younger, he is a future center in waiting.

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