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Boston Bruins: Top 5 Prospects Heading into 2021

By Scott Roche

TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 15: Trent Frederic #82 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on November 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 15: Trent Frederic #82 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on November 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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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.

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