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Boston Bruins assign two prospects to ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen

By Matt Hawkins

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 16: Kyle Keyser #85 of the Boston Bruins makes the second period save on Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils during preseason action at the Prudential Center on September 16, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 16: Kyle Keyser #85 of the Boston Bruins makes the second period save on Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils during preseason action at the Prudential Center on September 16, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins recently assigned prospects Kyle Keyser and Matt Filipe to the Jacksonville Icemen of the ECHL.

Per the ECHL transaction wire, the Boston Bruins assigned two prospects to the Jacksonville Icemen yesterday, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. These two prospects are goalie Kyle Keyser and forward Matt Filipe.

The Icemen are not the official affiliate of the Bruins, however, because the Atlanta Gladiators opted out of the 2020-21 season, Boston has seemed to make an agreement with the Icemen, their AHL affiliate Manitoba Moose, and their NHL affiliate the Winnipeg Jets to allow them to assign prospects there.

With the ECHL set to start their 2020-21 season on Dec. 12, 2020, this is a good move to help Keyser and Filipe get some extra game action before the AHL season starts if they’re needed in Providence.

However, there’s always the chance that Jacksonville decides to opt out of the 2020-21 ECHL season like the Gladiators and many other ECHL teams — including the league’s entire North Division.

Get to know Boston Bruins’ prospects Kyle Keyser and Matt Filipe.

Kyle Keyser – Goalie

Keyser signed with the B’s on Oct. 3, 2017, as an undrafted free agent. For the first two years of his entry-level contract (ELC), Keyser played junior hockey with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL.

Over those two seasons, Keyser played 94 games, averaging a 2.96 goals-against average (GAA) and .910 save percentage (SV%) with six shutouts. Additionally, he played 20 playoff games, averaging a 3.54 GAA and .904 SV% with one shutout.

Keyser didn’t make his professional hockey debut until the 2018-19 season, where he played one AHL playoff game for the P-Bruins. In that one game, Keyser had a 3.15 GAA and .897 SV%.

In 2019-20, Keyser split time between the AHL with the P-Bruins and the ECHL with the Gladiators. With the P-Bruins, Keyser played six games and had a 3.21 GAA and .890 SV%. With the Gladiators, the now 21-year-old played just one game and had a 4.10 GAA and .818 SV%.

With the Bruins having three solid, young AHL goalies in Dan Vladar, Callum Booth, and Jeremy Swayman, I can’t see Keyser playing in the AHL much this season unless there are a few injuries.

Matt Filipe – Forward

Filipe was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round (67th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. However, instead of signing with the Canes, Filipe elected to play college hockey at Northeastern University.

Ultimately, Carolina didn’t sign him to an ELC in time and lost ownership of his rights. Boston ended up signing the now 22-year-old to a two-year ELC on Aug. 16, 2020.

Over his four years at Northeastern, Filipe suited up for 136 games, scoring 75 points (31 goals, 44 assists). His final season with Northeastern saw him be named an alternate captain for the team.

Filipe has yet to make his professional hockey debut as he was playing college hockey the last four years, so his first game with the Icemen will be his pro debut.

Next. Boston Bruins: Grading and analyzing the 2019-20 season of Tuukka Rask. dark

Like Keyser, I don’t expect to see Filipe play in the AHL much this season unless injuries start to pile up for the P-Bruins.

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