Top forwards to watch at Bruins Development Camp.
I’ll start with the biggest name missing from this list and that’s first-round pick Fabian Lysell. Because Lysell is not vaccinated, he falls into COVID restrictions that prohibit him from participating. Oskar Jellvik, a fifth-round selection, also falls into that category.
Out of those that will be at camp, Curtis Hall and Johnny Beecher standout as the two names to watch out of the forwards. Hall is a fourth-round pick of the Bruins from 2018. He attended Yale for two seasons, leading the Bulldogs in points in the shortened 2019-20 season with 17 goals, 10 assists, and 27 points.
Due to the Ivy League cancelling winter sports this past season, Hall turned pro this past January, joining Providence. He dealt with a lower-body injury, but skated in 13 games in a bottom-six role for the P-Bruins, scoring one goal. He’s a physical, natural center, but has the ability to play wing. A healthy Hall could shine at camp.
Curtis Hall, No. 10 in black, scored his first goal in the final game of the year. Great work by Shen, better finish by Hall. The 6’4”, 220lbs center struggled with a lower-body injury early on and never quite settled in. Keep an eye on him next year— he’s solid. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/6TrQmQ7aZM
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) May 9, 2021
Beecher, the first-round pick from 2019, comes to camp with two seasons under his belt at Michigan. He put up 16 points in 31 games his freshman campaign and eight points in 16 games this past year before being shut down with a shoulder injury that required surgery.
At 6-foot-3, he’s a physical presence that isn’t afraid to get in front of the net. It’s unclear where Beecher will play after camp. He could go back to a loaded Michigan squad, but would most likely see his time on ice drop. Or, with an impressive enough camp showing, could play his way into a contract this season and head to Providence.
Found a few clips of Johnny Beecher from last season that I never got around to posting. At 6’3” and 210lbs, Beecher’s acceleration and ability to separate is uncommon for a player of that stature. Interested in seeing his development as he gets stronger and faster. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/z6xZH4yyhk
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) June 17, 2021
Keep an eye on this year’s third-round selection Brett Harrison and 2020 sixth-round pick Riley Duran. Harrison put up 37 points in 56 games with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals as a 16-year-old in 2019-20, but the pandemic forced Harrison to go over to Finland last season, where he had nine points in just seven games. Duran will be a freshman at Providence this fall, coming off a 19-point season in 47 games with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms.