Boston Bruins: Mason Lohrei D
Mason Lohrei was surprisingly taken in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Scouts had him pegged to go much later in the draft, but now, it seems like a move that may benefit the Bruins. The 20-year-old defenseman had a fantastic season in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers. In 48 games, he scored 19 goals and had 59 points. Those are impressive statistics for a defenseman, regardless of the league.
Lohrei is about to start his first season of collegiate hockey with Ohio State University. It will be interesting to see how much of his USHL offense translate to college. Yet, it also does not hurt that he is 6’4″ and 205 pounds. Thus, not only is he an effective puck-moving defenseman but also is quite imposing on the backend. He had 74 penalty minutes in his 48 games with Green Bay this season, so he clearly plays with an edge. This combination could make him a potential threat at the NHL level.
If Lohrei continues to show improvement, he is a player who should be able to find himself in Boston in a few years. It’s time to pay very close attention to him, as it seems that he is their best prospect the blueline.