Boston Bruins: Top 5 prospects to pay close attention to

The Boston Bruins have had sustained success for over a decade now. It’s brought upon three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and one Cup in total. At this time, they are blessed with the talents of David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and captain Patrice Bergeron leading the charge. However, they have not been able to build the strongest of prospect pools. Whether they missed on their first-round draft picks (we’re looking at you, 2015) or simply traded away their top picks, it is clear that most teams are ahead of them on that front.

Yet, even with this being so, they do have some prospects who are still quite exciting to pay attention to. In fact, some should be members of the NHL club this very season. As for the others, they would benefit from a little more in their respective leagues. In a few years, these five could all be important pieces of the Bruins if all goes according to plan.

Before beginning, it’s important to note that they are not in any specific order. Alas, let’s get started.

Boston Bruins: Jeremy Swayman G

Although Jeremy Swayman’s a lock to make the team this season, he still has only 10 regular-season games under his belt. As a result of this, one still can classify him as a prospect. With the B’s this season, he sported a 7-3-0 record to go along with a 1.50 GAA and .945 SV%. His outstanding play was enough for him to win the backup job from recently departed Jaroslav Halak. Yet, it will be intriguing to see what the 22-year-old goaltender does in his first full season with Boston.

The Bruins made a seemingly smart move signing Linus Ullmark this off-season, as Swayman will have less pressure to be “the guy” in the net. Rather, the pair should be able to formulate a strong 1A-1B tandem. This is assuming the Bruins don’t re-sign the injured Tuukka Rask later down the road. Alas, Swayman’s importance to this team is immensely high, as he is a huge part of the future of the club.

What’s promising about Swayman is that he also was dominant in both college and with the Providence Bruins. He seems to have mastered each league and already did for a short while with Boston. For a team who once was worried about how they would fair without Rask, they surely have plenty of reason for optimism with Swayman. It will be awesome to see what he does next.

Boston Bruins: Fabian Lysell RW

The Bruins selected Fabian Lysell with the 21st overall pick of this year’s draft. Many expected him to go earlier in the draft, so Boston fans should be happy about him. He also has already signed his entry-level contract with the team. It is unclear where he will be playing this upcoming season, as there are multiple options. An immediate spot with the NHL club may be a bit far-fetched, but you never truly know. No matter where he ends up, though, he is a must-watch prospect.

With Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League last season, he suited up in 26 games. In them, he scored two goals and added an assist. This was his first taste of professional hockey of any kind, and with him being just a kid, he did well. He also was very productive in juniors this past season, too. With Frölunda HC’s J20 team, he scored three goals and had 13 points in just 10 games.

He has been heavily praised for his offensive ability. He not only is an excellent passer but also is a strong goal-scorer. With the Bruins not being particularly strong at right wing, his development is essential. If all goes smoothly with his development, he should blossom into a legitimate top-six forward for the team later down the road.

Boston Bruins: John Beecher C

John Beecher will be returning to the University of Michigan this upcoming season. The 2019 first-round pick is a player to watch, as he is viewed as one of the top centers in the Bruins’ system. This will be his third collegiate season, so it will not be surprising to see his offensive totals jump up significantly. In 16 games this past season, he scored four goals and had eight points.

One thing that stands out with Beecher is the fact that he is 6’3″ and 209 pounds. Many fans criticize the team for being too small, but he completely goes against that narrative. He has been noted for being effective as a net-front presence, which could make him a valuable asset for the Bruins in the future. Yet, he also comes with skill and speed that makes him effective in more ways than one.

With Patrice Bergeron getting older and David Krejci leaving for the Czech Republic, the Bruins are going to need to get stronger down the middle. Beecher will not be an NHLer for the start of the season. Yet, if he has a very strong collegiate campaign, perhaps he could sign an NHL deal and begin his pro career as soon as this spring.

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.