Bruins Prospect Report: Fast Start For Several Players

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 18: Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins attends the 2019 NHL Awards Nominee Media Availability at the Encore Las Vegas on June 18, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 18: Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins attends the 2019 NHL Awards Nominee Media Availability at the Encore Las Vegas on June 18, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The college hockey season is underway across most conferences, and the Bruins have a number of prospects that have already made an impact with their teams. Boston has six skaters and one goaltender competing in Hockey East this season. In Providence, forward Riley Duran recorded one goal and one assist in a win over Sacred Heart.

AMHERST, MA – JANUARY 28: Riley Duran #8 of the Providence College Friars celebrates his goal during the third period against the Massachusetts Minutemen during NCAA men’s hockey at the Mullins Center on January 28, 2022 in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Friars won 2-1 and Duran scored both goals. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
AMHERST, MA – JANUARY 28: Riley Duran #8 of the Providence College Friars celebrates his goal during the third period against the Massachusetts Minutemen during NCAA men’s hockey at the Mullins Center on January 28, 2022 in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Friars won 2-1 and Duran scored both goals. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

Between the pipes, goaltender Philip Svedeback stopped 15 of the 16 shots he faced against the Pioneers. The Friars continue the early part of their schedule with games against Clarkson on October 13th, and Northeastern on October 15th. Boston University kicked off the season with a big win over Bentley.

BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 14: Ty Gallagher #4 of the Boston University Terriers celebrates with the Beanpot trophy after a 1-0 victory against the Northeastern Huskies during NCAA hockey in the championship game of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 14, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 14: Ty Gallagher #4 of the Boston University Terriers celebrates with the Beanpot trophy after a 1-0 victory against the Northeastern Huskies during NCAA hockey in the championship game of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 14, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images) /

Defenseman Ty Gallagher’s season has gotten off to a solid start. The 2021 seventh rounder recorded one assist and blocked two shots against the Falcons. The Terriers’ season continues with a pair of games at Michigan on October 14th and 16th.

Boston College was shutout in its season opener against Quinnipiac. A pair of Bruins prospects found themselves on the scoresheet in the loss to the Bobcats. Andre Gasseau had a couple of shots on net, and Trevor Kuntar recorded five shots and was 6-of-12 on faceoffs for the Eagles.

LOWELL, MA – NOVEMBER 13: Trevor Kuntar #15 of the Boston College Eagles skates against the Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks during NCAA men’s hockey at the Tsongas Center on November 13, 2021 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The River Hawks won 4-2. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
LOWELL, MA – NOVEMBER 13: Trevor Kuntar #15 of the Boston College Eagles skates against the Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks during NCAA men’s hockey at the Tsongas Center on November 13, 2021 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The River Hawks won 4-2. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

BC hits the road for its next game. The Eagles visit New Hampshire on October 15th to open conference play. In the Big Ten, top defensive prospect Mason Lohrei has bounced back from a knee procedure with three assists, seven shots and three blocks over Ohio State’s first four games of the season.

Three of Boston’s prospects began their seasons in the NCHC. Minnesota Duluth’s Quinn Olson has recorded two assists and six shots, and Cole Spicer has one assist and two shots over the Bulldog’s first two games. Spicer is also 8-of-13 on faceoffs to start the year.

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 08: Quinn Olson #15 of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs moves the puck against the Massachusetts Minutemen during the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinals at PPG Paints Arena on April 8, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 08: Quinn Olson #15 of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs moves the puck against the Massachusetts Minutemen during the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinals at PPG Paints Arena on April 8, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

North Dakota got off to a great start to its season with a couple of wins over Holy Cross. Jake Schmatlz has one goal and six shots on net over his first two games. The 2019 seventh rounder also won 32 of his 44 faceoffs. The Fighting Hawks season continues with games against Quinnipiac on October 14th and 15th.

The Bruins are no doubt in a position where their draft picks have to start developing into legitimate NHL players. Although the season is still in its early stages, fans of the B’s should be excited to follow the growth of many of the team’s top prospects.

I’d even make the argument that the Providence Bruins will be a more exciting team to watch than Boston. The Baby B’s are coming off a 6-2 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds in their preseason finale.  Top prospect Fabian Lysell had an assist and two shots in the game.

Lysell will officially go pro when the P-Bruins open the regular season on October 14th against the Bridgeport Islanders at the newly named Amica Mutual Pavilion. It remains to be seen if Providence will be adding even more veteran players to its roster.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Nick Foligno #17 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on September 24, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Nick Foligno #17 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on September 24, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

With the conclusion of the NHL’s preseason, Boston waived forwards Nick Foligno and Chris Wagner along with defenseman Mike Reilly. The expectation is for all three players to clear waivers but return to the team once Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy are placed on injured reserve.