In a rather quiet fashion, the Boston Bruins agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with Max Lundgren for just 1 year back on March 29 of this year. The big Swedish goaltender spent the past 2 seasons with Merrimack College 30 minutes north of Boston. On the surface, it seems like a crafty depth-piece move to add another solid, ready-to-play goaltender for Providence. And for this season, it very well could be all that it is.
But when you look deeper, this move has a lot to offer the future for the foundation of the Bruins’ goaltending. In professional sports, there are trends that are followed. When something has shown that it works, the leagues pick up on it. This might just be another example of that.
There are a lot of aspects to love about Lundgren’s game, even if this is just the introduction.
Here are 3 reasons why this season in Providence might show a goalie of the future for the Boston Bruins.
1. Lundgren started and played in all 39 games his sophomore year.
Gone are the days when a starter is expected to play 70+ games. But there’s something quite awe-inspiring when it does happen. Lundgren played every available minute of the team’s games this season. And he posted an even more impressive .920 sv % en route to the school’s first-ever Hockey East Tournament victory.
The stats are as incredible as any, but there’s more to like. There’s an art to the dedication necessary to keep himself game-ready and healthy for an entire season. Fans should be elated to see a goaltender hit the organization that thrives in these scenarios.
2. Hockey East Goaltending
There are a lot of corners around the globe where you can find goaltending. It is no secret that the NHL has quite a lot of foreign-born goaltenders who are extremely successful in today’s NHL. That includes arguably one of the best, Andrei Vasilevskiy. One of the Bruins’ best goaltenders of all-time is Tuukka Rask of Finland.
Now, what do Hellebuyck, Oettinger, Swayman, and even recently retired Jonathan Quick all have in common? They are all Hockey East goaltending prospects.
That, and they played in the majority of their teams games. Hockey East is where some of the top prospects in the world are coming from. It would sure make sense that a goalie who played every minute of their team’s games on the road to their first-ever league championship would be pretty ready for the next level.
Hockey East experience, foreign work ethic and intangibles…sign me up.
3. He’s a Physical Specimen
Max Lundgren is listed at 6’5 weighing at 230lbs. He’s a workhorse.
Being that size, being able to move as fast as he does, while also maintaining the incredible positioning that he does, should have Bruins fans smiling from ear to ear.
Anyone who watched the UConn vs. Merrimack Hockey East final was able to see the poise, confidence, and skill all on display. I was lucky enough to be in the building, along the glass, behind his net most of the game.
There is certainly a ton to like about him and it all starts with just the physical presence that he is in the blue paint.
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