Bruins Prospect News and Notes

burstnbloom

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They brought up Krug at 20 purely for his offensively skills, despite poor defensive play.

If your options are Forbort - who is bad at everything, or Lohrei - who could give you offensive spark, especially on the PP, it may be worth it.
You don't have to twist my arm. Fire Forbort into the sun and play Lohrei with Carlo. Maybe they balance each other out.
 

burstnbloom

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cshea

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That's encouraging to read about Beecher. It's been a bumpy ride for him the past two years at Michigan. He had a good freshman season. Last season he dealt with Covid and then a shoulder injury and surgery. The shoulder injury kept him out to start this year and he was burried behind some of Michigan's high pick talent above him. I suspect he'll sign once Michigan's year ends.
 

burstnbloom

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That's encouraging to read about Beecher. It's been a bumpy ride for him the past two years at Michigan. He had a good freshman season. Last season he dealt with Covid and then a shoulder injury and surgery. The shoulder injury kept him out to start this year and he was burried behind some of Michigan's high pick talent above him. I suspect he'll sign once Michigan's year ends.
Ya it changes my perspective on him, actually. He's definitely a better offensive player then his points suggest. Really strong on entries and exits carrying and excellent at puck battles. A guy like that might benefit quite a bit from playing with more skilled linemates he would have in the NHL. It's a small sample, obviously, but it makes me see his ceiling as a Kreider type (normal year Krieder) with his middle tier outcome being a Boone Jenner type. I also think it raises his floor quite a bit and puts him in the "at worst a 4th line center who flashes" territory. I had been thinking a guy like Jenner is his absolute peak 99% ceiling and I feel differently after seeing those numbers. I'm more interested now, for sure. It all depends if he can still carry the puck against stiffer competition.
 

jk333

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Beecher has 8 points in 20 games as a junior. To me, his floor is a low level AHL player.

I agree there’s more upside than the points indicate as those top lines are loaded. I like the Boone Jenner comparison a lot actually.
 

burstnbloom

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Beecher has 8 points in 20 games as a junior. To me, his floor is a low level AHL player.

I agree there’s more upside than the points indicate as those top lines are loaded. I like the Boone Jenner comparison a lot actually.
I mean, ya if he flames out he's a 4th liner in the AHL but given his results (outside of points) he seems to be holding his own when going up against other team's metal in a good conference playing for a great team. I had questioned whether his likely projection even had him being better than a guy like Nosek but that data is really encouraging that he could be. A big fast guy who is elite at carrying the puck but doesn't have an amazing shot and isn't a great passer is going to struggle putting up points on the 3rd line in Ann Arbor. That skillset has a chance to play up with NHL caliber wingers even if the competition is markedly better. Who knows, really, but its certainly encouraging.
 

burstnbloom

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I always thought his floor was a Kuraly type. Big, good skater, not a ton of offense.
Ya that seems right. The outcomes could be 1) flame out 2) 25th percentile outcome Kuraly 3) 50th Jenner 4) 100th percentile Kreider or someone like that.

I'm not giving up!
 

Ferm Sheller

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I wouldn't have a problem if they traded a 7th round pick for a can of red spray paint to paint the goalposts.
 

McDrew

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Bruins traded a 2024 7th round pick to Arizona for the rights to Mike Callahan.

View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1496319064884535296?s=20&t=P_PzYIziV59QNa93zrH9Ng


Callahan is a Franklin, MA native. Drafted in the 5th round of 2018 by the Coyotes. He's a senior at Providence, LHD. 3-11=14 in 35 games this season. 3-year captain.
Like Jimmy Vesey in 2016, Callahan's draft rights are going to expire 30 days after he leaves college. Maybe Callahan will sign with the hometown team. Maybe Callahan was unwilling to sign with the trash fire org that is the Coyotes. If he signs with the B's: win the trade. If he does not: who cares, a 7th is worthless.
 

cshea

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I wouldn't say a 7th round pick is worthless. At the very least it's a lottery ticket. Likely to be nobody, but could be Pavel Datsyuk. Giving that up for nothing isn't great.

That said, I'm confident they know he'll sign. They wouldn't have made the trade otherwise, they would've just rolled the dice in August if he became a UFA.
 

kenneycb

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Sure but the chance is very remote. Using four random-ish years below, it's a ~25% chance that a 7th rounder will actually play in the NHL and a ~10% chance that they will make any meaningful contribution. The trade is basically using the 7th rounder to pick a 22 year old lottery ticket vs. an 18 year old lottery ticket. Probably less upside on the 22 year old but a higher floor in that he should at least be a regular contributor in the AHL.

The 2016 has three 7th rounders who have seen action across 28 total games
Six 2015 guys have seen action with 2 having 100+ games
Five 2014 guys have seen action, with 4 having 100+ games (including Ondrej Kase!)
Seven 2013 guys have seen action, with 3 having 100+ games.
 

RIFan

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I don't know that there is anything Sweeney loves more than guys that were multiple year captains of a college team.
 

Jordu

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I don't know that there is anything Sweeney loves more than guys that were multiple year captains of a college team.
Ain’t that the truth. Not a bad idea, though. At least you know college captains are hard workers.

My guess is that Callahan was acquired to beef up LHD in Providence in case they include Zboril, Vaak or Ahcan in a trade package — or if Vaak sticks with the big club and Zboril is on the Bruins next season or both.

Anything Callahan can give them at the NHL level would be a gift.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Five 2014 guys have seen action, with 4 having 100+ games (including Ondrej Kase!)
Interestingly, Kase's not the best Ondrej to be taken in the 7th round. That honor goes to Ondrej Palat (2011 draftee).

Also, if you go back a little further, Joe Pavelski was a 7th round pick.

Hitting in the 7th round is pretty rare, though.
 

Salem's Lot

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The last Bruins player to play more than a handful of games after they took him in the 7th round is Zach Trotman. Probably the best 7th round pick in franchise history was PJ Axelsson. I would much rather take a chance on a 22 year old defenseman being able to potentially help them in this year’s playoffs than a kid that might be PJ Axelsson 6 years from now, but will more than likely be a kid that never plays for the Bruins.
 
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Ferm Sheller

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The last Bruins player to play more than a handful of games after they took him in the 7th round is Zach Trotman. Probably the best 7th round pick in franchise history was PJ Axelsson. I would much rather take a chance on a 24 year old defenseman being able to potentially help them in this year’s playoffs than a kid that might be PJ Axelsson 6 years from now, but will more than likely be a kid that never plays for the Bruins.
Doesn't change your point, but just to be clear, Callahan's only 22, not 24.
 

burstnbloom

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The best part is its a 2024 7th rounder. Apparently McQuaid loves this dude. Hopefully he can bring Parker Ford with him.

The Bruins 7th rounders last year would be big losses a year later. Gasseau and Gallagher are both really showing out in their Draft + 1 years. That's likely good fortune due to the covid weirdness of last draft than anything sustainable.
 

Over Guapo Grande

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There was a less brief one in The Athletic yesterday. Will try to get a link when I'm back at the computer.
Here you go:

https://theathletic.com/3138175/2022/02/28/how-bruins-prospect-fabian-lysells-skating-separates-him-from-the-rest/

The first time Barclay Parneta saw Pavel Bure play for the Vancouver Canucks on television, he was a scout for the Tri-City Americans in the WHL and all he remembers thinking was “wow” as he watched Bure skate.

After the Americans, Parneta went on to scout for the St. Louis Blues and Phoenix Coyotes before taking a job in Vancouver to become the general manager of the WHL’s Giants. In the two and a half decades between that first job in Tri-City and taking that last one in Vancouver, Parneta never saw another player who could skate like Bure.

Then two came along. The first was Connor McDavid. The second was Fabian Lysell, a teenaged kid from Sweden. When he first saw Lysell fly around the ice, he set his sights on getting him to his team.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Yeah, I saw the link to the Athletic's article but I don't subscribe. Seems like everyone else on SoSH does though . . . maybe I should look into it.
 

mwonow

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Funny set of video highlights - lots of scoring, very little of the skating that is raved about in the text.
 

GeminiFish

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Boston University freshman defenseman Ty Gallagher has been named to the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie team, becoming the 50th Terrier all-time named to the conference's top rookie team. The Clarkston, Mich., native has scored 16 points and led all conference rookies with 44 blocked shots. A Boston Bruins draft pick, he was named Rookie of the Week twice this season.
 

RoDaddy

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From the Baby B's website: Studnicka has recorded 13 points (3G, 10A) in his last seven games.

He sounds ready to contribute to the big club if needed and could help down the stretch and into the playoffs
 

cshea

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Week out from the Deadline. Let's do an inventory.

OHL

Fabian Lysell- 40 ganes 20-27=47
Brett Harrison- 51 games 23-26=49
Ryan Mast- 42 games 7-14=21

NCAA

Mason Lohrei- 31 games 4-25=29
John Beecher- 30 games 6-7=13
Jake Schmaltz- 37 games 8-16=24
Riley Duran- 38 games 10-9=19
Mike Callahan- 38 games 3-11=14*
Trevor Kuntar- 36 games 9-11=20
Ty Gallagher- 34 games 5-11=16
Quinn Olson- 38 games 6-19=25

USHL

Andre Gasseau- 46 games 15-15=30
Mason Langenbrunner- 47 games 2-15=17
Phillip Svedeback- 18 games .903 save percentage

Europe

Matias Mantykivi- 47 games 12-18=30
Oskar Jellvik- 41 games 26-29=55
Roman Bychkov- 22 games 0-2=2

AHL

Jack Studnicka- 37 games 9-24=33
Oskar Steen- 30 games 14-12=26
Zach Senyshyn- 48 games 18-12=30
Jakub Lauko- 33 games 3-10=13

Think that covers everyone. Callahan signed today. Lohrei has been hurt and hasn't played for a few weeks. I'm not sure what his status is going forward. Ohio State got bounced from the B1G tournament last week but are on the bubble for the NCAA's (15th in the pairwise rankings in a 16 team tourney with auto qualifiers). Michigan is in the B1G Finals next week and are a lock for the NCAA tournament so any Beecher signing is a few weeks out at a minimum. Quinn Olson is finishing up his 3rd year at Minnesota-Duluth. They usually don't like to let kids go into their senior year so he could be signed.

Studnicka has been hot recently in Providence. We'll see what the next week holds for him and Senyshyn. Senyshyn wants out, Studnicka could be trade bait.
 

burstnbloom

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Thanks, @cshea

Gallagher, Jellvik and Harrison have really raised their profiles this year. You'd think they'd draw interest in smaller trades.
 

jk333

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McLaughlin seems like a nice get with some offensive chops. Was essentially a point per game player for the past two seasons at BC. No idea what his upside is, but the Bruins have done well with these UDFA's.

This writeup sounds Craig Smith-ish.

View: https://twitter.com/lassialanen/status/1503798900284665863?s=20&t=Phhva9BM95dBdqWKzxsfeg
A little googling of Mclaughlin led me to Dryden McKay. Is he a legitimate prospect?

Pretty small but 55-8 the last two years. Also, record shutouts for an NCAA goalie, 28. Would seem like the Bruins could add a goalie.
 
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barclay

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Hard to compare eras, but Cheevers and Thomas were, and I think Vachon was pretty short. I'm quite sure there were many others, especially in the 20th century. Perhaps things have changed that demand taller goalies. Not sure about that
 

jk333

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How many goalies are there that are under 6 feet?
Good point, 0 goalies under 6 feet.
They range from 6’0 to 6’7 per a quick google I did.
https://gooddeedseats.com/all-starting-nhl-goalie-heights/

Still, if he were 2 or 3 inches taller, he wouldn’t be available for free! If he’s really 5’11, could be worth a shot if the scouts like him. This NHL article shows a few goalies in the 5’11 or 6’0 range with some success https://www.nhl.com/news/shorter-goalies-find-niche-in-what-has-become-big-mans-position-in-nhl/c-297239132 Now if that 5’11 is more like 5’9 it’s a harder sell.
 

cshea

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They’re probably done with UDFA’s. They already added 2 contracts and likely have another 2-3 on the way depending on their own prospects.
 

jsinger121

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A little googling of Mclaughlin led me to Dryden McKay. Is he a legitimate prospect?

Pretty small but 55-8 the last two years. Also, record shutouts for an NCAA goalie, 28. Would seem like the Bruins could add a goalie.
McKay plays behind one of the best defenses in the country and has for a few years. He’s good but I don’t think he’s a legit prospect.
 

burstnbloom

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They probably are done, but there are two more high profile udfa that were in the bruins development camp. I wouldn’t be surprised if they signed either or both. Brandon Scanlin is a 6’4” d out of Nebraska Omaha and Ben Meyers, Minnesota’s captain. Both would be nice adds.
 

Ferm Sheller

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mwonow

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Put this in another thread, but it is appropriate here, too:

View: https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1506002135338606600?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet


Sweeney said that Fabian Lysell could join either Providence or Boston this season once his WHL season comes to an end. "He could join either club, to tell you the honest truth." "From a skill standpoint, talent standpoint, Fabian has a lot of things we're excited about."
Dude weighs under 180. Skating in the NHL might be really unhealthy for him.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Dude weighs under 180. Skating in the NHL might be really unhealthy for him.
Marchand only weighs about 180-183.

EDIT: Gryz is 174, Clifton is 175, Studnicka is 171. Johnny Gaudreau is 150 pounds.
 
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mwonow

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Sure, but one guy knows how to use his body in the NHL, and the other is Fabian Lysell.
 

mwonow

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Not really looking to win or argue. I'm just concerned that rushing a kid that small into the NHL carries a high risk of him getting smeared/injured, and I'd like to see him grow into a role with the Bs over whatever time is needed for him to mature.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Not really looking to win or argue. I'm just concerned that rushing a kid that small into the NHL carries a high risk of him getting smeared/injured, and I'd like to see him grow into a role with the Bs over whatever time is needed for him to mature.
I gotcha, but there are a ton of guys in the NHL that are 180 pounds or under.

Sorry for being a wise-ass.
 

Salem's Lot

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Not really looking to win or argue. I'm just concerned that rushing a kid that small into the NHL carries a high risk of him getting smeared/injured, and I'd like to see him grow into a role with the Bs over whatever time is needed for him to mature.
The Bruins player development staff usually has a good grasp of whether a player is physically ready for pro hockey. If Sweeney is saying that publicly, he must be confident in his ability to take hits.
 

RetractableRoof

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Watched a couple of the Giants games this weekend against the Everett Silvertips (home and home). One thing I noticed was that Lysell was a bit sloppy carrying the puck into the offensive end when trying to build up a head of steam. In the first game he got stick checked (turning the puck over) a couple of times and I don't recall having the sense that it was the Silvertips better defensemen doing it. He got a couple of assists in the game as the Giants won 5-3. The second game the Giants were dominated and Lysell was rather quiet to my eyes. I was left after watching the games thinking that he needed time at Providence playing against more mature players - even given his skills. I was rather surprised to see the Sweeney quote you guys posted above. Reminds me why I'm not an NHL scout :)

Clariification: Reading what I posted, it sounds like I attended the game - I watched the game from the comfort of my living room.
 
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