BREAKING: Five Prospects for the Boston Bruins Who Might Start for the Team Next Season
The Boston Bruins, who lost to the Florida Panthers in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, are a team that is constantly the subject of trade and free agent speculations, as is the case most offseasons. This summer’s buzzwords include Jeremy Swayman’s possible re-signing, the health of goaltender Linus Ullmark, and the Bruins’ plans to cover some of their center and wing deficiencies. Boston overachieved in certain aspects this season, but are they really closer to contention than most people realized? General Manager Don Sweeney may have some options from inside if he finds it difficult to complete the roster. With proper training, these five young players might spend time in Boston.
Matt Poitras
Before suffering a shoulder injury that terminated his season, the 20-year-old center for Boston showed promise in 33 games. Poitras provided the Bruins with the much-needed playmaking skills, tallying five goals and ten assists. A decision that prevented the five-foot-11, 180-pound forward from being optioned to the American Hockey League forced him to play in Boston or return to the Ontario Hockey League. The management was convinced by his performance throughout training camp that the Bruins should hold onto the second-round draft pick. Poitras is expected to start in Providence, but he will need to gain strength to last a complete professional season. Regardless, Poitras is a wild card for this offseason and has the ability to resolve some of Boston’s problems.
Georgii Merkulov
In 67 games, the undrafted college free agent scored 30 goals and provided 35 assists for Providence in a successful season. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound center, who played four games with Boston this season in limited minutes, was given a taste of the NHL and will be available at the start of the 2024–25 season. Similar to Poitras, Merkulov might be discouraged by size and strength, but he still possesses the offensive instincts and skill. Merkulov turns 24 in October, so the Bruins will need at least one of these two centers to step up next season. Perhaps now is the right moment to show his value.
Fabian Lysell
Since his 21st-round draft selection in 2021, Lysell has emerged as the Bruins’ most fascinating young player and their top prospect. After Lysell made a little draft board contribution, Boston was able to acquire him. The 21-year-old forward exhibits bursts of brilliance along with incredible speed and talent. Lysell’s progress has been hampered by concussions and other injuries, as well as remarks made by Providence Bruins head coach Ryan Mougnenel regarding Lysell’s dedication to defense. Lysell is still a top prospect, though, and he has a decent chance of breaking into the NHL lineup in 2024–25. Someone with Lysell’s caliber of skill on the wing is desperately needed by the Bruins to relieve some of David Pastrnak’s workload.
Lysell can help the Bruins gain the speed that team president Cam Neely suggested. Lysell appeared in just one postseason game this season despite scoring 15 goals and dishing out 35 assists in 56 games.
John Farinacci
Among the Providence Bruins players who competed in the previous season, Farinacci may be the most ready for the big leagues. A reliable two-way center with outstanding leadership abilities across the board, the former Harvard captain played for his uncle, former Bruin Ted Donato, with the Crimson. A goal and an assist in four postseason games with Providence, Farinacci finished 72 games with a goal and 26 assists, projecting to be a middle to bottom-six player in the NHL.
The Arizona Coyotes selected the 23-year-old Red Bank, New Jersey native in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft, but they chose not to sign him, making him available for the Bruins to sign. During training camp, Farinacci and John Beecher and other players should battle for a spot as a bottom-six center.
Trevor Kuntar
At six feet and 200 pounds, the former Boston College forward has a build like a fire hydrant and a forechecking, grinding game that should fit in well in Boston. The left flank is a quintessential bottom-six forward, having scored 10 goals and dishing out 10 assists in 70 games for Providence. With forward spots up for grabs, the 2020 third-round draft selection may compete for a spot on the Bruins. Kuntar, who turns 23 in June, has a rugged, aggressive style that may be very helpful to the Bruins in the bottom half of the lineup.
Perfectly speaking, the Bruins will gain top-six forward support this winter, but players like Kuntar and Farinacci can assist reshape the bottom six. The Bruins would really like to see Poitras, Merkulov, and Lysell step up this season and perform on a regular basis at the NHL level.