Boston Bruins Offseason Prospect Update Part 4: Your Questions

PART 1                                                                   PART 2                                                                                 PART 3

Mike has four questions:

Lysell- interesting first half of the season, was called out, then showed marked improvement from what I can tell. What are the next steps for him to make that final push/jump?

I maintained my belief in Fabian Lysell, and bluntly put, I thought he needed to get his head out of his ass. The critique from Coach Ryan Mougenel seemed to have the desired effect. I continue to see greater potential in him compared to Mason Lohrei. In my view, to make the final push, he should stay and train in Boston this offseason with Tom Ford and Davis Breen, along with Julie Nicoletti for proper muscle gain. While it’s tempting to return home for the offseason, spending the summer in Sweden with friends isn’t the most effective training method. This approach could greatly benefit him.

Does Duran have the hands or skillset for middle six minutes or is he more relegated to the bottom 6/4th line in your mind?

Riley Duran is a promising player worth noting. As a long-time admirer of his, I believe his gameplay will captivate Bruins fans. While he may not have the offensive prowess for a top-six role, he could fill in when needed, albeit not on a consistent basis. Duran’s strengths lie in his energy, forechecking abilities, and a touch of offensive contribution. All signs point to a very good bottom six player.

After his first AHL season, where do you see Farinacci fitting on 1.) an NHL roster and 2.) specifically Boston’s?

John Farinacci has the potential to become a second-line center in the NHL as long as his development continues. However, it is more likely that he will settle as a third-line center. His role in the Bruins’ lineup will be determined by their offseason decisions. While he may not be ready to join the team in October, if the Bruins are signing free agents for the future, Farinacci could end up as a winger or be part of a trade.

And does Kuntar have the physical tools to be a steady pest in the NHL? Is there offensive upside you see that could suggest he might be more than a pest in the NHL?

Trevor Kuntar has the skills required to be a valuable player in the NHL, even in a pest role. His offensive abilities, especially his powerful shot, indicate that he could have an impact on offense. Although he may not have as much potential as other prospects, there is a chance for him to become a reliable third-line player if things progress positively.

Low Quality Bruins Fan via X asks:

Is there a prospect that you have irrational confidence in? One that may not be advancing at the rate you expected but you just truly believe they are going to be an impact NHL player?

I will choose Brett Harrison here. I have been critical of him in recent seasons, which is well known. If he can elevate his performance to its full potential, he could become a solid second-line player in the NHL, either as a winger or center. While there is much progress to be made, promising glimpses were visible in Providence on occasion. The coaching necessary to help him reach his potential is available; it simply depends on his willingness to invest the effort.

Dan via email asks:

Dom, I love all your prospect updates but can you clarify something? You said at the time of the draft you would have flipped the Pelosi/Hendrickson picks. Do you still feel the same and why is Hendrickson so low in your rankings.

Personally, I would have swapped the picks for Beckett Hendrickson and Chris Pelosi, and I maintain that stance. The reason for ranking both where I did is because they competed three levels under the NHL this season and might be up to 5 years from reaching that level. The majority of players on this list are only one level below the NHL. They have ample time and will likely ascend this list as they progresses to higher levels, assuming their development stays on track.

Let’s just compare two players at the same level:

Last USHL Season	GP	G	A	PTS
2023-24	56	21	34	55
2020-21	51	19	34	53

Pelosi’s statistics in the USHL in his final season were comparable to Jake Schmaltz. Both players had successful seasons. Schmaltz had a decent, though not outstanding, first NCAA season before experiencing a significant decline. While I am not implying that Pelosi or Hendrickson will face the same fate, I prefer to evaluate their performance at the next level to gauge their capabilities before ranking them higher than players who have already proven themselves (or not).

David via email asks:

Thoroughly enjoy your insights/thoughts.

Questions. Someone who follows Canadian Jr hockey closely. Are you satisfied with Canadian Jr players development compared with US players, European Jr aged players?

Should the Bruins focus more of their recruiting from the CHL, US colleges, or European Leagues to fill its roster with “role players”?

I am content with the progression of CHL players. Every league has its advantages and disadvantages, and I wouldn’t consider one superior to the other in terms of player development. The routes to the NHL from each league also vary significantly.

When deciding which league to prioritize for drafting, the key factor is the cyclical nature of player development. Relying solely on the CHL may not be ideal due to the strict signing rights that require players to be signed within two years of the draft, as exemplified by Reid Dyck’s situation. Conversely, focusing solely on the NCAA or European leagues may result in longer waiting periods of up to four years for NCAA players or five years for USHL players before they turn pro. Therefore, considering the timeline for a player to transition to a professional level is crucial in the drafting process.

Dale via email asks 4 questions:

What is the future in the Boston organization for young d-men: Ethan Ritchie, Ryan Mast in Maine, Fredrick Brunet in Maine/Providence and Jackson Edward, London. Do you see any of them in Boston by the 26/27 season?

Jonathan Myrenberg should be considered for the list, despite complications arising from the NHL-SHL transfer agreement due to his move to North America. In my view, he stands out as the top Bruins prospect on defense and is already playing professionally at the age of 20. Brunet shows potential as an offensive defenseman capable of leading the powerplay, but he must further develop his overall game. Edward possesses strong defensive skills and fits the mold of a defenseman that the Bruins could benefit from, but he requires a couple of years in the AHL to progress. Mast is still inexperienced and resembles Brandon Carlo in style, but it will take him several years to potentially reach the NHL. Although I have always been a fan of Ritchie, he would benefit from a year in the AHL to explore his potential. Brunet, Edward, and Myrenberg could potentially join the Bruins by the 2026-2027 season, depending on Myrenberg’s transfer situation.

Regarding Providence forward, Brett Harrison: Center (I hope) or wing.

Harrison’s strengths align more with playing as a winger rather than in the center position. While I have been critical of him in recent years, I remain confident in his potential to succeed in the NHL. What he needs is a strong desire to excel. I am optimistic that Ryan Mougenel can help Harrison reach his full potential. This season, I noticed moments where he was more involved, which has been a missing element throughout his junior career. The upcoming season will be crucial for his development, provided he puts in the necessary effort.

Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell: Prospect or suspects?

In my opinion the Bruins top two prospects. The real question for me is will they play for the Bruins or will they be part of a trade(s) in the near future?

Brandon Bussi: Hope they keep him and not lose him to waivers or in a trade.

I believe their intention is to keep him in the organization. I do believe that if they don’t move Ullmark, that trying to get Bussi through waivers may be an impossible task.

Thank you for the GREAT work you do.

Michael via email asks:

Can you shed any light as to why Reid Dyck wasn’t signed? Was this the player’s choice, based on perceived opportunity in the Bruins’ system?

I don’t think anyone other than the Bruins and Dyck know whose decision it was. But I find it hard to believe Dyck would have signed an ATO if his plan was to re-enter the draft. We may never know the details.

Tom via email asks:

Would you please qualify the numbers that the players are rated? What is below average, average, above average and superior? I look forward to your articles.

Thanks Tom. The scale used is 1-10. This sample will give you an idea of the ratings.

Nathan via email asks:

Did you ask the scouts what they thought about the players who were not ranked? If yes, what did they say?

Not for this series of articles.

Hank via email asks:

First off, I would like to say thank you for all the hard work you put in, keeping Bruins fans up to date as to what is happening with the parent club.

So, barring any trades in this years draft, what players may be available to the Bruins when their selections come up from the fourth round on. Thank You.

Thank you, Hank. In the days leading up to the draft, I will be looking at draft possibilities for the Bruins. But first, I will be recapping the Bruins drafts under General Manager Don Sweeney. For now, I’d like to keep this about the prospects.

Eugene via email asks:

Hey Dom Do you think we see one or two prospects fighting for a spot in Boston? Two, by them not signing Dyck do you think they have another goalie in mind?

I think you will see some big efforts in camp, but whether it’s enough to make the roster depends on what moves they make this offseason. I expect Trevor Kuntar to have an amazing camp. I believe Lysell will have his best camp yet, Those are the two I will keep tabs on.

Ernest via email comments:

Brother, cannot emphasis how much I appreciate the weekly updates on our Bruin prospects.  As for being off on some of your predicted outcomes, no big deal. Sorta reminds me of Jake DeBrusk, had a down year in offense but improved his overall game especially on the PK!! Dom, you are my favorite Bruin writer, really hope this continues into next season. I rave about your material and I hope it brings more to your site. EVERY Bruin fan needs to know what you bring to the table, in-depth updates on EVERY BRUIN PROSPECT!!! Dom, all the best Brother. I spoke with you awhile back, not sure you remember, was a couple years ago. Hope all is well on your end. Keep up the awesome work!!

Yes, I remember you Ernest and thank you for all the kind words. I’m not worried about the model I use and it’s success. As I said, one NHL team has exclusive rights to it and I kept the rights to use it for Bruins prospects. I am so confident in it that I don’t see it as the model being flowed, because for many years its been bang on, but I look at it more as players not reaching or over achieving their potential.

This Friday I will be doing a live podcast with Chris Nosek about the Bruins prospects. It will begin at 6:30 pm Eastern Time and I hope that you can join us and ask any questions you may have. You can watch live on Twitch, YouTube or on X (Twitter) by following Chris, What’s Bruin or myself.