Boston Bruins 2024-2025 Preseason Prospect Update: Part Three

In the third part of our series, we will focus on the players who could join the Providence Bruins on the ice. The first two parts discussed prospects who are not yet in professional hockey.

This season offers many opportunities for the black and gold, featuring several players who have experienced professional hockey but have not yet played a complete season. We will analyze the team by position.

GOALTENDING

Brandon Bussi and Michael DiPietro will be given every opportunity to compete for the backup position in Boston along with Joonas Korpisalo. All three goaltenders would need waivers to be sent to Providence, and once Jeremy Swayman signs, two of them are destined for the AHL.

Beyond the trio there is a safety net with Ryan Bischel and Nolan Maier. Both are under AHL contracts and technically speaking are not Boston prospects. They could sign NHL contracts with an NHL team at any time they choose. I don’t anticipate that happening and believe they will begin the season in the ECHL with the Maine Mariners. But Bischel could begin in Providence depending on how the Swayman situation goes or if one of the others is claimed off the waiver wire.

DEFENCEMEN

Jordan Oesterle leads with the most experience, having played 371 games in the NHL and 187 in the AHL. Ian Mitchell follows with 95 NHL games and 109 in the AHL. Alec Regula has appeared in 22 NHL games and 163 AHL games. Billy Sweezey has played 205 games in the AHL, while Michael Callahan has 140 AHL games to his credit.

Frederic Brunet is seeking to be one of the regular starting 6, bringing with him 48 games of experience in the AHL. Drew Bavaro and Ryan Mast each have 7 games of AHL experience. Meanwhile, Jackson Edward is eager to make his professional debut.

Oesterle and Sweezey will provide valuable experience and guidance for the younger players. If an injury happens, Oesterle could potentially play in the NHL. Among the veterans, Regula appears to have the best chance of becoming a consistent NHL player, although his path also seems to be blocked.

The promise of an NHL future is in the young players like Brunet, Bavaro, and Edward. However, they still need a few years to develop, and potential moves at the NHL level could block their advancement. There are no sure bets among these prospects, but if I had to pick one who might make the Boston roster in the future, it would be Edward.

Providence also has Mason Millman under an AHL contract and he is most likely to begin the season with Maine.

FORWARDS

The forward group faces several important questions, especially regarding Matthew Poitras, Fabian Lysell, and Georgii Merkulov. Will these players end up in Boston, or will one, two, or all three find themselves in Providence? It’s likely they will be given ample chances at Boston’s camp to secure a spot on the roster. For Lysell and Poitras, a move to Providence wouldn’t be a setback, but for the nearly 24-year-old Merkulov, it’s uncertain if there will be more chances in Boston.

I have a strong interest in Brett Harrison and his potential, especially since the Bruins are developing him as a left wing, which is an area of need. I have been clear that his biggest challenge is his compete level. After playing 47 games in the AHL, we began to see some improvement. Now, he not only needs to keep that progress going but also work on getting even better.

Vinni Lettieri, who was traded and then brought back, might see some NHL action as an injury replacement. He has played 129 games in the NHL and 277 in the AHL. However, it will be difficult for him to secure a spot on the Boston roster. His primary value to the Bruins lies in his ability to support younger players in Providence as they develop their skills.

Trevor Kuntar has been a favorite of mine, and I saw him as a potential surprise pick for the Boston roster this season. However, I think that chance has passed. After completing his first full season of professional hockey, he showed great energy and played in a way that fans will appreciate. While he has an excellent shot, he is unlikely to be a key player in terms of scoring.

John Farinacci

Farinacci is generating a lot of enthusiasm here. He had a strong pro start with 11 goals and 23 assists in his first 41 games. However, he struggled toward the end of the season, netting just 1 goal and 3 assists in his final 30 games. Having never played more than 31 games at any level before, it’s clear that a 71-game season might have been overwhelming for him. Now, the key for him is to find a steady performance throughout the season.

Marc McLaughlin

Excitement surrounded McLaughlin as he wrapped up his time at Boston College and joined Boston at the end of the 2021-22 season, where he scored 3 goals in 11 games. In September, he showed promise during training camp and had a chance to make the team. However, he was assigned to Providence, where he had a solid season. Last year, though, his performance declined significantly, and his chances are diminishing. For him to succeed, he needs to have an impressive season.

Jaxon Nelson

He is a strong, skilled center who spent five years at the University of Minnesota before joining Providence at the end of last season. Over the past two years in the NCAA, he recorded impressive stats. The Bruins now have many players capable of playing center in both the NHL and AHL. How the 24-year-old performs this season will be crucial for his future and his spot in the organization.

Riley Duran

I often warn against placing too much importance on a single tournament or development camp. I believe there are high expectations for Duran following his strong performance at the development camp this summer. However, he hasn’t completed a full professional season yet. While I see him as a future NHL player, I prefer to be patient with Duran to help him reach his full potential.

Jeffrey Viel

Viel was likely brought in to add strength and toughness to the AHL team, similar to the way the Bruins fortified their NHL roster. He had a brief stint in the NHL with San Jose during the 2021-22 season and has consistently performed well in the AHL since then. However, I don’t see a spot for him in Boston. His key role will be to safeguard the younger players in Providence.

Riley Tufte

Tufte was picked just after Max Jones in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and will compete with him for a spot on the Boston roster. However, the position is Jones’ to lose. Although he struggled to secure a role with the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche, he has performed well in the AHL over the past few seasons. Tufte boasts impressive size, strong skating skills, and good puck handling. It’s clear why the Bruins are interested in giving him an opportunity.

Cole Koepke

Koepke and Tufte played together for one season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Koepke has had a decent amount of success in the AHL and saw some brief playing time with the Lightning in the NHL before signing with the Bruins this offseason. While it seems unlikely that he will secure a regular spot on the Bruins roster, he might step in for a few games if there are injuries.

There are also five forwards on AHL only deals: Adam Mechura, Jimmy Lambert, Evan Vierling, Joey Abate and Owen Pederson, all likely to begin the season in Maine. Mechura will be the one to keep an eye on.

The veteran rule in the AHL is something that often confuses fans. Simply put, this rule allows each team to dress a maximum of six veterans for a game. A veteran is any player who has participated in over 260 professional games, which can include NHL, AHL, and European Elite Leagues, but does not count games played in those European leagues while the player was still a junior. Additionally, at least one of these veterans must have played fewer than 320 professional games.

Snap shot:

Sure to play in the NHL: Brandon Bussi, Trevor Kuntar, Riley Duran, John Farinacci

On the bubble: Michael DiPietro, Alec Regula, Frederic Brunet, Jackson Edward, Brett Harrison, Riley Tufte, Jaxon Nelson, Michael Callahan, Drew Bavaro