Wednesday Mailbag: Preseason

Here we go! With the Prospects Challenge and rookie camp now in the rearview, the main training camp kicks off today. As anticipation builds for the upcoming season, questions abound—about the rookies, the prospects, and what lies ahead. That’s why I’ve opened up this mailbag: to dive into your questions and share insights as best I can.

Let’s get right to it!

Joseph asks: Do you see John Farinacci as a legit prospect or a AHL pro?

Thanks, Joseph. I’m a fan of Farinacci—he’s got some NHL-level tools and skills—but his path to the Bruins seems to be narrowing, and he may find better opportunities with another organization. He’s reliable defensively, excels on the penalty kill, and consistently does the small, smart things that coaches appreciate. That said, he’s not likely to be a major offensive contributor. If he had more scoring upside, he might’ve been in the mix for the third-line right wing spot this season—but that’s just not where his strengths lie.

Cindy asks: Why are so many prospects missing from rookie camp, especially James Hagens? You would think the Bruins would want to see how they stack up against each other.

Thanks, Cindy. To start, NCAA players—of which the Bruins have 16—are ineligible under NCAA rules. Once their academic term begins, they cannot miss classes to attend NHL camps without jeopardizing their eligibility. As for the European players, their seasons are already underway, so they’re unavailable to participate. Regarding professional eligibility, it’s based on service to the team as defined by Pension Fund criteria, not by the number of games played or years of service.

Eugene asks: Dom, tell us your picks of the guys to watch and who might be the surprise guys to make a run to the big club. Thanks in advance

Thanks, Eugene. I’d say Michael DiPietro is probably at the top of the list. I believe he’s got the will to push through camp, but if he ends up making the big club straight out of it, that would be the biggest surprise for me.

John asks: Dom, do you really think Marco Sturm can make a difference with this roster? Keep up the good work!

Honestly, it’s hard to imagine things going worse than last season with two different coaches in the mix. Once exhibition games get underway, we’ll get a better sense of how he wants the team to play and what his system looks like. Still, at the end of the day, it’s up to the players to execute. If they don’t. then it’s the roster.

Josh asks: In your prospects report, you mentioned that Russian kid got off to a great start. Could he be a gem?

Kirill Yemelyanov got off to a promising start, but then went scoreless in his next two games. Development isn’t a straight line—he still has a long road ahead. The key is steady progress from season to season. No need to rush things; let’s see how it unfolds. I’ll keep everyone posted as he continues to grow.

Jm Jonesy asks: How do you think Jackson Edward has progressed and what kind of projection do you think he has as a professional hockey player?

Thanks, Jm. Last season was a tough one for Edward. If you haven’t already, I recommend checking out Mark Divver’s article on him. That said, he showed well at rookie camp and had two solid outings at the Prospects Challenge. He’s still got some development ahead, but I see his potential as a sixth or seventh defenseman who can play both sides.

*Note: There were over a dozen questions pertaining to the roster so, I chose one and hope this answers all of them:

Claudio asks: Dom, thank you for the great work you do and keep it up! Do you have a roster projection for the upcoming season and can you share it with us?

Thanks, Claudio. Honestly, I don’t have one. I’d rather wait and see how things shake out in camp—you never really know who’s going to earn a spot. As I see it, DiPietro and Joonas Korpisalo will be competing for the backup role, but even then, I think Korpisalo will get the nod barring a total collapse.

As for the blue line, the top six spots seem pretty much set, which means the real competition will be for that seventh defenseman slot. Jordan Harris, Victor Soderstrom, and Michael Callahan are all in the mix. Harris might have the advantage thanks to his ability to play both sides, but that’s far from a lock.

Up front, I see four roster spots up for grabs—including the thirteenth and fourteenth forward roles. The competition for those slots looks tight, with Fraser Minten, Matthew Poitras, John Beecher, Matej Blumel, Marat Khusnutdinov, Sean Kuraly, and Fabian Lysell all in the mix, in no particular order.

Cory asks: Thanks for taking my question, Dom. Do you think Dans Locmelis can make the roster out of camp? You were pretty high on him since they drafted him.

Thanks, Cory. Yeah, I was. I don’t think he’s quite ready to crack the roster out of camp. He might get a call-up later in the season, but I believe both he and the team would benefit more from him spending time in the AHL and continuing to adjust to the pro game. He looked solid after joining Providence late last season, but I always wonder—how much of that was just adrenaline? There’s no need to rush his development right now.

Jeff says: I’m a healthcare professional in the last stretch before retirement and a dual citizen living in Boulder Colorado but just bought a property near Collingwood (5 minutes from Blue Mountain resort and 5 minutes from Northwind’s beach). I may go there next summer again but will move there with my girlfriend 6/27. About your age and a Bruins fan since Orr and following your great work since the 3 amigos. Wonder if you may someday be interested in hanging out and chatting Bruins? I will spend most of my time skiing at Blue Mountain, or hanging out at my clubhouse hot spring, the many local beaches and going to outdoor concerts and art galleries. I also hike a lot and we do open mics together at the local bars (but I’m not much of a drinker)- I’m a musician and she’s done acting and performs comedy. Best wishes Jeff.

Thanks Jeff. The 3 Amigos podcast was the best! I wish we could have kept it going, but all good things come to an end. I am always up for sitting down and talking Bruins. Collingwood is only about 2 hors away. I am retiring next year so. I can’t say where I’ll be or what I will be doing, but you can always reach out here!