Early in the season, some Bruins prospects in Europe struggled to find consistent ice time — with the notable exception of Oscar Olsson, and to a lesser extent Matvei Kotkov. Most were bouncing between teams and shuttling up and down from junior to their pro clubs, making it tough for anyone to settle into a rhythm.
Now, for the most part, it appears things have settled down.
Liam Pettersson – Djurgardens IF – U20 Nationell
Djurgardens eked out a 2–1 win over Orebro on Thursday in SHL action. Pettersson didn’t factor into the scoring, finishing with one shot on goal from the third pair while logging 10:46 of ice time.
Djurgardens cruised past Linkoping HC 5–1 on Saturday in SHL play, but it was another quiet night for Pettersson. He was held off the scoresheet and remains without a point through seven games with the big club. Skating once again on the third pair, he finished with one shot on goal, a plus‑1 rating, and 9:53 of ice time.
After missing most of last season due to injury, it looks like Pettersson has finally carved out a place for himself with the pro club. For a young defenseman, this kind of slow, steady runway might be exactly what his development needs.
Kirill Yemelyanov, Matvei Kotkov – Loko Yaroslav – KHL
Loko skated to a 2–0 win over Ak Bars on Monday. After logging just two shifts over the previous two weeks, Yemelyanov saw a more regular workload, seeing some time on the top line and finishing with 10:36 of ice time at even strength and zeros across the board. Kotkov also posted zeros, skating 12:48 and getting two and a half minutes of power‑play time in the win.
Loko rolled to a 6–1 win over Dinamo Minsk on Saturday. Kotkov was held off the scoresheet, finished without a shot on goal, and posted a plus‑1 in 10:31 of ice time. Yemelyanov, meanwhile, picked up his first KHL point with a primary assist, adding three shots on goal and a plus‑1 rating in 12:29 of action.
KHL clubs aren’t typically generous when it comes to giving young, NHL‑drafted prospects meaningful minutes, but Lokomotiv—and head coach Dmitry Kvartalnov—deserve full marks for recognizing the value Kotkov and Yemelyanov bring to their lineup. It’s a refreshing departure from the norm and a clear sign the organization sees real upside in letting their youth play.
Nils Bartholdsson – Rogle BK – U20 Nationell
Rögle picked up a 3–2 win over HC Davos on Tuesday in Champions League play. After being shut out in their first two CHL games, they’ve responded impressively, winning their last three by a combined 12–2 margin and posting a pair of shutouts along the way. Bartholdsson didn’t factor into the scoring, finishing with two shots on goal and 14:24 of ice time. The win guaranteed Rogle a playoff spot.
Back in SHL action on Thursday, Rogle skated to a 4-3 win over HV71. Bartholdsson dressed but did not see any time on ice.
Back in U20 Nationell action on Saturday, Bartholdsson wasted no time making his presence felt. Rogle rolled past BIK Karlskoga 7–2, and he was at the center of it, piling up two goals and three assists in his first U20 appearance since opening night. It was the kind of immediate impact that reminds you just how dynamic he can be when he’s dropped back into that environment.
The reality is this: Bartholdsson isn’t quite ready for SHL minutes, but he’s clearly too advanced for U20 Nationell. The challenge is that Rogle is without an affiliate in HockeyEttan or HockeyAllsvenskan, there’s no middle ground for his development. It’s either pro hockey or junior hockey, with nothing in between, and at this stage it’s fair to question which option actually serves his growth best.
Oscar Olsson – Orebro HK – U20 Nationell
Orebro handled business on Saturday, rolling past Sodertalje SK 5–2, and it didn’t take long for Olsson to make his mark. He opened the scoring with a power‑play strike from the right faceoff circle—his fifth goal of the season. That brings him to five goals and five assists through the first 11 games, a strong early‑season pace for the young forward. He finished the game a minus-1 and is just plus-1 on the season.
Olsson kept his foot on the gas Saturday, driving the offense yet again as Orebro skated to a 5–3 win over Linkoping. He buried a pair, starting with a sequence that began on the defensive end and turned into a highlight the other way — taking a pass at the blue line, walking a defender, and lifting a backhander over the goalie. His second came off a hard net‑front effort, scooping up a rebound and stuffing it home.
The only blemish was discipline. He racked up five minor penalties, and his 24 penalty minutes on the season now sit near the top of the league.
Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell
HV71 edged Tingsryds AIF 5–4 in a marathon shootout on Thursday — a 12‑round thriller in which both goaltenders turned aside every attempt until the final shooter. Blanar delivered a standout performance, scoring twice at even strength and adding an assist to cap off an impressive night. He was a plus-3 on the day and had his shootout attempt stopped. The highlight though wasn’t the goals, but the setup he made, which displayed his puck skills.
Cole Spicer – Western Michigan
Western Michigan opened its season in style Thursday, rolling to a 6–0 win over Ferris State. It was encouraging to see Spicer earn an expanded role on the second line, even if he didn’t factor into the scoring. He finished without a shot on goal but went 13‑for‑19 on draws, showing his value in the faceoff circle.
Western Michigan took the rematch on Saturday in decisive fashion, rolling to a 5–1 victory and completing the weekend sweep. Spicer was held off the scoresheet for a second straight game, but he wasn’t quiet—he generated five shots on goal and pushed play with 18:41 of ice time. He finished 9-for-20 on draws.
Casper Nassen – Lake Superior State
Lake Superior opened its season Thursday with a rough 7–4 loss to Lindenwood, but Nassen — now in his first year with the program after two seasons at Miami — delivered a strong individual debut. He picked up a pair of assists, one on the opening goal and another to put the Lakers up 3–1, before the game ultimately slipped away. Nassen needs a big year to reset his trajectory, and this was the kind of start that can help him get there.
Lake Superior answered back on Saturday, grinding out a 4–3 victory in the rematch. Nassen set the tone early, picking up an assist in the opening period on the goal that pushed the Lakers ahead 2–0. Midway through the second, he added a highlight of his own—his first goal of the season—redirecting a power‑play feed while left completely unmarked to the goaltender’s right, stretching the lead to 3–1. He finished as one of four Lakers who paced the team with three shots on goal.
William Zellers, Cooper Simpson – University of North Dakota
North Dakota opened its season with a 3–2 win over Bemidji State on Friday, a night that featured a milestone and a standout performance from two of its young forwards. Cooper Simpson picked up his first NCAA point with an assist, logging 12:32 of ice time and finishing without a shot on goal. But the game belonged to Will Zellers, who delivered exactly what he’s known for—impact. He registered three assists, including a highlight‑reel setup while falling to his stomach to set up Cole Reschney for a finish. Zellers capped his night with a game‑high five shots on goal and 17:32 of ice time, setting the tone for North Dakota’s opener.
North Dakota made it a weekend sweep, edging Bemidji State 4–3 on Saturday, and once again it turned into the Will Zellers show. He scored the first two goals of the night—one on a 5‑on‑3 and the other on a 5‑on‑4—both carbon‑copy one‑timers from the right faceoff dot. He later added an assist on UND’s third goal, giving him a hand in six of the team’s seven goals on the season. Zellers finished with four shots on goal and 18:45 of ice time. Simpson went without a point, posting a minus‑1 with two shots on goal in 11:51 of action.
Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore, Leo Henriquez – Boston College
Boston College dropped its season opener 3–2 to Alaska, unable to climb all the way back after falling behind 3–1. Dean Letourneau delivered the highlight of the night, hammering a one‑timer from a sharp angle on the left side—nearly on the goal line—to pull the Eagles within one. It was as close as BC would get.
Letourneau was a force throughout, posting a game‑high seven shots on goal, logging 22:03 of ice time, and going 11‑for‑17 on draws. Will Moore finished without a point, adding two shots in 10:03 of action, while Kristian Kostadinski was minus‑1 with four shots and 20:53 TOI. Leo Henriquez did not play.
Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac pushed its record to 3–0 on Friday, grinding out a 2–1 win over Maine and continuing its sharp start to the season. Elliott Groenewold remained a driving force on the back end, helping spark the tying goal after the Bobcats were stunned early by a shorthanded marker. He logged 22:43 and, after leading the nation in plus/minus last year, already sits tied for second at plus‑6—an early reminder of how reliable he is in his own zone. Pelosi went pointless with one shot on goal, finishing 11‑for‑17 on draws in 21:04 of ice time.
Quinnipiac took its first loss of the season on Saturday, falling 5–3 to Maine in the rematch. Neither Pelosi nor Groenewold found the scoresheet. Pelosi finished minus‑1 with one shot on goal, logging 17:31 and going 4‑for‑8 on draws. Groenewold was also minus‑1, held without a shot, and led all Bobcats skaters with 21:59 of ice time.
Jonathan Morello – Boston University
BU was off last week but beat Brown 3-1 un an exhibition game.
Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota
Off last week.
Ryan Walsh – Cornell University
Season begins October 30.
Cullen McCrate – Brantford Bulldogs – OHL
Brantford got McCrate back in the lineup on Saturday after he missed three games, but the Bulldogs dropped their second straight, falling 4–2 to the Kingston Frontenacs. McCrate made an early impact, helping set up the opening goal just 1:24 into the game, but things went downhill for Brantford from there. He finished the night minus‑2 with two shots on goal in the loss.
Brantford slipped back into the loss column on Sunday, falling 4–3 in a shootout to the Ottawa 67’s. McCrate didn’t hit the scoresheet but delivered an active night, finishing plus‑1 with three shots on goal and dropping the gloves for his first OHL fight, earning an instigator and a misconduct in the process.
Cole Chandler – Cape Breton – QMJHL
Cape Breton’s record slipped to 2‑2‑3 after a 4–2 loss to Chicoutimi on Friday, a far slower start than they wanted — or most expected. After opening the year with six points in his first four games, Chandler’s slump continued as he was held off the scoresheet again. What stands out most is his uncharacteristically low 5.3 percent shooting rate, well below his career norm.
Cape Breton just can’t buy a win and on Saturday fell 4-2 to Quebec, dropping them to 2-3-3 on the season. Chandler did not register a point for the fourth consecutive game after a hot start to the season. He had 1 SOG and was 3 for 5 on the dot.
Jacob Vandeven – London Knights – OHL
London dropped its second straight game Friday night, falling 4–3 in a shootout to the Erie Otters. Vandeven is still searching for his first point of the season, but what continues to jump off the page is his defensive impact for a forward‑turned‑defenseman. He leads all OHL blueliners with a plus‑9 — and sits second overall league‑wide — a testament to how reliably he’s driving play in the right direction.
Mike Stubbs of Forest City Sports had a chat with Vandeven on moving from forward to defense and being draft by the Bruins. Give it a read.
Yuri Ivanov – Spartak – MHL
On Monday, Ivanov stopped all 31 shots he faced to record the shutout and earn his fourth win of the season with Spartak’s top junior club as Spartak defeated Taifun 3-0. He was especially strong in the third period and made a couple of highlight reel saves and stopping all 14 shots he faced as Taifun tried to mount a comeback.
On Friday, he returned to the MHA squad and turned in another strong performance, stopping 34 of the 36 shots he faced in a 2–1 loss — this time going head‑to‑head with another Ivanov (Mikhail, no relation) at the opposite end. It’s hard to wrap your head around a goaltender carrying a 0.53 goals‑against average and a .981 save percentage yet owning a losing record, but that’s exactly the situation for Ivanov right now. It’s been lights‑out goaltending without the results to match.
Providence Bruins
Providence’s early‑season frustrations lingered Friday in a 2–0 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack, a game that once again showcased strong goaltending but not nearly enough finish. Jiri Patera turned aside 23 of 24 shots and kept the Bruins within striking distance, yet the offense couldn’t cash in despite a 28–25 edge in shots. The power play proved costly, going 0‑for‑7 and leaving multiple chances on the table. Through the opening stretch of the season, Providence’s structure has held, their netminding has delivered, but the scoring touch remains missing.
Providence earned their first win of the season Saturday, led by a Mikey Eyssimont hat trick and goaltender Simon Zajicek getting credited for a goal as they defeated the Charlotte Checkers 6-2. Brendan Gaunce also scored for Providence and Lukas Reichel had the game winner. Henri Jokiharju had a pair of assists as he awaits a possible trade to get back to the NHL. Zajicek stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced while Providence managed 32 shots of their own.
Providence was one-and-done wins as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins handled them rather easily with a 6-2 win on Sunday. They were already down 5-0 when Maxence Guenette scored his first of the season 5 minutes into the third period. Alex Steeves and Gaunce would earn the assists.
The Penguins would get that back and Riley Duran would score his first of the season – a powerplay goal – with 2:39 remaining. Lukas Reichel and Jordan Harris would earn their first assists of the season on the goal. Patera stopped 29 of 35 shots in the loss.
Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a column called “Benchrates” This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created an algorithm that computes values in real time. The value you see is the cap hit value they’ve earned this season to date. Give them a look and check out their site.
Coming up this week:
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