By Mark Allred Follow Me On Twitter @BlackAndGold277
The Boston Bruins announced earlier today that the club has come to terms with forward Ryan Fitzgerald and defenseman Emil Johansson. Both players will report to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League after receiving entry-level contracts.
#NHLBruins sign forward Ryan Fitzgerald & defenseman Emil Johansson to entry-level contracts: https://t.co/fHJ5COd7pY
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 24, 2017
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Ryan Fitzgerald
A native of North Reading, the 5′-10″ 177-pound is a versatile forward spending time at center and the right wing in his four years of collegiate hockey at Boston College. In 152 career games with the Eagles the son of former Bruin Tom Fitzgerald (2005-06, 71 Games) contributed 66-66-132 numbers and finished his time with BC with an exit in last week’s Hockey East Tournament to the hands of the Umass-Lowell Riverhawks.
Boston has signed Ryan Fitzgerald & Emil Johansson to entry level deals. They will join PRO on tryout agreements for the rest of the season.
— Providence Bruins (@AHLBruins) March 24, 2017
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Fitzy had a decent Senior year this season posting 12-19-31 numbers in 34 games. I firmly believe if he didn’t miss 14 games due to injury this season he would’ve passed hiss career high off 47 points he accrued in his junior year (24-23-47). This season the 2013 fourth round selection of the Bruins (120th overall) was named to the NCAA Hockey East All-Tournament Team. The 22-year-old forward has been a part of a decent hockey family as his cousins Jimmy Hayes, Kevin Hayes, and Matthew Tkachuk is currently playing in the league, and former great Kieth Tkachuk retired back in 2010.
Congrats to Ryan Fitzgerald, who is now a Bruin! https://t.co/rMih7XdgVG
— BC Interruption (@bcinterruption) March 24, 2017
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Ryan is an offensively talented forward who may not be big in stature, but you wouldn’t know it by his physical style competing against bigger stronger players. He’a a quick two-way forward with good vision in all three zones of the ice but could use more weight moving forward. He’ll be a solid addition to the depths of the Bruins development system and with signing a two-year entry level contract today has time to showcase his skills and work hard to impress the Bruins Brass to even think of being considered for an NHL roster spot anytime soon.
Proud moment. My son Ryan signed with the Bruins with a chance to live out a childhood dream. Congrats Ry! You earned it. Proud Dad pic.twitter.com/3itrfrNfJU
— Tom Fitzgerald (@tjf1097) March 24, 2017
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Emil Johansson
Emil is a 6′-0″ 190-pound defenseman who’s had a decent season in the Swedish Hockey League with the Djurgårdens IF club. In 49 games this season he’s contributed 7-10-17 numbers and with his three-year entry-level deal done today appears ready to transition his European style defensive game to the North American pro levels of hockey. The 20-year-old Vaxjo, Sweden native was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and although I can’t evaluate his game just from researching his stats, I do have some input during his time in offseason Boston Bruins events.
Johan Ryno tacklar Emil Johansson.
Bilder från @cmoresport #shl #rlgifs #fbkse #difhockey pic.twitter.com/5VIx26lKJR
— RoadLaker (@RoadLaker) March 13, 2017
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The last two years I’ve spent a great deal of time at the Bruins annual development camps which were held at Ristuccia Memorial Arena in Wilmington, Massachusetts and have been very impressed with Johansson’s skill set for a seventh rounder. Even tho these event aren’t game situations and can’t get proper evaluations, I thought whenever he attended camps he was really giving it all to make a serious impression which may have had implications on today’s news.
Björklöven reducerar 2-1, målskytt Emil Johansson #J18gifs #LHFJ18 #IFBJ18 #J18SM pic.twitter.com/Lv1pcGyHDr
— Anton Johansson (@antonj85) March 12, 2017
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I liked his skating with or without the puck and his vision transitioning during four on four and three on three drills. He possesses a nasty shot selection and moves well east to west along the blueline. At six feet he plays a much bigger style to his game and has a knack for finding the pivot points of an opposing players body to knock that player off balance while defending around the crease. Even in development camp, he showed he can throw the body around with devastating hits and is quick to recover to the play afterward.
With 12 games remaining in the AHL regular season, I look forward to seeing these two prospects make their debuts with the Providence and that time could be this weekend as the Baby B’s are set to play three games in a row starting tonight against the Wolf Pack in Hartford, Connecticut.
Kevin Dean says he’s not sure when Ryan Fitzgerald and Emil Johansson will see first game action. Tomorrow is a possibility
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) March 24, 2017
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Thank you for all the info!