(Photo credit: Jessica Rinaldi)

By: Andrew Taverna | Follow me on Twitter @andrewtaverna

The Boston Bruins with the 58th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft have selected Mason Lohrei. Lohrei is a 19-year-old defenseman from Verona, WI. Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 201 pounds played last season for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL. Next season he will be playing for The Ohio State University.

Lohrei, who is considered a two-way defenseman, had 37 points in 48 games during his last season, making him a focal point of the Green Bay defense. Lohrei is known for being a poised young defenseman who does not shy away from controlling the puck. His ability to pass the puck, combined with a high hockey IQ, appears to put him in a position to contribute offensively.

On the defensive side, Lohrei stood out for his talents, playing the body. As a defenseman, he has the ability to exploit the aggressiveness of checkers. According to Steve Kournianos, “This kid has an incredibly high panic threshold.”

Lohrei generates a lot of power while limiting movement, suggesting he has a strong upper-body and can play a physical game. During his time with Green Bay, he easily played over 20 minutes a game and was used in most special-teams situations. The Bruins got a highly poised, left-shot defenseman who is still likely a few years away from playing in the NHL but appears to have big upside potential.