By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Oskar Steen came to the Bruins last season after being in the sixth round, 165th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. The young forward had played in his home country of Sweden before coming to Providence. 2019-2020 was Steen’s first professional season in North America. His first season was inconsistent, but he ended strong. In 60 games with Providence, he netted seven goals while dishing out 16 assists for 23 total points. Let’s dive into how his 2020-2021 season went.
Due to the global pandemic, Steen started the year playing on loan with IF Bjorkloven of the Swedish Allsvenskan league, which is Sweden’s second-highest league. In 16 games with IF Bjorkloven, he netted 12 goals while dishing out three assists for 15 total points. The young forward had hoped to bring that mojo to Providence to start the year, and that’s just what he did. Steen began the season scoring seven points in his first ten games. He netted three goals while dishing out four assists in that time frame.
With injuries piling up in Boston, the young forward was called up to the big club. He didn’t record a point in his three games in Boston, but he also didn’t look out of place. His scoring pace dropped off after returning to Providence, but it was still a good year for the second-year pro. In 23 games, he netted five goals with dishing out six assists for 11 total points. That’s a .48 point per game total. That’s up from his .38 point per game total from last season. Steen is seen as a gritty forward with good offensive skill. He’s a little undersized, but he’s not afraid to battle in the dirty areas of the ice to make a play.
One thing the Bruins wanted Steen to work on this season was his consistency. The young forward was able to progress nicely in this regard. He took a step forward as a prospect, and that’s what a team wants each year. The thing that impressed me most with Steen was his offensive ability. It’s top-notch. The only question that remains with Steen is, what happens next? That will be hard to pinpoint. The Boston Bruins recently made a few signings that upgrade their bottom-six. That’s probably where the young forward could potentially fit at this point in his development.
A combination of the new signings and where Steen currently sits probably means that he spends the entire season in Providence next year, with the potential for an emergency call-up if needed. Beyond the upcoming season, Steen could be a bottom to middle-six forward with Boston. His offensive ability and willingness to play in the dirty areas of the ice would help out any team. It’s hard to say if the young forwards’ future is in Boston. I could see a scenario where he both is and isn’t in their long-term plan. Either way, he’s fun to watch and someone you should keep an eye on. I hope everyone is enjoying the offseason. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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