By: Nathan Strauss | Follow him on Twitter @NathanPStrauss
It was a busy weekend around the Bruins farm system. The Providence Bruins were back in action, playing on back-to-back nights after a four day break. Bruins prospects across the NCAA and various Major Junior leagues also saw ice time. Who were the standout performers amongst the Bruins farm system? Read on below for the three stars of the weekend amongst Bruins prospects!
THIRD STAR: JESPER FRÖDÉN
It has not been an easy road to the Bruins organization for Jesper Frödén. Undrafted out of Sweden, Frödén spent four seasons playing for AIK in the Allsvenskan, the second tier of Swedish professional hockey, before earning a move to Skellefteå AIK in the top-flight SHL. After winning SHL rookie of the year in 2019, he put up 22 goals and 18 assists in 2020 before signing a one-year, two-way deal with the Bruins this offseason. On Friday against Charlotte, Frödén was the game’s first start after scoring his first and second AHL goals. While the 27-year old might not be your traditional prospect due to his age, there’s plenty of room for appreciation of late bloomers and his performance on Friday earns him his spot as the third star of the week.
SECOND STAR: FABIAN LYSELL
Hopes are high for the 18-year-old Lysell after he was selected in the first round of the 2021 entry draft out of Sweden. After inking him to his ELC, the Bruins assigned him to the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League to help him assimilate to the North American game, and assimilate he has. On Friday, Lysell put up a four-point performance to bring his season total to eight points in his first five WHL games. His excellent shot and passing were on full display, but even more impressive was his overall work rate across all three zones. With a pair of goals and a pair of assists, even more, eyes will be on the young Swede as he continues to develop his game in the WHL.
FIRST STAR: OSKAR STEEN
How Swede it is! With a four-point performance of his own, Oskar Steen makes it a Swedish Sweep for the weekend. Just days after recording his first NHL point on an assist to Jake DeBrusk, the 23-year-old Steen was returned to Providence and immediately made an impact. In the first two periods on Saturday, Steen scored twice and assisted twice, meaning he figured in all four of Providence’s goals in an eventual 6-4 loss to Bridgeport. Both his goals were the result of good movement into the slot and he showcased his impressive shot in style. If his productivity stays the same, it won’t be long before he graces the ice of TD Garden once again.
OTHER NOTABLES
Jack Ahcan built on his strong performances last week with two more assists on Friday night. He continues to get top-pair minutes for Providence and has excelled so far. Three weeks ago, Mason Lohrei scored in his first NCAA game for Ohio State and assisted twice in his second game, but the scoring has cooled down since then. Lohrei took a ten-minute misconduct for yelling at a linesman during this weekend’s performance. Lohrei, drafted in the second round in 2020, led all USHL defensemen in points, goals, assists, and game-winning goals last year. Brett Harrison, the Bruins’ third-rounder from the 2021 draft, has four goals and five assists through his first seven games for Oshawa in the OHL.
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