Boston Bruins Prospect Update Week Ending: March 20, 2022

By: Dominic Tiano | Follow me on Twitter @dominictiano

I’m going, to begin with, a little Jack Studnicka versus Fabian Lysell comparison because I saw something on a Boston Bruins chat board that had me thinking: Do some people really think like this?

A little background: There is a segment of fans that believe Lysell is untouchable and that he should not be traded. Regardless of how you feel about it, that’s not the point here. A poster (who I shall not name, and honestly, I have a lot of respect for him) said that Lysell should be traded and posed this: Many fans are willing to trade Studnicka, but Studnicka had better numbers in his last year in the CHL than Lysell did.

The difference is that Studnicka’s last year in the CHL was also his fourth season, and Lysell hasn’t even finished his first season. Furthermore, Studnicka’s last CHL season was his 19-year-old season, while Lysell’s was his 18-year-old season. You really should be comparing 16-year-old season to 16-year-old season, 17 to 17, and so on. Not to mention that this is Lysell’s first season in North America, adjusting to the smaller ice surface, customs, food, and so on.

So, with the help of the great people over at Elite Prospects, that information is readily available for those with a membership. Let’s start by comparing their 16-year-old seasons.

As you can see, Studnicka entered the OHL as a 16-year-old and represented Canada at the World Hockey Championship Under-17. Lysell also appeared at the WHC U-17 (where he actually outproduced Studnicka in one fewer game), But it’s his play in Sweden that you must take note of. He was so good that he moved up from the J18 Allsvenskan to the J18 Elit to the J20 Super Elit in a matter of months.

Let’s look at their respective 17-year-old seasons.

Studnicka was in his second season in the OHL, and it was a very good season. He also represented Canada at the World Junior Championship Under-18. Lysell was playing Junior in Sweden (same league as Oskar Jellvik) and was so good that he got called up to play professionally as a 17-year-old in the SHL. Lysell also played at the WJC U-18 and outproduced Studnicka.

Finally, let’s look at their 18-year-old seasons, which is this season for Lysell.

Even if Lysell reached his projected 62 points on the season, he would fall 10 points back of Studnicka. But he will also have played in 12 fewer games. On a points-per-game basis, Lysell would be at 1.15, while Studnicka finished with 1.09 points per game. All for a guy living away from home, in a new country, different game, and ice surface.

I’m sure none of this needed explaining to all the long-time hockey fans reading, but in the event, there is someone new to the game reading (actually, I know there is), maybe this will help a little.

Speaking of Jellvik, his Djurgardens IF squad is set to begin their best of three playoff series (known as the J20 Slutspel) on March 23, 2022.  

Peter Cehlarik began his second-round playoff series on Friday, and his fifth-place Avangard squad thrashed first place Metallurg MG 8-1 in game one. Cehlarik had four helpers in the game. Yesterday (Sunday), they met in game two, and Cehlarik had two assists in a 7-5 victory helping his squad take a 2-0 series lead.

Coming up on Thursday, Linus Arnesson and Djurgardens IF will play their final SHL regular-season game. They will then play in a relegation round to determine who gets demoted for next season. Arnesson is under contract with Djurgardens until the end of the 2023-24 season, and unless the Bruins lure him to North America, he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the NHL on June 1, 2022. I can tell you now; he is staying in Sweden.

Well deserved honor for Ty Gallagher. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie squad on Friday. Mason Lohrei was named to the BIG TEN All-Freshman Team. Outstanding accomplishments for both, and a big congratulations to both of them.

On Saturday, John Beecher assisted on the goal that put Michigan ahead to stay against Minnesota in the BIG TEN Championship game. Michigan took the game 4-3, with Beecher putting in a solid performance at both ends of the ice.

Quinn Olson was held off the scoresheet in Minnesota-Duluth’s 3-0 win over Western Michigan in the NCHC Final.

Providence Bruins Player Stats

Providence Bruins Goalie Stats

Maine Mariners Stats

Coming up this week:

*If necessary

AROUND THE GLOBE

WHO’S HOT:

Peter Cehlarik has a three-game point streak going in the playoffs with six assists and 19 points in eight playoffs games.

Oskar Jellvik enters the playoffs with 11 points in his last five games and 18 in his previous ten.

John Beecher enters the NCAA 16 with two goals and two assists in his last five games. Great news for him.

Ryan Mast has a four-game point streak going – his longest of the season – with five assists.

WHO’S WARM:

Andre Gasseau has a goal and an assist in his last five games.

Brett Harrison ended a three-game point streak with two assists on Saturday.

Fabian Lysell has a two-game point streak and six points in his last five games and 12 in his last ten games.

WHO’S COLD:

Mason Langenbrunner is on a seven-game pointless streak, one short of his season-high of eight games way back to October 16 thru November 5, 2021.

Matias Mantykivi ended a five-game pointless streak with an assist Saturday but was held off the sheet Sunday. With one game remaining in the season, his Ilves team still has a shot at first place but will need some help.

Follow me on Twitter @dominictiano