By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Jack Ahcan came to the Providence Bruins before the 2020-2021 season. The young defenseman spent the previous four seasons with St. Cloud State University, the last of which he served as team captain. In 144 games at SCSU, Ahcan scored 21 goals while dishing out 82 assists for 103 total points. The 2020-2021 season was challenging for every team in the league; in a shortened year, Ahcan played in 19 games for Providence, scoring one goal while dishing out nine assists for ten total points. The St. Cloud State alum would also play in three games for Boston without registering a point. Now that you know a little about Ahcan’s previous few seasons: let’s dive into how his 2021-2022 season went.
Ahcan looked to build on his successful shortened 2020-2021 season and start this season off rolling. The young defenseman did just that. In his first 11 games, Ahcan scored one goal while dishing out seven assists for eight total points. He did that while also providing excellent defensive play for the Providence Bruins. The St. Cloud State alum is a quick skater who’s strong in all areas of the ice. He’s the type of player that sticks out on the ice making plays wherever he is. Overall, in 46 games, he scored six goals while dishing out 17 assists for 23 total points. Ahcan would also play six games for the Boston Bruins, netting one goal.
It was a successful second season in Providence for Ahcan. He grew as a player and made a strong case that he should get more playing time in Boston. That’s what you want from a young player in your system. The real question remaining with Ahcan is whether he gets a shot in Boston to start next season or not. I think that the young defenseman proved last season that he deserves playing time in Boston. Ahcan not only provides his defensive play but his offensive play as well. He’s someone who could quarterback the power-play unit. There are times throughout the last few seasons since losing Torey Krug where the Bruins’ power-play looked listless. Jack Ahcan could fix that.
The Boston Bruins have several injuries to their defensive core; as a result, Ahcan will, in all likelihood, start the year in Boston. However, I believe he should stay in Boston even when the team gets healthy. Ahcan has proven enough in his time at Providence and his brief stints with Boston that an extended look is warranted. I am excited to see how he plays next season. He will likely play a big part in the Bruins trying to stay afloat in the playoff picture while their stars get healthy. Beyond next season, I think Ahcan could be a mainstay on their third-line defensive pairing for many years to come. Let me know how you feel about Ahcan. I hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying their summer. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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