By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis and Linktree
Training camp is finally here, and as the regular season approaches, we inch ever closer to the end of our top-ten prospect ranking. From here on out, every player on this list has at least a chance (however minuscule) to earn a roster spot at some point this season. We started the top five with Brett Harrison, and coming in as the number four Bruins prospect is Georgii Merkulov.
Merkulov, a natural center, followed in the footsteps of fellow prospects Luke Toporowski, Marc McLaughlin, and most recently, John Farinacci, joining the Boston Bruins as an NCAA free agent. The Ryazan, Russia native, played his first year of North American hockey for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL in the 2020-21 season. He was impressive in that campaign, scoring 14 goals, 26 assists, and 40 points in 30 games. He then committed to Ohio State, where he played alongside fellow Bruins prospect Mason Lohrei. As a freshman with the Buckeyes, Merkulov posted 20 goals, 14 assists, and 34 points in 36 games.
The Bruins brass liked what they saw and signed him to a three-year contract on April 9, 2022. He finished the 2021-22 season in Providence and put up one goal and five assists in 8 games. In his first entire AHL season, Merkulov came into his own and established himself as an elite prospect, erupting for 24 goals, 31 assists, and 55 points in 67 games.
Merkulov is such an exciting prospect because of what he can do in the offensive zone. He boasts incredibly soft hands, allowing him to maintain puck possession in tight spaces and create scoring chances where others can’t. He’s quick enough to use his speed to beat players and has the hand-eye coordination to stickhandle through them when the pressure ramps up.
The 5′ 11″ center constantly looks to make plays when the puck is on his stick. He’s unselfish and always has his head up, looking for an open teammate. He has excellent vision, allowing him to zip the puck into tight windows and set others up for quality scoring chances. He’s a playmaker at heart and uses his pass-first mentality to generate offense every chance.
I know I spent the majority of my last article raving about Brett Harrison’s shot, but Merkulov can absolutely fire pucks. He scored 11 goals on the powerplay last season, most of which are due to his howitzer of a one-timer. His slap shot is ready for the pro game, and his hands allow him to thrive on breakaways and in shootouts. He often looks to pass first, but when he does use his shot, it can be lethal.
The downsides to Merkulov’s game come in the defensive zone and with his physical tools. He isn’t particularly big and can be easily moved off pucks by larger defenders. This becomes a hindrance both on the forecheck and in defensive zone coverage. His defensive game took some steps forward last season, and but he still needs more seasoning to truly improve his 200-foot game.
I know what everyone is wondering: is Merkulov ready to make an impact at the NHL level? I think he needs another season in the AHL to round out his game, but he should make at least a few appearances with the Bruins in their centennial season. The bottom line is that Merkulov has the tools to be a productive top-six center in the NHL. If he can put on some muscle and round out his defensive game, I think Boston may have found one of its future centers.
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