By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis and Linktree
For the first time in quite a few years, the Boston Bruins have some buzz surrounding their prospect pool. Matt Poitras is officially sticking around, Johnny Beecher has jumped to the NHL, and Mason Lohrei is getting closer to a call-up. But all the fanfare surrounding Boston’s professional prospects has overshadowed one that may be just as impressive: Oskar Jellvik.
Check out Soul City’s Tony X predictions article about why your team won’t win the 2024 Stanley Cup.
Jellvik was selected with the 149th pick in the 5th round of the 2021 NHL Draft. After being selected by the Bruins, the speedy winger put the world on notice when he posted 26 goals, 29 assists, and 55 points in 41 games for Djurgårdens IF in Sweden’s J20 Nationell.
The Täby, Sweden, native committed to Boston College following his breakout season in his home country. Jellvik could not maintain the hype upon his arrival in Chestnut Hill, mustering only four goals, 13 assists, and 17 points in 34 games in his first year. The BC Eagle came into development camp this summer with questions about whether his game would translate on the smaller North American ice.
Bruins Development Camp saw the likes of Matthew Poitras, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, and other top prospects descend upon Warrior Ice Arena to further establish themselves in the eyes of the coaching staff. Poitras and Lohrei were the main attractions, but Jellvik stood out as one of the best prospects in Boston’s pool.
The Swedish winger showed off his expert speed and agility in development camp, acing the individual skating drills and showing off his quickness in transition. When the coaching staff shrunk the ice and conducted in-zone three-on-three drills, Jellvik held his own in board battles with more physical players and used his skill as a puck handler and passer to create chances in tight spaces. This clip from the prior development camp shows just how silky he is with the puck.
Jellvik’s confidence seemed to rise every day at development camp, and that confidence has persisted into his sophomore season. There is perhaps no player on more of a hot streak than Jellvik to start the 2023-24 NCAA season. After being held off the scoresheet in BC’s first game, the Swedish winger has gone on to pot five goals and add two assists in his last five games. Despite playing on the number one overall Eagles’ third line behind some of college hockey’s most highly touted prospects, Jellvik is tied for second on the team in points.
Jellvik was heralded coming out of the draft as a playmaker and expert passer who used his speed and creativity to open up scoring opportunities for his teammates. The fact that he’s putting the onus on himself and utilizing his excellent shot more than last season tells me his confidence is growing, and he knows how impactful he can be. BC’s first two lines are riddled with first-round picks (four to be exact), and it is Jellvik who, when on the ice, is driving the play, generating offense, and impacting the game where it matters most.
Oskar Jellvik skates on both the power play and penalty kill, has upped his scoring and offensive game, and is still finding ways to set up his teammates for high-danger chances. If he can continue his hot streak and be a reliable scoring option for the Eagles into the NCAA tournament, he could find himself in Boston sooner rather than later.
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