By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis and Linktree
With 2024 finally upon us, I thought it would be a good idea to update Bruins fans everywhere on how their team’s prospects have faired across the first half(ish) of this season. In two separate articles, I’ll count down the top 20 prospects in the Boston Bruins system. Here are numbers 11-20:
20. Marc McLaughlin
Age: 24
Position: Forward
Stats: 33GP, 4G, 2A, 6Pts
League: AHL
Team: Providence Bruins
McLaughlin is a versatile forward with strong positioning and a solid defensive game. He can play both center and wing and is capable of defending all over his own zone. He’s a tenacious forechecker who uses leverage and stick position to create turnovers in the offensive zone. His offensive game is a bit limited, but he’s shown that he can hold his own at the NHL level in a bottom-six role.
19. Jackson Edward
Age: 19
Position: Defenseman
League: OHL
Team: London Knights
Stats: 34GP, 5G, 10A, 15Pts
Edward is someone Bruins fans will LOVE if he makes it to the NHL. He plays a heavy, aggressive, and vicious game, throwing heavy checks and punishing forecheckers every chance he gets. He’s improved his shot and overall offense this season, a major development for both the player and the organization. If he solidifies his already impressive defensive game and learns when to use his physical game, he could be a fan favorite sooner rather than later.
18. Ryan Walsh
Age: 20
Position: Forward
League: NCAA
Team: Cornell Big Red
Stats: 13GP, 5G, 4A, 9Pts
Walsh is somebody who just flat-out knows how to pile up points. He’s been a weapon on the powerplay for Cornell this season and has shown off his ability to score in different ways. He needs to round out his overall offensive game to become more of a contributor, but when he has opportunities to score, he knows how to bury the puck.
17. Jonathan Myrenberg
Age: 20
Position: Defenseman
League: SHL
Team: Linköping HC
Stats: 29GP, 1G, 7A, 8Pts
Myrenberg is a smooth-skating defenseman who handles the puck well. The 20-year-old has elevated his game in his second season in the Swedish Hockey League, logging more minutes and playing against superior competition. He’s added a bit of an offensive touch this season, but what’s most impressive is how well he’s defended in his own zone, especially considering he’s one of the younger players in the league. His skating ability makes him a threat in transition and helps him outwork forecheckers in his own zone. He’s a prospect that could rise up the ranks even further as the season goes on.
16. Beckett Hendrickson
Age: 18
League: USHL
Position: Forward
Team: Sioux Falls Stampede
Stats: 25GP, 8G, 15A, 23Pts
Hendrickson was touted as one of the best passers coming into the 2023 draft and he’s proven the prognosticators correct with his 15 assists thus far in the USHL. He has great patience, vision, and accuracy with his passing which makes him a promising offensive talent. What Hendrickson’s stats don’t show is how complete of a hockey player he is. He has good size (6’2″) and speed and is excellent when it comes to winning puck battles. He’s also a responsible defensive center who has no issue playing the 200-foot game. He’s still raw, but Hendrickson has the tools to be a solid pro.
15. Riley Duran
Age: 21
Position: Forward
League: NCAA
Team: Providence Friars
Stats: 17GP, 5G, 3A, 8Pts
Riley Duran is one of those guys who seems destined to be a Bruin. He was born and raised in Woburn, MA, and spent his whole life playing hockey in New England. Although his offense hasn’t taken off the way I thought it would this season, Duran is built for a fourth-line energy role. At 6’2″, 180 lbs, Duran has all of the size and tenacity of a prototypical checking forward. He also has impressive speed and high-motor which allow him to wreak havoc on the forecheck and create problems in front of the opposing goal. The offensive touch hasn’t been consistent, but he’s another player with the tools to compete for an NHL spot.
14. Trevor Kuntar
Age: 22
Position: Forward
League: AHL
Team: Providence Bruins
Stats: 33GP, 4G, 7A, 11Pts
Trevor Kuntar is an absolute joy to watch. He plays a high-octane game where he seems to be constantly moving, either making plays with the puck in tight or throwing hits on the forecheck. His numbers are a bit deceiving because he’s played a bottom-six role in Providence, but the former BC Eagle has a great shot that he’s able to get off quickly and in traffic. He is another high-motor, high-emotion player who gives his all every shift and is noticeable whenever he’s on the ice. He’s excellent when the puck is on his stick, using his crafty hands to weave through defenders and out of trouble whenever defenders bear down on him. My hope is that he gets more offensive opportunities in 2024 so he can show off his shooting and playmaking abilities.
13. Chris Pelosi
Age: 18
Position: Forward
League: USHL
Team: Sioux Falls Stampede
Stats: 25GP, 13G, 13A, 26Pts
Chris Pelosi has exploded for the Sioux Falls Stampede this season, and there’s a lot to like about his offensive game. He’s able to score in a multitude of ways, whether he’s in his one-timer spot on the powerplay, cleaning up loose pucks in front of the net, or lighting the lamp in transition. He stood out in his first stint at Bruins Development Camp this summer, not only competing but keeping up with skaters much older and more mature than him. He has a really well-rounded offensive game that includes a strength/skill combination that allows him to be effective in so many ways.
12. Andre Gasseau
Age: 20
Position: Forward
League: NCAA
Team: Boston College Eagles
Stats: 17GP, 5G, 7A, 12Pts
Andre Gasseau is a massive power forward with the kind of passing/scoring touch that NHL scouts die for. The 6’4″ sophomore has been a top-sox staple at Boston College for two years, honing his shot and improving his overall offensive awareness. He’s a great forechecker who knows how to use his body to punish defenders and pry pucks loose for his teammates. His vision is impressive, especially when he’s acting as a net-front presence or working below the goal line. Combine those skills with a powerful shot and you have the potential for a top-six forward in the mix. He needs to improve his skating, but his consistent improvement and raw tools make him an exciting prospect for the Bruins.
11. Dans Locmelis
Age: 19
Position: Forward
League: NCAA
Team: UMass Minutemen
Stats: 12GP, 4G, 1A, 5Pts
Locmelis is a two-way center who lit up the J20 Nationell (59 points in 44 games) last season before coming to Massachusetts for college hockey. The Latvian center is one of the smartest skaters in Boston’s prospect pool, able to anticipate plays in his own zone and create scoring chances when on the attack. Locmelis is one of the best passers in the system and has been a standout for Team Latvia at the IIHF World Junior Championship. This is his first season on North American ice, which explains why his numbers are down following his impressive 2022-23 season. Expect him to come on late this season and break out in the Hockey East next season, firmly cementing himself as a top-10 prospect for the Bruins.
Leave a Reply