By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis & Jason Cooke | Follow me on Twitter @cookejournalism
The 2024 Bruins Development Camp is in the books, and it’s officially time for some recap and review. In total, 31 skaters suited up at Warrior Ice Arena, hoping to impress Boston’s development staff and make their mark on the Bruins faithful. Black N’ Gold Productions contributor Jason Cooke and I were in the building for each day of camp, noting who impressed, who disappointed, and who fans should be excited for. Here’s what we saw from the 11 defensemen invited to camp:
Drew Bavaro
Age: 24
Draft: Free Agent Signing
2023-24 Team: Notre Dame (NCAA)
2023-24 Stats: 35GP, 10G, 10A, 20 Pts
2024-25 Team: Providence Bruins
Calautti: Bavaro had somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde camp, in my opinion. He showed off some of the tools the Bruins like their defenseman: good size, physicality, tenacity in the corners, and not allowing forwards to get inside ice. However, the finesse side of the game seemed to elude him at times. He struggled to handle pucks on the boards and wasn’t as crisp as he’d like to be on passes. He certainly had some bright moments, like a particularly sharp wrister for a goal during the three-on-three scrimmage, but there are certain things to work on. I will say that he has the strength and athleticism for Providence and has a great chance to improve his standing in the organization this season.
Cooke: I don’t think Bavaro had the showing he hoped for at development camp following a short ATO stint in Providence last season. He seemingly struggled in a few of the skating drills—which obviously isn’t the end all be all—but minor mishaps continued into the scrimmage on Thursday. Little things like not catching passes or letting players slip behind him plagued his camp, which ultimately overshadowed a lot of the good things he was able to show. He’s physical and hard to play against, but some more time in Providence is necessary to iron out some of those wrinkles. I wouldn’t count him out just yet, because let’s face it. Judging a player through four days of camp–and just one short scrimmage–doesn’t tell the whole story.
Frederic Brunet
Age: 20
Draft: 2022 5th round pick, 132nd overall
2023-24 Team: Providence Bruins (AHL)
2023-24 Stats: 48GP, 2G, 10A, 12 Pts
2024-25 Team: Providence Bruins (AHL)
Calautti: One thing that always stands out to me when I watch Frederic Brunet is how crisp, dynamic, and smooth of a skater he is. When he walks the blueline, he puts on a clinic and can find gaps through traffic to get pucks on the net from the point. Like so many prospects, Brunet needs to work on putting on muscle and getting stronger. He made a concerted effort to be more physical in battle drills but still had a tough time with stronger forwards. He will see significant ice time in Providence and has a great chance to showcase his offensive talents and work on his defensive game this season.
Cooke: Brunet was at the top of the pack regarding defensemen who stood out. He is a smooth skater who enjoys having the puck on his stick, impressed throughout camp, and is someone who could make a massive leap down in Providence this season.
Jackson Edward
Age: 20
Draft: 2020 7th round pick, 200th overall
2023-24 Team: London Knights (OHL)
2023-24 Stats: 59GP, 7G, 23A, 30 Pts
2024-25 Team: Providence Bruins (AHL)
Calautti: I love Jackson Edward’s game, and it’s evident that the Boston Bruins do as well. Edward plays a violent game, throwing punishing checks whenever he gets the opportunity and relishing the chance to battle opponents in the corners and behind the net. You can tell the organization is high on him based on the amount of attention he got from the coaching staff throughout the week. He’s a very instinctual defender, always putting himself in an excellent position to take away angles and separate opponents from the puck. He’s athletic, strong, and (more than) willing to play the type of hard-nosed defensive game required by an NHL defenseman. His offensive game has improved every season he’s been in the OHL, and with a season in Providence on the horizon, he’ll have a chance to show off how he’s grown.
Cooke: I wouldn’t be surprised if Edward found himself donning the spoked B sometime in the near future. The picture perfect Bruins blueliner, Edwards possesses all the qualities Boston looks for in a defenseman. He plays with a snarl, and was by far the most physical presence on the ice all week. There were even instances where he was getting into it with players in the corner (which can be looked at two different ways) but the compete level was clearly there. In 178 games with the London Knights, he’s racked up a whopping 253 penalty minutes, so that moxie evidently is at the nucleus of his game. If Edward can learn to channel his assertiveness at the right time, he’ll be a scary player at the NHL level. He’ll likely join Providence next season to make his pro debut.
Ty Gallagher
Age: 21
Draft: 2021 7th round pick, 217th overall
2023-24 Team: Boston University (NCAA)
2023-24 Stats: 37GP, 0G, 5A, 5 Pts
2024-25 Team: Colorado College (NCAA)
Calautti: Ty Gallagher had a tough season at Boston University. He was relegated to the seventh defenseman role and sacrificed significant ice time on the team’s journey to the Frozen Four. He came into camp with an obvious chip on his shoulder, showing off how much of a dynamic offensive defenseman he can be. He thrived when walking the blueline, side-stepping defenders and obstacles while lasering hard and accurate shots on net. He made a great first pass and displayed more confidence while moving with the puck. He transferred to Colorado for what could be his last collegiate season and has a chance to revamp his standing in the organization with a good season.
Cooke: To put it bluntly, I really liked Gallagher all week at camp. He was smooth, responsible, and smart with the puck on his stick, pairing those qualities with quite the powerful slap shot. After the 2021 draft pick watched his playing time dwindle on a star-studded Boston University roster last season, he transferred to Colorado College, where I’d look for him to put up a fair share of production. If so, he could be a candidate for an entry-level contract at the conclusion of his senior year.
Elliott Groenewold
Age: 18
Draft: 2024 4th round pick, 110th overall
2023-24 Team: Cedar Rapids (USHL)
2023-24 Stats: 57GP, 5G, 11A, 16 Pts
2024-25 Team: Quinnipiac (NCAA)
Calautti: Groenewold was one of the bigger surprises for me at camp this week. He’s an excellent skater for a defenseman and has the type of gifted footwork that makes him a potentially high-upside prospect for Boston. He has an incredible ability to close on opposing forwards quickly and a surprising lateral quickness that allows him to staple himself to forwards who try to escape. He’s confident in his skating and has all the early hallmarks of a solid defender. His offensive game was better than expected, and he’s someone all Bruins fans should be excited about.
Cooke: Groenewold made his introductory development camp with the Bruins a good one. A smooth skater, the newly-named Bruin stood out among the defense group almost immediately. He handled the puck well under pressure and showcased a blistering wrist shot on multiple occasions. He’s someone who really impressed in three-on-three action, and I could see the 18-year-old excelling in the college ranks.
Loke Johansson
Age: 18
Draft: 2024 6th round pick, 186th overall
2023-24 Team: AIK (J20 Nationell)
2023-24 Stats: 33GP, 5G, 8A, 13 Pts
2024-25 Team: AIK (J20 Nationell)
Calautti: If Boston drafted Groenewold for his skating, then they drafted Johansson for his strength. I was amazed by how strong Loke Johansson was on his stick, even though he was only 18. He has the kind of raw physical athleticism that puts him ahead of some of his peers when it comes to battle drills. His skating is nothing to sneeze at, as he showed some surprising finesse in the edgework drills. It’ll be long before he makes waves at the pro level, but fans should be excited about his potential.
Cooke: For a player of his stature, the 6’3″ Johansson moved really well throughout development camp. He’s a typical hard-nosed defenseman Don Sweeney is attracted to, and he showed his ability to be physical and relentless on pucks in the corners. I do think his offensive game, however, could take some time to develop. It was recently reported that he will play in the QMJHL next season.
Kristian Kostadinski
Age: 19
Draft: 2023 7th round pick, 220th overall
2023-24 Team: Frolunda (J20 Nationell)
2023-24 Stats: 46GP, 3G, 15A, 18 Pts
2024-25 Team: TBD (USHL or NCAA)
Calautti: Dean Letourneau may have been the tallest player at development camp, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Kristian Kostadinski was the biggest. he is a mammoth of a man with the type of subtle strength that makes scouts turn heads. He’s so strong that he actively tried to take speed off his slapshot and avoid laying big hits at camp. His skating wasn’t great last year, but it’s improved leaps and bounds over the last 365 days. He’s a high-risk, high-reward prospect, but the raw ability is there. Couple that with the improvements he made over the year, and I like his chances.
Cooke: Kostadinski was one of the tougher blueliners to play against last week. At 6’5″, 213 pounds, the 2023 pick used every inch of his frame to wreak havoc on the netfront or in the corners. But what impressed me the most was his offensive toolbox. He looked really smooth in some puck retrieval drills and was able to show off an ability to make plays happen. And of course, he can rip the puck, especially from the point. He’s certainly not Mason Lohrei, but if an offensive game can flourish in any capacity from the big man, he could be a fascinating player to keep an eye on as he develops.
Mason Langenbrunner
Age: 21
Draft: 2020 5th round pick, 151st overall
2023-24 Team: Harvard (NCAA)
2023-24 Stats: 32GP, 0G, 5A, 5 Pts
2024-25 Team: Harvard (NCAA)
Calautti: Mason Langenbrunner is interesting because he has all of the tools to be a solid two-way defenseman. He has the size to compete in his own zone, the speed to make waves in transition, and the athleticism to make explosive plays when they’re available. For some reason, it just hasn’t come together in several seasons at Harvard. It could be one of those situations where his next season could be his breakout, but that’s no guarantee. All I can tell you is he looks like someone who can take the next big leap.
Cooke: Langenbrunner has shown his ability to be a serviceable stay at home defenseman, but really nothing more. And that’s by no means a shot to his game because the 6’2″ blueliner had a good stick at camp and was responsible in the defensive zone. If the Harvard blueliner puts on some more size, he could be an option for an entry-level contract. Until then, I’d like to see his offensive game blossom at the NCAA level.
Ryan Mast
Age: 21
Draft: 2021 6th round pick, 181st overall
2023-24 Team: Maine Mariners (ECHL)
2023-24 Stats: 47GP, 5G, 11A, 16 Pts
2024-25 Team: Providence Bruins (AHL)
Calautti: Mast spent most of last season in the ECHL and looks to be someone Boston will promote to Providence to start next season. Mast had the most impactful shot at development camp, ringing posts and picking corners from all over the ice. He has good size and enjoys playing the physical game, which makes him an enticing prospect in his own zone. The biggest problem is his skating. Mast doesn’t have a ton of lateral quickness and his straightline speed could use some work. If he can add that element to his game, the Bruins may have a diamond in the rough.
Cooke: I think Ryan Mast will be an impact player down in Providence next season, and a promising development camp only confirmed that sentiment. Like Kostadinski, Mast is a bruising, heavy defenseman who isn’t afraid to throw his weight around. He looked to be handling pucks noticeably better than in the past, making strong zone exits out of his own end while touting a booming slap shot on the offensive side. If he can become a better skater, Mast could be someone to look out for.
Michael Mastrodomenico
Age: 20
Draft: Invite
2023-24 Team: Notre Dame (NCAA)
2023-24 Stats: 33GP, 1G, 6A, 7 Pts
2024-25 Team: Notre Dame (NCAA)
Calautti: Mastrodomenico plays a very safe game, which isn’t necessarily bad. He profiles as a heavily defensive defenseman who competes hard on every shift, plays the physical game, and only chips in on offense when the path is clear. He’ll need to be a bit more prolific on offense, but if he puts in another solid season in college, he could be someone the Bruins look at as a free agent.
Cooke: The rising Notre Dame junior fit right in at development camp. A typical puck-moving defenseman, I wouldn’t say he stood out, but he didn’t seem to make many mistakes, either. At 6’0″, he wasn’t the biggest body on the back end but played with a snarl that made up for it. I don’t necessarily think he’s at the tip of Don Sweeney’s radar, but a breakout season at Notre Dame could change everything.
Jonathan Myrenberg
Age: 21
Draft: Acquired via Trade
2023-24 Team: Linkoping (SHL)
2023-24 Stats: 50GP, 2G, 9A, 11 Pts
2024-25 Team: Linkoping (SHL)
Calautti: Myrenberg is one of my favorite prospects to follow because he’s one of the few young skaters playing in a league full of already professional athletes. Because of that, he’s had to expedite his development to keep up with the metaphorical Jones’. His skating is so smooth and crisp that he stands whenever the team performs a skills-related drill. He thrives in transition and can beat defenders with his legs and long reach while moving with the puck. His skating lets him stay ahead of forwards and keep them within arms-length while defending. I’m very excited about his potential.
Cooke: A remnant of the Jack Studnicka trade, Myrenberg has proven himself as a valuable asset in the Bruins prospect pool. He was by far one of the best skaters at development camp, passing the eye test with flying colors. The tools on the 21-year-old are certainly there, and I’d look for those skills to translate to offense as he returns to Sweden for another campaign this season. He told reporters that he wants to be more of a scoring threat.
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