What to Expect as Boston Bruins Prospects Prepare for the Clark Cup Playoffs

By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky

With the United States Hockey League season concluding this weekend, it is time to touch on some fantastic Boston Bruins prospects preparing to make a deep Clark Cup run. These prospects sometimes get overlooked because they are far from debuting in a black and gold sweater. Since the Boston Bruins aren’t going to be playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, it might be time for B’s fans to invest in Flo Hockey so they can follow these younger prospects along with the Providence Bruins, both having a real shot at winning their respective league championships this year. 

Forward – Will Zellers – Green Bay Gamblers

Will Zellers is a new prospect for the organization and, by far, the most exciting. Zellers was a part of the return from the Charlie Coyle trade to the Colorado Avalanche this past Trade Deadline. The University of North Dakota commit has been the best player in the USHL this season. In 50 games with the Green Bay Gamblers, the Maple Grove, Minnesota native has 44-27-71 and is second in the USHL in scoring by one less point while playing 10 fewer games. His season with the Gamblers has been beyond impressive. Currently, the 5’10 forward is riding a nine-game point streak.

Zellers is a very crafty player. His skating, combined with his puckhandling, makes him highly elusive, and he catches the eye of any opponent when they read the scouting report. Unfortunately for those teams, you must also try to stop his partner in crime, Aiden Park. Both have carried the team this season. Park would be a fantastic get for the Bruins in the upcoming draft, so keep him in the back of your mind. Zellers has an amazing Hockey IQ, and he processes the game effectively. The Shattuck St. Marys product has remarkable awareness on offense to boot. For the fans who like to jump the gun, he’s not a National Hockey League Superstar yet. Zellers will need to bulk up a little while working on winning more puck battles in the dirty areas. Despite those “work in progress” attributes, he is a player I will be excited to watch at development camp this summer.

Center – Cole Spicer – Dubuque Fighting Saints

The Bruins selected Cole Spicer in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Spicer has had a solid career with a slight hiccup in between, but it has ironed itself out. The Grand Forks native left the University of Minnesota-Duluth in his Sophomore season and wound up playing in the USHL this year. The USNTDP product suffered an injury early in the season that took a while to return. Despite this, he has been fun to watch. In 35 games this season, Cole logged 7-23-30, creeping back to a point-per-game pace. 

Spicer is another in a long line of Bruins prospects with a high motor and a remarkable Hockey IQ. It isn’t easy to gauge how productive this season will be in terms of development since the HoneyBaked alum is clearly playing a step below where he should be. However, I am just glad Cole is doing better mentally and still maintaining his scoring. The former UMD Bulldog transferred to Arizona State yesterday and will join the Sun Devils next season. With Spicer missing almost half the year, he will be a game-changer for the Fighting Saints during the playoffs. 

Center – Jonathan Morello – Dubuque Fighting Saints

The Boston Bruins Selected Jonathan Morello in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Morello flipped his college commitment from Clarkson earlier this season, opting to join the Boston University Terriers with former Boston Bruins Assistant Coach Jay Pandolfo. In 57 games with Dubuque this season, the Toronto native potted 8-20-28. Dubuque will be the team to watch if you’re a Bruins fan, as three of their prospects look to play top minutes during the Clark Cup Playoffs. 

Morello is a fantastic skater, which is impressive for a player of his stature at such a young age. His strides are powerful, and he gets to his top speed in just a few steps. Jonathan’s edgework is astounding. The St. Michael’s Buzzers product reads the game at a high level. Right now, it is difficult to see where Morello fits into the future of this team, given how early it is in his development path. Nonetheless, there is always a need for a two-way center like himself. Next season, it will be exciting to see how he will compete against some of the toughest competition in the country. 

Defenseman – Kristian Kostadinski – Dubuque Fighting Saints

The Boston Bruins selected Kristian Kostadinski in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The Swede is a top-pairing defenseman for the Fighting Saints this season and shows off his leadership by wearing the A on his sweater. This is Kristian’s first season in North America, and so far, so good. With the Fighting Saints, the Frolunda product netted 6-10-16 in 60 games this season. The point total is relatively low, but the Goteborg native adds more value than just points. Kostadinski is the type of player who is vital to any playoff run. The 6’6 defenseman is committed to Boston College next season, so Don Sweeney and his staff can watch him closely.

If I had one word to describe Kostadinski, it would be “tank.” This prospect is why kids hang up the skates after their first year of hitting. Kristian is the type of player who commands respect from his opponents; everyone is aware when he is on the ice. Considering the Swede’s massive frame, it is not surprising that he likes to throw his weight around any chance he gets. The BC commit is a marvelous defender who is not easy to play against. One of the biggest knocks on his game is his skating, but since development camp last summer, Kostadinski has made a sizeable improvement in that area. There is still some work to be done on that front, but his willingness to improve shows that he is very coachable, which makes him an exciting get in the seventh round. 

This article was straightforward, considering the Bruins only have four USHL prospects, three of whom are on the same team. These prospects have a bright future; seeing them in a playoff environment will bring out their best. Unfortunately, the seeding is not yet confirmed, but these games will be a must-watch hockey for anyone looking toward the future.