By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
The Providence Bruins have wrapped up another successful year of American Hockey League competition. Although there have been ups and downs throughout the 72-game regular season and most recent postseason, fans now have a better understanding of the Bruins’ future. After closely observing every regular-season and playoff game this year, I will assign each player a letter grade, ranging from A to F. Please note that these grades reflect my personal opinions and are based solely on their performance in the AHL. If you disagree, feel free to share your thoughts with me on Twitter/X.
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Georgii Merkulov: A-
Georgii Merkulov was a significant part of the Providence Bruins once again this season. This was Merkulov’s third full season with the Bruins organization, and he has led the team in points all three years. This season, he tallied 15-39-54 in 59 games. The Ohio State product was vital on the power play, consistently providing assists and often ranking among the top five in the league in that category. Unfortunately, the Russian suffered a late-season injury, resulting in a broken collarbone that would sideline him for the remainder of the season and the playoffs.
Georgii was one of the key offensive players on the team, and the power play struggled in the playoffs due to his absence on the ice. He still possesses elite vision and hockey IQ, but his powerful one-timer, which was a highlight the previous season, was largely missing this year. When he did attempt the one-timer, it often resulted in a whiff.
One area for improvement in his game has been his ability to win pucks in the dirty areas; however, he made strides this season. Additionally, some of his turnovers were difficult to watch, but it’s important to note that top players tend to have the highest turnover rates.
Overall, Merkulov had another excellent season, and I look forward to seeing him compete for a full-time role in the National Hockey League next season.
Riley Duran: B
Riley Duran just finished his first full season with the Providence Bruins, and it was a solid one. At the beginning of the year, Duran was a bottom-line rotational player, but injuries and call-ups allowed him to step up, and he did. Riley played so well that he earned a chance to suit up for Boston late in the season. This year in Providence, the Youngstown Phantoms product registered 12-4-16 in 60 games. In the playoffs, he scored 0-2-2 in eight playoff games. He suited up in every match, proving that the organization values his skills.
Riley Duran brings more to each game than just his scoring ability. He played a key role on the P-Bruins’ top penalty kill unit throughout the year, which helped Providence achieve the second-best special teams ranking in the AHL. Hailing from Woburn, Massachusetts, Duran is a challenging player to face; he battles hard for the puck and is difficult to play against. I’m excited to see Duran continue to develop, especially since we only began to see his potential when he stepped into an elevated role later in the season. At just 23 years old, Riley Duran is shaping up to be a great value as the 182nd pick.
Brandon Bussi: B-
Brandon Bussi has spent three full seasons with the Providence Bruins and has been a considerable part of the team’s success. Bussi had a sluggish start to the season, losing his first four starts. Unfortunately, in that span, his tandem partner, Michael DiPietro, dominated, taking the role of “Starter.” Brandon could not do anything; he stumbled out of the gate, and his partner never looked back. The Western Michigan Alum posted a 2.77 Goals Against Average with a .907 Save Percentage with a record of 15-14-4 including five shutouts.
The upcoming off-season will be challenging for the Bruins organization, as they will likely lose one or both of their AHL goaltenders. The B- grade given to Bussi might seem harsh, but he struggled when DiPietro was injured late in the season, allowing similar goals in each of his starts. However, his performance in the playoffs was noteworthy, as he stepped up significantly for the team in DiPietro’s absence, even though they ultimately couldn’t complete the comeback.
Brandon’s path to Boston appears complicated, especially with Jeremy Swayman, who signed a long-term contract, and Joonas Korpisalo, who is under contract for a few more years. It will be interesting to see his decisions for the upcoming season.
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