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

The Providence Bruins have wrapped up another successful season, as mentioned HERE in part one of this series, talking about the American Hockey League affiliate of the Boston Bruins.. Although the National Hockey League affiliate located in Providence, Rhode Island, had its ups and downs all year, fans now have a better understanding of the Bruins’ future concerning the team’s developing prospects. 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, please share your thoughts with me on Twitter/X.

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Michael DiPietro – A

This past season marked Michael DiPietro’s third year with the organization. He was part of the trade that sent former Boston Bruins second-round pick Jack Studnicka away. The Windsor Spitfires product demonstrated his dominance from his first start. After the initial few games, he moved into the top five in the league, and by the end of the season, he stood alone at the top. The season had its ups and downs, but one of the most consistent aspects was the performance of the former Team Canada World Junior Championship starter. DiPietro achieved a career-high 2.05 goals against average, a .927 save percentage, and four shutouts in 40 starts.

These statistics do not include his impressive playoff performance, where he achieved an incredible 1.85 goals against average (GAA), a slightly better .928 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout. He was instrumental in keeping Providence competitive in most of their games, particularly in the opening round against the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he allowed only three goals over three games to help the team advance to the next round. Unfortunately, DiPietro’s season ended prematurely when he was injured during the fourth game of the Atlantic Division Semi-Finals against the Charlotte Checkers. He left the game just two minutes in and did not return for the rest of the series. Despite this setback, Michael had a fantastic season, and as an unrestricted free agent, I hope the team can find a way to keep him in the organization.

Dans Locmelis – A+

Dans Locmelis was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. He was a relatively under-the-radar player until recently, after having a fantastic season under Coach Greg Carvel at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The Latvian native recorded 8-25-33 in just 40 games this season with the Minutemen before joining the Providence Bruins on a professional tryout (PTO) to finish the season. During his six games with the P-Bruins, he had an incredible performance, averaging two points per game with a stat line of 3-9-12. After playing just four playoff games, Locmelis chose to join the Latvian national team for the World Championship, leaving Providence while they were still in the playoffs. In hindsight, this decision proved to be a great one, as he recorded 4-2-6 in seven games, impressing Bruins fans.

Locmelis made a remarkable debut in the American Hockey League, averaging an impressive two points per game. The Luleå native showcased exceptional hockey sense and adjusted quickly to the professional level, likely due to his experience competing internationally with his country on the biggest stages. He was accustomed to facing more experienced players. Locmelis and his linemate, Matthew Poitras, complemented each other well; the week before the season ended, Poitras was named AHL Player of the Week after scoring seven points in just two games. Although both players recorded seven points, Poitras had a better plus/minus rating. The UMass-Amherst alum is an intriguing prospect who continues to look more and more like a steal as time goes on. He is likely to make a strong case for earning a spot with Boston next season.

Daniil Misyul – D+

Daniil Misyul was traded to the Boston Bruins from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for fan favorite Marc McLaughlin, who was sent to the Utica Comets. Misyul took some time to arrive in Providence and then needed additional time to adjust. The Belarus native experienced a decline in his offensive production this season, accumulating only nine points compared to the 14 he scored last season. During his time with the P-Bruins, he scored just one goal in 11 games and did not record any assists. While Daniil is known for being a defensive, hard-nosed player who doesn’t typically dominate the scoresheet, he did accumulate 27 penalty minutes in those 11 games.

Daniil Misyul is the kind of player you want on your team during the playoffs, and while he had his moments, the overall defense was lacking when it counted. The Lokomotiv Yaroslavl product appeared slow in moving the puck and seemed entirely out of sync with his partner. His tension on the ice was noticeable. I don’t want to criticize him too harshly, especially since he came in to fulfill a specific role, but he did get caught watching the puck a few times, which had consequences. Unfortunately, he was never able to find his rhythm here in Providence.