By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
One prospect the Boston Bruins had high hopes for was Russian forward Georgii Merkulov. In April 2022, Merkulov signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Bruins. During the 2021-22 season, Merkulov showed potential when he led the Ohio State Buckeyes with 20 goals and also recorded 34 points overall. After playing in eight games in the American Hockey League for the Providence Bruins that same season, Merkulov broke out with a 55-point season the next season in Providence. Expectations grew that Merkulov could potentially gain National Hockey League experience after his 2022-23 season.
However, Mekulov would play in just four NHL games in the following 2023-24 season. Today, it may be difficult for Merkulov to earn more NHL playing time, given the current state of the Bruins’ roster. Merkulov is a Group 6 unrestricted free agent this offseason, which means he is a UFA one year early due to his little NHL experience, as he has only played in 11 career NHL games. Recent news about Merkulov gives hints that his time with the Bruins organization may be coming to an end, but it may be better for both sides.
Recently, HC Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia acquired Merkulov’s rights and monetary compensation. The trade doesn’t mean that Merkulov will return to Russia or re-sign as a free agent with the Bruins or another team. Merkulov’s rights being traded to a KHL team could potentially lead to him leaving for sure. However, whether Merkulov returns to Russia or not, it may be better for the Bruins not to re-sign the 25-year-old.
Merkulov was a key part of Providence clinching the AHL’s best record this season. Merkulov’s 37 assists and 61 points each led Providence in the regular season. Since the 2021-22 season, Merkulov has recorded 240 points in 271 AHL games, becoming one of Providence’s key players. Despite all the success in the AHL, it hasn’t led to much NHL experience for Merkulov.
After a solid 2022-23 season, Merkulov recorded a career-best 65-point season in the 2023-24 AHL season, but he only played in four NHL games for Boston that same season. Even with four NHL games, the potential to get more NHL experience was there for Merkulov. In the 2024-25 season, Merkulov recorded one assist in six NHL games and remained a Providence mainstay, playing 59 AHL games and recording 54 points.
This season, Merkulov played in just one NHL game for Boston in November 2025, during which he recorded a -1 rating in over 10.5 minutes of ice time. After playing in 11 career NHL games, with one of them being from this season, the writing may be on the wall that Merkulov may not have room to get more NHL experience in Boston anytime soon. Along with his limited NHL experience, Providence has seen Merkulov underperform at the worst times in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Merkulov has recorded five points in 13 Calder Cup Playoff games in his career. It took Merkulov 11 games to score a goal in the Calder Cup Playoffs, doing so this year in Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals against the Springfield Thunderbirds. However, the Game 2 goal was the only point Merkulov recorded during the 2026 AHL Playoffs for Providence, and the season eventually ended in a shocking four-game upset to Springfield. For a player who led the team in assists and points in the regular season, another playoff disappointment was seen again from Merkulov when his team needed him deeply.
Providence also has better prospect forwards to offer who can get more NHL playing time. Matej Blumel, Matthew Poitras, Lukas Reichel, Riley Tufte, and Dans Locmelis are some of the prospects who were solid this season in Providence. Now, Merkulov’s time in the Bruins organization may be drawing to an end.
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