Providence’s Trevor Kuntar scored his first pro goal last week and got his first fight out of the way on Sunday against Springfield’s Sam Bitten. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
It was another rough weekend for the Providence Bruins as they earned only one out of four points.
The P-Bruins fell behind by three goals in the first period at Springfield on Saturday and went on to lose, 5-2. In the rematch at home on Sunday, Providence got a point but lost in overtime, 3-2.
“It’s a great lesson for us that the details matter and defending first matters. Our standard’s not met here (so far) and it’s not acceptable. It’s fixable, which is the good news. Every team has to go through something. Ours is just early in the season,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.
“Our habits have to get better and a lot of it is coming from guys that we expect a lot more from, to be honest. That’s really the bottom line. You want to play and get a gift of getting in the lineup every night? Well, you’ve gotta do something when you’re there.
“Unfortunately, some guys, it’s not for lack of trying, it’s just lack of execution and lack of attention to detail.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Jesper Boqvist scored his first goal of the season on Saturday and recorded a team-high 5 shots.
— Providence scored power play goals in both games.
— On Sunday, after Springfield tied the game early in the third period, the P-Bruins responded with a goal by Justin Brazeau just 10 seconds later.
— The next three games are on the road for Providence, at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Cleveland.
“We need some time together. It will be good to get on the road,” Mougenel said.
BAD
— Referees Chris Waterstradt and Jeremy Tufts apparently switched to Hudson Bay Rules – anything goes — in overtime on Sunday. A blatant trip on Anthony Richard by Hugh McGing of the Thunderbirds right in front of Waterstradt 52 seconds in went uncalled. The puck went to the other end of the ice and Springfield scored to win the game.
On Saturday, Waterstradt and Andrew Bell made some Charmin-soft calls on both teams.
— Springfield scored on three of its first eight shots – within a span of 3:58 — on Saturday. They outshot Providence, 17-8, in the first period.
The P-Bruins got their act together and made a game of it, but the damage was done.
“I like our response after we called a timeout, but it shouldn’t take a timeout from the coach to be inspired to play the right way. It’s disappointing. We’ve always relied on our veterans to kind of send that message. It’s on me that they’re not ready to play. That’s inexcusable,” said Mougenel.
— Georgii Merkulov scored a goal on a wicked shot on Sunday, but was on the ice for all three goals against.
— Jakub Zboril was beaten wide by Matthew Peca, who broke in and scored Springfield’s fourth goal on Saturday.
UGLY
— With a record of 1-3-1-2 for 5 points, Providence finished the weekend in 25th place in the AHL.
— Tough night for the penalty kill on Saturday as Springfield went 3 for 5 on the power play.
Providence’s Vincent Arseneau and Hershey’s Dylan McIlrath engaged in a heavyweight bout a couple of minutes into Saturday night’s game. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The second week of the AHL season was better than the first for the Providence Bruins, but not by a lot.
While they earned three out of six points in three home games, the P-Bruins still have lots of work to do to hit their stride.
On Wednesday, Providence did enough to earn its first victory of the season, a 4-2 decision over the Bridgeport Islanders. On Friday, they didn’t play well in a 3-2 loss to the Hershey Bears.
In a rematch on Saturday night, Providence showed plenty of character in the third period and forced overtime by scoring with nine seconds left in regulation time. They lost, 5-4, in a shootout, but they displayed good pushback in coming from behind twice to get to OT.
“I think it showed a lot. It said a lot. One of the messages before the game was it’s going to be a revealing game for the group. Not just individuals,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.
“(Vincent Arsenault) did an amazing job of stepping up for his teammates (by fighting Hartford’s Dylan McIlrath). Unfortunately, the response from some of our guys wasn’t the right thing. Things like that can’t go unaddressed. Your teammate steps up for you, for you guys. He’s fighting the toughest guy in the league. I’m proud of how a lot of the guys responded. I’m disappointed in some of the guys, as well.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Vincent Arseneau dropped the gloves and went toe-to-toe with Hershey heavyweight Dylan McIlrath early in Saturday’s game. Arseneau was answering McIlrath’s cross-check to the back of Oskar Steen’s head at the end of Friday’s game.
“I can’t say enough about what he did,” said Mougenel.
— Trevor Kuntar had a good week and scored the first goal of his pro career against Bridgeport. Dan Renouf, Justin Brazeau, Georgii Merkulov, Fabian Lysell recorded their first goals of the season during the three games.
— John Farinacci is off to a good start to his rookie season. He’s tied for the team scoring lead with 2-3-5 in 5 games.
“I like everything about Farinacci. He probably hears it a lot, but there’s a reason why he got into Harvard. It’s reflected in the way that he plays. He’s a really good player, he’s smart and he’s building trust with the coaching staff. Those are the guys that go up and have longevity in the NHL is guys that coaches trust. You’re seeing it up (with Boston). (Jim Montgomery) has trust in (Johnny) Beecher,” said Mougenel.
“That’s an important thing and that’s what we’re trying to instill in our guys. You play the right way and the details are there, you are going to get rewarded. If you play on the move and cheat for offense, you’re not. That’s what it’s about sometimes.”
— Michael DiPietro won his first start of the season, stopping 23 of 25 shots against Bridgeport. He made a great stop on Arnaud Durandeau with 4:30 left and Providence shorthanded and protecting a one-goal lead.
— Luke Toporowski smoked a shorthanded goal past Bridgeport’s Jakub Skarek.
— Oskar Steen has started strong and leads the team in goals with 3 in 5 games.
BAD
— Mougenel benched Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov for the entire second period on Saturday night. They did return in the third period and play well.
“They’re young players, but sometimes to get young players’ attention you have to take some things away,” Mougenel said.
— Tough times for the power play, which went 1 for 16 in the three games. Providence had two lengthy 5 on 3s on Saturday night but didn’t score.
— Luckily, Oskar Steen was not injured on Dylan McIlrath’s cross-check, but he certainly could have been. McIlrath, who has played on the edge of the rules throughout his career, was assessed a two-minute penalty at the 20-minute mark of the third period, so he didn’t even have to serve it. The AHL reviewed the play and decided not to suspend McIlrath, though he was fined $200. The bottom line, then, is McIlrath paid a minimal penalty for a cross-check to an opponent’s head.
— The P-Bruins didn’t have much going in the Hershey end of the ice in Friday night’s game, mustering only 16 shots.
— Bridgeport’s first period goal was one that Michael DiPietro stops 9 times out of 10, but it got by him on Wednesday night.
Providence’s Luke Toporowski battles for the puck with Hartford’s Louis Domingue on Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The Providence Bruins didn’t get off to the start they were looking for in their first two games, coming away with one out of four points.
That one point was earned in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack before a big home crowd on Friday. After grabbing the lead in the first period, the P-Bruins made a lot of mistakes and were outplayed.
“Some of our guys that we’ve had a couple of years have to understand that the sexy play isn’t always the play. That’s on me to hold them accountable,” coach Ryan Mougenel said after the game.
On the road on Sunday afternoon, Providence started the third period with a lead but defensive mistakes cost them as they dropped a 4-3 decision to the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— After a terrific rookie season, Brandon Bussi picked up where he left off with a brilliant, 40-save performance against Hartford. He made a half dozen seemingly impossible saves and was the reason Providence was able to earn a point.
— Jayson Megna scored the team’s first goal of the season on a power play on Friday, converting a perfect dish from Luke Toporowski.
— Oskar Steen was a standout against Hartford with a goal and an assist and nine shots. If he had any luck around the net he might have had one or two more goals.
— Attendance at the home opener was 9,147.
— The overtime on Friday was wildly entertaining, with end-to-end action and great chances at both ends of the ice.
— The power play is off to a good start, going 1 for 6 on Friday (but failing to convert on a 5 on 3 for just over a minute) and 2 for 5 on Sunday.
— Rookie John Farinacci scored his first pro goal and added an assist in Springfield. Luke Toporowski and Marc McLaughlin also scored their first goals of the year against the Thunderbirds.
— Providence outshot Springfield, 16-3, in the second period.
BAD
— The P-Bruins were outshot, 34-16, over the last two periods and overtime against Hartford.
— Providence gave up a goal 9 seconds into the third period in Springfield.
— The P-Bruins had the lead with under three minutes left in regulation time on Friday, but Alec Regula took a cross-checking penalty and Hartford pulled its goalie for an extra attacker and tied the game.
— Mason Lohrei was caught out of position inside the offensive blue line in the second period, leading to a 4 on 1 for the Thunderbirds. Lohrei’s partner Alec Regula made a great play to break up the rush.
— Fabian Lysell had the tying goal on his stick and a lot of net to shoot at in the final minute on Sunday, but he shanked the shot.
Brandon Bussi, making a save against Springfield in the preseason, is coming off a rookie year in which he went 22-5-4-1 with a .924 save percentage. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
Get your popcorn ready. The puck drops on the Providence Bruins’ 32nd season on Friday night and all indications are that it will be an entertaining one.
The P-Bruins have finished first in the Atlantic Division in three of the last four seasons. They start 2023-24 with a deep, fast, well-balanced team that figures to once again contend for the top of the division.
“We have depth in every position, which is going to be really important as the (Boston) Bruins work through some things,” said coach Ryan Mougenel, who went 80-43-13-8 in his first two seasons as head coach.
“Every line kind of has an identify, which is important. One of our real attributes is going to be our speed. I think we’re going to be real fast. And we’ve got a great blend of second-year guys that are going to take a huge step.”
Evan Gold, Providence’s general manager and Boston’s assistant GM, is excited about the team’s potential.
“We’re deep at all three positions. We like the makeup of the group. Hopefully we can maybe match up against other teams where the depth of our group and coming in waves and everyone playing our system to a T can wear down teams down.”
Here’s how the team looks.
FORWARDS
Providence has promising prospects up front in second-year pros Georgii Merkulov – second in scoring among AHL rookies last season — Luke Toporowski, Fabian Lysell and Marc McLaughlin.
Justin Brazeau, coming off his best year as a pro, is back, too, as is Oskar Steen, who had a good camp with Boston.
Veterans Anthony Richard, a 30-goal scorer for Laval last season, and Jayson Megna are free-agent additions who will be counted on to play important roles.
Jesper Boqvist starts the year in Providence after spending the last two seasons in the NHL with New Jersey.
Rookies Trevor Kuntar and John Farinacci have shown promise in the preseason. Farinacci scored a highlight-reel overtime goal against Springfield last week. Brett Harrison is another first-year player who will be in the mix.
Second-year winger Joey Abate will bring energy and get under the skin of opponents.
Veteran Vincent Arseneau, acquired from Vancouver, is an under-the-radar useful addition. He’ll keep the flies off the skill players and the youngsters.
“He understands his role. He’s also been in the league a long time and he’s improved as a player. We aren’t going to bring a guy in who can only do one thing,” said Gold.
“What impressed us is his understanding of when it’s important to be there for his teammates and also when it’s important – and you saw it in the exhibition game the other night – to just play the game. He has a good understanding of that.
“Off the ice, too, we’ve already seen that he takes opportunities to give some advice to the kids in terms of when to put in some extra work, and things like that. Even when he’s not in the lineup, I think his value to the organization will be there.”
Rounding out the roster are Curtis Hall and Adam Mechura.
“Hopefully we can generate a little more consistent offense this year, that’s through some of the young kids, too, as well as some of the vets,” said Gold.
DEFENSE
The P-Bruins have a nice combination of youth and experience as well as size on their D corps to start the season.
Mason Lohrei, Boston’s top defense prospect, starts the season in the AHL after a good camp with Boston.
Veterans Dan Renouf and new additions Alec Regula and Parker Wotherspoon will be counted on for steady minutes.
Mike Callahan looks to build on a solid rookie year and Reilly Walsh figures to continue to be a point-producer.
Looking to work his way back up to the NHL, Jakub Zboril starts the season in Providence.
Rookies Frederic Brunet and Ryan Mast round out the group.
GOAL
The net should be a strong suit.
Brandon Bussi, a revelation as a rookie last season, returns for his second year. He was an AHL Second Team All Star in ‘22-23.
Kyle Keyser and Michael DiPietro will compete for the backup job.
PREDICTION
You never really know what you’re going to get in the AHL regular season, which is a six-and-a-half-month battle of attrition. With callups and injuries, the roster you start with might not be what you finish with when April rolls around.
Having said that, there’s lots to like with this edition of the P-Bruins.
“I love our compete. I love our blend of vets and our youth,” said Mougenel.
While defending Calder Cup champ Hershey figures to be strong as usual, look for Providence to be right there with them in the hunt for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Johnny Beecher heads to Boston’s training camp this week after playing well at the Prospects Challenge.
BUFFALO – The Bruins rookies finished the Prospects Challenge with a 1-2 record after losing to the New Jersey Devils youngsters, 4-2, on Monday morning.
Curtis Hall and Brett Harrison, with his third of the tournament, scored the Boston goals. William Rousseau played the first two periods and gave up one goal. Samuel St. Hilaire took over in the third period and gave up two goals. The Devils added an empty netter near the end.
“A lot of the guys showed really well. At times it’s a tough tournament, too. Some of the older guys are banging the rust off, getting ready for main camp,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.
“Now the real bullets start to fly. Some of those guys that are going to push for a job, they might have a little bit of a leg up just because they’ve been getting bumped around a little bit and are understanding what it’s going to take to compete.”
Here are quick hits on three players.
JOHNNY BEECHER
Beecher played two games at center and one on the wing. While he didn’t have any goals, he did a lot of things right.
Finished his checks, won faceoffs, took care of details. In short, he was engaged.
On Monday, several times New Jersey defensemen were in full retreat when Beecher sped up the ice with the puck.
“That’s part of the growth of Beech. His speed is a gift. If he can create those races, he’s creating tons of anxiety for D. It’s taken some time,” said Mougenel. “I think, at the NHL level, you realize pretty quickly that’s going to be a little bit of his strength. Chipping the puck in, using the ice behind (the D), using his legs and pushing the D back and creating some space.”
Beecher had a lot to do with Boston’s second goal even though he wasn’t even on the ice.
“The goal only happens because Beech hunts (a Devils player) down, they ice the puck, we get an offensive zone faceoff (leading to the goal.) It’s things like that that he does that have value. When players start understanding the value of their gifts, they can build an identify. He’s doing that.”
Beecher should have plenty of confidence heading into Boston’s training camp.
MIKE CALLAHAN
Callahan was solid as a rock in both games he played.
He “showed that he’s kind of outgrown the tournament. He was outstanding,” Mougenel said.
“I hope he carries that into the main camp and understands that he’s come a long way and I think he’s ready to push. I’m excited for him.”
In Providence, Callahan had the usual ebbs and flows that rookies face last year. His performance in Buffalo indicates that he’s ready to take the next stop.
“He’s always been a very responsible and safe player. He completes a lot of plays. He’s first back on pucks, makes a lot of positive plays, and then he’s got a certain hardness that wasn’t necessarily built into him. He’s put it into his DNA. Kudos to him. He’s really bought into how we play. The other part of it for Cally is he’s a high-quality person,” Mougenel said.
“We’re going to count on him to be that leader (in Providence this season). We think that highly of the person and the player. I’m excited about his growth and his development. He’s put the time in and now we’re starting to see it.”
GEORGII MERKULOV
Coming off a tremendous rookie year in Providence, Merkulov was not at his best in Buffalo, though he did flash his considerable offensive skill with a perfect pass to Luke Toporowski off the rush for a goal on Friday against Pittsburgh.
He’ll have to be a lot better in Boston’s camp if he expects to challenge for an NHL job.
“We were fortunate enough to see him play last year, we know what he’s capable of. He’s one of those players – it’s a tough tournament for a player like Merk. I was hoping he could see the puck go in the net and build his confidence a little bit,” said Mougenel.
“Now it’s pen to paper, it’s rubber to road for Merk. He’s going to get an opportunity. He’s definitely a (Jim Montgomery) type of player, thinks the game extremely well.”
Playing in the defensive zone will be the key.
“You want to be a center in the National Hockey League? You have to buy into how we play in our own end. And that’s up to Merk now,” said Mougenel.
Matthew Poitras finished fifth in scoring in the OHL with 95 points in 63 games for Guelph last season. (Photo courtesy of Boston Bruins)
BUFFALO – Brains, not brawn, are what will open the door to the NHL for Bruins prospect Matthew Poitras.
But that doesn’t mean he’s not going to have to handle the hard knocks that are coming his way as a 5-foot-11, 176-pound center.
And it looks like he’s up for it.
After taking a couple of tough hits in Friday’s Prospects Challenge game against the Pittsburgh Penguins rookies, Poitras answered with one of his own.
When defenseman Ty Higgins took a run at him along the boards at the Pittsburgh blue line, Poitras sent him crashing to the ice.
“I like the competitiveness,” said Bruins assistant general manager Evan Gold. “It’s like, ‘OK, I get it. I know why I’m being targeted and I also know that I can dish it out, too.’ To me, that says a lot about a hockey player.”
Indeed, the Bruins are saying nothing but positive things about the 19-year-old Poitras, drafted in the second round (No. 54) in 2022.
His ability to think the game is at the top of the list.
“My favorite trait is probably his brain,” said Jamie Langenbrunner, Boston’s assistant GM for player personnel. “I think he has a good feel for the game. He puts himself in the right spots. He knows where the puck is going. One thing he does really well is play in tight areas. He knows how to make plays out of there and uses his body despite not being the biggest guy.”
Gold seconds that opinion. “I just love the hockey IQ on the kid. I like the way he’s wired, too. Seems like he’s wired to be a hockey player.”
This is the second trip to the Prospects Challenge for Poitras. He set up a goal in the first game on Friday and made smart plays all over the ice in both games.
“Comfort level is up. Been through it. Played three games last year. Second time around you kind of know what you can get away with out there. It’s a different kind of comfort level, having more confidence with the puck and things like that,” he said after Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Montreal.
“I feel like I’ve gained a step and feel a bit stronger on my edges. Being able to go against bigger guys in the corner and protect the puck and just have the puck on my stick, I feel like that’s when I’m most effective. Being able to hold off those guys and have more puck-possession time helps my game.”
Brayden Point (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) of the Tampa Bay Lightning is a player Poitras likes to watch.
“I kind of see some similarities. He’s a smaller guy. He gets away with a lot of things because he’s strong on his edges and he’s fast. For me it’s about coming up the ice with the puck with speed. It opens up a lot more space,” he said.
Poitras is coming to Boston training camp intent on making the NHL team, which as you may have heard is down a pair of world-class centers in Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Realistically, he is practically a lock to spend another season with Guelph of the OHL. (He’s not eligible to play in the AHL.)
“It would be great if he makes a push and makes a real hard decision for us. That’s a win-win for everyone no matter how it ends up,” said Gold.
Coming off a season in which he finished tied for fifth in OHL scoring with 16-79-95 in 63 games, there are plenty of things for Poitras to work on in 2023-24.
“It’s not as much statistics, it’s trying to round out my game. I really try to work on the D side of my game. Faceoffs – starting with the puck is a big thing. It makes the game a lot easier when you start with the puck. Things like that (are important) for me to be a centerman and play at the next level,” he said.
Langenbrunner wants Poitras to work on shooting.
“We’d like to see him continue to develop his shot. He’s obviously a very good and gifted playmaker and that’s the way he’s going to look at it first, but being more of a dual threat will help him make more plays, to be honest with you, showing that willingness to shoot it a little bit more. So we’re going to stress that more with him,” he said.
“The next thing would be pushing his team beyond where maybe they are supposed to be. That’s something any player can do, get the most out of whatever team you are on.”
Gold looks for Poitras to “be a leader, drive a line, be a good teammate.”
Poitras figures to be in the conversation for Canada’s team at the World Junior Championships
“I understand Canada has a lot of good players, but he has the type of game that complements high-end players. He has the ability to create and play in a lot of different ways,” said Langenbrunner.
“I think he’ll be in the mix,” said Gold. “One thing I would give him credit for is there is some versatility to his game, where he can play the wing, and I can see him helping their team even if he’s not the one C. He’s a player that can play different roles in different spots in the lineup.”
For his part, Poitras would like nothing more than to represent his country.
“It’s a dream of mine to play for Canada at the World Juniors. Watching it every year, it’s unreal. Best time of the year. If I get the opportunity to get called to camp in December, I’ll give it my all to try to make the team. It would be a dream come true,” he said.
BUFFALO — The Bruins got on the board early on a Trevor Kuntar goal but didn’t score again in a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday at the Prospects Challenge.
The Habs, whose final goal was an empty-netter, were opportunistic, while Boston failed to take advantage of its chances.
“We had the puck a lot on the outside. There wasn’t a lot of interior play. We completed a lot of plays, made a lot of plays, just couldn’t capitalize. There were some good things and some things obviously that we want to get out of their game before main camp starts,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.
“Playing fast is a big foundation for the Bruins. Guys that are just starting their pro careers are going to learn when you get pucks into good spaces and play fast for each other, that’s where the game is.”
Here are three quick hits from Day Two.
TREVOR KUNTAR
Kuntar had a solid game on Friday but no goals to show for it. On Saturday, he beat Montreal goalie Quentin Miller with a surprise backhander through traffic at 5:41 of the first period.
“I saw that they were giving me a lane to the net so I figured I might as well cut through and put it on net,” said Kuntar, 22, who played three years at Boston College after being drafted in the third round.
Mougenel likes what he’s seen so far.
“I love how he plays. He’s tenacious, he’s inside, he’s got some offensive ability. I think he’s going to be a real good pro. I think he’s one of those players whose game translates real well to pro hockey. I’ve liked a lot of the things that he’s done. He’s a little bit of a dog on a bone. The way the game’s going, guys like that that play hard and inside are at times hard to find. You really can’t win without guys like that.
“He’s a very coachable kid. Our scouting staff’s done a great job of identifying a player who is inquisitive and wants to get better. We’re really looking forward to working with him. (Providence assistant coach) Trent Whitfield thinks very highly of him. Trent’s got a real keen eye for guys whose games translate from the American League to the NHL. That’s real encouraging.”
JOHN FARINACCI
The 22-year-old, signed as a free agent, is finding his way. He played center at Harvard, but he was on the wing on Friday, then back in the middle on Saturday.
“(Friday) was a tough assignment. We put him on the wall just because we have a plethora of centers that we’re trying to get acclimated and he’s one of them, so there’s going to be time on the wall. He’s a natural center for sure. He has good offensive instincts and you saw that at times (Saturday). He’s a player that is smart and plays a certain clean game, efficient in the offensive zone,” said Mougenel.
“I’d like to see him shoot a little more. That’s just from him talking to me, conversations about shooting the puck, getting it off in a hurry. It’s a little bit different than college. Sometimes it’s important to get your shot off and follow it.”
FREDERIC BRUNET
A fifth-round draft pick who is expected to start his pro career in Providence, the 20-year-old defenseman is an exciting player with the puck on his stick.
He is capable of making high-end offensive plays, such as his feed to Brett Harrison for a power play goal on Friday. But his defensive play isn’t at the same level as his offense. He was caught out of position early in the second period on Saturday, leading to an odd-man rush and a goal for Montreal.
“He’s got offensive instincts, in his DNA, which is important. Sometimes it’s hard to put that in a player. We obviously want to encourage the offensive gifts that he has. Then on the other side of it, to defend and have a good stick and end plays before you’ve got to defend it, those are very teachable things. We’re excited about where his growth is. He’s come a long way from where he was last year,” said Mougenel.
“We got a little taste of him (at the end of last season) in Providence. I’ve been impressed with the player. I’ve been impressed with the kid. He’s another one of these kids that wants to get better and asks the right questions.”
The Bruins haven’t signed Brunet yet. Look for that to change by the start of the regular season.
“I expect in the next few weeks we’ll sort through all of that,” said assistant general manager Evan Gold before Saturday’s game.
“I liked his game (Friday). I think his game is trending in the right direction. There’s attributes we really like about the player and I really like the person, from what I know of him so far. All indications are we’ll be in a good spot with Freddy.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Assistant general manager Jamie Langenbrunner on Matthew Poitras:
“My favorite trait is probably his brain. I think he has a good feel for the game. He puts himself in the right spots. He knows where the puck is going. One thing he does really well is play in tight areas. He knows how to make plays out of there and uses his body despite not being the biggest guy.”
BUFFALO — All things considered, Friday was a good day for the Bruins much-maligned prospect pool.
Boston’s rookies outplayed the Pittsburgh Penguins’ youngsters and came away with a solid 4-2 victory on the first day of the Prospects Challenge as Luke Toporowski and Brett Harrison scored two goals each. (It would have been 4-1 if the referees hadn’t somehow missed the most obvious example of goalie interference you’re ever going to see on Pitt’s second goal.)
OK, like the Bruins, the Penguins kids don’t get much respect from the prospects gurus, but I’m giving credit where it’s due. The Bruins – from free agent goalie William Rousseau (19 saves) on out — were good.
“I loved the compete on some of the younger guys,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.
Here are three quick hits from Day One in Buffalo:
BRETT HARRISON
The 20-year-old Harrison, playing left wing on a line centered by Matthew Poitras, was around the puck all day. He scored on a redirection of a Poitras pass in the first period and smoked a one-timer off a Frederic Brunet pass for a power play goal in the third period.
“I love to shoot the puck. A shot on net is always a good play, whether you score a goal or it creates a rebound, but if the shot’s not there, I can make the right play to my teammates,” said Harrison.
He made a good dish to Poitras off the wall in the Penguins zone for a Grade A opportunity in the second period.
“He did a lot of great things,” said Mougenel. “The one thing with Harry is he sees the power play very well and he’s had a lot of success on the power play, especially in junior. We’re going to count on him to provide offense five on five (in Providence). Getting inside and completing plays, those are things he’s got to work on.”
LUKE TOPOROWSKI
Toporowski, a shoot-first left winger, scored twice in the Prospects Challenge opener a year ago and he did it again on Friday while playing on a line with Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell.
He opened the scoring 37 seconds into the game and potted a goal off a perfect pass from Merkulov in the second period after a slick offensive zone entry by Lysell.
“That’s what you get when you play with (Merkulov),” Toporowski said.
He started strong in Providence last season while playing on an AHL contract, but went down with a knee injury in January.
“During the injury, I just tried to stay positive and remind myself that I can pick up where I left off,” he said.
He spent a lot of time during his rehab working on his shot with teammate Vinni Lettieri at Rhode Island’s Top-Shelf Off-Ice, which is owned by Rodney Millette.
“Vinni was a great mentor for me. He’s been through it,” Toporowski said.
Once Toporowski, 22, returned to the lineup, he scored in his first two games.
Boston signed him to an NHL deal over the summer.
“It was reassuring that the Bruins still believed in me even though I had that injury,” he said.
Mougenel calls Toporowski a student of the game.
“There’s something to be said for identifying players like that who have a thirst to get better. I think our scouting staff has done a great job of finding players like that,” he said.
MATTHEW POITRAS
Poitras, a shifty center with a high hockey IQ, made plays all day long on Friday. He got on the score sheet with an assist on Harrison’s goal in the first period.
“I was really impressed not just with his play with the puck. It’s a little bit of a coaching cliché – how good he is away from the puck. He’s got great vision. He completes a lot of plays, has tons of courage. I think he’s going to be a very good player,” said Mougenel.
Poitras, 19, took a couple of big hits and dished one out, too. While he’s not expected to make the big club out of training camp this year, he’s a player who is on track to earn an NHL job before too long.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Mougenel on his message to prospects:
“You want people saying the right things about you. There’s limited viewings of players at times, especially with all the brass. If you can leave a really strong impression, especially going into camp, that’s really important. I stress to them that every time you get an opportunity to build your brand, it’s important that you play the right way. It might be something as small as hunting the puck on the backcheck. Maybe (Don Sweeney or Jim Montgomery) sees that and he takes a shine to you. Sometimes that (gets overlooked) when talk about goals and assists.”
Wilkes-Barre Scranton goalie Tyler Gauthier was halfway to Olneyville after Fabian Lysell faked him out and deposited the puck in the net in a February shootout. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
I’ll be at the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo again this year. It’s one of my favorite events on the hockey calender. Here are five Boston prospects that I’ll be taking an up-close look at.
FABIAN LYSELL
Coming off an up-and-down rookie year in Providence, Lysell says he is fully recovered from a concussion that knocked him out of the AHL playoffs in May. It’s a good sign that in dealing with the media on Wednesday, he appeared to be more confident and comfortable than he was at times last season. No Boston prospect can match his combination of speed and skill. A strong showing at the Prospects Challenge should give him a lift heading into Boston’s training camp.
MATTHEW POITRAS
Poitras, 19, was a pleasant surprise in Buffalo a year ago. Though his chances of making the NHL team this year look to be slim, he’s approaching training camp the right way. “I’m gonna try and do my best to make it hard to send me back to juniors,” he said on Wednesday. If Poitras, a second round draft pick, does return to the OHL, another big year in Guelph and maybe a trip to the World Juniors with Canada’s team should set him up to turn pro in 2024.
LUKE TOPOROWSKI
Toporowski, signed as a free agent in 2022, plays the right way. He has a quick release and a hard shot, which he uses at every opportunity. He’ll be looking to build on a strong rookie year in Providence, as he finished with 15 goals in 47 games and would have scored over 20 if not for a midseason knee injury. After playing on an AHL contract last season, he was rewarded with a well-deserved NHL deal over the summer, so he’ll be eligible for an NHL callup this season.
BRETT HARRISON
Harrison, picked in the third round, can really wire the puck and is very dangerous from the tops of the faceoff circles in. Whether his skating measures up is a question heading into his first pro season in Providence. A strong showing in Buffalo would be a confidence-builder.
FREDERIC BRUNET
Brunet, an offensive defenseman drafted in the fifth round, was in over his head a bit in Buffalo a year ago. I’m curious to see how he looks this time around now that he’s a year older. He had a big year in the QMJHL last year and made a splash in his only game in Providence near the end of the season. All signs point to him turning pro, but he hasn’t signed either an AHL or NHL contract yet.
Boston College’s Trevor Kuntar celebrates a goal against Boston University in the Beanpot in February. (Photo courtesy of Boston College Athletics).
Boston Bruins prospect Trevor Kuntar attended the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo several times while growing up in nearby Williamsville, N.Y.
Starting Friday, he’ll get the opportunity to play in it.
A third-round draft pick in 2020 who turned pro in March after three seasons at Boston College, the 22-year-old Kuntar is raring to go.
“I’m super excited about it, obviously just wearing the Bruins jersey for the first time. I’m going to have a lot of family and friends there. Some of my little cousins are coming. It should be super fun. I’m excited to have my parents be there. It will be cool to be playing in it,” he said.
Kuntar’s father, Les, played six games in goal for the Montreal Canadiens in 1993-94. Trevor was on the cusp of making his pro debut with the Providence Bruins last spring when doctors determined that he needed triceps surgery.
“I thought it was going to be something minor, out two to three weeks. It turned out to be a lot bigger,” he said.
He’s been in Boston all summer doing his rehab and was cleared to get back on the ice four to six weeks ago.
“I’m really starting to feel back to normal. My strength is equal on both sides now. I’m feeling good,” said Kuntar, who scored 13 goals and 29 points in 34 games for BC last season.
He needs two classes to finish his BC degree. He plans to take one class this fall and another next spring so he can graduate with his class in 2024.
Being around Bruins players such as Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle while rehabbing and training at Warrior Arena this summer has been a positive.
“Those guys have been here pretty much the whole time I’ve been here, so it’s been really cool to kind of get to know them and learn from them. I’ve just been trying to take in as much information as possible and learn as much as possible.
“Seeing how those guys, who have already made it and are very successful in the NHL, seeing how hard they work, is obviously some really good motivation. It helps me work harder so I can get to that point eventually. It’s just really cool to be around those guys,” said Kuntar, who figures to play in Providence this season.
Kuntar is comfortable both at center and on the wing. “I don’t really have a preference. I do like taking faceoffs,” he said.
“The speed, every level you play, gets a little faster. That will probably be the biggest adjustment. I’m curious to see what the competition is compared to college.
“It was really nice being here over the summer because I was able to get a little taste of that, skating with pro guys and being around that. I’m excited to compete and fight for an opportunity and just see how it goes.”
For starters, speed, skill up front
Don’t know what the lines will be in the first game against the Penguins but when the Bruins ran through a couple of drills early in Wednesday’s first practice, these two trios caught my eye: Luke Toporowski-Georgii Merkulov-Fabian Lysell and Trevor Kuntar-Johnny Beecher-John Farinacci.
We’ll see what Friday brings.
Mougenel: Merkulov bought in
The high point of Georgii Merkulov’s summer was a visit from his mother, who he hadn’t seen in two years.
The Russian center, entering his second full season as a pro, is looking forward to getting going in Buffalo.
“It’s good to play some games before training camp,” he said.
With the parent club in need of centers, a strong training camp could put Merkulov in position to get an extended look.
Mougenel was upbeat about Merkulov’s progress during his rookie season.
“Maturity is a huge thing with Merk. His personality is kind of stoic. He doesn’t really give you much. He was stubborn, I would say, early on (last season). I’d say his attributes obviously that separates him a little bit is his offensive mind. He’s a pretty clean player. Sees the ice extremely well. Can make plays on his forehand, his backhand and really has an ability to complete a lot of plays. When we lost some of our go-to guys, our older players – (Vinni) Lettieri was out 25-30 games last year – Merkulov really stepped up and really was our offensive guy,” he said.
“His ability to buy in was something that we were questioning at first and I think everybody had those questions. They obviously see the skill and the ability but is he willing to do it. For us, we were extremely pleased with his willingness.”
Playing in the D zone “is something we preach. It’s a little bit of a separator for us with the Bruins. It’s funny how, in the summer, how many coaches you talk to talk about our D zone and how it translates. Merkulov is a player that you have to give him a ‘why’ all the time. He’s super inquisitive. The ‘why’ with Merk was we want to be in and out of our D zone. We want your energy for offense. There’s a certain way of selling it and a certain way to buy in, and he bought in. His offense was really attributed to how well he defended, to be honest with you, as crazy as that sounds,” Mougenel said.
Beecher looking to make a splash
First rounder John Beecher is another young center the parent club would love to see stake a claim on an NHL job as soon as possible.
Beecher said he spent about three weeks training this summer at the National Team Development Program’s facility in Michigan, then worked out in Boston for the last two months.
The vacancies at center are “definitely something that you look at. It’s enticing. Obviously everybody coming into camp wants to have a shot. This year there’s a bunch of opportunities, so just got to go into camp and show my best.”
Mougenel talked about the progress Beecher made over the course of last season.
“He’s not the only player to come down to Providence and – I wouldn’t necessarily say struggle, but maybe have a little bit of an identity issue early on. By the second half he was our go-to guy for a lot of situations. His skating obviously separates him from most of his peers down there. The ability to hang onto a puck and get in and be first on pucks is something he did really well,” he said.
“The one thing we really liked about John by the end of the year was his willingness to play a physical brand of hockey. It took time. In the American Hockey League you have to have patience for players, especially a bigger player, to figure that out. John did an amazing job of that.”
Rinkside Rhode Island 