Bruins candidates who could compete for a spot on the opening night roster

Bruins candidates who could compete for a spot on the opening night roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins did well this past season by adding several rookies to their NHL roster, including center Matt Poitras, center Johnny Beecher and defenseman Mason Lohrei.

Could the B’s do something similar with one or more prospects ahead of the 2024-25 season?

The Bruins do not have an elite prospect pool. In fact, most experts rank the group near the bottom of the rankings. But that does not mean the system is devoid of true NHL-caliber talent.

The Bruins’ rookie camp begins on Wednesday and it’s a great opportunity for some of these prospects to showcase their talent and prove that they belong in Boston as soon as possible.

Which prospects could compete for a spot on the roster during training camp and the preseason? Let’s analyze four options.

Position: Right wing

2023-24 team: Providence Bruins (AHL)

Statistics 2023-24: 15G, 35A at 56 GP

It’s time for Lysell to show that he can take the next step and not only play well enough to earn an NHL roster spot, but also contribute offensively.

He’s the most talented offensive player in Boston’s prospect pool. The 2021 first-round pick has a killer shot, plays with blazing speed, and his playmaking skills are impressive. He’s the type of player who can keep defenders on their heels while flying through the neutral zone and into the opposing net. His skills would also be useful on the power play. The departures of Jake DeBrusk and James van Riemsdyk in the offseason could result in some new faces on the second power play unit.

Lysell has dealt with a number of injuries during his AHL career. When healthy, he has the potential to be a dynamic offensive player, which is something the Bruins sorely lack. It also helps that Lysell’s natural position is right wing, which is a weak position for Boston.

The most ideal scenario for the Bruins is that Lysell plays great in camp and the preseason and shows that he deserves to start the season as a second-line right wing. But he has to earn it first. He won’t be thrown into that role just because he’s a first-round pick.

We all know Lysell can contribute offensively, but can he be asked to shoulder the defensive responsibilities of NHL players? The Bruins pride themselves on playing a smart, responsible, two-way game. Lysell needs to show that he has made progress defensively during training camp and the preseason. That said, the Bruins should give him some room here. Mistakes are going to happen. He is only 21 years old.

Lysell has played 110 games in two seasons in Providence. At some point, the B’s have to give this kid a chance to prove himself at the next level.

Position: Center

2023-24 team: Providence Bruins (AHL)

Statistics 2023-24: 30G, 35A at 67 GP

Merkulov has shown that he can be a very good offensive player at the AHL level. He has led the P-Bruins in scoring in each of the last two seasons, with 55 points (24 goals, 31 assists) in 2022-23 and 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) in 2023-24. There really isn’t much left for Merkulov to prove in Providence.

The question is, where does he fit at the NHL level? He hasn’t played much at right wing in the AHL, so it wouldn’t make much sense to throw him in that position in camp. He’s a natural center, where his scoring and playmaking skills have been crucial to Providence’s recent success.

The problem is that the Bruins have so many centers in the mix. Elias Lindholm and Charlie Coyle are the top six centers. Other players on the roster who can play center are Pavel Zacha, Trent Frederic, Morgan Geekie, Mark Kastelic and Matt Poitras. Prospects like Riley Duran and Marc McLaughlin can also play center.

Perhaps Merkulov could compete for a spot in the bottom six at left wing as a left winger. Either way, the Bruins would be wise to give him a chance. The four-game call-up he received last season wasn’t enough to determine whether he can be an effective NHL player.

Riley Duran

Position: Center/right wing

2023-24 team:Providence College (NCAA)

Statistics 2023-24 9G, 7A on 35 GP

There’s always a chance that a prospect will surprise and force the Bruins’ front office and coaching staff to make some tough decisions. Last year, Matt Poitras played so well that it just didn’t make sense to send him back to the OHL. And Poitras repaid the Bruins’ faith in him with a strong rookie season that was unfortunately cut short by injury.

Could Duran make a similar ascent in the coming month? The former Providence College star plays with speed and has a solid two-way skill set. His offensive ability is also a bit underrated, as evidenced by this goal with the P-Bruins in April.

Duran is likely the best fit to start the season in Providence, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s one of the better rookies in training camp.

Position: Goalkeeper

2023-24 team: Providence Bruins (AHL)

Statistics 2023-24: 23-10-5, .913 SV%, 2.67 GAA

Jeremy Swayman is currently the undisputed No. 1 goalie in Boston — assuming he ever signs a new contract. The real debate is which netminder will be his backup?

The Bruins acquired Joonas Korpisalo in the Linus Ullmark trade with the Ottawa Senators in July. Korpisalo is coming off a terrible 2023-24 campaign in which he posted a 21-26-4 record with an .890 save percentage and 3.27 GAA. If anyone can fix Korpisalo, it’s legendary Bruins goaltending coach Bob Essensa, but what if the Finnish goalie doesn’t have a great training camp and/or preseason?

Brandon Bussi will have a chance to prove himself in the coming weeks. He’s played very well in Providence the past two seasons, posting a .917 save percentage as a starter. There’s no reason to bring Bussi to the NHL, but he’s a young player who could make a case to make the Opening Night roster if he has a good training camp and preseason performance.