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Let’s be frank: Boston has one of the worst prospect pools in the NHL.
That’s the price you pay to stay competitive, and the Bruins have been among the NHL’s best teams for well over a decade. Not many teams can start and end a decade playing in the Stanley Cup final, but that’s exactly what the Bruins did in 2011 and 2019.
That sustained level of competitive play meant moving draft picks and selecting low when they didn’t. That’s why the Bruins have one of the worst prospect pools. That’ll change once the team starts to drop off, but if the Bruins have their way, that won’t be for a few years.
Fabian Lysell and John Beecher are the only first-rounders on this list, with the team moving most of their first-round picks in recent years. In fact, they’ve only had four picks total in the top 85 over the past four years. This is a team that understands what it takes to remain competitive, and that often means depleting resources. Lysell is still the top prospect in the system, even if the past year wasn’t a huge success.
The 2022-23 season saw Matthew Poitras and Brett Harrison post tremendous major junior seasons, while Mason Lohrei finished off a tremendous two-year run at Ohio State. And then there are the two undrafted free-agent signings, Brandon Bussi and Georgii Merkulov, who took huge strides this year. The emergence of both in Providence was an excellent sign.
Biggest strength
What this group lacks in skill, it gains back in hard-working, energetic skaters. And you need guys like that – you can’t win with 12 shoot-first, worry-later scoring options out there. The Bruins have an abundance of players that bring skill, grit and speed in depth positions, including some who aren’t far away from stepping into full-time roles.
Biggest weakness
There isn’t a real game-breaker in the pool. Nobody appears to be a high-impact first-liner, top-pairing defender or a top-flight goaltender. I had mixed opinions on Lysell’s high-end potential – he didn’t have a great year, but I still think he’s a capable middle-six player. After that, Lohrei looks solid, but I don’t think we’re going to see him play 18+ minutes per night at the next level.
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Fabian Lysell, RW, 20 (Providence, AHL)
Drafted: No. 21, first round in 2021
Lysell was a divisive prospect during his draft year, with many wondering what his NHL future would look like. In his first season in the AHL with Providence he didn’t light things on fire with just 14 goals and 37 points in 54 games. Mix in an awful world junior performance and Lysell didn’t do himself many favors. The skill is there, but he’ll need to take a big step forward in 2023-24. He’s still young, so it’s all about putting everything together.
2. Mason Lohrei, D, 22 (Providence, AHL)
Drafted: No. 58, second round in 2020
There’s an argument to be made that Lohrei is the best prospect in the system right now. The 22-year-old was a bit of a surprise to go at No. 58 at the 2020 draft, especially since the NHL’s Central Scouting Service had him as the 132nd-ranked North American skater. But Lohrei has looked like an absolute gem, putting up fantastic numbers during his two-year tenure at Ohio State before turning pro late last season. Lohrei got his first taste of professional hockey to close out the year, and now he’s ready to take his career up another step.
3. Matthew Poitras, C, 19 (Guelph, OHL)
Drafted: No. 54, second round in 2022
Poitras was a bit of a revelation last season, recording 79 assists (second in the OHL) and 95 points to lead Guelph in scoring. He is among the most effective passers in major junior, and all he’s missing is a few extra goals himself. Poitras projects to be a solid middle-six playmaker in the NHL, which would be an excellent value find after the team selected Poitras later in the second round in 2022.
4. Georgii Merkulov, C, 22 (Providence, AHL)
Undrafted free agent signing, 2022
What a find Merkulov was. Undrafted to the NHL, he had 24 goals and 55 points in his first season of pro hockey. The 22-year-old has done nothing but excel since coming over to North America in 2019-20, but nobody could have expected the offensive explosion this past season in Providence. It was interesting that Merkulov wasn’t part of the call-up group this year, but that should change in 2023-24 as the team looks to the post-Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci era.
5. Dans Locmelis, C, 19 (Univ. of Massachusetts, NCAA)
Drafted: No. 119, fourth round in 2022
Locmelis is another great value find, coming off a fantastic season for the 119th pick from 2022. The Latvian-born center had 59 points in 44 games with Lulea’s U-20 squad, but it was his play at the IIHF World Championship in May that caught everyone’s attention. He had just three points, but they came in the final three games, including a goal that helped lead Latvia to its first-ever appearance in the final four. The NCAA will be a significant change for Locmelis, but he’s ready for the challenge.
6. Jakub Lauko, LW, 23 (Boston Bruins)
Drafted: No. 77, third round in 2018
If Lauko is going to the NHL, it has to be soon. He finally got into his first NHL action this year with seven points in 23 games, giving the team a decent, hard-working depth piece with good straight-line speed. Offensively is where Lauko falls flat. He’s a strong forward that can land hits, but he isn’t more than a 15-point player in the NHL. Still, you need guys that work their tail off like Lauko.
7. John Beecher, C/LW, 22 (Providence, AHL)
Drafted: No. 30, first-round in 2019
A big, 6-foot-3 forward, Beecher turned pro last year and put up a respectable 23 points in 61 games. When it comes to Beecher, though, it’s not the offense you’re looking for. He’s a good skater, tough to take the puck off of, reads the ice well and is defensively responsible. If the team is looking to have more of a youth presence, Beecher could be a solid bottom-six option.
8. Brandon Bussi, G, 25 (Providence, AHL)
Undrafted free agent signing, 2022
It’s hard to classify Bussi as a prospect given his age. But the 25-year-old was one of the best goaltenders in his first year of pro hockey, going 22-5-4 with a .924 save percentage in 32 games. An undrafted free agent signing last year, Bussi was named to the AHL’s all-rookie team, beating out some younger competition. The Bruins have a busy pipeline with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, but Bussi is ready for a call-up if needed.
9. Frederic Brunet, D, 19 (Victoriaville, QMJHL)
Drafted: No. 132, fifth round in 2022
A fifth-round pick in 2022, Brunet had one heck of a campaign with 73 points this year between Rimouski and Victoriaville. He was an overage prospect when he was taken, but his development over the past two years looks promising. Brunet very well could be one of the better steals, but his defensive zone play still needs improvement.
10. Brett Harrison, C, 20 (Providence, AHL)
Drafted: No. 85, third round in 2021
Harrison is ready to go pro in 2023-24 after finishing off his OHL career with the Windsor Spitfires. He never exploded offensively in major junior, but he brings a solid mix of hockey sense and physicality that’ll allow him to play some NHL games. Harrison could be a solid complementary scorer one day, but adjusting to life in the AHL is the next stop in his journey.
Other notables: Riley Duran, 20 (C/RW), Jonathan Myrenberg, D (20), Kyle Keyser, G (23), Reid Dyck, G (19), Christopher Pelosi, C (18), Beckett Hendrickson, LW (18), Trevor Kuntar, C (22)
More must-reads:
- Boston Bruins sign three players
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Maple Leafs' Forward Trio Could Be Moved Before Next Season, Claims Insider
The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be finished reshaping their forward group. NHL insider Chris Johnston reported for The Athletic that the trio comprised of depth-forwards Nick Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok, and David Kampf, is on the trade block as the franchise continues to explore roster changes ahead of the 2025–26 season. Johnston noted that of the three, the Leafs are most reluctant to part with Robertson, who just signed a one-year, $1.825 million deal and avoided arbitration. Still just 23, Robertson’s age and goal-scoring upside keep him in Toronto’s long-term picture—for now. "With that glut of NHL-calibre players, the Leafs could still ship out one or more of David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok or Robertson before the season begins, Johnston wrote. "However, they’ve been reluctant to part with Robertson because of his age-related upside and ability to put the puck in the net. "Just 19 players from the 2019 NHL Draft have scored more career NHL goals than the 53rd pick. And Robertson has done that while receiving depth minutes at 5-on-5 and limited power-play usage." Veterans David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok, More Likely to Be Moved Kampf and Jarnkrok, both in their thirties, are viewed as more expendable by Johnston. Kampf has two years left on his four-year, $9.6 million deal, carrying a $2.4 million cap hit. He has been a staple of Toronto’s penalty kill for the past four years, but he only produced 13 points in 59 regular-season games last year. Jarnkrok, meanwhile, has only one year left on his contract at a $2.1 million cap hit. He has filled a middle-six role when healthy, but is coming off appearing in just 19 games last season and scoring a meager seven points. Toronto’s summer acquisitions have added competition for bottom-six spots, leaving little room for how either veteran fits the NHL roster next season. Johnston suggested the team has “tried for weeks” to move both players, and with only $1.9 million in cap space remaining, a trade could help provide flexibility for another move. Nick Robertson’s Upside Keeps Him in Play—For Now Robertson scored 15 goals in 69 games last season while averaging limited minutes. Despite trade rumors and facing questions about his fit, the Leafs still appear willing to bet on his upside. The 23-year-old forward had 22 points overall last year, and he reached a career-high figure in goals. Robertson added two points (one goal, one assist) in three Stanley Cup Playoff games as the Leafs crashed out of the postseason early once again, falling in the second round of the playoffs.
Padres already demoting one of their trade-deadline acquisitions
The Padres announced they’ve optioned JP Sears to Triple-A El Paso. They recalled reliever Sean Reynolds and will go with a nine-man bullpen in the short term. Sears will spend at least 15 days in the minors unless he’s brought up to replace a player going on the injured list. San Diego acquired Sears alongside Mason Miller in last week’s massive deadline deal. The 29-year-old southpaw made his team debut Monday night. He allowed five runs in as many innings on 10 hits and a walk against the Diamondbacks. Sears took the loss in a 6-2 defeat. He’d carried a 4.95 earned run average over 22 starts with the A’s. Monday's performance pushed his ERA to 5.12 across 116 innings. It’s a bottom-10 mark among pitchers to log at least 100 frames. Sears had the highest home run rate among that group, offsetting his nearly league-average 20.3% strikeout rate and solid 6% walk percentage. This is the first time in two-and-a-half years that Sears heads to the minors. He broke camp with the A’s in 2023 and has been in the majors since then. Sears has also avoided the injured list for that entire time. As a result, he’s tied for fifth in MLB with 87 starts since the beginning of the ’23 season. The durability is the big selling point, as his production (4.62 ERA/4.56 SIERA) over that stretch is that of a fifth or sixth starter. The demotion shouldn’t have any impact on Sears’ service trajectory. He has already surpassed the three-year mark and will qualify for arbitration next winter. He’s under team control for three seasons beyond this one. While he’ll probably be back up at some point this year, it may require an injury elsewhere in the rotation. San Diego optioned Randy Vásquez over the weekend. They have a four-man rotation of Dylan Cease, Nick Pivetta, Yu Darvish and deadline acquisition Nestor Cortes. Darvish and Cortes will get the ball for the next two outings. San Diego is off Thursday and could turn back to Pivetta and Cease on extra rest for their first two games of the weekend series against the Red Sox. That’d point to the series finale on Aug. 10 as Michael King’s return date. King threw 61 pitches in what is expected to be his final rehab start on Sunday, via the MLB.com injury tracker. He’d be on six days' rest for his first MLB appearance since he went on the injured list in late May with a nerve problem in his throwing shoulder.
Blue Jays demolish MLB records with eye-popping Coors Field performance
DENVER — There's nothing like coming to Coors Field to fix what ails you. Just ask the Toronto Blue Jays. Losers of six of eight games before arriving in Denver, the Blue Jays posted an MLB-record 63 hits in a three-game series while easily sweeping a road series from the Colorado Rockies. By totaling 25 hits on Monday night, 14 on Tuesday and 24 in Wednesday's matinee, the Blue Jays set a new MLB standard for offensive prowess. Toronto passed the MLB record of 62 hits in a three-game series, set by the Boston Red Sox in a June 7-9, 1950 matchup against the St. Louis Browns. As part of the hit parade, Toronto smashed 13 home runs, the most ever surrendered by the Rockies in a three-game set. Included in that barrage were three hits by Bo Bichette, including a three-run shot on Wednesday afternoon that got the Blue Jays rolling in the third inning. Kyle Freeland, Wednesday's starter for Colorado, allowed seven hits in his 4.2 innings of work. That was the fewest amount of hits given up by a Rockies starter against Toronto, as Rockies starter Tanner Gordon allowed 11 in 2.2 frames on Monday, while Anthony Molina surrendered nine in 5.0 innings on Tuesday. "We need to pitch with confidence as starting pitchers. We need to command the baseball better in general," said Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer as his team slipped to 30-84 on the season. "We have to put hitters away when we have that opportunity." That was something Colorado couldn't do against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, as their first six runs of a 20-1 blowout win came with two outs in the frame. Wednesday's offensive explosion helped Toronto outscore the Rockies, 45-6, in the series. That run differential was the second-most in MLB's modern era and the most runs scored by an MLB team in a three-game series since the 2019 Chicago Cubs scored 47 runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates from Sept. 13-15, 2019. In all, the 45 runs, 63 hits and 13 home runs allowed in the series were each the most allowed by Colorado pitchers in a three-game set in franchise history. How bad did it get for Colorado at the end of the series? Down 12-1 entering the ninth inning on Wednesday, the Rockies put catcher Austin Nola on the mound for his first-ever pitching appearance. He was nothing like his younger brother, Philadelphia Phillies ace Aaron Nola, as he promptly gave up four consecutive doubles, including RBI shots from Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as part of eight hits and eight runs posted by the Blue Jays against him. "It hurts when you get beat that bad for three games," Nola said. "We can compete with anybody. I know we can. We're all Major League players, so it definitely hurts. We're going to have to flush this one and get back out there on Friday in Arizona and have a new competitive attitude." All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
NFL Hall of Famer reveals why he chose to join Deion Sanders' Colorado coaching staff
Steelers’ Coaching Staff Can't Hide The Fact Anymore That They Truly Feel They’ve Hit A Home Run With Their Rookie
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave up 299 rushing yards to their arch-nemesis, the Baltimore Ravens, in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 playoffs. Slowing down Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson was never going to be easy, but Pittsburgh’s defense was gashed from start to finish. It was an embarrassing showing that made it clear major changes were needed. The Steelers immediately began planning how to fix the issue heading into the offseason. With the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, a physical and explosive presence up front. Harmon was brought in to restore toughness, speed, and discipline to the heart of Pittsburgh’s defense. Since his arrival, he has quickly impressed the coaching staff throughout training camp and other offseason activities, showing signs that he could be exactly what the Steelers need. Steelers insider reports have added even more excitement around the rookie. During an appearance on WDVE 102.5 on Wednesday morning, one insider named Gerry Dulac spoke about how impactful Harmon has been, both on the field and in the locker room. The Steelers were humiliated in their playoff loss to Baltimore, but with Harmon in the fold, they believe they’re on track to make sure it doesn’t happen again. "I'll tell you who's buzzing about it quietly and internally, are those coaches," Dulac said. "They love this guy. [From] what they have seen, they're thinking this pick is a home run. Now, we'll see how it plays out, but [from] what they've seen so far, they think he's terrific, and gonna be terrific." It’s not just coaches who are noticing Harmon’s impact either. Teammates have been raving about the way he’s carrying himself, especially for a rookie walking into a veteran-heavy locker room. He’s been described as humble, but intense. Quiet, but physical. It’s that mix of work ethic and natural ability that has people around the team believing the Steelers might’ve nailed this pick. Harmon’s explosiveness off the line has stood out in nearly every practice session. He’s consistently disrupting plays in the backfield, and he’s already shown he can hold his own against the Steelers’ top offensive linemen. Harmon is going to be called on as a rookie to be a starter right away. It's not an easy task for any rookie but the Steelers are just that confident in his skills. What’s also impressive is how fast he’s picked up the playbook. For a position that demands a lot of mental processing, especially in the Steelers’ complex scheme, Harmon hasn’t looked overwhelmed. In fact, he’s been praised for asking the right questions, staying late in meetings, and learning from guys like Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton. He’s clearly not just relying on his physical tools. Of course, it’s still early, and everything changes when the pads come on in real games. But if training camp is any indication, the Steelers’ front office may have landed a game-changer in Harmon. And after that nightmare in Baltimore, they’ll take all the help they can get. Steelers’ Defense Expected To Be Elite The Steelers defense is expected to be one of the NFL’s best in 2025. But if they want to be the best, Harmon’s impact will be key. Lining up next to Benton and Heyward, he could help anchor a dominant front. For that to happen, Harmon will need to play at a high level as a rookie. That’s a big task, but the coaching staff believes he’s more than capable. He’s shown the strength, quickness, and awareness they were hoping for. The Steelers didn’t draft him to sit. They want him to contribute now. If Harmon does that, this defense should be in very good hands for the 2025 season.
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