Another Michigan Wolverine decided to turn pro. Johnny Beecher signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Providence Bruins of the AHL for the remainder of this season. Just like his former teammates Thomas Bordeleau and Brendan Brisson, this allows Beecher to play for Providence down the stretch, something that isn’t possible once he signs his entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. That may not have to wait long though, as general manager Don Sweeney explained:
"We are appreciative to Mel Pearson and the Michigan coaching staff as they did a great job with his overall development. The Bruins and Johnny are leaving all options open with regards to his availability for the remainder of this season and playoffs. We will continue to communicate with his agent, Cam Stewart, while Johnny starts to play games and as we work towards finalizing his ELC."
Boston and Beecher can sign an ELC at any point, which would make him eligible to play in the NHL regular season and in the playoffs. If he does sign for 2021-22, it would be a three-year deal, and the first season would burn immediately, regardless of how many games he played.
It will be interesting to see if Beecher actually climbs the ranks quicker than Bordeleau and Brisson given his role with the Michigan team. Despite also being a high draft pick and top prospect when he entered the program, he never really found his way offensively and recorded just 39 points in three seasons. The wonder now is whether his offense will actually improve at the next level, when time and space are compressed even further, or if he is going to top out as another Bruins depth player selected in the first round.
Picked 30th overall in 2019, Beecher was always more of a project, a mixture of raw tools that the Bruins hoped would form a dynamic two-way player. The 6-3 forward can skate well, lean on opponents and finish around the net, but too often he isn’t the one to get it there. In the right situation, he may thrive, opening room for his linemates with at size and speed, but through three years at Michigan, it didn’t really happen.
You can bet that the Bruins have a plan for him though, and he enters an organization that does have some question marks coming down the middle. Patrice Bergeron will be 37 this summer and an unrestricted free agent, Erik Haula is signed for just one more year, and other young forwards like Trent Frederic and Jack Studnicka haven’t exactly established themselves as dynamic, must-see NHL options to this point. With room to grow in the system, Beecher will have to hope his game translates to the next level quickly.
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