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Dans Locmelis with the Providence Bruins. (Photo credit: Jared Beltz/Hartford Wolf Pack Flickr)

Dans Locmelis Looking Like Bruins Draft Win

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Brandon Share-Cohen | Last updated Apr 13, 2025 2:55 PM ET

Top-end talent in the NHL is essential to long-term team success. In a salary cap world, however, retaining a talented core can be difficult. This is why teams must be very selective about the contracts they give to depth talent, as it can ultimately dictate whether a team can afford one of their top contributors. Because of this, it’s typically preferable for teams to err towards the side of caution and let bottom-six talent who price themselves out of the roster leave in free agency while simultaneously replacing them with young talent who can fill a similar role. Building through the draft and with college free agents is a good way to replenish the pipeline, which is part of what makes Boston Bruins‘ prospect Dans Locmelis look like a steal for the team as a 2022 fourth-round pick.

Locmelis, a Latvian forward who produced well in the Junior ranks in Sweden, had a slow start to his collegiate career with UMass-Amherst, where the 6-foot, 172-pound center posted just seven goals and 14 points in 30 games. This was fresh off a season where he scored 25 goals and 59 points in 44 games in Sweden with Lulea HF Jr.

It’s for exactly this reason, then, that the Bruins’ brass must have been thrilled when Locmelis upped his production to eight goals and 33 points in 40 games this season before making the jump to the AHL. Since joining the Providence Bruins, Locmelis has fit in seamlessly, tallying two goals and eight points in just four games, all while demonstrating an excellent understanding of 200-foot play.

Locmelis Could Crack Bruins Lineup Sooner Than Expected

At 21 years old, Locmelis would probably benefit from starting the 2025-26 season with Providence and getting more familiar with the pro style of hockey, as well as how the Bruins want to use him as opposed to how he was utilized at UMass-Amherst. At the same time, there’s no reason to doubt Locmelis’ ability to contribute throughout camp next season and carve out a role for himself in the NHL. While his point production is unlikely to translate directly to the NHL level, his ability to impact the game with and without the puck makes him an intriguing prospect to keep an eye on for the Bruins.

He may not project as a top-six player, but his impact could allow the Bruins to keep rotating depth options on inexpensive deals while focusing more money to the top of their lineup.

That said, it’s too early to rule out the possibility that he could grow into a top-six role down the line; crazier things have happened. For now, the goal is to develop Locmelis into an NHL player—whatever that looks like and in whatever role, getting him to the NHL would be an achievement in and of itself, given how difficult it is to find contributors later in the draft process. Anything beyond that is gravy; setting realistic expectations is good, but putting a concrete ceiling on any prospect is a foolish approach.

Considering the Bruins’ first pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft came at pick 54, the fact that the Bruins have found at least two potential contributors in Locmelis and Matt Poitras is actually a fairly impressive feat.

Given the Bruins’ struggles this season, finding any silver linings or positives almost feels mandatory at this point. The Stanley Cup contention window is closed and the little victories are now worth celebrating; this includes finding a fourth-round pick who looks like he could develop into an NHL player one day. It’s also worth remembering that finding NHL-level contributors matters and a team can never have too many bodies capable of playing at the next level. It’s important to also have high-end talent, but there’s no downside to stockpiling affordable, NHL-ready contributors.