NHL Notebook: Takeaways and observations from Bruins development camp; Sweeney talks Bertuzzi

Matthew Poitras has tons of promise but is still a little ways off

Boston’s second-rounder in 2022, Matthew Poitras’ playmaking abilities and vision was on full display as the week went on. It was especially encouraging to see the 54th overall pick's skills translate into game-like situations, continuing his growth from a 16-goal, 95-point season in the QMJHL.  

Of Boston's three top center prospects, Poitras, Harrison and Georgii Merkulov, I'm of the opinion Poitras has the highest ceiling and best chance at making it as a center. Time will tell, of course. Either way, the 19-year-old still has some areas to grow.

“The way he sees the ice … He can make plays," Langenbrunner said Tuesday. "I think the next step is continuing to get stronger with the physical development. He has a willingness to want to take pucks to the dirty areas of the net. Getting stronger will allow him to do those things. I think we’re rounding out his game. On the defensive side, if he’s going to be a centerman, we’re going to need him to be reliable in his own end. ... Not taking away the offensive side, but making sure those things are focused on.”

Even with his 5-foot-11, 172-pound frame, Poitras did not shy away from engaging in battles with his larger peers. The effort was there defensively, even if the details need to be worked out.  

“This is a smart hockey player with an elite brain. His skating got knocked a little bit going into the draft, which pushed him down, but we saw a brain with growth potential," Langenbrunner said. "I think we saw that step last year with his production in a lower team, it was extremely high-end. You see it in snippets out here every day, his ability to play in space and create space. His elusiveness, you know, he buys time for himself. He has that knack where he can kind of just look guys off and find lanes. The next step we’re going to try to push on him is, maybe similar to Fabian [Lysell], is shoot the puck a little more. He can shoot the puck, but he is definitely more of a pass-first guy. If we can tilt that just a little bit more the other way, it’ll give him more of a leg up, but we’re very happy with that player.”

Poitras will be at main training camp in September. His only other option if he does not make the NHL roster, will be a return to the QMJHL, which would afford him another key year of growth. Still, the prospect of getting him into preseason games is an exciting one for Boston.

"The pace of play and the strength of play against NHL players is what dictates whether a player can make that jump," Sweeney said Friday. "It’s a big jump, but we really like his hockey IQ, and he needs to focus on being a little bit more shot-ready, I think he’s a pass-first guy, but he sneaky has a really good shot. So, maybe that just needs to develop a little more and know when to be selfish in certain situations, but he’ll get a chance in camp to hopefully see that translate. … I know [Jim Montgomery] was talking about different players and opportunities, and we’ll see. 

"He’ll make the progression through rookie camp, then get into main camp, and see if they get into exhibition games. There will be several of those guys, and Matthew is one of them.”   

Kristian Kostadinski is an intriguing project

In Monday’s skills-only sessions, I sort of noticed seventh-rounder Kristian Kostadinski for the wrong reasons. The Swede, selected 220th overall this year, is a behemoth, coming in at 6-foot-5, 214 pounds. 

Understandably in the skills portions of the week, Kostadinski (the tree that he is) and his skating inefficiencies really stuck out. Pretty interesting to juxtapose him and the two-way Ryan Mast (6-foot-5, 215 pounds). 

But once some more battles and defending drills were ramped up, Kostadinski stuck out for his abilities to defend and his physicality. His size certainly helps. Defending this year’s third-rounder, Christopher Pelosi, off the rush, Kostadinski sent him tumbling by basically sticking his arms out and putting a body on. 

He’s very raw, but if he ever makes it to the NHL, it’s easy to see him fitting a Derek Forbort role as a defensive third-pair, penalty kill player. Smaller players typically have to prove they can play, while bigger players usually have to prove they can’t, after all. 

Kostadinski’s week falls in line with a little bit of what Bethany Brausen talked about on Thursday, seeing how players might rise up in game-like situations. 

"I think some of the hardest parts about doing skill work, is you can have someone who's fantastic at skill work, right? Then you go into 5-on-5 plays and you're like, 'I wish that translated a little better,'" Brausen said. "Then you've got guys who, frankly, are not great skaters or not great at the skill work, but then you get them into a game setting, and they're one of the best competitors out there."

Sure enough, the 18-year-old also went 2-for-2 in Friday’s shootout. 

Mason Lohrei and Fabian Lysell are a still step above the rest

Lohrei and McQuaid feel the former has a good chance to make a push for the NHL roster at some point this season, and it's easy to see why. 

He easily set the bar on the blue line this week. Whether it was moving the puck, using his mobility or his shot, it looked easy out there for Lohrei this week. 

“Mason has been right out in front; he expects to challenge for a spot this year," Sweeney said. "I think it was really important for him to get into Providence last year and play and be in a pro-environment, to know what he's able to get away with at the college level that may or may not translate at the pro level. Then, it’ll be another step. He’ll go through the progressions of rookie camp and play in some exhibition games, and we’ll see where he’s at. ... We’re excited about his trajectory and what he can bring to our organization.”

The biggest thing for Lohrei, too, is that the knee injury that held him out of last year's development camp has not hampered his game as a whole. His mobility as a bigger defenseman remains impressive. 

Lysell's skill was clearly evident compared to his peers. His confidence grew throughout Thursday and Friday after being cleared to fully participate.

But after ramping up in his recovery from a concussion, coupled with stagnating a little bit during his first professional campaign in 2022-23, it's clear that Lysell will be well-served by more seasoning in the AHL. The next steps are continuing to get stronger and acclimate to the North American game, in addition to upping his awareness in the dangerous areas of the ice. 

Still, the promise is clearly there if he continues to progress. Lysell still remains one of the crown jewels of the system, showcasing his dangerous potential on Friday in both the game situations and the shootout. His poise with the puck with pressure on him and in tight spaces seemed noticeable. 

Like Lohrei and Poitras, training camp will be valuable for Lysell as he sets his sights on the next level.

Big emphasis placed on skating this week

Skill work, and skating in particular, was a clear point of focus throughout the five days at Warrior. It was noticeable how much the defense groups especially worked on skating and edgework. 

There was a distinct lack of crossovers in the backward skating drills as well. It's all part of the ever-evolving game and its philosophies.

"I mean the game's changing. It's a lot faster. So obviously skating is a big part of that, and just being able to match the forward's speed going backward, right? It's hard," Ty Gallagher, a rising junior at Boston University, told BSJ. "There's a lot of fast forwards now and you know, just limiting the crossovers, limiting all the extra effort that needs to be put in going backward is definitely all the tips and tricks that they're giving us."

It's a matter of efficiently maintaining the gap with the forward coming downhill toward the blue line. If the defender is crossing over, he's lent himself to a more upright and unbalanced posture, losing body positioning.  

"It's more just shuffling, right? Just keeping your feet under you and staying square," Gallagher elaborated. "Once you crossover, that forward is going to cut back and expose you. So it's just keeping your feet under you and limiting the motion a little bit."

On Gallagher, standing at 6 feet, 187 pounds, he was one of the smaller members of the defense group this week, but once again had a good showing. Going back to his freshman season at BU, have felt he could turn out to be good value as a seventh-round pick (2021). Might not 'Wow' you with anything, but still does a lot of things well. Never seem to notice him for the wrong reasons. Defends and competes hard, has good offensive senses and a good shot. 

Hockey East will be well-stocked with Bruins prospects, per usual

If you're going to a college hockey game in the area, chances are you'll be seeing a Bruins prospect on the ice, whether it's Ty Gallagher (Boston University), Andre Gasseau (Boston College), Jellvik (BC), Dans Locmelis (UMass), Philip Svedeback (Providence) and Riley Duran (Providence). Mason Langenbrunner will be back with Harvard in the ECAC as well.

Locmelis in particular presents an exciting prospect, given his offensive skills. Showcased some good hands and playmaking, and his skating allowed him to be slippery throughout the week. He was a big producer in Sweden's U20 league, putting up 59 points (25 goals) in 44 games, before a three-point (two-goal) run in nine games with Latvia in their march to bronze at the World Championships, a milestone event for the nation. The 19-year-old should get plenty of opportunity with Greg Carvel's group. 

"We’re excited about being able to have him close to home without overstepping our boundaries of what UMass and the great program they have is going to provide," Sweeney said. "We’re fortunate, Svedeback and Duran are down the street in Providence, we see them a lot. Jellvik and Gasseau over at BC, and Gallagher’s down the street, so we’re fortunate. It’s a great league. Hockey East is highly, highly competitive."

Adding strength and good weight remains a goal for many

Like fine-tuning skating and skills, the need to bulk up in positive ways was another key theme of the week, especially for Boston's newest prospects.

Pelosi, the 92nd overall pick last week, is listed at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds. To this point in his career, he has been able to use his frame to knock opponents off pucks as he's come up through the ranks. Now that he's gotten a taste of where some of his more experienced peers are at, adding weight will be a top priority. Still, it's a balancing act of finding the appropriate fuel for his body.

"It's so hard for some people," the 18-year-old said Tuesday. "I mean, for me, I know I can eat a lot, and I'm just trying to get into it now. My trainers back at home have been helping, and they're doing amazing. I feel like I have gained weight and gotten stronger since the end of last season, and it's only been like a month and a half or so."

His go-to is Rice Krispies mixed in with yogurt and protein powder for a quick fix of proper carbs, protein and calories. 

Fellow member of the class of 2023 Beckett Hendrickson (6-foot-2, 174 pounds) also quickly realized he has a ways to go before he can withstand the increased size at the higher levels. 

"I think early on, you can tell his youth I guess out here with some of these guys who've been playing college for a while, like the style and physicality," Danielle Marmer said. "That's something he said right away, 'I need to get stronger. I don't like these battles.' I mean, skill-wise, he's very impressive."