Bruins' top 10 prospects entering 2020-21 NHL season
The Boston Bruins have an older veteran core that could probably make one or two more runs at a Stanley Cup title. But what happens after that championship window closes?The best teams replace aging veterans with talented prospects who rise up through the organization and become impact players. Many of these prospects are acquired in the draft.The Bruins' prospect pool is not loaded with high-end talent. However, there are a few players in the system with really exciting skill sets and a bright future.Let's take a look at the Bruins' top 10 prospects entering the 2020-21 season.
Position: Goaltender
Age: 21
2019-20 Stats: 18-11-5, .939 SV%, 1.79 GAA (Univ. of Maine)
Swayman is coming off a brilliant season for the University of Maine. He won the Richter Award as the nation's top goaltender and also was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
Position: Center
Age: 20
2019-20 Stats: 28 GP, 17 G, 10 A, 27 P (Yale University)
Hall is an offensively gifted center with good size (6-foot-3 and 197 pounds) and impressive speed. He led Yale in scoring with 27 points, and his 17 goals were 12 more than he scored as a freshman the season before. Hall was a fourth-round pick (119th overall) of the Bruins in 2018.
Position: Center
Age: 22
2019-20 Stats: 60 GP, 7 G, 16 A, 23 P (AHL's Providence Bruins)
Steen was a sixth-round pick (165th overall) of the Bruins in 2016 who recently completed his first season with the Providence Bruins. He has the potential to be a useful bottom-six forward at the NHL level with a quick shot and crafty hands. He's currently playing in Sweden, where he's scored four goals in his first six games for Bjorkloven IF.
Position: Defenseman
Age: 23
2019-20 Stats: 58 GP, 3 G, 16 A, 19 P (AHL's Providence Bruins)
Zboril was the first of three first-round picks made by the Bruins in the 2015 draft. He was projected to be a smooth-skating defenseman who would generate consistent offensive production at 5-on-5 and the power play. But unfortunately for the Bruins, Zboril has been unable to carve out a regular role at the NHL level. He's only played in two games for Boston during that span and he's yet to crack the 20-point mark in three AHL seasons. The Bruins recently signed him to a two-year contract, and the expectation is he'll compete for a spot on the third pairing during training camp.
Contract details for Zboril's new deal
Position: Goaltender
Age: 23
2019-20 Stats: 14-7-1, .936 SV%, 1.79 GAA (AHL's Providence Bruins)
Vladar showed tremendous improvement for the Providence Bruins last season -- his second full campaign in the AHL. The 2015 third-round draft pick could be the Bruins' backup goaltender fairly soon, depending on what happens with current No. 1 netminder Tuukka Rask. Rask has one more year left on his contract before free agency.
Position: Left wing
Age: 20
2019-20 Stats: 22 GP, 5 G, 4 A, 9 P (AHL's Providence Bruins)
Lauko showed promise during his debut season in the AHL, nearly hitting the 0.5 points per game mark. He recently went back home to the Czech Republic, where he is playing for HC Energie Karlovy Vary. The ideal scenario the Bruins is that he can continue to develop his intriguing offensive game overseas before the next AHL season commences.
Position: Center
Age: 22
2019-20 Stats: 59 GP, 8 G, 24 A, 32 P (AHL's Providence Bruins)
Frederic projects to be a bottom-six forward at the NHL level. He's already capable of bringing a physical edge to the ice and isn't afraid to drop the gloves and fight if needed. The hope for the Bruins is the 2016 first-round pick continues to develop into a reliable third line scorer. The upcoming season will be huge for his development as he battles for a spot on the NHL roster.
Position: Center
Age: 19
2019-20 Stats: 31 GP, 9 G, 7 A, 16 P (Univ. of Michigan)
Beecher is an exciting prospect with an impressive blend of offensive skill, speed and size (6-foot-3 and 210 pounds). The 2019 first-round pick will be a sophomore at the University of Michigan during the upcoming season.
Position: Defenseman
Age: 21
2019-20 Stats: 54 GP, 5 G, 9 A, 14 P (AHL's Providence Bruins)
Vaakanainen projects to be a top-four defenseman at the NHL level with his two-way skill set and excellent skating ability. After playing in the AHL the last two years, the 2017 first-round pick should be able to impress enough in training camp/preseason to earn a third-pairing role to begin the 2020-21 campaign.
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Position: Center
Age: 21
2019-20 Stats: 60 GP, 23 G, 26 A, 49 P (AHL's Providence Bruins)
Studnicka is the Bruins' top prospect and the one with the best chance to make a meaningful impact for Boston next season. He led the P-Bruins in goals, assists and points in his first full AHL season in 2019-20.
His quick shot, smooth skating and versatility -- he can play at center and on the wing -- should help him earn a consistent NHL role pretty quickly. In fact, if first-line wingers Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are unable to play on Opening Night due to injuries, Studnicka is a candidate to slot in alongside Patrice Bergeron to start the season.
