This Boston Bruins prospect could be the Original Six club's next surprise.
Last season, the Boston Bruins had multiple rookies step up and make an impact. Youngsters like Mason Lohrei, Matthew Poitras, and Johnny Beecher all cemented themselves NHL roles at varying points of the season.
Heading into next season, the Bruins have some prospects who could follow in the trio's footsteps and be big surprises. One specific Bruins prospect who stands out as a breakout candidate is Georgii Merkulov.
Merkulov, 23, has significantly raised his value as a prospect over the last few seasons. In his first full year with the Providence Bruins in 2022-23, he made an immediate impact, recording 24 goals and 55 points in 67 games. He then followed that up with a dominant 2023-24 campaign with Providence, posting 30 goals and 65 points in 67 games. Due to his strong play at the AHL level, he also had a brief call-up to Boston's lineup, where he had zero points in four games.
After producing at just under a point-per-game pace last season in the AHL, the expectation is that Merkulov will be one of the many young players competing for a spot on Boston's roster at training camp. After losing multiple forwards this summer, the potential for Merkulov to find a home in the Bruins' top nine is there. This is especially so if last season's third-line center, Morgan Geekie, makes the switch to the 2RW role. This would create a clear opening for Merkulov as the club's potential 3C.
Merkulov seems to only be improving as each season passes, and it would not surprising in the slightest if this trend carries over to the 2024-25 season. Because of this, don't be surprised if he gets some real reps with Boston next season.
