The NHL preseason is a time when teams have the opportunity to showcase their young talent. The Boston Bruins are looking to fill a roster spot in their forward unit and will be keeping a close eye out for their younger players during preseason. Not only is it a time for prospects to show what they’re capable of, but is also an opportunity for older depth players to try and earn a spot. These players will be looking to show management that they belong at the NHL level. Let’s dive into three Bruins players to watch out for during this year’s preseason.
Players to Watch Out for During Preseason
Fabian Lysell
Fabian Lysell is a name to look out for during this year’s preseason. Lysell was the Bruins first-round pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and still hasn’t caught a glimpse of the NHL level. With a spot open in the Bruins forward core, the 21-year-old forward will be looking to earn a roster spot during the preseason and hopefully finally make his NHL debut in October. During the 2021-2022 season, Lysell played for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL. He scored 62 points in 53 games scoring 22 goals and 40 assists. He helped lead the Giants to the playoffs where he racked up 21 points in 12 games, tallying four goals and 17 assists. With a successful season with the Giants, Lysell was ready for the next step and played the next two seasons with the Providence Bruins.
Since Joining Providence these past two seasons, Lysell has played a total of 110 games and has tallied a total of 87 points scoring 29 goals and 58 assists. Although Lysell hasn’t had as much of an offensive production with Providence as many would’ve hoped, he has a lot of upside and possesses high-end speed which the Bruins have been looking for in their prospects. Lysell’s offensive creativity and strong playmaking ability would be a good second-line option for the Bruins this upcoming season, or even a solid depth piece. Preseason will give Lysell the opportunity to show why he is ready for the NHL level.
Georgii Merkulov
Georgii Merkulov has been with the Bruins since the end of the 2022 season. Since joining Boston he has been able to play four total games in the NHL where he scored zero points, however was a plus-one rating. Before coming to America, Merkulov played in many different Russian Leagues such as the MHL and the VHL. When he first came to the United States he played he the USHL for the Youngstown Phantoms.
After two seasons with the Phantoms, Merkulov committed to The Ohio State University for the 2021-2022 season. In 36 games Merkulov was able to put up 34 points, scoring 20 goals and having 14 assists. Merkulov’s notable impact during his freshman season earned him an entry-level contract with the Bruins at the end of the season, where he played the remainder of the year for the Providence Bruins. He has played 142 total regular season games with Providence since joining the team and has scored 125 points. Merkulov’s success in Providence hasn’t gone unnoticed and is a player to keep an eye on in the Bruins lineup during the preseason to try and earn a full-time roster spot.
Matthew Poitras
Matthew Poitras was able to make the Bruins roster last season at only 19 years old, however, his season was cut short due to a shoulder injury which required season-ending surgery. The Bruins selected Poitras 54th overall in the second-round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Poitras played two seasons with the Guelph Storm of the OHL where he was dominant. He played a total of 131 games with the Storm, where he put up 145 points, scoring 37 goals and 108 assists. In the OHL, Poitras demonstrated his incredible playmaking ability and being able to contribute on both sides of the ice.
Last season was his first year with the Bruins organization and was able to make the NHL roster. He played 33 games with Boston, scoring five goals and 10 assists for a total of 15 points. Coming off a shoulder surgery, a spot in the Bruins lineup is likely guaranteed for the 20 year old prospect, however management will be keeping a close eye on him and manage the injury from last season. The preseason will allow Poitras to become comfortable again and gain his confidence back at the NHL level.
