The Boston Bruins have always been able to stay relevant with their use of veteran players and an influx of young talent. That was more than evident last year when the team got quite a few contributions from their young players, including David Pastrnak, Brandon Carlo and Charles McAvoy as regular contributors, while others like Noel Acciari, Sean Kuraly and Frank Vatrano have all helped out the team on the lower lines.
Pastrnak is a perfect example of using a first-round pick wisely as the Bruins selected the now 21-year-old wing with the 25th overall pick. He scored 10 goals that first year after being drafted, improved to 15 one year later and broke out with a 34-goal season this year. Carlo, a former second-round pick in 2014, had a solid season on defense in his rookie campaign this year, while McAvoy, the 14th overall pick in 2016, played a full season for Boston University last year on defense, played four games for the AHL Providence Bruins and then had three assists in six playoff games for Boston to end the season.
Acciari contributed in 29 games for the Bruins last season, scoring two goals, but also helped out in the playoffs, playing in four of the team’s six playoff games and even scoring a goal. Kuraly, who was acquired in a trade a year ago after four seasons at Miami (OH) University, put up 14 goals for Providence in the AHL before getting a late season call. He played eight regular season games and then surprisingly got placed into the lineup during four playoff games, scoring two goals in the playoffs. Vatrano put up 10 goals last year in injury shortened season with the Bruins. The undrafted free agent is still only 23 years old and should be a regular contributor.
More youth is on the way, according to CSNNE’s Joe Haggerty, who profiles the Bruins’ top prospects and believes that Anders Bjork is ready to make immediate contributions to the Bruins lineup this season. Bjork, a fifth-round pick in 2014 has developed in three years at Notre Dame, finishing last season with 21 goals and 31 assists for the Fighting Irish. His combination of speed, skill and grit could make him a top candidate to make the team as either a wing for Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci. The key is whether he can prove that he can make the jump from the NCAA to the NHL without time in the AHL. Haggerty believes Bjork, who signed his entry-level deal on May 30, should be able to make the team out of training camp and has a chance to be a 20-goal scorer quickly.
For a team in need of wingers, the Bruins have quite a few prospects who could easily fill those roles next season. Jake DeBrusk, who was a first-round pick in 2015 and put up solid numbers in his first season in the AHL last year (19 goals, 30 assists) as well as putting up six goals for the Providence Bruins in 17 playoff games. Zachary Senyshyn, who went one pick later than DeBrusk in the 2015 first round, scored 42 goals for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL and played in four AHL playoff games last year. He will likely will need some time in the AHL to adjust to the speed of the game, but could earn a mid to late year promotion, according to Haggerty, and could be the best of the team’s top prospects.
Nevertheless, the future for a young Bruins squad looks bright. To see the rest of the list of top prospects, go here.