Headlines

  • Blackhawks Sign Anton Frondell
  • Mammoth To Sign Michael Carcone To One-Year Contract
  • Sabres Sign Radim Mrtka To Entry-Level Contract
  • Sabres, Bowen Byram Avoid Arbitration With Two-Year Deal
  • Islanders Sign Victor Eklund To Entry-Level Contract
  • Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron To Two-Year Deal
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Georgii Merkulov

Minor Transactions: Merkulov, Bishop, McLaughlin

June 30, 2025 at 8:00 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

In what has turned out to be a busy day on the transactions front, there were several minor signings as well that haven’t previously been covered.  We’ll run through those here.

  • The Bruins announced earlier today that they’ve re-signed forward Georgii Merkulov to a one-year, two-way deal worth $775K at the NHL level. PuckPedia adds (Twitter link) that the deal will pay $235K in the AHL and has a guaranteed salary of $270K.  The 24-year-old got into six games with Boston this past season, notching one assist but he was much more productive in the minors with AHL Providence.  With them, he led the team in scoring with 15 goals and 39 assists in 59 appearances.  Merkulov will be waiver-eligible beginning next season which could give him a leg up in a battle for a roster spot in training camp.
  • The Flames announced that they have re-signed Clark Bishop on a one-year, two-way contract worth $775K in the NHL. PuckPedia adds (Twitter link) that the winger will make $350K in the minors and that the agreement has a $375K guaranteed salary.  The 29-year-old got into six games with Calgary this past season, his first taste of NHL action since 2021-22, scoring once.  He also put up his best offensive numbers in the minors, notching 19 goals and 19 assists in 66 games with the Wranglers.
  • The Devils have kept forward Marc McLaughlin away from Group Six unrestricted free agency. PuckPedia reports (Twitter link) that the sides have agreed to a one-year, two-way contract that pays $775K in the NHL and $350K in the minors.  The 25-year-old got into 14 NHL games this season between Boston and New Jersey, picking up two goals and an assist.  In the minors, meanwhile, he had five goals and 14 assists in 48 games between their respective farm teams.

Boston Bruins| Calgary Flames| New Jersey Devils| Transactions Clark Bishop| Georgii Merkulov| Marc McLaughlin

0 comments

Bruins Recall Patrick Brown, Vinni Lettieri, Riley Tufte

March 5, 2025 at 10:37 am CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

The Bruins announced they’ve recalled forwards Patrick Brown, Vinni Lettieri, and Riley Tufte from AHL Providence – the second of whom comes up under emergency conditions. Defenseman Ian Mitchell is also back with the team after a paper transaction meant he wasn’t rostered for yesterday’s loss to the Predators. The club reassigned forwards Georgii Merkulov and Jeffrey Viel to Providence in corresponding moves to keep their active roster at the 23-player maximum.

Only two needed to be sent down because Boston opened an additional roster spot yesterday by trading Trent Frederic to the Oilers. While he comes up under emergency conditions, likely related to captain Brad Marchand’s upper-body injury, Lettieri still counts against the roster limit. The Bruins only have to worry about their granular maneuvering until Friday’s deadline, after which the cap on roster sizes disappears.

Brown, 32, returns to the roster for the first time since January. The veteran of parts of nine NHL seasons has spent most of the year in Providence, only suiting up twice for Boston over a pair of recalls. He averaged 11:02 of ice time across those contests and posted a minus-one rating while going 2-for-5 on faceoffs and taking three shots on goal. The Michigan native will return to the lineup tomorrow against the Hurricanes as the Bs’ fourth-line center between John Beecher and Mark Kastelic, per Scott McLaughlin of WEEI. He’s served as the P-Bruins’ captain this season and is tied for second on the team in scoring with 16-28–44 through 52 games.

Ahead of Brown in AHL scoring is Lettieri, leading the club with 20-28–48 in 46 appearances. The 30-year-old made eight appearances for Boston in January, scoring twice while averaging 12:05 per game and recording 19 hits. The versatile 5’10” forward has been a decently productive depth piece when called upon for NHL minutes, posting 14-15–29 in 137 career games. He’ll get a shot in the top nine against Carolina on a line with Cole Koepke and youngster Matthew Poitras.

Tufte comes back up after being sent down in favor of Merkulov and Viel last week. The 6’6″ winger has also been reasonably productive for the P-Bruins this year, racking up 18-13–31 in 42 appearances. The 26-year-old former Stars first-rounder has averaged just 8:05 per game in five showings for Boston, though, posting no points and a minus-three rating with six hits. He’ll somewhat surprisingly get a shot in a second-line role with Charlie Coyle and Elias Lindholm, Marchand’s usual spot in the lineup.

Merkulov had been the one receiving Marchand’s minutes over the last few games, but no points and three shots on goal weren’t enough to keep him on the roster. The 5’11” natural center heads back to Providence, where he remains one of the club’s most effective per-game producers with 44 points in 47 outings.

The 6’2″ Viel had suited up in each of Boston’s last three games, averaging 7:29 per contest with a minus-one rating and eight hits. The depth power forward has 8-18–26 in 51 AHL games with a team-high 130 PIMs.

Boston Bruins| Transactions Georgii Merkulov| Ian Mitchell| Jeffrey Viel| Patrick Brown| Riley Tufte| Vinni Lettieri

0 comments

Bruins Recall Georgii Merkulov, Jeffrey Viel, Ian Mitchell

February 28, 2025 at 2:08 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 3 Comments

The Bruins swapped out multiple depth players on their roster today, announcing they’ve recalled forwards Georgii Merkulov, Jeffrey Viel, and defenseman Ian Mitchell from AHL Providence. The three players headed down to the minors in corresponding moves are wingers Riley Tufte, Oliver Wahlstrom, and defenseman Michael Callahan. Wahlstrom cleared waivers earlier this afternoon.

It’s by no means major turnover on the Boston roster given the minimal roles the three demotees were playing, but it does signal a wish for different skillsets down the stretch. That’s particularly evident in the call-ups of Merkulov and Mitchell, who offer head coach Joe Sacco more offensive upside than any of the players being sent down.

While a 2-1 loss to the Islanders last night represented a huge blow to their playoff chances, the Bruins still have a chance. Returning to the postseason picture will require more puck-moving support from their blue line in the absence of their top two defenders in Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. They don’t have much there in the interim aside from sophomore Mason Lohrei, and while Mitchell isn’t an impact piece by any stretch, he’s a more dynamic skillset than what the stay-at-home Callahan offered in his first NHL look.

Acquired from the Blackhawks in the 2023 Taylor Hall trade, Mitchell spent a chunk of last season on the Bruins’ roster as a healthy extra but hasn’t touched NHL ice in 2024-25. It’s his first recall since clearing waivers at the beginning of the season. The 6’0″ righty leads P-Bruins defensemen in scoring with 4-23–27 through 46 games, pairing that with a strong +11 rating. He managed two assists and a plus-six rating in 13 showings with Boston last year, averaging 15:18 per game.

Even just that stat line will be an upgrade over what Callahan’s brought to the table thus far. The 25-year-old got his first taste of NHL hockey over the past two months, posting a minus-two rating and averaging 13:08 per game over 11 appearances. The Bruins were outchanced 73-52 in his even-strength minutes. The 2018 fifth-round pick by the Coyotes will now return to Providence, where he has six points and a plus-two rating in 36 showings.

Meanwhile, Merkulov still checks in as one of the few offensively tantalizing players in the Bruins system. He doesn’t have much room left to grow at age 24, but the 5’11” center continues to hover around a point per game in the minors and is tied for the team lead in scoring with 13-31–44 through 47 games. He’s in his third year in the Bruins organization after signing as a free agent out of Ohio State in 2022, but he’s only recorded one assist in seven NHL games in previous trials. He should get a look higher up in the lineup with Trent Frederic sidelined for the time being, though.

Viel is a more direct replacement for the physicality they’re losing with Tufte’s reassignment. The 28-year-old winger got into his first NHL game since the 2022-23 campaign with the B’s earlier this season, recording a fight and 8:29 of ice time against the Blue Jackets on Nov. 18. The former Sharks and Jets farmhand stands at 6’2″ and 205 lbs and has 26 points, 130 PIMs, and a +15 rating in 51 games with Providence.

Tufte, 26, was recalled early last week and played in two of Boston’s first three games coming out of the 4 Nations break. He’s now made five NHL appearances on the year without a point and has a minus-three rating, one block, and six hits while averaging 8:05 per game.

Boston Bruins| Transactions Georgii Merkulov| Ian Mitchell| Jeffrey Viel| Michael Callahan| Oliver Wahlstrom| Riley Tufte

3 comments

Bruins Recall Marc McLaughlin

November 22, 2024 at 10:52 am CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

The Bruins announced Friday that they’ve recalled forward Marc McLaughlin from AHL Providence. They had an open spot on the active roster, but nonetheless, forward Georgii Merkulov was returned to the minor-league club in a corresponding transaction.

McLaughlin, 25, earns his first recall of the season after posting five goals, five assists, and a +5 rating through his first 15 games for the P-Bruins. The undrafted free agent signing out of Boston College in 2022 signed a two-way deal over the summer to return to the Bruins organization after a brief bout with restricted free agency.

The 6’0″, 199-lb forward saw just one game of NHL action last season, which was understandable given his significant regression on the farm. After putting up 13 goals and 30 points in 66 games during his first extended run with Providence in 2022-23, the defensive pivot scored just eight goals and 14 points in 68 appearances last year with a -7 rating.

Now, back on the right track, the hometown kid may get a chance to build on his four goals in 14 career NHL appearances. He’s one of 13 healthy forwards on the active roster, and he could make his season debut on Saturday against the Red Wings.

That could come in the third-line wing role vacated by Merkulov, who’s headed back to Providence after recording one assist and a -1 rating in a three-game call-up. The 24-year-old Russian graded out well defensively in his second NHL call-up, posting a 49.3% shot attempt share and a 70.% expected goal share at even strength.

Despite the stint in the NHL, Merkulov still ranks second on Providence in scoring with 11 points (2 G, 9 A) in 12 games. He has 136 points in 154 AHL contests since signing with Boston out of Ohio State in 2022.

Boston Bruins| Transactions Georgii Merkulov| Marc McLaughlin

0 comments

Bruins Recall Georgii Merkulov, Riley Tufte

November 16, 2024 at 8:53 am CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

The Bruins recalled forwards Georgii Merkulov and Riley Tufte from AHL Providence on Saturday, Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal reports. Boston sent center Patrick Brown back to Providence and placed defenseman Hampus Lindholm on injured reserve to open up the necessary spots on the active roster.

It’s the first recall of the season for the 24-year-old Merkulov. The Russian forward made his NHL debut last season, receiving a four-game call-up around New Year’s. He posted a +1 rating, three shots on goal and averaged 10:35 per game. The undrafted free agent signing out of Ohio State struggled in the faceoff dot, only winning six of his 28 draws (21.4 FO%), and recorded four blocks and two hits.

While he may not have drawn much attention from his first NHL showing, the 5’11” Merkulov has been a spectacular diamond in the rough signing for the Bruins’ front office, if for no other reason than his minor-league play. Merkulov was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2022-23 and represented the Atlantic Division at last season’s All-Star Game, producing 136 points in 154 total appearances for the P-Bruins.

Eleven of those points (2 G, 9 A) have come in 12 games this season, tying with Vinni Lettieri for the team lead in scoring. The Bruins hope that’s a sign that Merkulov can provide more of a scoring punch than he did last time, helping jumpstart their 28th-ranked offense (2.50 GF/GP).

Merkulov is in the final season of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer. He will remain waiver-exempt for the rest of 2024-25 but must clear them to return to Providence at the beginning of next season if he doesn’t make the opening night roster.

Meanwhile, it’s the second recall of the young campaign for the more veteran Tufte. The towering 6’6″, 230-lb left-winger made the Bruins’ opening night roster after signing a one-way, league minimum deal in free agency but played in just two of their first eight games before landing on waivers, clearing and heading to Providence.

Tufte, 26, had a -1 rating, no shots and three hits in his pair of appearances for Boston in October, averaging just 8:08 per game. The 2016 first-round pick of the Stars has three goals and an assist in six games for Providence since being sent down. He scored a career-high 23 goals and 45 points in 67 games for the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate last season while under contract with Colorado, earning his first minor-league All-Star Game nod.

It’s unclear whether either Merkulov or Tufte will draw in for this afternoon’s game against the Blues. None of the 14 forwards on the active roster carry an injury designation. However, recent UFA pickup Tyler Johnson sat in the press box for Thursday’s game against the Stars and could sit again while Merkulov or Tufte enters the lineup.

Brown’s first recall of the season ends after two days on the roster. He drew in against Dallas for Johnson, posting a -1 rating with two shots on goal while centering the fourth line between John Beecher and Mark Kastelic, skating 12:42 and going 2-for-4 on draws.

The defensively sound right-shot center had seven points in 12 games for Providence before the call-up. After clearing waivers last month, Brown can remain on the NHL roster for up to 28 days throughout subsequent call-ups or play nine NHL games before he needs them again to return to the minors.

An IR placement does not affect Lindholm’s timeline for a return. Today’s transaction was purely for roster management purposes. He’s still week-to-week with a lower-body injury and will likely remain out of action through the rest of November.

Boston Bruins| Transactions Georgii Merkulov| Hampus Lindholm| Patrick Brown| Riley Tufte

0 comments

Bruins Recall Eight Players

October 5, 2024 at 9:42 am CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

The Bruins have recalled eight players ahead of tonight’s preseason finale against the Capitals, the team announced. Forwards Riley Duran, Brett Harrison, Georgii Merkulov and Jaxon Nelson; defensemen Michael Callahan and Jackson Edward; and goaltenders Ryan Bischel and Kasimir Kaskisuo are now on the roster and will be available for Saturday’s game after previously being cut from the camp roster.

It’s final auditions for in-season recalls for most players on this list. Perhaps it’s most true for Duran, who seemed to grab some attention in his first NHL training camp. The Boston 2020 sixth-round pick turned pro following his junior year at Providence College. The 22-year-old’s point production has never jumped off the charts, but he does have some upside as a fourth-line energy piece. The 6’1″, 174-lb forward can play both center and wing and closed out his 2023-24 season with four points in 11 games for AHL Providence. He’ll head back to the P-Bruins after tonight’s game, but another strong showing could vault him up to being one of the top recall options if injuries affect Boston’s bottom-six forward group.

Harrison, 21, is looking to get back on track in Year 2 of his pro career. The 2021 third-rounder lost most of his draft year to the COVID-19 pandemic but responded well the following two years, averaging around a point per game with OHL Oshawa and Windsor. He was limited to 47 appearances with Providence last year, though, totaling five goals and nine assists for 14 points.

Merkulov will start the season back in the minors, but the soon-to-be 24-year-old continues to push for a longer look at the NHL level. The well-rounded offensive pivot has been consistently trending in the right direction after being an under-the-radar undrafted free agent signing in 2022. He set career highs across the board with Providence last season, leading them in scoring with 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points in 67 games. He logged his first four NHL appearances, too, posting a +1 rating and three shots on goal while averaging 10:35 per game.

Nelson, 24, is entering his first pro season after spending the last five years at the University of Minnesota. The hefty 6’4″ center had 31 points in 39 games with the Golden Gophers last year while serving as team captain before signing with the Bruins and closing out the year with a goal in seven games for Providence.

Callahan, 25, was a fifth-round pick of the Coyotes back in 2018, but Boston acquired his signing rights via trade in 2022. He’s now an alternate captain with Providence, and he’s entering his third full pro season. The former Providence College captain checks out as a well-rounded stay-at-home defender at the AHL level and was given some of the toughest minutes on the P-Bruins last year, posting 17 points and a -14 rating in 70 games.

Among the two defenders, Edward carries a bit more NHL upside. The 20-year-old has far more room to grow after being selected 200th overall in the 2022 draft. He played a key role on the OHL champion London Knights last season, recording 30 points and a +43 rating in 59 games – a major offensive breakout for the physical shutdown defender. He’ll make his pro debut with the P-Bruins this month.

The two goalies, Bischel and Kaskisuo, aren’t signed to NHL contracts. Bischel, 25, signed an AHL deal with Providence this offseason after posting a .924 SV% in five seasons with Notre Dame. Kaskisuo, meanwhile, is in both NHL and AHL camp with the Bruins on a PTO. The 31-year-old Finn spent last season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, posting a .909 SV% in 13 games for the Canadiens affiliate.

Boston Bruins| Transactions Brett Harrison| Georgii Merkulov| Jackson Edward| Jaxon Nelson| Kasimir Kaskisuo| Michael Callahan| Riley Duran| Ryan Bischel

0 comments

East Notes: Peat, Merkulov, Canadiens

September 12, 2024 at 6:50 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 1 Comment

The NHL Alumni Association announced today (Twitter link) that former Capitals winger Stephen Peat has passed away at the age of 44 from injuries sustained in a car accident a little over two weeks ago.  He was drafted by Anaheim in the second round in 1998 but never played for them as he was moved to Washington two years later.  Peat spent parts of five seasons in the Capitals organization, getting into 130 games at the NHL level where he had ten points and 234 penalty minutes, wrapping up his pro career one year later in the 2006-07 season.   We at PHR send our condolences to Peat’s family and friends.

More from the Eastern Conference:

  • The Bruins intend to use Georgii Merkulov at center at training camp, relays Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald. The 23-year-old made his NHL debut last season, getting into four games with Boston where he was held off the scoresheet but he was quite productive with AHL Providence, notching 30 goals and 35 assists in 67 games.  Boston signed Elias Lindholm to anchor the top line this summer while they acquired Mark Kastelic who should hold down the center spot on the fourth line.  With Charlie Coyle still in the mix presumably the center on the second trio, it appears that Merkulov will have to beat out Matthew Poitras and PTO Tyler Johnson to land a regular role in the lineup.
  • The Canadiens announced several hires today and while most were in the scouting or training departments, they added Roger Grillo as a coaching consultant. Presumably, he’ll help fill the role vacated by Alex Burrows who moved from being an assistant coach into a player development role.  Grillo was on the coaching staff at the University of Vermont when head coach Martin St. Louis played there and had been with USA Hockey since 2009.  This will be Grillo’s first coaching job in the pros.

Boston Bruins| Montreal Canadiens| Washington Capitals Georgii Merkulov

1 comment

Bruins Recall Nine Players From AHL

May 16, 2024 at 8:12 pm CDT | by Josh Cybulski 2 Comments

The Boston Bruins have added to their black aces as they have recalled nine players from the AHL’s Providence Bruins (as per AHL Transactions). Providence was eliminated by the Hartford Wolf Pack last Friday for the second year in a row allowing the Bruins to recall the nine players today to take part in the remainder of the Bruins playoff run. Boston will face elimination once again tomorrow night in Game 6 of their best-of-seven series against the Florida Panthers.

Joining the Bruins’ black aces will be forwards Joey Abate, Trevor Kuntar, Marc McLaughlin, Georgii Merkulov, Anthony Richard, and Oskar Steen. Defensively, Michael Callahan and Ian Mitchell will join the team, while goaltender Michael DiPietro also received a callup.

Abate just completed his second season in the NHL and has yet to see NHL action in his brief professional career, while Kuntar was a rookie this season in the AHL after being drafted in the third round back in 2020.

McLaughlin has had brief appearances in the NHL in each of the past three seasons posting four goals in 14 games, including a goal in his only NHL appearance this season. The 24-year-old grew up near Boston and was the captain of Boston College in his final two NCAA seasons.

Merkulov led Providence in scoring this season with 30 goals and 35 assists in 67 AHL games. The undrafted free agent signing has been a solid offensive contributor in the AHL since arriving in 2021-22. The 23-year-old saw his first NHL action this season going scoreless in four games.

Richard has been a mainstay in the AHL for eight seasons but has bounced around in recent years. The former fourth-round pick in 2015 has had a few cups of coffee in the NHL throughout his professional career, posting four goals and four assists in 24 NHL games. The 27-year-old had a goal and two assists in nine NHL games this season with Boston.

Steen spent much of the year with Boston dressing in 34 games but tallying just a single goal. He fared much better in the AHL scoring 12 goals and adding four assists in 25 AHL games. The native of Karlstad, Sweden has been in the Bruins organization for five seasons and remains a tweener bouncing back and forth between the AHL and the NHL in each of the last four years.

On the backend 24-year-old Callahan just completed his third professional season, playing in a career-high 70 AHL games. The former fifth-round pick has yet to make his NHL debut and doesn’t offer much offensively, posting just four goals and 13 assists this season.

Mitchell came over to the Bruins from the Chicago Blackhawks last summer in the trade that sent Nick Foligno and Taylor Hall the other way. He looked like he may have found a home on the Bruins blueline early in the season but hasn’t dressed in an NHL game since December 23rd and was demoted to the AHL. With Providence, the 25-year-old posted solid offensive numbers with six goals and 18 assists in 42 games.

DiPietro’s young career feels as though it’s come full circle as the netminder had a few NHL starts early in his career with the Vancouver Canucks after an impressive OHL career, but his play fell off and he was relegated to the ECHL last season. This year, Dipietro bounced back and posted impressive AHL numbers with an 18-9-2 record to go along with a .918 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average.

The nine men will join several of their other Providence teammates along for the ride with Boston as they look to extend their playoff run tomorrow. The black aces are unlikely to see action in the playoffs, but they will have an opportunity to practice with the Bruins and soak in the atmosphere of the NHL playoffs.

Boston Bruins Anthony Richard| Georgii Merkulov| Ian Mitchell| Joey Abate| Marc McLaughlin| Michael DiPietro| Oskar Steen| Trevor Kuntar

2 comments

Bruins Recall Jesper Boqvist, Assign Georgii Merkulov To AHL

January 6, 2024 at 2:45 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 3 Comments

With there being a bit of uncertainty with Boston’s lineup for tonight, the Bruins have opted to make a recall up front, announcing that winger Jesper Boqvist has been recalled from Providence.  To bring Mason Lohrei back up after being papered down yesterday, Georgii Merkulov was assigned to Providence as well.

The 25-year-old had 21 points in 70 games with New Jersey last season but was non-tendered back in June, making him an unrestricted free agent.  Boqvist eventually settled for a one-year, one-way contract worth the minimum salary of $775K a couple of weeks later with the hopes that he could lock down a full-time spot on Boston’s fourth line.

That hasn’t gone completely as planned as instead of securing a full-time spot, he cleared waivers at the end of training camp and has spent most of the season in the minors.  Boqvist has done well down there, picking up 10 goals and 13 assists in 31 games with Providence while also making a pair of appearances with Boston.

As for Merkulov, he played in four games with Boston while on recall, being held off the scoresheet while averaging 10:35 per night.  The 23-year-old has been quite productive with Providence, however, notching 14 goals and 16 assists in 31 games and should go right back to being in a top role for them.

As Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic notes (Twitter link), winger James van Riemsdyk is day-to-day so it would appear Boqvist’s recall is to help cover against that.  Lohrei could also take his place in the lineup if they want to go with seven blueliners while Matthew Poitras is also available after returning from his stint at the World Juniors.

AHL| Boston Bruins| Transactions Georgii Merkulov| James van Riemsdyk| Jesper Boqvist

3 comments

Bruins Recall Georgii Merkulov

December 29, 2023 at 8:41 am CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

The Bruins recalled left wing Georgii Merkulov from AHL Providence on Friday, per the AHL’s transactions log (via the New England Hockey Journal’s Mark Divver). In a corresponding transaction, the Bruins assigned center Patrick Brown to Providence to stay at the maximum of 23 players on the active roster.

This is the first recall in Merkulov’s career. The 23-year-old is in his second full season in the Bruins organization after signing as a free agent in 2022.

Merkulov’s development path has been unique, to say the least. First eligible for selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, he posted 22 goals and 46 points in 64 games with the MHL’s Kapitan Stupino in the Russian junior ranks in his draft year but did not get selected by an NHL club and wasn’t on the radar of most scouts in the public sphere.

In 2019-20, Merkulov got off to an incredibly disappointing start with two points in ten MHL games and no points in six games with HK Tambov in the VHL, Russia’s second-tier pro league behind the KHL. With an NHL career in mind, Merkulov made the choice mid-season to come stateside to continue his development, signing a tender with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms to finish out his junior career.

That choice proved fruitful. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting his playing schedule, Merkulov was productive as a member of the Phantoms, posting 20 goals and 73 points in 74 games there across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

The 5-foot-11 winger then opted to pursue a collegiate career, committing to Ohio State for the 2021-22 season. As a rare 21-year-old freshman, Merkulov exploded offensively, matching his USHL career goal total of 20 in just 36 games for the Buckeyes while adding 14 assists. That breakout finally put him on the map for NHL teams, and, after just one NCAA season, he inked a three-year, entry-level deal with the Bruins as a free agent in April of 2022.

Merkulov continued his momentum in his first pro season. Last year with Providence, he led the Bruins’ primary affiliate in goals (24) and points (55), earning a spot on the AHL’s All-Rookie Team in the process. Through 31 games this season, he’s again leading the team in both categories with 14 goals and 30 points.

Now in the second season of his entry-level deal, Merkulov’s offensive production in Providence has forced the Bruins’ hand to give him an NHL look. He will look to unseat Jakub Lauko or Oskar Steen for a fourth-line role and could make his NHL debut in one of Boston’s two remaining games before New Year’s Day.

Brown, 31, heads down to Providence for the sixth time this season. He’s failed to lock down the fourth-line center spot in Boston after signing a two-year, $1.6MM contract as a UFA last summer and has been relegated to extra forward status. The Bruins have ferried him between leagues often since he last cleared waivers on November 18 to limit his time on the NHL roster and extend his temporary waiver exemption.

In ten NHL games, Brown has recorded one assist and a -1 rating while averaging 8:29 per game. He’s played just twice in December, including an appearance in the Bruins’ 4-1 win over the Sabres on Wednesday, in which he posted a -1 rating and went three for six in the faceoff dot in 7:24 of ice time.

Merkulov carries a cap hit of $925K compared to Brown’s $800K, but with Derek Forbort and Milan Lucic on long-term injured reserve, the Bruins have enough money in their salary pool to accommodate the minimal difference. He will be a restricted free agent when his ELC expires in 2025.

Boston Bruins| Transactions Georgii Merkulov| Patrick Brown

0 comments
Load More Posts
    Top Stories

    Blackhawks Sign Anton Frondell

    Mammoth To Sign Michael Carcone To One-Year Contract

    Sabres Sign Radim Mrtka To Entry-Level Contract

    Sabres, Bowen Byram Avoid Arbitration With Two-Year Deal

    Islanders Sign Victor Eklund To Entry-Level Contract

    Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron To Two-Year Deal

    Jeff Skinner Signs With Sharks

    Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Henry Thrun

    Avalanche Sign Josh Manson To Two-Year Extension

    Stars Trade Matt Dumba To Penguins

    Recent

    Breaking Down The Direction Of The Ducks

    Blackhawks Sign Anton Frondell

    Maple Leafs Sign Miroslav Holinka To Entry-Level Deal

    Jets Sign Tyrel Bauer To Two-Way Deal

    Pacific Notes: Willander, Raty, Lekkerimaki, Eichel, Uljanskis, Thornton

    The Devils Have Spent Efficiently This Summer

    Flames’ Joni Jurmo, Maple Leafs’ Ty Voit Placed On Unconditional Waivers

    Mammoth To Sign Michael Carcone To One-Year Contract

    Bruins Sign John Farinacci To Two-Way Deal

    Sabres Sign Radim Mrtka To Entry-Level Contract

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Mammoth Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2025’s Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents
    • Sam Bennett Rumors
    • Nikolaj Ehlers Rumors
    • Mitch Marner Rumors
    • Marco Rossi Rumors

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    • Support Pro Hockey Rumors And Go Ad-Free
    • 2025 Free Agent Focus Series
    • 2025 Offseason Checklist Series
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent List
    • 2026 NHL Free Agent List
    • Active Roster Tracker
    • Coaching Staff Directory
    • Draft Pick Tracker 2025
    • Key Offseason Dates
    • Offseason Trade Tracker
    • Pro Hockey Rumors On X
    • Pro Hockey Rumors Polls
    • Waiver Claims 2024-25

     

     

     

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Commenting Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version