The Boston Bruins worked through an offseason navigating a salary cap crunch that left them trimming payroll by selling off assets (i.e., Taylor Hall) for pennies on the dollar. Additionally, losses of their first and second-line centres to retirement made it clear that roster construction for the 2023-24 season will be tricky. Getting cap-compliant during the offseason, Don Sweeney handed out a bevy of league-minimum free-agent deals. And for the team to be competitive, there will be a stronger reliance on prospects in AHL Providence. There will be more available roster spots at the start of this training camp than in recent memory.
When the Bruins broke camp at Warrior Arena in previous seasons, the final roster construction was a foregone conclusion. Open roster spots for the taking were as rare as the dodo. This year’s camp will see a noticeable uptick in competition for the last few available roster spots. The roster openings are mainly in the bottom six forward groupings and what could be a revolving door in the third defensive pairing.
Head coach Jim Montgomery and General Manager Don Sweeney will get extended looks at free-agent veterans and hopeful prospects who have yet to take the final big step. Some candidates who will get looks for the available roster spots follow here in Part One. Featured are a trio of prospects from the Providence Bruins and a pair of players looking to solidify their place within the Bruins’ organization.
Trio Vying Spots in Bruins Camp
Jakub Zboril (D)
This may be the most important player entering Boston Bruins training camp. Jakub Zboril has been a mystery shrouded in an enigma. At times, the 2015 first-rounder looked to have solved what it takes to stay embedded permanently in the defensive corps. Brief spurts of intelligent, steady play define the 76 games Zboril has played in Boston. Those brief spurts are followed by stretches of time spent battling to get back into the lineup due to injury. With all the Bruins have invested in Zboril, this may be his last shot at locking down a roster spot without a consistent upturn in his play.
Oskar Steen (C, LW)
Much like Jakub Zboril, 2023-24 likely determines Oskar Steen’s future with the Bruins’ organization. The 2016 sixth-rounder has seen 26 games of NHL action since 2021. As a regular on the Providence to Boston shuttle, Steen has shown signs of life offensively while in Providence. Thus far, Steen’s NHL production has failed to meet his AHL production. To some, A small frame (5’9″, 199 lbs) limits his impact in Boston. He finds himself working uphill versus veterans currently in Boston and prospects working up through the system. A strong camp puts Steen in line for a roster spot. But with his track record, it seems he will continue to shuttle to and from Providence.
Jakub Lauko (LW)
Jakub Lauko may have done enough to snatch up a roster spot with a solid 26-game stint last season. Lauko’s tenure in Boston consists solely of those 26 games and might need more convincing on his part. A willingness in the gritty areas earned him regular fourth-line minutes after some late-season injuries to some Bruins’ regulars. The ceiling with a strong camp may land Lauko on the third line. As currently constituted, Lauko may be the best equipped to contribute regularly from the Bruins’ thin prospect pool.
Mason Lohrei (D)
All eyes will be on the top defensive prospect entering Boston Bruins training camp. Don Sweeney’s plans for Mason Lohrei may depend on Zboril’s camp combined with Derek Forbort’s output and Kevin Shattenkirk’s output. Bruins’ fans want Lohrei to make the squad out of camp, but he has nine games of minor-pro experience since leaving Ohio State after his sophomore season. Equipped with a strong north/south game, Lohrei is an adept puck handler and is not shy about transitioning from defence to offence but his physicality needs improving to fit his 6’4″, 204 lb build. There is no need to rush Lohrei, but with a jaw-dropping camp, there may be no need to wait.
Georgii Merkulov (F)
The final player to watch for in Boston Bruins training camp is a great talent. In his first full season in Providence, Georgii Merkulov’s game grew in every aspect. There is little question about offensive capability as he has produced at every level, from the USHL to the AHL. In the back half of the 2022-23 season, Merkulov hovered around a point-per-game pace. Always a threat in 5-on-5 play, Merkulov turned lethal once after becoming the focal point of the P-Bruins power play. His defensive game improved markedly during the season and continues to be a work in progress. Merkulov is NHL-ready in just about any situation outside of Boston. With no openings north of the fourth line, the 22-year-old Russian’s development might be best served by starting in Providence.
In Part Two, the focus shifts to two veteran PTO signings and three forwards who appear to be on the cusp of breaking into the NHL on a full-time basis.
Main Photo: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
