Catching up on the Bruins' top prospects

We went a little deeper on the first year of Bruins center Jack Studnicka with the Oshawa Generals, so now it's time to catch up on the Bruins' other top prospects in the run-up to the NHL Draft, which will be held June 22-23 in Dallas:

Forwards

Trent Frederic, center, 6-2, 203 pounds, shoots left: The 20-year-old was selected No. 29 overall in 2016 has been a steady producer for the University of Wisconsin. After back-to-back 30-point seasons, he signed his entry-level contract with the Bruins in March and went to Providence. He had five goals and three assists in 13 games. Frederic is a big body who proved he can play on both the power play and penalty kill during his time with Team USA in the World Junior championship. Perhaps Frederic needs more time to sharpen his game, but he’s a top candidate to challenge for the third-line center role when camp starts, assuming the Bruins want to keep Ryan Donato on the wing. At the time Frederic was drafted, the Bruins were scrutinized for “reaching” on the prospect. Yet his success with Wisconsin speaks for itself and he’ll have the chance to prove his place with the Bruins this fall.

Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, center, 6-1, 183, shoots right: The Bruins are well-stocked at center and the second-most important JFK in Boston history will be right there with Frederic pushing for a roster spot in camp. He played one game two years ago after he departed from Boston University, but didn’t join teammate Charlie McAvoy in the playoffs. Forsbacka Karlsson spent all of last year with Providence and had a productive season. He scored 15 goals and had 17 assists for 32 points, and is poised to make the jump to the NHL this season. There’s competition on the bottom-six, which also will be a challenge for both JFK and Frederic. Sean Kuraly really played well at the end of the playoffs and could make the jump from the fourth line. Tim Schaller is also going to be a free agent, though he’s more likely to return. Like Frederic, Forsbacka Karlsson is smart defensively and that could endear him to the Bruins coaching staff.

Anton Blidh, wing, 6-0, 201, shoots left: Blidh gets in front of the puck enough that your shins hurt just watching. He’s a tough forward, one willing to sacrifice his body to make a play and that can go a long way. The 23-year-old has been a bit of a late bloomer and played 19 games for the Bruins two years ago. He only played one last season in March when Jake DeBrusk was injured. He’s a bit on the bubble in terms of impact he could make on this team, but he plays with great energy and the Bruins may need it on the fourth line, especially if Kuraly is trusted with more responsibility on the third line.

Defense

Jakub Zboril, 6-0, 201, shoots left: Zboril’s has already gone through three development camps with the Bruins and had a decent year in Providence. He had four goals and 15 assists a year removed from a stellar campaign when he won the QMJHL championship with the Saint John Sea Dogs. He’s a left-shot defenseman which is an area the Bruins may be looking to add more bulk. I don’t think Zboril is the answer to strengthen the Bruins defense just yet but he’s made big strides since the team drafted him No. 13 overall in 2015 – another pick that was perceived as a “reach.” Zboril isn’t going to blow observers away with offensive numbers or flashy play. But he’s a smooth skater who plays hard and will reward teams by focusing on the details of the game.

Urho Vaakanainen, 6-1, 185, shoots left: I dread Vaakanainen making the Bruins because I’ll have to type that name on a regular basis. In all seriousness, the 19-year-old who was drafted No. 18 overall last year is a smart defender who is not afraid to move the puck. The Finnish blue-liner will have to prove he can make the jump to the North American style of hockey, but it does help that he plays in one of the country’s most premier leagues, Finnish Liiga. He’s got a great deal of composure for his age and could prove to be a big asset for the team going forward.

Goaltender

Dan Vladar, 6-5, 185: I’m intrigued by Vladar, who practiced with the Bruins during their playoff run and spent most of the year in the ECHL with the Atlanta Gladiators. He posted a .911 save percentage in 41 games for Atlanta – a solid year for the lanky goaltender who was hard to miss in the Bruins room. The Bruins depth at goaltender has been a bit of an enigma the last few years. Anton Khudobin has been a steady veteran since he returned to the Bruins two seasons ago after stints with the Hurricanes and Ducks. Khudobin is well-suited as a backup and the 32-year-old played well last season when Tuukka Rask struggled. He’s likely a priority to be re-signed once free agency starts, but the Bruins still need to find a young goaltender to perhaps take the reigns one day. Malcolm Subban had his bumps, but was starting to progress this season. Then he was plucked by the Golden Knights when the Bruins tried sneaking him back to Providence on waivers. Zane McIntyre seems to have struggled to win the job after two full years in Providence, which leaves room for Vladar. The AHL will be a good test for Vladar this season as he continues to develop. The Bruins don’t need to rush him considering Rask is still under contract through the 2020-21 season.