Bruins Prospect Report: Checking in on B’s top talent overseas & in college hockey

It remains to be seen when the 2020-21 NHL season is set to begin, but a number of Bruins prospects are already back on the ice and logging meaningful minutes — whether it be in the NCAA ranks or overseas in Europe. 

As we await more news on the NHL front, we’re going to post regular recaps on how some of Boston’s top prospects are faring now that hockey is well underway across North America and Europe. 

Let’s get started: 

John Beecher, Forward:
Age: 19
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 209 pounds
Michigan (NCAA)
2020-21 Stats: 4 GP - 1 G, 0 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 2nd overall

Despite exiting Michigan’s 3-0 victory over ASU on Nov. 15 after getting absolutely walloped by Sun Devils defenseman Jacob Wilson, Beecher didn’t sit out of Michigan’s next series against Wisconsin last week — with the B’s 2019 first rounder burying a power-play goal in the No. 4 Wolverines’ 5-2 win over the No. 14 Badgers on Thursday.

His tally, scored at 3:58 in the third period, won’t make many highlight reels — with the slick feed from Jimmy Lambert garnering most of the praise on this scoring sequence. But it’s a good sign for Beecher’s development that the power forward is continuing to use his strong frame (6-foot-3, 209 pounds) to make the most of his netfront role on the man advantage. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1329603308303101954

Beecher’s speed is almost always the first thing mentioned in his scouting reports (and for good reason), but if he’s going to thrive in the pro ranks, he’s going to have to get used to potting greasy goals around Grade-A ice. The Wolverines’ impressive start to the season has primarily featured its loaded freshmen class of Owen Power, Kent Johnson and Hingham’s Matt Beniers all stealing the show, but Beecher is continuing to earn heavy minutes as the Wolverines’ top-line center. 

Jakub Lauko, Forward:
Age: 20
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 190 pounds
HC Karlovy Vary (Czech)
2020-21 Stats: 10 GP - 2 G, 3 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 9th overall

Lauko, currently on loan with HC Karlovy Vary in his native Czech Republic, seems to be gaining some steam overseas after an injury-marred 2019-20 season over in North America. 

Struggles in the AHL were to be expected for Lauko (nine points in 22 games with Providence) after excelling with Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL in 2018, but an MCL injury suffered just seconds into the 2019 World Junior Championships threw Lauko off course — with the dynamic winger only skating in four more games with Providence before COVID-19 halted the season back in March. 

Lauko still needs to round out his overall game before making the jump up from the AHL, but the gregarious forward is on the right track to rebound from last year’s tough breaks — especially with his skills translating to the larger sheet of ice overseas.

https://twitter.com/BruinsNetwork/status/1329853931044950018

Nick Wolff, Defenseman:
Age: 24
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 229 pounds
DVTK Jegesmedvék (Slovakia)
2020-21 Stats: 12 GP - 2 G, 0 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 21st overall


Opening his pro career career with DVTK Jegesmedvék in Hungary (but playing in the Slovak Extraliga) likely isn't exactly what Wolff envisioned when he signed a contract with the B's following an impressive four-year career at Minnesota Duluth, but the imposing defenseman (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) is making the most of his time overseas — logging heavy minutes with his new club while even lighting the lamp twice. Back in North America, Wolff is projected more as a third-pairing, physical force on the blue line, but the 24-year-old skater should translate well to the more physical play that awaits him in the AHL. Wolff, who was invited to Boston's Development Camps in 2018 and 2019, is already a proven winner (two NCAA titles with the Bulldogs) and could rise through the ranks quickly once pro hockey ramps back up in North America.

Oskar Steen, Forward
Age: 22
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 195 pounds
IF Bjorkloven (Sweden)
2020-21 Stats: 15 GP - 10 G, 3 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 11th overall

Steen, on loan with IF Bjorkloven in his native Sweden, is currently ripping up the competition in the HockeyAllsvenskan — the country’s second-tier league behind the SHL.

After storming onto the scene in 2018-19 by tallying 37 points in 46 games with the SHL’s Färjestad BK — ranking in the top 10 in league scoring against competition far older than him — Steen is more or less keeping the rust off by potting goals with ease in his current spot with IF Bjorkloven. But after taking his lumps against tougher competition with Providence in 2019-20 — while also adjusting to the North American game with a smaller sheet of ice — Steen could be poised for a breakout campaign in 2021. Posting some gaudy statlines over in Europe is great lead-in to what could be a very promising year for the 22-year-old forward. 

https://twitter.com/cmoresport/status/1325440830308540418



Mason Lohrei, Defenseman:
Age: 19
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 pounds
Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
2020-21 Stats: 5 GP - 2 G, 4 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 19th overall

Boston’s selection of Lohrei in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft might have raised a few eyebrows, but the 19-year-old defenseman has impressed in his second full season in the USHL, tallying two goals and six total points over five games.

https://twitter.com/USHL/status/1327092248635432962

The 6-foot-4 defenseman — who drew praise from plenty of talent evaluators for his ability (and willingness) to activate off the blue line and generate scoring chances — has validated those claims based on plenty of film, as the Wisconsin native is not afraid to jump up into the slot while on the rush or when the opposing defense is caught napping in its own zone. 

The true test will likely come when Lohrei makes the jump up to the NCAA ranks in 2021 at Ohio State, but the skilled defenseman is predictably dominating the younger competition in the USHL right now.

https://twitter.com/BruinsNetwork/status/1328455919479513089

Roman Bychkov, Defenseman:
Age: 19
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 170 pounds
Buran Voronezh (VHL)
2020-21 Stats: 20 GP - 1 G, 3 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 22nd overall

Selected in the fifth round of the 2019 Draft, Bychkov has drawn praise for his poise with the puck, with the steady defenseman impressing last season in the MHL (Russia’s junior ice hockey league) — recording 26 points in 62 games. As expected, the production has been a bit tougher to come by this year in the VHL (Russia’s second tier of pro hockey behind the KHL), with the 19-year-old skater scoring one goal and recording four points over 20 games so far with Buran Voronezh. 

Bychkov will look to represent his native country during the upcoming 2020-21 World Junior Championships, as the young defenseman was named to Russia’s WJC camp last week. 

Urho Vaakanainen, Defenseman:
Age: 21
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 190 pounds
SaiPa (Finland)
2020-21 Stats: 0 GP - 0 G, 0 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 3rd overall

Another one of Boston's top prospects is set to start shaking off the rust overseas, as the Bruins loaned Vaakanainen to his former team in the Finnish Elite League, SaiPa, earlier this week. Before making the jump over to North America in 2018, Vaakanainen appeared in 43 games with SaiPa in 2017-18, posting 11 points and routinely logging top-pairing minutes. Keeping Vaakanainen engaged and fresh while we await the NHL/AHL's return is a prudent move for Boston, as Vaakanainen could very well be competing for one of the vacancies on the left side of Boston's defense in 2021 and beyond.

Jakub Zboril, Defenseman:
Age: 23
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 195 pounds
HC Kometa Brno (Czech)
2020-21 Stats: 10 GP - 0 G, 3 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 6th overall

Much like Vaakanainen, the 2020-21 season is set to be a pivotal campaign for Zboril, who will be exposed to waivers if he doesn't land a spot on Boston's roster out of training camp. Zboril, who has tallied three assists through 10 games while playing for his hometown club in Brno, Czech Republic, will be looking to carry over some momentum after drawing praise from Providence head coach Jay Leach  — who labeled him as the club's top defensemen down the stretch in 2020.

https://twitter.com/BruinsNetwork/status/1317248623319699460

Cooper Zech, Defenseman:
Age: 21
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 166 pounds
HK Nitra (Slovakia)
2020-21 Stats: 0 GP - 0 G, 0 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 20th overall

Zech joined Vaakanainen as another Providence blueliner loaned overseas this week, although, unlike Vaakanainen returning to his native Finland, Zech's trek to Slovakia to play for HK Nitra isn't much of a homecoming. The Michigan native will play overseas until Providence is cleared to get its 2021 season underway — with the playmaking blueliner looking to earn a regular spot in the B's organization after inking a two-year AHL contract back in March 2019.

Matias Mäntykivi, Forward:
Age: 19
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 161 pounds
SaiPa (Finland)
2020-21 Stats: 15 GP - 0 G, 3 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 14th overall


One of the more intriguing prospects in Boston's pipeline, Mäntykivi's numbers may not exactly jump off the page so far over in Finland, but given the fact that the 19-year-old forward is regularly earning minutes against competition much older and more experienced than him is a testament to the strides that the playmaking pivot has made overseas since Boston selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 Draft. He's going to need a lot more seasoning before making the jump over to North America, but it's easy to find some comparables between Mäntykivi and Steen, who also took his lumps (and eventually excelled) against tougher competition in Europe before signing his pro contract.

Dan Vladar, Goaltender:
Age: 23
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 195 pounds
HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czech)
2020-21 Stats: 0 GP
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 8th overall

It remains to be seen just how much of an opportunity Vladar will get up at the NHL level in 2020-21 with both Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak back in the fold, but it's still shaping up to be a pivotal year for the 23-year-old netminder. Even with his breakthrough season with Providence in 2019-20 (.936 save percentage, 1.79 GAA), Vladar is expected to be challenged for the No. 1 spot in Providence's goalie corps with the arrival of 2019-20 Hobey Baker Award finalist Jeremy Swayman. For now, Vladar will try to start getting into a groove for this season by playing over in the Czech Republic with HC Dynamo Pardubice — the same club that David Krejci played for during the 2012 NHL lockout.

Robert Lantosi, Forward:
Age: 25
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 185 pounds
HK Nitra (Slovakia)
2020-21 Stats: 9 GP - 1 G, 7 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 18th overall


Zech will have at least one familiar face from Providence over with him in Slovakia, as Lantosi has already been back playing in his home country and piling on points with HK Nitra so far in 2020. It remains to be seen if Lantosi, already 25 and signed as free agent after a couple of productive seasons with HK Nitra (58 points in 56 games in 2018-19), can realistically carve out a spot on a pretty deep B's roster in 2021 and beyond. But the skilled forward, who impressed in his first taste of AHL action last year (31 points in 50 games) does have the talent to eventually become a regular on an NHL club in need of a scoring lift.

Jack Becker, Forward:
Age: 23
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 pounds
Michigan (NCAA)
2020-21 Stats: 4 GP - 0 G, 2 A

Becker, Boston’s seventh-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, has had a solid start to his senior campaign up in Ann Arbor, recording a pair of assists in four games. Becker has primarily skated on a line with two of Michigan’s top scorers in Beniers and Johnson, so expect him to continue to pile on some points this year.

https://twitter.com/StarsStripesHKY/status/1329939983914905606

Jake Schmaltz, Forward:
Age: 19
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 168 pounds
Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
2020-21 Stats: 5 GP - 3 G, 2 A

Schmaltz, Lohrei’s teammate in Green Bay, is also off to a strong start to the 2020-21 season, recording five points through his first five games. Boston’s seventh-round pick in the 2019 Draft put together a productive season with the Gamblers in 2019-20, recording 13 goals and 32 points over 47 games. The shifty winger, who is cousins with fellow pro hockey players in Jordan and Nick Schmaltz, is expected to play for North Dakota in 2021. 

Victor Berglund, Defenseman:
Age: 21
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 181 pounds
Lulea HF (Sweden)
2020-21 Stats: 16 GP - 2 G, 10 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 13th overall


Few players in Boston's prospect pool have elevated their stock overseas as much as Berglund has over the last month — as the playmaking defenseman has been a standout player so far for Lulea in Sweden. Berglund, a seventh-round selection by Boston back in 2017, has had his fair share of struggles adjusting to tougher competition, especially as a blueliner with a propensity to jump into the play and take risks, but it seems as though he's putting it all together right now. He'll be looking to make a statement in Providence this season after earning a brief, four-game look with the Baby B's in 2018-19.

https://twitter.com/BruinsNationFR/status/1319655006400892928

Joona Koppanen, Forward:
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 206 pounds
Ilves (Finland)
2020-21 Stats: 7 GP - 2 G, 2 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: Honorable Mention

Similar to Berglund, Koppanen has also raised his stock thanks to some strong play over in Europe, as the 22-year-old forward made the jump up to Finland's top league after dominating with Koovee — in Finland’s second-tiered Mestis league — by way of tallying 17 total points over 10 games. So far up in the Finnish Elite League, Koppanen has scored two goals and four points in seven games.

Riley Duran, Forward:
Age: 18
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185 pounds
Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
2020-21 Stats: 3 GP - 0 G, 0 A

Duran, drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, is currently in the midst of his first season in the USHL ranks. The Woburn native and Lawrence Academy product has not tallied a point in his first three games with the Phantoms, landing just one shot on goal. Duran is expected to play at Providence for the 2021-22 season.

Mason Langenbrunner, Defenseman:
Age: 18
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 165 pounds
Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
2020-21 Stats: 3 GP - 0 G, 0 A

Much like Duran, Langenbrunner is also in the midst of his first season against USHL competition, with the 2020 fifth rounder earning regular minutes on the blue line with the Musketeers. It remains to be seen how much Langenbrunner, a Harvard commit, will be able to harness his offensive game at the next level, but the young defenseman has the floor of a steady, second or third-pairing D up in the pro ranks.

https://twitter.com/Musketeerhockey/status/1313973960342552576

Trevor Kuntar, Forward:
Age: 19
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 195 pounds
Boston College (NCAA)
2020-21 Stats: 0 GP - 0 G, 0 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 23rd overall

Kuntar, Boston’s third-round selection (No. 89 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft was scheduled to make his collegiate debut with the No. 2 Eagles this past weekend, but BC’s season-opening series against UNH was postponed, with The Boston Globe reporting that the move was due to an inconclusive COVID-19 test for a member of the Wildcats program. 

https://twitter.com/BCHockey/status/1329913254278152192

Kuntar and the Eagles are now set to open their season with a home-and-home series with No. 7 UMass on Friday and Saturday.

Dustyn McFaul, Defenseman:
Age: 20
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 191 pounds
Clarkson (NCAA)
2020-21 Stats: 1 GP - 0 G, 0 A
BSJ Prospect Ranking: 15th overall


McFaul may not be flashy, but the steady, poised defenseman is in line to take a major leap forward in 2021 after being named Clarkson’s Rookie of the Year in 2019-20. McFaul and the No. 8 Golden Knights opened their season with a 2-1 win over Colgate on Sunday evening, with the B's 2018 sixth-round pick recording three blocks in the victory.