BRIGHTON — The Bruins won’t take part in full team workouts on the ice at Warrior until next week, but Boston did open the first stage of its training camp on Wednesday — with a number of the team’s top prospects beginning their rookie camp ahead of the 2021 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo. Here are a few highlights from Wednesday’s skate.
Jakub Lauko has never been one to lack confidence.
After all, you’re talking about the winger who — no less than an hour after Boston snagged him in the third round of the 2018 Draft — labeled himself as “one of the biggest steals” of the entire event.
All it takes is a quick glance of Lauko’s highlight reel to see that same confidence translate to his on-ice talent, with the pugnacious winger regularly using his straight-line speed and silky mitts to drive into Grade-A ice, put opposing skaters on their heels and sneak in a post-whistle shove or two.
“Just be an uncomfortable player to play against,” Lauko said Wednesday of his mantra when out on a shift.
And yet, even a player as self-assured as Lauko can read a room — and is more than cognizant of the uphill battle in front of him when looking at the depth chart up at the NHL ranks.
Even with his potential, there isn’t exactly a clear-cut avenue for Lauko to ascend up to the NHL ranks at this current juncture. Lauko’s speed and sandpaper style of player could see him develop into a solid third-line stalwart at the NHL level, but Boston’s offseason additions of Erik Haula, Nick Foligno and Tomas Nosek has already addressed some of the vacancies that were once present in Boston’s lineup.
Such is the reality that prospects like Lauko have to accept — in which their own individual timelines and the patience that needs to be doled out to youngsters learning the ropes of the pro game doesn’t always coincide with the window of a veteran-heavy roster fixated on a win-now window.
“Everyone knows that the Bruins roster is pretty backed up with a lot of good players, a lot of good players on offense,” Lauko said. “I’m just going to try to fight for an opportunity and I’ll do my best to stay here as long as possible.”
For Lauko, that involves putting together a strong showing at the 2021 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo this weekend — and then getting a few NHL veterans to look over their shoulder once training camp officially opens at Warrior Ice Arena next week.
And even though the writing might be on the wall that guys like Lauko may have to bide their time in the minors while Boston’s bottom-six logjam sorts itself out, Providence coach Ryan Mougenel believes that the 21-year-old winger’s skillset could have him leapfrogging plenty of established names in due time.
“Sometimes when we’re talking about players, one description I always use is: ‘Does he get you excited?’ And I think every time he steps on the ice, something happens,” Mougenel said of Lauko. “He’s had a ton of growth. First, as a person, he was a young pro coming into a men’s league. He’s definitely put the time into his growth as a player and a person, and I think he’s really going to push.
“I think he’s the type of player that (Bruce) Cassidy likes. He’s got some abrasiveness that really showed up last year, along with the skill package. He’s the real deal, we’re real happy with how he’s come along. Special kid, tons of energy, just an exciting kid to be around.”
Jakub Lauko tries to go between the legs. He’s had a number of nice plays so far this morning. pic.twitter.com/WhPQiRhw2N
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) September 15, 2021
Even though another stint in Providence (barring injuries or a fantastic preseason) sure seems to be in the cards for Lauko to open the 2021-22 season, the case could be made that the Czech product could benefit from a bit more seasoning — especially in an AHL season that should finally be freed from COVID-related restrictions.
Lauko's baseline stats last year with Providence (err-Marlborough?) were impressive (19 points over 23 games), but be it injuries or COVID, it's important to note that he has only logged 45 total games of pro hockey — and has only been regularly playing in North America since the fall of 2018.
As frustrating as it might be for some that Boston's pipeline may not be as streamlined as other younger franchises, Mougenel offered a silver lining.
“That’s a good thing to have. We have the ability to have the players marinate in the American League, and when they’re ready they seem to go up when their games are tight and good,” Mougenel said. “That’s a testament to the organization, we have the ability to wait on some players and make sure that they’re the best version of themselves, and I think Jakub Lauko is one example of that.
"I think he could probably go somewhere else and be pushed into duty and not be ready. And I think the one thing that he's done — he's worked on his game, he feels good about his game, he understands some of those things that go into being a pro. And it's a testament of the organization and the strength from what we have here."
Hall, Asselin could be in line for big seasons down in Providence
High-skilled wingers like Lysell and Lauko might steal most of the headlines from rookie camp, but the contingent that Boston is sending to Buffalo this weekend is also loaded with plenty of seasoned pro talent that could be in line to take a major step forward over a 72-game slate down in Providence.
In particular, Mougenel has been impressed with a pair of forwards that just cut their teeth at the AHL level last year in Curtis Hall and Samuel Asselin.
Hall, who ranked No. 11 on our top 15 Bruins prospects list from earlier this summer, will be looking for a clean slate this fall. All things considered, the 2021 campaign was a lost season for Hall — with COVID halting his sophomore season at Yale in March 2020 before the Bulldogs joined the rest of the Ivy League and canceled their 2020-21 collegiate season.
Hall eventually got back on the ice after signing his ELC and joining Providence, but he suffered a leg injury in his first game with the Baby B’s and missed the next six weeks. Hall was ultimately limited to 13 games with Providence last season (with only one goal), but the 6-foot-4 winger does have the frame and the scoring touch to become a productive top-six contributor under Mougenel’s watch this year.
Asselin — a Quebec native who used to despise Brad Marchand and the B’s when he was rooting for his hometown Habs — has had a long road to the pros, inking a contract with Boston as an undrafted free agent and spending most of the 2019-20 season with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.
Last year, the crafty forward carved out a permanent role on Providence’s roster and adjusted quickly to the AHL game — with the 23-year-old ranking third on the team with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) over 25 games
Samuel Asselin, No. 11 in white, has his fifth of the season in typical Asselin fashion— net-front goals. The former league-leading scorer of the QMJHL does his best work in front of the net, dating back to juniors and through the ECHL. Sneaky good player, prospect. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/WoL8LqnOfs
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) March 20, 2021
It remains to be seen what Hall and Asselin’s ceilings are at the next level, but Mougenel believes that both forwards should thrive with the heavy reps that will likely be prescribed for them down in Providence this season.
“The one guy that really stood out to me was Curtis Hall,” Mougenel said. “And I think he's one of those guys, he's got a year under his belt, he had a great summer of training. When we had him in Providence last year, he was still going to school. And again, young guys, he's super young. And you forget that sometimes because he went to college, but he looks to me like he's taken a huge step this summer.
“(Alex-Olivier) Voyer, again, put the time in. He looks really strong. Samuel Asselin is another guy, every time I see him, I'm like, 'I think he's getting faster.' Another guy that really has taken ownership of his career, and I really respect how he's done it.
“He played that first year on the coast and I had a lot of conversations with him that year. And the one thing about that kid is he wants to play in the National Hockey League, and he's going to do everything he can to get there. So there's, there's a lot of players like that we're rooting for.”
John Ferguson Jr. joining Coyotes
The Bruins’ front office is set to undergo an overhaul, as John Ferguson Jr. — who served as Executive Director of Player Personnel and General Manager of the Providence Bruins — has signed a multi-year contract to serve as the Arizona Coyotes Assistant General Manager.
Ferguson has been a part of the Bruins organization for the past seven years — joining the front office in June 2014 before taking the reins of Providence in September 2016. During his tenure with Boston, Ferguson took an active role in scouting at both the professional and amateur levels — while also serving as an advisor for Don Sweeney and Boston’s top brass when it came to potential trades, signings and other moves.
Ferguson has been a fixture in many NHL front offices over the years. Before his time in Boston, he was Director of Pro Scouting for the San Jose Sharks (2008-14), Vice President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Director of Hockey Operations with the St. Louis Blues (1997-2003).
“Wishing John Ferguson and his family much success and happiness in joining the Arizona Coyotes," Sweeney said in a release. "I enjoyed working with and learning from John as he contributed to the Boston Bruins in multiples areas. He worked tirelessly to strengthen our affiliation agreement with the Providence Bruins as well as contributing valuable insight and experience to personnel decisions throughout the Bruins organization.”
It will be interesting to see how Ferguson's departure impacts the Bruins and their approach when it comes to identifying and cultivating new talent, as Ferguson played an active role in Boston's efforts to build a pipeline through the NCAA, especially among free agents — where guys like Connor Clifton, Jack Ahcan and others were brought aboard.