Johnny Beecher is heading up to the pros.
The Bruins announced on Wednesday that they have signed Beecher to an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO) — with the 2019 first-round pick set to close out the remainder of the 2021-22 season with the Providence Bruins.
“Johnny Beecher has made the decision to leave Michigan and the Bruins are excited that Johnny will immediately begin his professional career with the Providence Bruins,” Don Sweeney said in a team release.
“We are appreciative to Mel Pearson and the Michigan coaching staff as they did a great job with his overall development. The Bruins and Johnny are leaving all options open with regards to his availability for the remainder of this season and playoffs. We will continue to communicate with his agent, Cam Stewart, while Johnny starts to play games and as we work towards finalizing his ELC.”
Beecher, taken 30th overall back in 2019, closes out his tenure at Ann Arbor with 39 points over 81 games. The Elmira, New York, native was already at practice with Providence on Wednesday, and is expected to make his pro-hockey debut this weekend.
Johnny Beecher: "It's obviously every kid's dream to play pro hockey. For it to finally come to fruition and happen, it's pretty special" pic.twitter.com/8tPJN5jjQk
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) April 13, 2022
Even though Beecher doesn’t have the offensive ceiling of say, a Fabian Lysell, the former Wolverines pivot does have the skillset to serve as a dependable bottom-six regular up in the NHL ranks thanks to his straight-line speed and his pro frame (6-foot-3, 209 pounds). The comparison I mapped out last week for Beecher? A suped-up Sean Kuraly with a lot more snarl. Again, perhaps that’s not what you’re looking for in a first-round pick, but Beecher could develop into a useful cog for Boston sooner rather than later.
”We really didn't get him until the second half of the year,” Michigan coach Mel Pearson said of Beecher last week. “That's when we made our push. A lot of the reason is Johnny anchored a line. He's used his speed. The numbers maybe aren't as high as you'd like them to be. But he's not playing on one of our power play units right now. So guys get a lot of points on the power play.
"So I wouldn't be overly concerned with the stats. It's what he brings to our team. And what he brings is speed, physicality, he's got good size, great on faceoffs. He's more taken a defensive role on the penalty kill and done a great job there. But he's really given us another line in his game, added to our depth. His development has been good. He's continued to grow not only as a player on the ice but off the ice and matured. You can see that now.
"Maybe last year I might have to calm him down on the bench a little bit. The other day I found him calming our coaches down on the bench. It's a reversal. He's really grown in many areas. He's still young. He's got a lot of good hockey in front of him.”
OTHER NOTES:
There was both good and bad news when it comes to the Bruins’ growing list of skaters currently bit by the injury bug.
The good news? Matt Grzelcyk took part in Wednesday’s practice at TD Garden, and could be in play to return for Thursday’s game against Ottawa.
"I do, assuming there's no setback from today's skate," Bruce Cassidy said when asked if Grzelcyk could play against the Sens. "But again, a couple of these (injuries) have lingered maybe more than I was originally told and thought so we're cautiously optimistic with Grizz."
The bad news? Both David Pastrnak and Hampus Lindholm did not skate on Wednesday, while Brandon Carlo remained off the ice due to further testing on his undisclosed injury.
"He didn't skate, so he's got to get further evaluation before I can tell you he's week-to-week or day-to-day or in or out," Cassidy said of Carlo. "I don't want to speculate. Let him see his doctor today or the doctors and try to give you something better [on Thursday]."