Ranking Top 20 Bruins prospects (20-11): Hockey East regulars, 2022 picks open list

With the NHL Draft and Development Camp in the rearview mirror, it’s time to run through our annual review of Boston’s prospect pipeline and unveil our latest top 20 rankings.

Yes, the B’s don’t boast the most stacked prospect pipeline in the NHL, but due in large part to some solid returns from drafts in 2020 and beyond, Boston is starting to feature some high-end youngsters who could be on the cusp of breakout campaigns this year - be it in college, juniors or even in the pros.

So let’s take a look at our rankings of Boston’s top 20 prospects this week, starting with No. 20-11. 

(Note: We’re setting the cut-off for what constitutes as a “prospect” with players who have earned NHL reps in two or more seasons. As such, guys like Jack Studnicka, Oskar Steen and Jack Ahcan have graduated and won’t be included here.)

20. Philip Svedeback - G

Age: 20
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 192 pounds
2021-22 Stats (USHL): 25 games — 15-7-3, .910 save percentage, 2.95 GAA

The Bruins' goalie situation up in the NHL ranks might be set for now with Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark entrenched at the top of the depth chart, but the B’s are still letting a few promising netminders marinate down in the collegiate and AHL ranks — including Svedeback.

Taken in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Svedeback made the jump from the Swedish junior leagues to the USHL this past year and put forth a solid season with Dubuque, posting a .910 save percentage over 25 appearances.

Svedebeck, like most young goalies, has a lot to iron out in his technical game, but has a strong frame that should continue to fill out as he continues to work his way up the ladder. He will face another jump in competition in 2022-23 when he joins Nate Leaman’s program at Providence College — where he should split reps with former University of Nebraska-Omaha goalie Austin Roden.

19. Jake Schmaltz - F

Age: 21
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 183 pounds
2021-22 Stats (NCAA): 39 games — 8 goals, 16 assists

Taken in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Schmaltz often tends to fly under the radar quite a bit when it comes to B’s prospects. But the 21-year-old winger has been a pretty steady point producer wherever he ends up, be in the USHL with Chicago and Green Bay — or in his first season at the University of North Dakota in 2021-22.

A shifty O-zone playmaker with a pretty heavy shot, don’t be surprised to see Schmaltz continue to rack up points at a steady clip during his time with the Fighting Hawks. At the very least, Schmaltz should be a dependable, top-six option for Providence in the next few years. 

18. Joona Koppanen - C

Age: 24
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 192 pounds
2021-22 Stats (AHL): 62 games — 11 goals, 19 assists

Taken all the way back in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, Koppanen has been on quite the journey since first donning a black-and-gold sweater — with the big-bodied forward set to log his fifth season with Providence in 2022-23. 

Despite his age, relative to other B’s prospects, Koppanen’s stock has risen as of late, especially after the forward finally seemed to put it all together and post 30 points for the Baby B’s last season — surpassing his previous AHL scoring threshold of 18 points.

Even though Koppanen has quite a few bodies ahead of him on the B’s depth chart, Don Sweeney did acknowledge during the 2022 NHL Draft that the forward could be in the mix for NHL reps at some point this season — especially if injuries begin to pile up in the bottom-six unit. If he continues to take steps forward in his development, Koppanen could be a useful, defensive-minded pivot on an NHL club.  

"Joona Koppanen finished the year really well, was contemplating going back [to Europe] and wanted to know what his opportunity was and what it might look like," Sweeney said. "So, there's a player that, in deciding to return, felt close to potentially pushing for an NHL spot. Obviously, we're anticipating that Jack [Studnicka] comes back in the summer, and what the opportunity looks like there.”

17. Brandon Bussi - G

Age: 24
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 209 pounds
2021-22 Stats (AHL): 5 games — 3-2-0, .920 save percentage, 2.54 GAA

Bussi stands as yet another intriguing option for Boston’s goalie corps of the future, with the B’s emerging amid a large list of suitors for the 24-year-old’s services as a collegiate free agent.

A workhorse on a Western Michigan team where he appeared in 39 games (26-12-1, .912 save percentage), the first thing that stands out about Bussi is his 6-foot-4 frame — with the Sound Beach, New York native able to cover a ton of real estate between the pipes.

As always, young goalies will need time and reps to develop in the pro ranks (a luxury granted to both Bussi and Svedeback with Swayman/Ullmark holding court), but Boston has to be encouraged with how Bussi stepped right in and performed last season with Providence — posting a 3-2 record and a .920 save percentage against AHL competition. 

16. Cole Spicer - C

Age: 18
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 176 pounds
2021-22 Stats (USDP): 62 games — 11 goals, 19 assists

Our first entry from Boston’s 2022 NHL Draft Class, Spicer was a solid value add for the B’s in the fourth round — projecting as a hard-working, two-way pivot who could develop into a dependable 3C at the next level if he continues to make his projected strides at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

From our breakdown of Boston’s 2022 Draft Class, including Spicer:

With their first fourth-round selection, Boston once again added another center — snagging pivot Cole Spicer from the U.S. National Team Development Program. Spicer was a bit further down on the Team USA depth chart (he had seven teammates taken in front of him in the 2022 draft order), but Spicer was a useful cog for his team — serving as a netfront option on the NTDP’s power play despite his rather pedestrian 5-foot-10 frame.  

Much like Matthew Poitras, Spicer’s strengths lie in his motor and willingness to engage along the boards and down low. The North Dakota native is expected to play for the University of Minnesota Duluth this upcoming season — joining a program that has a track record of rolling out B’s prospects such as Karson Kuhlman, Nick Wolff and Quinn Olson.   

There is still more offensive potential that Spicer needs to draw out of game, especially as he moves on to the collegiate ranks. But the young forward seems to have been a good value pickup for Boston, given that most projected the rugged forward going in the third round. 

"A kid who was a pretty prolific scorer before getting to the program,” Bruins associate director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau said of Spicer. “Played a little bit down in their lineup this year on a deep team with some top centers ahead of him. Again, another kid that we think offensively has a bit of an upward trajectory and skillset, going to Minnesota-Duluth — they’ve done a great job developing players. We have a lot of comfort with that path for the player, so we’re really excited about that."

 15. Mason Langenbrunner - D 

Age: 19
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 179 pounds
2021-22 Stats (USHL): 61 games — 2 goals, 20 assists

The son of former NHLer (and current Bruins Director of Player Development) Jamie Langenbrunner, Mason Langenbrunner is a big-bodied, two-way defenseman who is a bit of a project, but has put together encouraging returns so far in his young career.

Langenbrunner, who told reporters shortly after he was drafted that he models his game after Brandon Carlo, is a bit more fleet-footed than Boston’s established second-pair blueliner, using his wheels to cover gaps, stand up at his line and snuff out scoring chances.

But Langenbrunner’s poise with the puck is also a bit underrated, with the D-man chipping in with a steady scoring rate during his first season with Fargo (USHL). Langenbrunner will likely need a few years of development at Harvard, starting this fall, but he is the type of prospect that could leap into our top-10 rankings next summer if all goes well. Had a very solid Development Camp a few weeks back.

14. Dans Locmelis - C 

Age: 18
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 170 pounds
2021-22 Stats (Sweden J20): 44 games — 18 goals, 16 assists

Another name in Boston’s long list of centers that they targeted during the 2022 NHL Draft, Locmelis is a smooth skater who already has some high-end poise with the puck. After cutting his teeth in Sweden’s junior league over the last few seasons, Locmelis is expected to make the jump over to North America and play for Youngstown in the USHL this upcoming fall. 

He’ll need to add some more weight to his frame, but Locmelis was very solid during various battle drills during Development Camp, especially when shielding the puck behind the net. Has a very active stick and routinely disrupted plays for the opposition by breaking up cross-ice feeds. 

From our 2022 breakdown: 

Locmelis, who hails from Jelgava, Latvia, is more or less cut from the same cloth as Poitras and Spicer. Namely, he’s regarded as a smart, two-way center who operates with good pace, but his high-end talent has yet to consistently pop so far in his young career.   Locmelis is just the latest forward that the B’s have plucked from the Swedish leagues over the last few drafts — with European scouting coordinator P.J. Axelsson building a pretty impressive track record as of late when it comes to identifying late-round talent such as Oskar Jellvik (Round 5 - 2021). 

Nadeau on Locmelis: "Latvian center that played in Lulea in Sweden in juniors. Also played for the Latvian national team. Another kid who’s maybe a bit more of a shooter type in the middle, scored quite a few goals this year in Swedish juniors.

13. Trevor Kuntar - F

Age: 21
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 196 pounds
2021-22 Stats (NCAA): 36 games — 9 goals, 11 assists

The first thing that stands out about Kuntar is that lethal, heavy shot — which has routinely beat goalies clean at both the NCAA level and during his appearances at Boston’s Development Camp over the years. 

The BC junior has been on an upward trajectory throughout his time at Chestnut Hill — doubling his freshman point production in 2021-22 and he should be in line for even more top-six minutes for the Eagles on what should be a rather young roster.

Kuntar will need to work on his skating to make it to the next level, but that shot and his willingness to drive to the net and mix things up in Grade-A ice are traits and skills that should serve him well when the time comes to make the jump up to the pro game.

12. Riley Duran - F

Age: 20
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 180 pounds
2021-22 Stats (NCAA): 38 games — 10 goals, 9 assists

Another Hockey East product, Duran is looking like another nice value pick-up for the B’s after Boston plucked the Woburn native out of the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft. After a very strong freshman campaign at Providence College, Duran was one of the standouts at Development Camp earlier this month — routinely causing havoc with his forechecking and muscling bigger bodies out of the way on battle drills.

Duran, who posted 19 points in 38 games during his freshman season with the Friars, looks like the latest in a long line of hard-working, scrappy forwards to come out of the PC program — joining the likes of Noel Acciari, Tim Schaller and others.

“I've been really impressed with him as a kid and a player,” Providence Bruins head coach Ryan Mougenel said of Duran. “I think he's in a great program at Providence College, and he's gonna grow that part of his game. But I think the one thing we had this week is the identity of the Bruins has been pretty evident with Quaider. We're looking for guys with ultra-competitive spirits and courage. And the one thing I think we've been very transparent with the fellows here is that it's a big part of being a Bruin. So hopefully, they all bring it.”

11. Ryan Mast - D 

Age: 19
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 212 pounds
2021-22 Stats (OHL): 59 games — 9 goals, 22 assists

Mast very well might be the most under-the-radar prospect in Boston’s system right now — but that sentiment could change with yet another strong season in 2022-23.

Mast was a bit of a wild-card pick when Boston selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, given that COVID-19 completely wiped out Mast’s entire season just ahead of his draft year. Ultimately, the only reps that Mast managed to earn in 2020 was a 10-game showcase in Erie with fellow prospects in the area, but whatever the big-bodied blueliner put forth was enough to entice Boston.

And so far, that gamble appears to be paying off. Mast already has a pro frame at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, but he’s a very agile and smooth skater — with the 19-year-old using his wheels to keep forwards in front of him during drills at Development Camp.

While Mast should continue to grow the bread and butter of his game as he continues to tinker with his D-zone play and put on some healthy weight, his offensive tools have been a pleasant surprise as well — with Mast chipping in with 31 points last season in the OHL.

Mast will still need a few more years under his belt before he establishes himself as a viable NHL talent. But so far, Boston has to be thrilled with the massive strides that he’s already made. 

“It was obviously a really weird situation for those guys who go through not playing a whole season,” Adam McQuaid said of Mast. “And they basically are underage junior players and the next thing they know they're at an NHL camp. Like it's a pretty, pretty quick turnaround. I think it's eye-opening for some of those guys, but I think he's gotten stronger.

“His conditioning has gotten better and that's helped him on the ice. He has a good sense for the game. He has a good stick. He played a ton in Sarnia. So it was a good situation for him, played against other teams' top lines and played on the power play, penalty kill. So a well-rounded player that will continue to work on some things, but he has a good foundation there."

Honorable Mentions: Andre Gasseau, Frederic Brunet, Michael Callahan, Quinn Olson,  Jakub Lauko