Bruins, Mason Lohrei hoping young blue-liner can 'make a real push' for the varsity club

Mason Lohrei is knocking on the door.

The 22-year-old, now an elder statesman in his third development camp since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, was first in line for every drill with Group 1 during Day 1 of Bruins development camp. 

Lohrei, who was unable to participate on the ice last summer due to a knee procedure, is hoping to use this week as a springboard into his first full season as a professional. After turning pro out of Ohio State, the rangy blue-liner got a taste of the next step with a few AHL games in Providence at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. 

His sights are set on making an impact at the NHL level this season, whether that's straight out of training camp or at some point during the year.

"That's that's my goal," Lohrei said Monday at Warrior Ice Arena. "That's why I'm here, just checking off the boxes this summer trying to improve my game and give myself the best shot come training camp to make a big club."

The forward-turned-defenseman offers a unique blend of size, mobility and skill on the backend, standing at 6-foot-4, 204 pounds. Lohrei's offensive prowess was evident in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers, where he had 59 points (19g) in 48 games after his draft year. He morphed into a do-it-all defenseman at Ohio State with 29 points (4g) in 31 games as a freshman and 32 (4g) in 40 contests as a sophomore. 

The Bruins feel they snatched a "gifted" player, as Don Sweeney labeled him in an interview with NESN in April. 

"You see right away, obviously his size and his mobility at that size. He has offensive instincts," player development coordinator Adam McQuaid said of Monday of Lohrei. "I think his defending has come a long way. He's simplifying his game and being really efficient. When he has the opportunity on the offensive side, he can make plays."

Even with fewer points per game, 2022-23 was another important developmental step for Lohrei at OSU. He shouldered more responsibility, defensively on the ice and a growing voice off it. 

"Just taking on a leadership role and a bigger role, trying to do everything right in my second year," Lohrei said on the differences between his freshman and sophomore seasons. "Obviously we had a good team, so just trying to lead guys, lead by example and help us win games was the biggest thing."

Win games they did. With Lohrei leading the blue line, Buckeyes made the NCAA tournament for the first time in four seasons.

After facing the Madison, Wis., native and OSU in the Bridgeport Regional during this season's tournament, Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold had effusive praise of Lohrei, who made the all-regional team after three points (1g, 2a), seven shots and three blocks in two games. 

“He’s a special player. He’s elite. He should probably be in the NHL right now and probably will be in about a day or two, is my guess,” Pecknold told reporters. “A player of that stature and that caliber, going back to when Cale Makar played at UMass and we played them all the time, you’ve got to defend guys like that in layers. You can’t just be 1-on-1.”

However, both Lohrei and the Bruins understand there is still room to grow, both literally (given his frame) and in terms of his all-around game as he dives head first into the waters of a meaner, tighter and quicker game at the professional level. 

"It's just a lot heavier. I'd say that was the main difference from college, obviously faster," Lohrei said of his takeaways from getting into eight AHL games at the end of last season. "Just heavier. Still working on you know, getting stronger and improving my speed, first three steps, that sort of thing. And that's going to be beneficial going into next season."

Still, the eight contests in Providence this season afforded him valuable experience as he continues to make the leap.

"There are still things that he's learning, but we're just really excited about him turning pro and getting the opportunity to get into some pro games in Providence," McQuaid said. "That should give them a leg up obviously this week and also training camp in September."

Of importance in particular to Lohrei's meteoric development have been the guiding hands of McQuaid and assistant general manager-player personal Jamie Langenbrunner (formerly director of player development), who were in constant communication with the young defenseman while he was at Ohio State, even traveling to Columbus to check in on him in person. 

Now, the communication and teaching have become even more fluid with Lohrei fully coming into the organization. He spent all of June training in Boston and will be back in August after some time at home following development camp.

"It's been unreal," Lohrei said. "Just being on the ice today with Adam, he's so knowledgeable about the game and just picking out little things to teach me and help me improve. It's been great just to be around here. That goes for everyone, too, like the trainers and everything."

Having him in their backyard, whether around Warrior or in Providence, will go a long way now that McQuaid, Langebrunner and others can be even more hands-on with Lohrei.

"You see them throughout the year, you have those conversations and you do some video stuff, but it's a different thing when we can actually get with them day-to-day and be on the ice," McQuaid said. "It was a really good opportunity to work on things that we talk a lot about. Sometimes, being hands-on is a totally different thing, so it was a good opportunity for us to spend time together."

Another resource for Lohrei on Monday was Bruins legend Ray Bourque, who addressed the prospects before the day started. The youngster had never met the NHL's all-time leader in goals, assists and points for defensemen. As a budding puck-mover on the backend himself, who better to hear from?

"For him to come and do that is pretty special, and that's just kind of what this organization is all about," Lohrei said. "That was kind of his biggest message, like being a Bruin isn't for everyone, and his approach to the game was perfection every day. That's something that I've kind have liked to think, too. Every day you show up to the rink and try to be perfect. You know, that's never going to happen, but as close as you can get to it is good."

After development camp, the spotlight will remain on Lohrei during rookie camp and again during main training camp. McQuaid wants to see a continued adjustment to the quickness of the pro game. While, "usually good things" happen when Lohrei has the puck on his stick, but Boston wants to see even quicker puck movement from him in addition to learning to pick and choose his spots offensively.

McQuaid feels the sky is the limit.

"I would be surprised if he doesn't make a real push at training camp. We're hoping for that," McQuaid said. "Like any young player, he still has things to work on. He's a fast learner. He's going to pick up on things and continue to grow."

A quick Fabian Lysell update...

Fellow top prospect, Fabian Lysell was not on the ice for either session of development camp on Monday. He ended the season with a concussion.

McQuaid said they're "taking it slow and still kind of working through some things" with getting him back on the ice. He is not ruled out for the week. 

The expectation is we will still hear from Lysell at some point even if he does not hit the ice.