The Boston Bruins need to add reinforcements to their roster before the March 21 NHL trade deadline, and they have a couple good prospects to dangle in the market as they search for upgrades.
That said, Boston's prospect pool ranks in the bottom third of the league. The team has not drafted particularly well in recent years, and trading first-round picks in 2018 and 2020 didn't help, either.
If the Bruins are hesitant to move more first-rounders, then prospects might be the best assets to use in trades over the next few weeks.
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NHL trade targets: Potential Bruins fits from likely sellers at deadline
Here's our ranking of the top five prospects the Bruins could include in those deals.
Editor's Note: Rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman is omitted from this list because we don't consider him a prospect right now. Same for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, who looks to be a regular NHLer at this point.
5) John Beecher, University of Michigan
Boston Bruins
Age: 20
Position: Center
2021-22 Stats: 4 G, 6 A in 27 GP
Beecher was the Bruins' first-round pick in 2019. After an injury-plagued 2020-21 campaign, Beecher has not taken the next step in his offensive game. However, there's still time for him to realize that potential. Beecher is an excellent skater, he has good size (6-foot-3 and 210 pounds) and attacks the net consistently. Even though Beecher could become a middle-six center, it wouldn't be a huge blow to Boston's prospect pool if he was included in a trade for a more experienced center or winger.
4) Brett Harrison, Oshawa Generals
Age: 18
Position: Center
2021-22 Stats: 21 G, 24 A in 47 GP
Harrison was a third-round pick (85th overall) of the Bruins in 2021, and he's enjoying a solid season with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. Harrison has intriguing offensive talent, including a powerful shot (see the clip below).
He isn't likely to contribute to the Bruins for a few years, but the trajectory his development has taken is no doubt encouraging.
3) Jack Studnicka, Providence Bruins
Age: 22
Position: Center
2021-22 Stats: 7 G, 16 A in 30 GP
It's put up or shut up time for Studnicka, who hasn't been able to earn a regular role in the NHL over the last three seasons. The Bruins have dealt with plenty of injuries, COVID-19 absences and suspensions this year, and yet Studnicka still hasn't cracked the lineup on a full-time basis. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Studnicka's showing in Boston is he's scored only one goal in 32 career NHL games.
The Bruins do have a few other center prospects in the pipeline, including Brett Harrison and John Beecher (see above), so it wouldn't decimate their depth at the position if Studnicka was traded.
The idea of Studnicka developing into a top-six center doesn't look very realistic right now. If the Bruins can use Studnicka as part of a trade package to acquire an impact player before the deadline, it should be strongly considered.
2) Mason Lohrei, Ohio State University
Age: 20
Position: Defenseman
2021-22 Stats: 4 G, 25 A in 31 GP
The Bruins hit a home run with Charlie McAvoy, a 2016 first-round draft pick who has become arguably a top-five defenseman in the league. The selection of Mason Lohrei has the potential to be a massive success for Boston as well.
Lohrei brings excellent size (6-foot-4 and 205 pounds) and an impressive two-way skill set to the ice. He has the potential to be a top-four defenseman at the NHL level. Lohrei also plays on the left side of the blue line, an area where the B's could use an upgrade in talent.
Unless the Bruins could acquire a young top-four blueliner at the trade deadline -- such as Jakob Chychrun of the Coyotes, for example -- there's little use in trading the organization's top defenseman prospect. Lohrei shouldn't be far away from making an impact in the NHL.
1) Fabian Lysell, Vancouver Giants
Age: 18
Position: Right wing
2021-22 Stats: 18 G, 23 A in 35 GP
Lysell is having a fantastic debut season in North America, scoring better than a point per game in the WHL. He's the only forward in Boston's prospect pool who projects to be a reliable top-six player. He has star potential as a highly skilled winger who, along with David Pastrnak, could give the Bruins two excellent goal scorers for the long term.
Bruins' top prospect draws lofty comparison from his WHL coach
The only scenario where it would make sense to move Lysell is if the Bruins could acquire a legit No. 2 center, such as Tomas Hertl, under the assumption that player would re-sign long term over the summer (if the player doesn't already have term on his deal beyond this season). Even in that scenario, giving up on the organization's best forward prospect -- by a wide margin, too -- would be a massive gamble and weaken an already lackluster farm system.